20 Tools Every Homeowner Should Have
You probably have a hammer, but that's just a start. These 20 tools and devices are superstars for household projects and repairs
If you love tools or just need to stock a basic toolbox, here are the top 20 necessary items to get your small project done. How many do you have?
Related: 14 Power Tools for the Home Shop
Related: 14 Power Tools for the Home Shop
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| Philips screwdriver. A Philips or X-shape screwdriver is probably one of the most common tools in any toolbox. If you have a have a handle that accepts interchangeable tips, you can cover a wide range of screw types and sizes. |
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| Flathead screwdriver. A flathead or straight screwdriver is invaluable; most light switch plates use straight screws, for example. Having the right size flathead can make a difference, so start with at least a set of three (small, medium and large) to be able to handle most jobs. |
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| Tape measure. Your tape measure is indispensable for estimating material quantities, figuring out placement of objects, and calculating floor plans and furniture sizes. It's always a good idea to measure more than once to make sure you've got it right. |
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| Level. Some people are good at eyeballing whether something is level or not, but this tool takes all the guesswork away. It takes only a slight error to make objects look off-kilter. |
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| Utility knife. From cutting paint around windows that are stuck closed to opening boxes, scoring drywall or even trimming the edges of carpet, the uses are so many that you'll be surprised how you ever got by without one. |
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| Hammer. Pounding nails, pulling nails, crowbar action, tapping things into place — it almost goes without saying why you need hammer. An expensive hammer is long and lightweight; its leverage can assist you when you take that wall down. |
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| Putty knife. A putty knife is great for scraping dry glues and paints and for spreading putty, paste and spackle. Having a 1½-inch size for scraping and a 5- or 6-inch one for spreading is helpful. |
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| Nail set. A nail set is used for sinking nail heads below the surface of the wood, so that you can then fill the hole with wood putty and sand it, to make the nail disappear. This way the hammer never has to make an ugly dent in the surface you are pounding. |
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| Combination square. This multiuse tool can verify 90- and 45-degree angles for miter cuts, measure depths and short distances, and is great for scribing a straight line. It also has a vial to make sure your project is level or plumb. |
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| Pliers. The serrated jaws of pliers assist with holding objects firmly, as well as with pulling, pinching or bending metal. |
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| Adjustable crescent wrench. There is a screw built into the head of this wrench; turning it adjusts the size of the opening, so that it fits onto most any hexagonal nut. Turning a nut with pliers just strips the edges, making it harder and harder to get a good grip when tightening or loosening it. |
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| Wire stripper. This wire stripper has a blade for cutting wire to the proper length and several notches for scoring the insulation around wires of varying sizes, which can then be pulled off. Wire has to be exposed without the plastic coating to make electrical connections. |
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| Hex key tool (or Allen key). Some screws, especially bicycles and assemble-it-yourself furniture for which a flush screw is necessary, use hexagonal sockets. Multiple hex key sizes can be purchased separately and the leverage on these is better, but a jackknife-style set such as this provides everything you need in one tool. |
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| Power drill. Drilling implies creating holes, and a power drill is the ultimate luxury when tired hands have turned too many screws. It adapts not only to drill bits to bore holes, but also to every kind of screw-head bit, making larger projects go quickly and with less muscle. Just be careful to stop when the fastener is tight so you don't strip the screw head. Don't skimp on this tool — you will appreciate having a lot of power. |
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| Electrical cord. A rugged, well-insulated indoor-outdoor power cord for high-amp tools will help you extend the limited cord of your tools to your job site — and it's suitable for yard work too. |
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| C-clamp. This tool can hold pieces of wood, metal, or plastic together when you need to glue, saw or file them. Use a thin shim between the clamp and the object you are working on so the clamp doesn't mar the surface. |
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| Flashlight. Necessary repairs can happen in dark, cramped spaces and even when the power is out. Plus, everyone loves to help by holding the flashlight for you. They don't work without batteries, so have extras on hand. |
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| Ladder or step stool. Painting, reaching the lightbulb, changing fixtures, trimming the hedge, stringing lights, getting into the attic and many more activities require the aid of a ladder. |
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| Broom and dustpan. When projects get messy, save your household broom from harsh debris by having a dedicated set. |
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| Music. Every job is made easier with music or talk radio. This is why hardware stores sell radios, although those are more rugged, with rechargeable battery packs that can also be used in your cordless tools. More rugged means when you drop your hammer on it, you just pick it up and get back to work. More: 14 Power Tools for the Home Shop |
Ideabook updated on April 2, 2013.
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I bought each of my daughters a sturdy toolbox when they were in elementary school. Bit by bit (Hey! A tool pun!), we stocked the toolboxes with good quality tools, and learned to use each one as we went. By the time the girls left for college, they had all the essentials and basic knowledge to use and care for them correctly. It's a great on-going gift idea, and time well spent together being productive. They aren't carpenters by a long shot but they are competent, and willing to attempt their own repairs. Bonus: Guys are totally impressed.
Also, I have to give credit to my daughters' Girl Scout leaders who incorporated lots of serious DIY projects using power tools into their badge programs. Boy Scouts and 4-H programs are wonderful, too.
I too love that these are well-loved tools in the images!
ps on picture hanging. If your house is old/ walls are plaster, the heaviest hammer is your best friend, along with the smallest nail possible. Tap lightly repeatedly with the heavy hammer and resist the urge to BANG the nail.... voila!!! no cracks, no big useless hole, no starting over, no bent nail.The pad/pencil? Much better than a fraction scribbled on a wall...
Clients cal me "tool time Tim".
cheers,
3D-Tile-Design - Bertram Tasch
Maple Ridge, BC (Greater Vancouver)
http://www.3D-Tile-Design.ca
@ Susan: I thing you forgot something important. ☺
I have my own stash of tools that are even off limits to Hubby. If you don't mind I am going to add one more to your list and that is the Dremel Tool. IMO with its many attachments 'it is the best invention since sliced bread'.
Footnote: Dual Purpose -- If wanting to funnel water to a bucket that is too large for a sink; use a cheap plastic dustpan. Its handle will act as a trough when placed under a spout.
Also for small jobs, (office) Binder Clips will often suffice as clamps.
I could go on, but I don't want to bore you and your readers. :)
One tool that I've found to be particularly useful is an awl. They're great for marking and starting holes for drilling or nailing.
Only thing I'd add to this list is a drywall saw. And possibly painter's tape, which is great for visualizing plan layouts, taping up drawings to walls w/o damaging them, & labeling stuff.
It's actually amazing (& inspiring) to watch a good carpenter b/c they can make do with a limited palette of tools to get things done. Even dragging that dropped pencil closer w/ a tape measure.
The only thing I did not see that I would potentially add is a multi-pack of sand paper, and most importantly SAFETY GLASSES! Whether you are using a power tool or not, safety glasses are a necessary, inexpensive must have on any project!
I love jannie's idea of gifting her daughters with tools!
As for women's tools, powered or not, all tools are women's tools as much as they are men's and not just single women [although a colorful, chevron patterned drill would be nice ;)]. I have all of the above listed tools, except for the nail set (A trip to Home Depot is in order), in addition to a hack, table, circular, jig, miter and drywall saws, power sander, chisel, staple gun and... you get the idea. And they were almost all requested by and are exclusively used by me, not my husband. He thinks I'm loony because my heart skips a beat looking at table saws and for Home Depot being my favorite place to shop. ha ha!
I would also add a handy item to this list... a yard stick.
When creating or adding to a tool box, don't rush out and purchase what ever
l(.)(.)ks good! Get what is needed for the job/project at hand.
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Needle nose pliers are something I have found are needed urgently many times in my life. Now I have at least 3 pair.
Love the idea of giving the daughters tools. My daughter's pink tool box went to college with her and she was the one who went to her friends' dorm rooms at the end of the year fixing little things so they wouldn't be charged.
Duct tape can be used for anything. Plus it comes in pink Hello, Kitty patterns!
BTW, you don't have to pay a lot for this kind of collection of hand tools. Buy a tool box at an estate sale. Most homeowners have collected most of this stuff over the years and you can add any items still needed. I don't know who owned the very good-quality, well-stocked tool box I now use (and got at an estate sale in Pittsburgh for $10), but s/he bought good-quality items and I hope the late owner would appreciate that someone who admires her/his collection now uses it. I purchased a well-used copy of Joy of Cooking (complete with hand-written notes) at the same sale and it's also come in very handy to me over the years.