[QUOTE=Campion]
I suppose the one thing I wish I had that I don’t is a cordless screwdriver. I’d probably use that a lot. The one tool I have that gets the most use (if you can call it a tool) is a headlamp flashlight. That thing is awesome because you don’t have to waste a hand to hold the light where you need it.
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I second the headlamp, which is great for doing all kinds of work, and also good for letting you sit around and read in the dark–say, in a movie theatre between screenings. (Yes, I am that kind of geek.) It’s also good for hiking or sea kayaking when you get caught out late; small enough to tuck into a pocket, and very handy. I like the Petzl line.
A selection of simple hand tools–the two standard types of screwdrivers in four sizes, an Allen wrench set, a couple pairs of needle-nose pliers, some bulldogs, a couple of crescent wrenches, a utility knife, and a hacksaw will do for starters. I’d get a cordless drill rather than a cordless screwdriver, 'cause the latter is more generally useful than the former, but then I tend to buy something slightly better that what I actually need 'cause it usually ends up coming in handy later.
You don’t say what kind of projects you’re going to tackle (and congratulations, by the way, on the purchase, though I guess this means that you’re not running off to Japan and teaching ESL) but you’ll just buy specific tools on a project-by-project basis. What I generally do is see if I can do the job with what I have, and then if it’s something that either I need a specialized tool to do at all (say, a hole saw, a wood planer, or whatever) or I find it’s something I’m going to be doing repeatedly, I’ll go ahead and spring for the necessary tools. Doing a job right, once, ends up being a lot cheaper in the long run than doing it half-assed over and over again.
A few of cautions: be careful about power tools. Preferably you should get someone who knows what they’re about to show you how to use it correctly, particularly saws, belt sanders, and routers, all of which can be very dangerous in ways that may not be entirely obvious the first time you use them. (It’s obvious that you need to control the tool, but you also need to secure the workpiece so it doesn’t fly out in some random direction.) Some community colleges have short courses on power tool use, and I think I’ve seen seminar-type things put on by chain hardware stores specifically for women using tools, so they don’t have to put up with a condescending dude “explaining” how to use them. Wear the correct safety gear consistently. And as Kevbo astutely notes, a good, secure later is an excellent investment in safety. Without it, you’ll be tempted to do stupid things just to reach those last few inches, and that’s how people get hurt.
One more thing; stay away from electricity until you’ve read and understood safety and proper wiring techniques. It seems like the easiest thing in the world to replace a light switch, and I know you’re one of those smarty-pants ingunieer-types, until you switch the ground and the neutral, and next thing you know you have an accident waiting to happen. If you are going to do any wiring, shut off the circuit at the breaker and then test it before touching anything. (There’s this cool little plug-in tester I found at Home Depot a while back which decyphers which lines are seeing what.) [thread=401991]Here[/thread]'s a good thread on DIY electrical work in which some of the hazards and mitigations are explained; in particular, the posts by Rick and engineering_comp_geek are very useful.
Feel free to e-mail me (the old address, not the one listed in my contact information here) if you need any advice. And good luck with the home ownership adventure.
Stranger
