Please help me stock a toolbox/empty garage shop in a new house.
I’m trying to help my sister be more independent, but in fixing a faulty lamp socket recently, I discovered she has no pliers or screwdrivers whatsoever.
I then checked her tool box. It contained an ancient ice pick, a tack hammer, a rubber mallet, and a dimestore slip-jaw wrench.
What tools SHOULD any household have? I’m talking about people who are starting with a new house and want to starting learning how to do things around the house, respond to an “emergency” of some kind, or just have the tools handy should someone drop by to help.
Device that inflates (air compressor, I think).
Multiple flashlights. One should have a siren and radio.
Emergency hammer (pointed end for breaking out windows)
Fire extinguisher and ladder.
A selection of nails & screws. An electric cordless screwdriver is not essential, but is so nice to have.
My sister gave me a collection of serious tools when I bought my house. It included a great hammer, a crowbar, and a rachet lopper. I’ve needed the crowbar a couple of times, and Lord, I love my rachet lopper.
candles and a lighter and candle holders with shade on them. I use cheese glasses and those little fat candles. They can be set all over the house when the electric is out. They are tall enough and seem to be heat resistant to protect the house from flames.
Get a Swiss Army Knife from Victorionix for a start (or one of those leatherhead things)
Tape measure
Pliers
Electric screwedriver (which should include lots of attachments)
Medium cross pein hammer
Minimum:
Normal claw hammer
Screwdrivers; #2 Philips, wide and narrrow slotted
Pliers; needlenose and pump (ChannelLock type)
10" Adjustable wrench
Tape measure
Retractable Utility Knife (now known, incorrectly, as box-cutters, thanks to the media)
Duct tape
An assortment of screws, brads, and small nails
That’ll handle 90% of the projects a person who doesn’t own any tools is likely to be willing to tackle.
A Milwaukee Sawzall. Everybody needs a Sawzall. Wife wants a new door or window? Pulling an engine and the exhaust and/or motor mount bolts are rusted stuck? Wobbly table? You can fix anything with a Sawzall! (Well, anything that needs to have bits subtracted to work. For additive fixing, use duct tape.) Plus, if you get the cordless (18v battery) version, you can take it to the junkyard with you to get a new engine!
For smaller jobs: a Dremel rotary tool. Niftiest power tool EVAR!!!1!!
I have hundreds of tools, and the one most useful is the Screwball. It’s a multi-bit ratchet screwdriver with a handle like a tennis ball for extra turning power. The shaft is magnetic, so the screw sticks to the bit. It has a rotating case in the handle for all the bits. Sears sells it. Read me now, and believe me later, you will be glad you bought one.
You should also have a pair of Channellock arc joint pliers (Sears RoboGrips might be as good, I haven’t decided.)
Single gal checking in. I get along pretty well with the following in my toobox:
Cordless Makita drill and bit set
Claw hammer
4-way phillips and flathead and other assorted screwdrivers
Mitre box and hand saw (don’t ask)
Screwdriver-sized prying tool thing
Tape measure
Assorted nails and screws
Zip ties
Alan wrenches
Socket wrench and socket set
Instant epoxy
Needlenose pliers
A wood planer (again, don’t ask)
WD-40
Rope
Jeweler’s screwdrivers
Staple gun
Other various wrenches, metric and English
D-cell flashlight
in car:
Chains
Jumper cables
lug wrench
Jack
flashlight
gallon of water
