A well-supplied toolbox is essential for completing various everyday jobs around the house and yard. Depending on your particular line of work, or a healthy hobby that you have, you have a set of your own favorite tools. Therefore, here are some of the tools every homeowner should have around the house.
Screwdrivers
A good set of screwdrivers is simply a must-have tool; you will need a screwdriver for everything from opening childproof battery compartments to prying the lids off paint cans. Look for flat and Phillips-head screwdrivers in different sizes; in fact, you can often buy these in kits. Magnetic tips and comfortable grips should make screwing and unscrewing easier, so look carefully when you are buying.
Claw hammer
No toolbox is complete without a reliable hammer – a good, small hammer can be used for driving nails into wood and even for small demolition jobs. In general, you will need one with a 16-inch handle, weighing about one pound, because it is heavy enough for basic home repairs and light enough for carrying around. It does not matter if you get a hammer with a plastic, vinyl or a rubber handle – all of them offer nice shock absorption and a good grip.
Locking pliers
Vise Grip (or locking) pliers are useful when you need an extra hand, but you only got two mitts to work with. Vise Grip pliers can lock in place, some use a mechanism that allows one-handed release of the locking mechanism while others use two hands to disengage. One of the best things about this type of pliers is that they are versatile tools – you can use them as pliers (of course), an adjustable wrench, wire cutters or a clamp. If you have a lot work around your house and garage, a standard 5-10WR model should do the job.
Utility knife
When you need to cut some drywall, slice the duct tape or sharpen your carpenter’s pencil –you have to have a quality utility knife by your side. If you are looking for comfort, pick one with a rubber-covered handle. After 26 hours of research and 22 different utility knives, The Sweet Home team concluded that the Milwaukee Fastback II is the best one on the market for general around-the-house use.
Tape measure
You've probably heard the old saying “Measure twice, cut once”. Whether you are building a medicine cabinet or measuring to see if the TV will fit in your den, a reliable 25-inch retractable tape measure is necessary. Tape measures come in various widths (from ½ inch to 1-inch), but you should know that wider widths are easier to support with one hand when extended.
Flashlight
A simple flashlight is far more useful than emergency power outages. When selecting a flashlight, you should look for a freestanding swivel-head model for brightening dark work areas. If possible, choose one with a built-in magnet to adhere to steel beams, pipes or the inside of an appliance that you are repairing. Some industrial-quality LED flashlights are rated for falls as high as 30 feet, so opt for an LED light with as high a drop-test as possible.
From doing major home improvements to simple gardening - you never know when you will need a handy spray hose or a set of socket wrenches, so it's always wise to have your tools ready. Every handyman loves his stuff organized and available at all times. I can vouch for this last part. When I find a tool in its place it is a unique piece of an unaware serenity. Unaware, because I know how stressful it can be when you misplace one. Keep your toolbox organized, folks!
John Stone is a DIY enthusiast who occasionally likes to put his ideas down to paper and share them with like-minded people. He is a contributor at Smooth Decorator blog. His fields of interest include home improvement, sustainability, new technologies, and pretty much all-things-DIY. In spare time, he enjoys playing guitar and watching Formula 1
Screwdrivers
A good set of screwdrivers is simply a must-have tool; you will need a screwdriver for everything from opening childproof battery compartments to prying the lids off paint cans. Look for flat and Phillips-head screwdrivers in different sizes; in fact, you can often buy these in kits. Magnetic tips and comfortable grips should make screwing and unscrewing easier, so look carefully when you are buying.
Claw hammer
No toolbox is complete without a reliable hammer – a good, small hammer can be used for driving nails into wood and even for small demolition jobs. In general, you will need one with a 16-inch handle, weighing about one pound, because it is heavy enough for basic home repairs and light enough for carrying around. It does not matter if you get a hammer with a plastic, vinyl or a rubber handle – all of them offer nice shock absorption and a good grip.
Locking pliers
Vise Grip (or locking) pliers are useful when you need an extra hand, but you only got two mitts to work with. Vise Grip pliers can lock in place, some use a mechanism that allows one-handed release of the locking mechanism while others use two hands to disengage. One of the best things about this type of pliers is that they are versatile tools – you can use them as pliers (of course), an adjustable wrench, wire cutters or a clamp. If you have a lot work around your house and garage, a standard 5-10WR model should do the job.
Utility knife
When you need to cut some drywall, slice the duct tape or sharpen your carpenter’s pencil –you have to have a quality utility knife by your side. If you are looking for comfort, pick one with a rubber-covered handle. After 26 hours of research and 22 different utility knives, The Sweet Home team concluded that the Milwaukee Fastback II is the best one on the market for general around-the-house use.
Tape measure
You've probably heard the old saying “Measure twice, cut once”. Whether you are building a medicine cabinet or measuring to see if the TV will fit in your den, a reliable 25-inch retractable tape measure is necessary. Tape measures come in various widths (from ½ inch to 1-inch), but you should know that wider widths are easier to support with one hand when extended.
Flashlight
A simple flashlight is far more useful than emergency power outages. When selecting a flashlight, you should look for a freestanding swivel-head model for brightening dark work areas. If possible, choose one with a built-in magnet to adhere to steel beams, pipes or the inside of an appliance that you are repairing. Some industrial-quality LED flashlights are rated for falls as high as 30 feet, so opt for an LED light with as high a drop-test as possible.
From doing major home improvements to simple gardening - you never know when you will need a handy spray hose or a set of socket wrenches, so it's always wise to have your tools ready. Every handyman loves his stuff organized and available at all times. I can vouch for this last part. When I find a tool in its place it is a unique piece of an unaware serenity. Unaware, because I know how stressful it can be when you misplace one. Keep your toolbox organized, folks!
John Stone is a DIY enthusiast who occasionally likes to put his ideas down to paper and share them with like-minded people. He is a contributor at Smooth Decorator blog. His fields of interest include home improvement, sustainability, new technologies, and pretty much all-things-DIY. In spare time, he enjoys playing guitar and watching Formula 1
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