Twelve Tools We Should All Have in Our Home Toolbox.

Tools…

Not a dirty word Ladies, We all need a home tool box, I for one like my tools, I own my own home and have a honey do list that’s 5 miles long . Being a single Lady, there is not a significant other available for that list, I have to do it myself, simple home maintenance. You simply do not need to go buy high end tools, some you can even find in the Dollar store. I buy most of mine in Wal-Mart, or the Dollar store, you can even find some great buys at garage sales and flea markets.

Not a dirty word Ladies, We all need a home tool box, I for one like my tools, I own my own home and have a honey do list that’s 5 miles long . Being a single Lady, there is not a significant other available for that list, I have to do it myself, simple home maintenance. You simply do not need to go buy high end tools, some you can even find in the Dollar store. I buy most of mine in Wal-Mart, or the Dollar store, you can even find some great buys at garage sales and flea markets.

I am guessing there are a lot of single folks out there, that need some advice on this subject. so here is my list.

1. First and foremost you need a good Claw Hammer, its the go too tool. A good, solid hammer can be used for driving nails into wood as well as small demolition jobs. Go for the classic 16 ounce hammer. It’s heavy enough for most basic home repair needs, but light enough for you to carry around without it being a nuisance. While your grandpa probably used a hammer with a wooden handle, you shouldn’t  Wood handles break easily. Go with something that has a long-lasting synthetic handle. Also, when picking out a hammer,
2. A Measuring Tape.Whether you’re building a gun cabinet or measuring to see if that flat screen TV will fit in your den, a dependable 25′ retractable metal measuring tape is a must. Plus, they’re fun for your kids. I remember my brother and I would take my dad’s measuring tape and extend the tape all the way out, lock it, and then watch it retract. It was double fun when the end would accidentally pinch my brother’s finger, and he would start crying.
3. A set of  Flat-head Screw Drivers.A flat-head screwdriver has a single blade that fits into the single slot of a flat-head screw. Flathead screws have been around for along time, and these are what most people think of when you say screwdriver.While the Phillips screw has quickly taken the place of flat-head screws in most projects, it’s still a good idea to have a few flat-head drivers in your tool arsenal. In addition to driving in screws, flat-heads can also be improvised for different uses like light prying, scrapping, and nudging. Quick tip: make sure the electricity is turned off BEFORE you start sticking a screwdriver in a light socket to pry out a broken bulb. Trust me.
4. A set of Phillips Head Screw Drivers,the Phillips head screw has quickly replaced the flat-head screw in most projects. A Phillips head screwdriver has a four star point at the end that fits into the corresponding screw’s shallow, cross-shaped depression. This design allows a user to apply more torque than is possible with a flat-head screwdriver. The depression forces the blades of the Phillips screwdriver to slip out before any damaging over-torquing can occur. As mentioned above, Phillips screws have pretty much replaced flat-head screws, so make sure you have a good set of Phillips screwdrivers in varying sizes.
   5.Crescent Wrench. Of all your tools, this baby will probably see the most action. It’s like having 50 wrenches in one. The crescent wrench is an adjustable wrench with a sliding jaw that changes the width of the wrench. So you can use the same tool on different size nuts and bolts. Remember, when you’re using a crescent wrench, the movable jaw is located on the side towards which the rotation is to be performed. This reduces the chance of backlash.
5. Socket Wrench (aka the ratchet). When you have a large project that requires you to tighten and loosen a bunch of nuts and bolts, it’s time to put aside the crescent wrench and reach for its more efficient brother. The socket wrench’s ratcheting mechanism allows you to tighten a nut without having to remove and refit the wrench after each and every turn. This can make your life a whole lot easier when you’re taking on larger projects. A 3/8-inch socket wrench with a couple of extenders and a set of sockets should do the trick.
6. Vise Grip (locking) Pliers. Vise grip pliers come in handy when you need an extra hand but only have your own two mitts to work with. Vise grip pliers are pliers that can lock in place. Some locking pliers use a mechanism that allows one- handed release of the locking mechanism; others require two hands to disengage. They are versatile tools that can be used as pliers, a pipe wrench, an adjustable wrench, wire cutters, a ratchet, or a clamp. Standard 5-10WR pliers are good for most stuff around the house and garage.
   In an emergency and you need to turn off water or gas this is the tool you need.
7. Needle Nose Pliers. An essential electrician’s tool, needle nose pliers are good for any household project which requires you to cut, bend, grip, or strip wire. Because of their long and skinny shape, they’re particularly useful for getting into small cavities.
8. Cordless Drill and Bits. I didn’t think I would ever need one of these, boy was I wrong! I bought some flat pack furniture and spent one day fighting the screws and the old hang crank screwdriver thingy… and the next day went out and bought my first cordless drill/Electric or battery operated screwdriver!! believe me when I say that was the single most happy making tool I have ever bought.A good cordless drill is an essential tool to have in your toolbox. It can be used for drilling holes into sheet rock or driving screws into a 2×4. When choosing a cordless drill, you want one with lots of power, which is measured by the amount of voltage in its battery. You can get drills that have batteries that go up to 18v. But when you increase voltage, you increase weight. That 18 volt bad boy weighs 10 pounds. 12 volts is a good size. It’s enough power to do most stuff around the house but isn’t too heavy. Also, make sure the drill you get has multiple speeds and is reversible. The reversible feature will come in handy if you need to take some screws out when your tree house goes awry.
9. Level. yes you do need one..Whether you’re hanging up pictures or putting a mantle over your fireplace, a straight line is absolutely crucial. You don’t want to put a bunch of nails in the wall, only to step back and see that’s it’s crooked. To get the job done right the first time, you need to use a level. There are some sophisticated laser levels available these days, but you can’t beat the satisfaction of finally nudging that bubble into place. Of course if you have the iphone level app, you’re all set.
10. Utility Knife, stop using the kitchen knives for this purpose.While it may not be the most exciting of the tools, your utility knife will never be found gathering dust at the bottom of your toolbox. Every project always provides plenty of things to cut and scrape, hundreds of tasks that cry out for the utility knife’s super sharp blade.
11. And last but never least, people buy yourself a good sturdy Toolbox. There are several options out there, from wooden boxes (I don’t recommend this type if you have issues with lifting heavy things as it adds to the weight of your tools) I prefer the heavy canvas or big plastic bucket type.

So these are my recommendations for a simple home toolbox, you can add things like extension cords, and a myriad of other tools (and you will if you’re anything like me..lol) .. but this is the starter list. Leave a comment with your suggestions of what should be in a home tool kit.

Kate

Kassiopea writes with a delightful blend of wit, wisdom, and the occasional rant. Her collection of wisdom, aptly titled “My Best Daily Advice,” emerged from the gentle prodding of her friends. Initially, she shared her insightful tidbits on Facebook, where they resonated with her audience. Eventually, her friends suggested that she take her musings to the next level by starting a blog. After months of their persuasive efforts, Kassiopea graciously agreed to grace the pages of BaedonWebZine with her thoughts and wisdom.