Each home should have a set of essential tools for everything from everyday odd jobs to more involved fixes and repairs. If you are just in the process of starting out with building your toolbox then this post will help you identify what to prioritize as your foundational must-haves..
Hammers
No tool box is complete without a hammer, you can use it for a great number of things including forcing nails into the wall, fitting different pieces together, and breaking different materials. If you don’t have a hammer then you will struggle and be looking for other alternatives to complete these tasks with. You can also invest in different sized hammers for certain jobs and tasks. Commonly there are three types of hammer: a ball pein which is used for shaping metal and closing rivets. A club hammers which is a double headed, heavier hammer used for demolition rather than pounding nails into the wall. Lastly, a mallet which is used for wooden joints or when a metal hammer will cause damage.
Pliers
Pliers are one of the most common tools to get left out of the toolbox, but they are actually super helpful. You may find yourself in need of them if you want to pull nails, cut wires, or loosen any tough fasteners that you come across. There are a couple of different types of pliers, and you’re more than likely going to need at least two in your toolbox to cover all of your bases.
Ensure that they are stored correctly to avoid rust forming on the metal and damaging the tool. This means they should be kept somewhere cool and dry as much as possible.
Screwdrivers
There are a multitude of screwdrivers that should be included in your toolbox; these include, cross heads, straight heads, and allen heads. Without these, you could be faced with the frustration of not being able to complete tasks that require a certain attachment. The good news is you can quite often get one screwdriver with interchangeable heads that you can attach.
Measuring Tape
Every respectable handy person will have a measuring tape in their toolbox. It’s probably going to be one of the things that you need the most when it comes to any kind of DIY work, or manual labor. This will help you measure walls to see where things can fit, pieces of wood that need to be cut, help you figure out how to arrange things for the best fit and so on.
There are different types of measuring tapes, with some of them being ones that you can roll up when you’re done, and others are retractable, sliding back in when you let go.
Wrenches
Wrenches are needed in your toolbox as they have a set grip that fits over a fastener like nuts or bolts. The handle is then used as leverage to help you turn them, unfastening the thing that you’re trying to get free. The longer the handle, the more leverage you are going to have, with different size wrenches being available. The standard size for a wrench is ‘M-Value’, but there are many different types of wrenches available also.
Spirit Levels
Spirit levels are the tool that will help you to make sure everything is straight. For example, when you are hanging pictures, or putting a TV on the wall, you want to make sure that it is straight and level. Place the spirit level on the top edge, and everything will be straight.
Clamps
A clamp is a necessary tool to make sure that you can hold a device while you are completing work. There are lots of different types of clamps including bar clamps, g-clamps, springs, corner clamps and more. The right choice will depend on what you are clamping specifically and for which purpose. For instance, you’ll need a corner clam if you need to make sure that you are able to hold an item up vertically.
Torch
You should also ensure that you have a few different torches. Torches will ensure that you have enough space in tight or enclosed spaces which is critical when you’re working with things like wiring and electrics. A big benefit of the right torch is going to a powerful light. You should also think about battery life. Ideally, on one set of batteries, a torch should last at least ten hours Some torches are also rechargeable which can be useful if you don’t want to spend a fortune on replacement batteries.
Utility Knife
It’s amazing how often you need a utility knife. This is useful for:
- Opening boxes
- Making marks
- Cutting through bindings
- And more
Any utility knife that you decide to purchase should be retractable. However, the retraction methods used can be different. For instance, some knives are made from thick metal or plastic. Some will also use long blades that can easily be broken off into different sections. Using a utility knife is easy but they are also incredibly sharp so you do need to take care.
Digital Multimeter
Finally, you should think about using a digital multimeter. A digital multimeter combines a voltage tester with the option to measure resistance, currents and more. As soon as you start using one of these, you’ll find that it becomes a critical component of your setup. You’ll be able to measure whether an electrical wiring system is working correctly or if there is a problem with your electrical device. There are lots of different digital multimeters available on the market. The key point that you need to think about is accuracy. The best multimeter tools will also allow you to measure:
- Continuity
- Capacitance
- Frequency
It will also display the minimum, maximum and average readings on a large screen. That’s important, particularly if you are working in a dimly lit environment.
We hope this helps you see that there are a range of tools that you need in your tool box. By choosing the right options here, you can guarantee that you don’t have to panic about not having the tool you need for a job or specific project.
