Having a well-stocked toolbox comes in handy for completing household jobs both big and small. From minor home renovations, to hanging a frame or assembling furniture, a tool set is a smart investment—albeit a small one. Stay prepared for anything that’s thrown your way by making sure you have the tools listed below!
A Screwdriver Set
Screwdrivers are a must-have for any toolbox. Make sure to have at least a phillips and flathead screwdriver, as these are the most commonly used. However, you can easily utilize a broad range of screw sizes and types if you come across a handle with interchangeable tips.
Opt for drivers with comfortable grips and magnetic tips to make screwing and unscrewing easier. A 10-piece set would include all head sizes and tips needed for your DIY projects.
A Set of Pliers
Pliers come in handy for jobs that require pulling, bending or a utilizing a tight grip. These useful tools are classified into the following:
Long nose pliers – Thin, long shape that can fit into cramped spaces to grab or manipulate wires.
Pump pliers – The most common type of pliers. Work similar to a wrench and are used to twist and turn around nuts and pipes.
Cutting pliers – These have sharp cutting edges and have one primary use—to cut through electrical wires and metal hardware.
Tape Measure
There will come a time where you’ll need to measure something around the house—the area of a wall to be painted, the length and width of blinds for your windows or even the dimensions of your new furniture. Having a measuring tape handy keeps the guesswork out of it.
Measuring tapes have varying widths, ranging from ½” to 1”. Tapes with wider widths are easier to balance when extended by one hand. We recommend using a tape that’s ¾“wide and 16’ long for most home projects.
A Battery Powered Drill
Sooner or later, manually using screwdrivers for bigger projects will grow tiresome. Cordless, battery-powered drills are convenient to use, store and carry around. Save yourself time and energy by including a battery-operated drill in your arsenal.
Hammer
No toolbox is complete without a quality hammer. Claw hammers are available with vinyl, rubber and plastic handles, offering shock absorption and a comfortable grip.
Utility Knife
A utility knife is useful for virtually any type of chore around the house, from opening boxes to cutting carpet and scraping paint. Try to buy a utility knife with a rubber handle for comfort and built-in storage for blades. That way you won’t need to search for a new blade when the old one becomes worn.
A Putty Knife
Putty knives are great for applying spackle and putty paste, as well as scraping old paint and wallpaper. There are two kinds of putty knives available:
Flexible edges – This edge is best used to spread soft material like plaster and grout. These are around 0.02” thick and come in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Stiff blade – This type of putty knife is approximately 0.04” thick and is best used to scrape materials.
An Extension Cord
Not all tools are cordless and battery-powered. You may not consider an extension cord a tool per se, but they’re a must-have for every homeowner’s toolbox. You’ll thank us later.
An Adjustable Crescent Wrench
Crescent wrenches are available in a variety of sizes ranging from 4” to 24”, with one jaw which is fixed and the other one can move right or left. These can be used on different sizes of hexagonal nuts, which makes them perfect for tackling plumbing issues around the house.
Hardware
Now that you have the perfect tools for your toolbox, you’ll need some hardware to complete it. Keep a collection of nails, screws, nuts and bolts stocked to ensure that you’ll have everything you need for your next home project.
A quality toolbox is a necessary part of every home, whether you’re a seasoned DIYer or a homeowner that simply wants to tackle the small fixes around the house. Make sure you’re ready for whatever is thrown your way by keeping these tools stocked. Contact us today!