- Hammer
- 3 step stool
- Folding hex key
- Pliers
- Socket wrench
- Spirit level
- Standing Flashlight
- Tape Measure
- Utility Knife
- Cordless drill
- Stud finder
- PPE
- Extension cords: gauge, length, qty, indoor/outdoor, coiling back up and storing (flooded basement example)
Hand tools: Hammer:
(link 1 to cheap) (link to midgrade) (link to high end)
This tool, whether you are using it only for hanging paintings or to build a house. Hammers are something everyone should own. Every time you go to tap something don’t reach for your fist reach for this tool and save your hands.
I suggest 1 hard and 1 soft blow hammer.
Screwdrivers:
(link 1 to cheap) (link to midgrade) (link to high end) examples
This tool has become one of the most common in the modern age, every household should have 3 sets.
These sets are Phillips, Flathead, Security Torx, and Robbinson if you live in northern US or Canada. With these 3 sets you are very unlikely to encounter a screw you cannot drive.
I do not enthusiastically recommend a drill multitool, typically the handles on these are hard on your hands and do not come with a slot on the back end to help drive tight screws.
3 step stool:
(link 1 to cheap) (link to midgrade) (link to high end)
This may seem like an odd thing to add to the list, but you will notice quickly almost every handman has one. Sometimes it’s not about reaching a project but rather reaching it at your chest height. You should always check the rating on the step stool and ensure it will hold you plus the thing you are holding plus 20%.
Folding Hex (Allen) Key set:
(link 1 to cheap) (link to midgrade) (link to high end)
This tool is always needed in places that would surprise you, everything from building a bed frame to raising the door on your fridge.
I Suggest 2 sets one metric one imperial.
Pliers:
(link to needle) (link to flat) (link to channel lock)
This tool is one of the few you will rarely need but when you do there is no other option.
Providing a mechanical advantage several times greater than your own grip strength, when you need it, you require it.
I suggest a set comprising needle nose, flat nose, and a large slip slide lock.
Wrenches:
(link 1 to cheap) (link to midgrade) (link to high end)
Do not let the image of a mechanic wielding this convince you that you won’t need these. Bolts are found in plenty of household objects and places. Stoves, beds, decks, chairs, cars, household appliances such as washers.
I suggest buying a set from a used source or when on a big box store sale. These can be often found 50-70% off.
A warning: Adjustable Wrench
You may be tempted to purchase an adjustable wrench; several sources may even suggest it. But this is a tool for the skilled. There are several jokes and profane sayings people have developed about this tool for good reason. These are the result of new or inexperienced use. You will round several nuts and waste plenty of time using this so just use a wrench that fits well. The main use for this tool is plumbing. It works well on plastic joints where high pressure is not needed to move the nut, and you have easy access to the site.
There is one variant of this tool i do suggest buying and it is the locking vice varrient which removes a lot of the problems of slipping with this tool.
Spirit Level:
(link 1 to cheap) (link to midgrade) (link to high end)
This has been around since 1640s, its predecessors go as far back as the building of the pyramids.
You will need this at some point, from setting up shelves to making sure your stove and washing machine are level.
Standing Flashlight:
(link 1 to cheap) (link to midgrade) (link to high end)
This may seem innocuous since you likely have a smart phone, but a light source that can be aimed without a hand is very useful portable light is something you should have on hand whenever possible.
Also saving your battery life on your phone is a plus.
Tape measure:
(link to midgrade) (link to high end)
Do not buy cheap versions of a tape measure. They seem expensive, but the price is fair, buy a mid-tier or better and treat it well. It will serve you for decades well, a cheap one may not survive the first time you drop it.
Utility knife:
(link 1 to cheap) (link to midgrade) (link to high end)
You should have one of these always for boxes, packaging, rope, and every time you have reached for a kitchen knife to do something other than cook.
Cordless drill:
(link 1 to cheap) (link to midgrade) (link to high end)
This is a tool you can spend a lot on and receive poor results, I highly suggest looking at How to appraise tools, and where to buy them. The market for these is constantly changing year by year and a good brand last month may be total trash 4 months from now and maybe only 1 or 2 of their power tools at a time.
Stud finder:
(link 1 to cheap) (link to midgrade) (link to high end)
Drywall anchor screws are ok sometimes, but it is always preferred to hang anything from a stud. These are usually a little finicky and you should read the instructions on their use per product.
Personal protective equipment, PPE:
You may not think you need this right now, but you will. Even tasks as simple as dusting high ceilings will be made easier with glasses on. Dust in your eyes and your reaction to it has caused countless unnecessary injuries. Gloves are not just about protection from injury or chemicals but wear as well believe it or not the tiny amount of slip between your gloves and your skin will delay fatigue.
My suggestion is 2 pairs of gloves, one watertight, the other protective. Rubber, Leather, if you live in the cold also insulated leather. Insulated leather work gloves I have found are often better than ski gloves for warmth.
2 pairs of safety glasses, one tinted. Appropriate footware for the conditions you’re working in.
If you are going to be working around any form of heat source, you should never be wearing any non-natural fibers. Unless the material is specifically designed for it. If the fabric burns, it’s safer to wear than if it melts, because it will stick to you.
I suggest owning a few N95 masks, these making working in a mask when necessary much easier than just through a paper filter.
Vice grips:
(link 1 to cheap) (link to midgrade) (link to high end)
Vise grips, also known as locking pliers, are versatile hand tools designed to clamp onto objects securely. They feature an adjustable mechanism that allows the jaws to lock tightly around an object, providing a firm grip without continuous pressure from the user. Vise grips are commonly used for gripping, twisting, turning, and tightening various materials and fasteners, making them essential in many mechanical, automotive, and household applications.
Wire cutters:
(link 1 to cheap) (link to midgrade) (link to high end)
Wire cutters are hand tools designed specifically for cutting wires and cables. You should be using these when ever a decent pair of scissors won’t cut through. They come in various forms the ones I suggest getting are all side cutters.
Scissors:
Owning a pair of cheap scissors is typically a waste of time, i do not suggest buying dollar store grade. I don’t suggest using shears to do the job of scissors. A decent pair of scissors should have a bit of weight to it as the metal they are made out of determines how long they work for before needing to be sharpened.
Hot glue gun:
(link 1 to cheap) (link to midgrade) (link to high end)
Hot glue guns use heat to melt a soft plastic which will stick like glue before cooling and hardening into place.
Speed square:
This Device is used by carpenters and anyone who wants to cut a line.
It requires a bit of explanation on how to use but as it’s name suggests it is the fastest way to find 90°
(link 1 to cheap) (link to midgrade) (link to high end)