Outfitting a Tool Kit
People seem surprised to learn that I know my way around a hardware store. People often associate homekeeping with those aspects of it that have to do with recipes, decorating, entertaining, crafting, etc. Perhaps this applies especially to lifestyle writers, for we generate a lot of content in those areas. Yes, I cook, clean, decorate, craft and write about it, but that is all under the rubric of homekeeping. I am proud to be able to hem my own pants and arrange a tablescape and frost a cake, but I am also proud to be able to unclog a drain and wash a window and change a fuse.
There are numerous dimensions to homekeeping, and they all proceed from the home itself. Wherever we live -- apartment or condo, tract house or mansion, trailer or chalet -- the fundamental aspect of our home is the building itself. That building requires attention to its structure and that attention includes simple upkeep and repair. These basic, learnable skills are vital to homekeeping, and they require tools.
A basic home tool kit is an essential item in every home. With one, you will be able to handle most fundamental upkeep and repair on your own, reserving advanced tasks – for example, plumbing and electrical – for established, licensed contractors. That said, it’s strangely difficult to find a guide to outfitting a tool box for simple home use. In the spirit of the home improvement project John and I typically do on Labor Day weekend, here is a guide to outfitting a basic home tool kit. Click here for a free printable download of the guide.
Outfitting your home tool kit doesn’t have to be too demanding of your resources of money and time, but it will take some attention. Though it is tempting to purchase one of the pre-packaged tool kits stacked at the entrance of the home center or discount house and be done with it, those kits are of varied quality at best. It is much better to outfit your tool box with individual pieces. When you purchase individual pieces, you can select the best quality for your budget.
The best way to accomplish this is to make friends with the staff at the home center or hardware store. Talk with them about what you want to buy and how much you want to pay, being sure to state that the tool will be for typical household use. They should then present you with one or two options which in their opinion represent usability and durability and are within your budget. They will answer questions of safety and storage, and will demonstrate usage. As a bonus, when that day dawns (and it will) where you decide to take on a project of greater scope than simple repair or upkeep, and you need help with supplies or instructions, they will be available to help during a quick phone call or visit.
Household Tool Kit
This guide will help you outfit a tool kit for basic home use. You will inevitably collect individual pieces on an as-needed basis. These may include such items as claw bars, chisels, mitre boxes, socket sets, staple guns, wire strippers, planes, vises, rasps etc., but these specialty items are not included in this list of basics.
Remember that safety is of primary importance not just in using tools but in storing them. Store your tool kit and all items associated with it in a space that’s safely out of reach of children, the infirm, and pets.
Tool Box
Get a durable plastic tool box with a deep well wide enough to accommodate the largest item (typically the saw), a removable tray, and a hinged well in the lid. Click here
to order the tool box we like at Urban Home Blog.
Tools
Drill. One 6- or 7-amp corded power drill, accompanied by a bit kit. Store the drill and bit kit with a 12-foot extension cord devoted to them and the accompanying safety goggles. If you prefer a cordless drill, remember that it will require charging, and it will be heavier to hold than a corded drill is. If you have brick walls, you will need a drill of a slightly higher amperage, and will need a set of carbonite bits.
Screwdrivers. A minimum of two each flat-head and Phillips screwdrivers, both in small and large sizes. Nice to have: one screwdriver set in graduated sizes in both heads.
Hammers. One 1-pound ball-and-peen or claw hammer with a rubber grip. The grip is important – a metal grip will feel heavy and unwieldy, and a plastic grip will slip. Nice to have: a picture hammer.
Saw. One 15-inch steel blade general purpose saw with a silicon cover for the teeth. Safety concerns make it especially important to buy a quality saw and to learn how to use it safely.
Pliers. One pair each slip-joint and needlenose pliers with rubber grips.
Wrench. One adjustable wrench with a moveable jaw. For a household tool kit, one strong adjustable wrench is a sufficient investment over a wrench set.
Awl. One 4- or 6-inch awl with a high-impact plastic or rubber head.
Mallet. One 1-pound heavy duty mallet with a rubber head.
Rulers. One metal ruler in either 1-foot or 3-feet length and one lockable 25-feet tape rule. Nice to have: a metal L-square or T-square.
Levels. One straight-edge level (sometimes called a torpedo) at least 1 foot in length. Nice to have: a small-scale torpedo and a carpenter's level, which aside from straight-edge work allows for angle work.
Hardware
Clamps. A selection of C-clamps in graduated sizes; typically, two each in small, medium and large. Nice to have: a selection of spring clamps.
Nails. One packet each of 1-inch penny or picture nails and 2-inch heavy duty nails. Good nails are essential to good home repair and maintenance. Buy steel or iron nails and be willing to replenish them regularly.
Screws. One kit of screws in graduated sizes and two sets each of screws and anchors in 1/2" and 3/4". Buy steel screws and be willing to replenish them regularly.
Nuts, bolts and washers. One packet of nuts, bolts and washers in assorted sizes
Picture-hanging kit. One picture-hanging kit to include picture wire, picture nails and toothed picture hooks.
Cup hooks. Two packets of screw-in cup hooks.
Et Cetera
Knives and scrapers. One box knife with a set of extra blades stored in the body of the knife, one 1-1/2 inch putty knife and two 2-inch plastic scrapers. Nice to have: an X-Acto knife with a card of extra blades. Store all of these safely in a dedicated area of the tool box.
Scissors. One set of muscle shears or heavy-duty scissors. Nice to have: a pair of medical scissors with a 2-inch blade. Both of these are very sharp, so store them in a safety pouch in a dedicated area of the tool box.
Glues. One small bottle carpenter's glue, one card of single-use tubes of heavy duty adhesive and one small bottle of nail polish remover.
Tapes. One roll each duct tape, masking tape and electrical tape. Nice to have: one roll each painter's tape and plumber's tape.
Sandpaper. One set of sandpapers in very fine, fine and medium grit.
Gloves and goggles. One set of canvas or leather work gloves and one set of gardening gloves with rubber grips on the fingers. As noted above, store the safety goggles with the drill.
Penlight. One heavy duty high-beam penlight with a set of extra batteries.
Marking tools. One mechanical pencil with extra leads, one laundry marker, and either a metal compass or a plastic circle-and-line template with graduated sizes.
Allen wrenches and hex keys. Get in the habit of saving the assembly wrenches supplied with knock-together furniture and storing them in your tool kit. Place a penny with them; it will prove invaluable in turning the screw that opens many of your tools themselves.
Finally, keep a do-it-yourself manual
with your toolkit. However, remember that, while mastering basic home repairs is a dimension of homekeeping, any task that is actually or potentially dangerous to property or life should be undertaken only by professionals. So keep a phone card in your tool kit containing the names and telephone numbers of your electrician, plumber, and other contractors whose labors will not just repair and maintain your home but will keep its occupants safe.
There are numerous dimensions to homekeeping, and they all proceed from the home itself. Wherever we live -- apartment or condo, tract house or mansion, trailer or chalet -- the fundamental aspect of our home is the building itself. That building requires attention to its structure and that attention includes simple upkeep and repair. These basic, learnable skills are vital to homekeeping, and they require tools.
A basic home tool kit is an essential item in every home. With one, you will be able to handle most fundamental upkeep and repair on your own, reserving advanced tasks – for example, plumbing and electrical – for established, licensed contractors. That said, it’s strangely difficult to find a guide to outfitting a tool box for simple home use. In the spirit of the home improvement project John and I typically do on Labor Day weekend, here is a guide to outfitting a basic home tool kit. Click here for a free printable download of the guide.
Outfitting your home tool kit doesn’t have to be too demanding of your resources of money and time, but it will take some attention. Though it is tempting to purchase one of the pre-packaged tool kits stacked at the entrance of the home center or discount house and be done with it, those kits are of varied quality at best. It is much better to outfit your tool box with individual pieces. When you purchase individual pieces, you can select the best quality for your budget.
The best way to accomplish this is to make friends with the staff at the home center or hardware store. Talk with them about what you want to buy and how much you want to pay, being sure to state that the tool will be for typical household use. They should then present you with one or two options which in their opinion represent usability and durability and are within your budget. They will answer questions of safety and storage, and will demonstrate usage. As a bonus, when that day dawns (and it will) where you decide to take on a project of greater scope than simple repair or upkeep, and you need help with supplies or instructions, they will be available to help during a quick phone call or visit.
Household Tool Kit
This guide will help you outfit a tool kit for basic home use. You will inevitably collect individual pieces on an as-needed basis. These may include such items as claw bars, chisels, mitre boxes, socket sets, staple guns, wire strippers, planes, vises, rasps etc., but these specialty items are not included in this list of basics.
Remember that safety is of primary importance not just in using tools but in storing them. Store your tool kit and all items associated with it in a space that’s safely out of reach of children, the infirm, and pets.
Tool Box
Get a durable plastic tool box with a deep well wide enough to accommodate the largest item (typically the saw), a removable tray, and a hinged well in the lid. Click here
to order the tool box we like at Urban Home Blog.Tools
Drill. One 6- or 7-amp corded power drill, accompanied by a bit kit. Store the drill and bit kit with a 12-foot extension cord devoted to them and the accompanying safety goggles. If you prefer a cordless drill, remember that it will require charging, and it will be heavier to hold than a corded drill is. If you have brick walls, you will need a drill of a slightly higher amperage, and will need a set of carbonite bits.
Screwdrivers. A minimum of two each flat-head and Phillips screwdrivers, both in small and large sizes. Nice to have: one screwdriver set in graduated sizes in both heads.
Hammers. One 1-pound ball-and-peen or claw hammer with a rubber grip. The grip is important – a metal grip will feel heavy and unwieldy, and a plastic grip will slip. Nice to have: a picture hammer.
Saw. One 15-inch steel blade general purpose saw with a silicon cover for the teeth. Safety concerns make it especially important to buy a quality saw and to learn how to use it safely.
Pliers. One pair each slip-joint and needlenose pliers with rubber grips.
Wrench. One adjustable wrench with a moveable jaw. For a household tool kit, one strong adjustable wrench is a sufficient investment over a wrench set.
Awl. One 4- or 6-inch awl with a high-impact plastic or rubber head.
Mallet. One 1-pound heavy duty mallet with a rubber head.
Rulers. One metal ruler in either 1-foot or 3-feet length and one lockable 25-feet tape rule. Nice to have: a metal L-square or T-square.
Levels. One straight-edge level (sometimes called a torpedo) at least 1 foot in length. Nice to have: a small-scale torpedo and a carpenter's level, which aside from straight-edge work allows for angle work.
Hardware
Clamps. A selection of C-clamps in graduated sizes; typically, two each in small, medium and large. Nice to have: a selection of spring clamps.
Nails. One packet each of 1-inch penny or picture nails and 2-inch heavy duty nails. Good nails are essential to good home repair and maintenance. Buy steel or iron nails and be willing to replenish them regularly.
Screws. One kit of screws in graduated sizes and two sets each of screws and anchors in 1/2" and 3/4". Buy steel screws and be willing to replenish them regularly.
Nuts, bolts and washers. One packet of nuts, bolts and washers in assorted sizes
Picture-hanging kit. One picture-hanging kit to include picture wire, picture nails and toothed picture hooks.
Cup hooks. Two packets of screw-in cup hooks.
Et Cetera
Knives and scrapers. One box knife with a set of extra blades stored in the body of the knife, one 1-1/2 inch putty knife and two 2-inch plastic scrapers. Nice to have: an X-Acto knife with a card of extra blades. Store all of these safely in a dedicated area of the tool box.
Scissors. One set of muscle shears or heavy-duty scissors. Nice to have: a pair of medical scissors with a 2-inch blade. Both of these are very sharp, so store them in a safety pouch in a dedicated area of the tool box.
Glues. One small bottle carpenter's glue, one card of single-use tubes of heavy duty adhesive and one small bottle of nail polish remover.
Tapes. One roll each duct tape, masking tape and electrical tape. Nice to have: one roll each painter's tape and plumber's tape.
Sandpaper. One set of sandpapers in very fine, fine and medium grit.
Gloves and goggles. One set of canvas or leather work gloves and one set of gardening gloves with rubber grips on the fingers. As noted above, store the safety goggles with the drill.
Penlight. One heavy duty high-beam penlight with a set of extra batteries.
Marking tools. One mechanical pencil with extra leads, one laundry marker, and either a metal compass or a plastic circle-and-line template with graduated sizes.
Allen wrenches and hex keys. Get in the habit of saving the assembly wrenches supplied with knock-together furniture and storing them in your tool kit. Place a penny with them; it will prove invaluable in turning the screw that opens many of your tools themselves.
Finally, keep a do-it-yourself manual
with your toolkit. However, remember that, while mastering basic home repairs is a dimension of homekeeping, any task that is actually or potentially dangerous to property or life should be undertaken only by professionals. So keep a phone card in your tool kit containing the names and telephone numbers of your electrician, plumber, and other contractors whose labors will not just repair and maintain your home but will keep its occupants safe.
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