Your toolbox will need to be equipped with some essential tools necessary for completing your builds. Whether you want to craft a piece of furniture, or you just need to hang a picture, you won’t be able to finish the task without the essentials. Why would you need those tools? If you’re a professional, it’s obvious. However, if you just want to save some money, owning these necessary tools will help a lot since hiring a handyman will cost you between $150 and $650 according to Home Advisor.
You may probably own some tools I will mention, which is not unusual. Just add the ones you don’t have to your collection for the best results. You never know when you need them!
Screwdriver set
Probably the most important part of every DIY set. Almost every household owns a set of screwdrivers nowadays. This tool will help you repair so many things that calling a carpenter or a plumber will be a history for you. The best thing about screwdrivers is that almost anyone can use them, and everyone knows how to use a screwdriver. However, you probably won’t get far with just a single screwdriver and that’s why set comes in handy. Buying a set will provide you with numerous sizes and types that are necessary for almost any repair.
Hammer
A hammer is just a hammer, right? Maybe. Even the simplest tool such as hammer has different models, purposes, and quality. It’s a dependable tool and a must have for any project you’re working on. The quality of the hammer you own will affect the time you spend working and the end results. A hammer is used only for pounding and taking out nails. However, it’s shocking how many different features two hammers may have. This is proven by the huge array of hammer preferences between professionals, DIYers, and homeowners.
If you don’t own a hammer, you should definitely get one. It’s very important to try out a lot of models so you can decide which one is the best for you. You may like modern ones more, but the traditional ones are used for decades now and will do the job too.
Pliers
Yet another ancient and innovative tool. Basically, pliers are made of two metal parts connected on a specific spot. The one side is called the “nose” and the other one the “handle”. All you have to do is to squeeze the handle and the other part will also squeeze accordingly. As with any other tool, there is a variety of types you can find. The most common types are needle-nose and flat-nose. There are also two very important types, vise grips and electrical. Don’t mix scissors, salad tongs, and tweezers with pliers as they are only “cousins”.
Pliers were invented since we couldn’t grab and manipulate objects as we needed due to the lack of force we can make with our hands. Also, you may use this tool for bending wire or holding and squeezing something that is too hot, too sharp, too small, or too dangerous for your fingers.
Levels
In my honest opinion, leveling a surface is one of the most important parts of a project. Having an unleveled surface will impact the whole construction of something you’re working on and it could even lead to collapsing. This is something you want to avoid as you could hurt yourself and people near the build you’re working on.
This is where levels come in handy and it’s up to you if you want to use traditional plumb bob types or modern levels with lasers. Always consider the projects you will be working on when buying/using a level. If you work with lumber, drywall, or paver projects, you should consider buying a longer level as it will provide you a much better measurement and precision. Straight edge and ruler levels will serve you for more than one purpose.
Impact wrench
This is a must-have for any DIYer and home builder. If you’ve ever worked on a project you most likely came across a bolt that simply can’t be shifted, or if you’ve ever done some kind of an upgrade and had to replace and remove 10,000 bolts you know what I’m talking about. An impact wrench will make your life so much easier and save you from bleeding knuckles.
You can find out more about the impact wrenches on Tool Tally.
Pry bars, scrapers, chisels
This tool will help you with everything from reshaping molding to tearing out walls. There’s a tool for any type of work and it’s totally up to you to decide which one you will use.
Here is the list of the tools and their purpose so you can decide which one suits your needs.
Pry bar – Lifts, removes nails
Cat’s paw – Lifts, removes nails
Wrecking bar – Heavy demolition, heavy lifting, and prying
Masonry chisel – Trims, cuts, scores stone
Cold chisel – Shapes, cuts, and removes metal
Floor chisel – Trims and cuts soft and hardwood
Wood chisel – Cutes, pares, removes wood
Drills
A drill is something you may not use every single day, but sooner or later you will need one if you’re even a bit serious about working on projects. If you plan on working in a single spot go with the corded type as it is cheaper and you don’t have to buy battery replacements. Go with the cordless one if you need to carry your drill around, or if you simply don’t want to take care of a cable when you’re working on a project. An electrical drill will also help you with grinding and sanding materials.
Conclusion
The tools mentioned are definitely an essential part of any toolkit. However, these tools are only a small fraction of what you should be owning and using if you want to do daily repairs, fixes, and projects. A useful tool is your best friend when it comes to a long day of hard work, so don’t hesitate to get your hands on everything you can!
