What’s in your toolbox?

A guide to help you put together a functional toolbox for around the house

Everyone needs a REAL toolbox

Whether you live in an apartment or rent/own a home, are a man or woman, young or old, your household needs a toolbox.

Would you be embarrassed of your toolbox if you had to post it on Facebook right now for the world to see?

We are going to put together a functional toolbox you can be proud of when it comes out for duty! I will include a couple of toolsets which can be very useful but are often put together with subpar tools that won’t last with frequent use. Here is the real deal list with explanations.

What do I need? -Basics

Must haves (with links):

1. Hammer
   a good claw hammer is versatile for driving nails and removing them, stick with a smooth head, not a waffle head (they leave marks)

2. Screwdrivers
   Include both flathead and Phillips head screwdrivers in various sizes to handle different screws. Don’t break the bank here, screwdrivers commonly get misplaced, bent, broken, etc.

3. Tape Measure
   A 25-foot tape measure is a good length for around the house. A wide tape means more control when measuring. PLUS- Stanley will replace it if breaks!

4. Utility Knife
   Useful for cutting materials like drywall, rope, packaging

5. Dikes/Pliers/Needle-nose/Channel Locks
   Needle-nose and standard pliers are handy for gripping & twisting. Dikes (wire cutters) are for cutting wire or thin metal and Channel locks are adjustable & great for gripping nuts, bolts, small pipes

6. Adjustable Wrench Set
   An adjustable wrench set is all you need for your toolbox in the home. The tool chest in the garage can hold all the bulky wrench sets

7. Level
   A 2-foot level ensures surfaces and installations are straight and even. A nice metal level will stay true, plastic levels warp.

8. Flat Bar (Pry Bar) A flat bar is great to pull nails or nudge something over using leverage

9. Allen Keys (Allen Wrenches)
   Allen wrenches are something that will access small set screws in door knobs or faucet handles while the larger ones come in handy with assemblies and furniture repair (chair legs, table legs, etc)

10. Sturdy Toolbox
    A strong box that will last and isn’t overwhelming is essential for ease of transport…you’ll dread having to use a heavy toolbox

What do I need? -Nice to have it

Hand Tools

1. Vise Grips
   Great to hold a nut or bolt when you need extra hands

2. Electrical Tester
   An invaluable tool to test live wires

3. Lineman’s Pliers
   To hold wires and cut thicker wire with ease

4. Torpedo Level
   When the 24” is just a bit too big

5. Stud Finder
   A good help for locating wall studs, especially for hanging shelves and fixtures.

6. Chisel Set
   Chisels come in handy often, I keep one in my toolbelt regularly

7. Metal Snips
   Snips are great for sheet metal, siding, thick materials

8. Cats Paw For getting nails out of wood

9. Wire Strippers Stripping the sheathing off wires, crimping connectors. Stay with a skinny tip like the one linked here, stay away from the broad plier ends

10. Pipe Wrench The main use is obvious, this is a very underutilized tool. Go with aluminum up to 14” to save on weight. Any larger, stick with iron/steel for strength

11. Wrenches A good set of metric and standard wrenches are a staple of any tool chest, don’t bother with the ratcheting options, a nice thought but it seems you can rarely utilize them in the moment

12. Socket Set Complete socket sets are something I recommend buying and keeping in sets so you dont lose them. Staying brand name usually makes a difference in the case quality

Power Tools (These aren’t the cheap, weekend warrior picks)

1. Drills- Standard & Impact Drills
   Drills are always useful, You don’t necessarily need an impact drill but they are more compact and tend to become a favorite

2. Circular Saw- Corded Circular Saw- Cordless
   Ideal for cutting large pieces of lumber or sheet goods, Corded tools are great for extreme use but cordless tools have come a long way. BTW The corded comes with a hard case! (unheard of for circ saws)

3. Grinder- Corded Grinder- Cordless
   Your essential metal cutting and grinding tool. Corded comes with a hard case

4. Sander- Corded
   A power sander for smoothing wood surfaces and preparing them for finishing. Not a must have if you aren’t into wood working.

5. Fine Tool (Oscillating Multitool) Cordless
   This is one of those tools that makes us wonder what on earth we did before it came along, great for cutting intricately. This one comes with a battery and charger, great price

6. Sawzall (Reciprocating Saw) Corded
   Useful for demolition and cutting through various materials quickly

7. Wet/Dry Vacuum
   Essential for cleaning up messes on the job site. This one is cordless and corded!

Safety Gear

1. Safety Glasses
   Protects eyes during cutting and drilling tasks.

2. Hearing Protection
   Earplugs or earmuffs for protection against loud power tools.

3. Work Gloves
   Provides grip and protection for hands during manual work.

4. Dust Mask
   Important when sanding or working with materials that generate dust.

5. Face Shield Added protection, useful especially if grinding

In closing for now, the size of your toolbox depends on how much you plan on doing yourself. Do you have to go out and buy all these power tools to have on hand? No. The basics will hang your pictures, tighten leaky valves, assemble items, etc. As promised, Here is a good economical All-In-One Set that will do just fine!