Most home tool kits are a disorganized mess. Are you always groveling around in yours, looking for the right tool for the right job? Taking the time now to assemble a well-stocked tool kit will really pay off later. Here are some tools no household should be without.
GLOSSARY
Assortment of nails, screws, hooks, wire: Put these in a plastic container that has many small compartments.
Saw: You can buy one that is small enough to fit in your toolbox. Make sure the blade has a cover so it is protected--and so are your hands.
Metal-cutting file: Use this to remove sharp edges from a piece of metal you've cut. Keeping it in its protective cover will protect your hands from cuts when you reach into your tool kit.
C-clamps: Although there are a variety of C-clamps you can purchase, consider ones that don't have many small parts that can get broken or lost.
Low-tack masking tape: You can put this tape down onto a floor or onto fine woodwork, and it will peel off easily without harming the finish.
Goggles: Keep these wrapped in a piece of flannel cloth or an old sock with your tools, so the lenses won't get scratched.
German folding saw: This tool is great for pruning shrubs or for rough woodcutting. One good feature is that the blade folds up into a channel in the handle, allowing for safe storage in your toolbox.
Set of drill bits: Look for a set that contains several different size bits.
Stud finder: This tool enables you to locate studs, 2-by-4-foot supports spaced approximately 16 inches apart behind sheetrock walls. If you plan to hang a large picture, a mirror, a wall-mounted shelf or another similar heavy item, you want to drive your screws into studs to ensure the objects are securely attached to the wall.
Measuring tape: Buy one that is at least 25 feet long. If it is an inch wide, it will be sturdier than narrower styles; this is important when you need to extend it to measure tall windows or between walls.
Utility knife: This tool is indispensable. Buy one that has a retractable blade and buy plenty of extra blades.
Flashlight: Remember to keep the batteries fresh in your flashlight by checking it periodically.
Pliers: Buy more than one kind. Try to include long-nose pliers, cutting pliers, groove pliers, lineman's pliers and needle-nose pliers.
Vise-grips: This adjustable tool enables you to clamp down and steady a round nut while you're working with it.
Putty knife: This inexpensive tool can be used for everything from spackling to prying out nails.
Screwdriver: A 4-way screwdriver offers an assortment of tips and sizes in one tool.
Combination square: This tool comes with a sliding ruler that allows you to mark off 45-degree angles or set a depth and make a continuous line with a pencil.
Hammer: A 16-ounce hammer is a good choice. But you may want to add something lighter, like a 12-ounce hammer, for small jobs.
Adapter for an electrical outlet: This is useful when you need to convert from a 2-prong to a 3-prong extension cord.
Pocket level: A level is essential when you are trying to hang a picture or make a straight line on a wall.
Sources
All products available at your local hardware and home-improvement stores
