Home Toolkit
Tools extend us. With them you are so much more than without them.
It can be hard to imagine just how much you can accomplish, but you can change the world with just a few tools and your experience using them.
Essentials
There are a few tools that everyone should have at home.
* Screwdrivers (a collection of flat and philips head of a few sizes) (on Amazon.com)
* Vise Grips (medium sized - what fits your hand well) (on Amazon.com)
* Adjustable wrench (medium sized) (on Amazon.com)
* Sharp knife or box cutter (on Amazon.com)
Here are some useful things to have on-hand:
* WD-40 lubricant spray
* 2-part epoxy
* aluminum tape (for actual ductwork - not duct tape!)
* electrical tape
* teflon plumbers tape
* work gloves
* safety goggles (on amazon.com)
The Second Level
The second level begins with a cordless reversible electric driver/drill. There are plenty of good brands to consider:
* Milwaukee (on Amazon.com)
* DeWalt (on Amazon.com)
* Ryobi (on Amazon.com)
* Makita (on Amazon.com)
Get one that comes with two batteries so you can always leave one in the charger and one in the driver. You can also get other devices that use the same batteries, but the most important device is the one that lets you drive or remove screws, or drill holes.
With the driver/drill you’ll need a few accessories:
* drill bits
* driver bits (like the tips of screwdrivers), including what look like a set of sockets that fit onto your driver/drill
I bought a great combo kit from Ryobi that will work with any driver/drill you buy: Ryobi 90-Piece Drilling and Driving Accessory Kit
For about $42 you get a great assortment of drill bits, driver bits, hole saw bits for installing a door and some other nice accessories.
If you plan to cut wood you can either buy a jigsaw and/or a Japanese pull saw.
A jigsaw is a powered device with a blade that goes up and down. You can follow a curved line and cut different shapes, as well as a straight line. Here’s one on amazon.com.
A Japanese pull saw (e.g. a dozuki) is a remarkably versatile saw that makes it easy to cut a straight line in wood or PVC pipe and some other plastics. Here’s one on amazon.com.
Tools for a Purpose
The problems you face will help determine which tools you’ll acquire in the future. Sooner or later you’ll need:
* Allen wrenches (on amazon.com)
* A hammer
* A set of pliers of different kinds (on amazon.com)
* A set of tiny screwdrivers (on amazon.com)
* A tape measure (on amazon.com)
* A stud finder (on amazon.com) - I avoid the ones with AC line sensors because they won’t work anywhere near a power line, even when they are a foot or more away from where you are looking for a stud.
* A level (on amazon.com)
* Hot-melt glue gun
* Stapler and variety of staples
* Pop riveter and a variety of pop-rivets
* A hacksaw and blades
* A jigsaw and a set of blades. If you plan to do rough carpentry any jigsaw will do. If you want do good work you’ll need to get a better one, such as this one on amazon.com.
* A worm-drive circular saw (on amazon.com) and a good blade (on amazon.com)
* A couple of saw-horses (which you can build yourself using brackets and some 2x4s) (on amazon.com)
* A carpenter’s square (on amazon.com)
Other Sources of Tools
You’re not alone and there are other sources for tools:
* Tool Lending Libraries (such as the Berkeley Tool Lending Library)
* Tool Rentals (for bigger tools like a cement mixer, power washer, etc., that you rarely need)
* Friends - some of your friends might have tools to lend, and you can lend them yours: just be sure to put your name on all your tools and maybe write down who you lend them to
