I just finished reading an article in a magazine on the top 10 DIY tools that every homeowner should have (or something like that). It got me thinking about which tools everybody should have on hand. I guess I've always been lucky and have access to more tools than a Home Depot. But often when going over to a friends place, they'll ask me to fix something for them, and usually they won't even have a decent pliers or screwdriver in the house, so you have to resort to some creative substitutions to get things done.

So I was thinking about making a basic list of just the most essential tools people should have around the house in an emergency, or just what I would like them to have in case I'm over there on a sunday night trying to fix something

1) 10"-12" adjustable wrench - This can be used to turn off gas or water mains, plus just comes in handy for bolts and stuff.

2) 2 pipe wrenches - Sometimes you can get away with 1, but it's always better to use 2 otherwise you can turn a small repair into a big one

3) Hammer - For those things that need a gentle nudge. A 3 lb sledge is pretty handy too, but a regular framing hammer is adequate

4) Electric drill/driver, drill bits, and drywall screws - If duct tape can't hold it, drywall screws can. I know an electric drill needs electricity, but a battery operated drill just won't last very long driving screws. And most people who don't have many tools, won't keep a cordless drill charged anyway, so you'll need electricty one way or another. I assume most people would have some type of extensions cords laying around, but if not that would also need to be added.

5) Pry bar - no explanation needed

6) Set of screwdrivers - 3 phillips, 3 flat head, in the most common sizes. A 4-in-1 screwdriver with the reversible bits is pretty handy most of the time, but there are some things that need a regular screwdriver

7) Channellock/slip joint pliers - Not always the best tool for the job, but a very versatile one

8) Vise Grip - Similar to #7. There are times when these are a lifesaver. Pliers are the one thing that can't really be improvised.

9) Utility knife - Steak knives are for cutting steak, not for home repairs

10) Small Soldering iron - a lot of home repairs are just loose wires or bad connections

These are just tools that would be useful to have around in an emergency, it won't cover all situations, just the importants ones. They don't even have to be the expensive name brand tools, you can probably pick up everything on the list for <$50. I have never seen a hand tool wear out, so buying used is a good way to save money. I'm sure I'm forgetting something important, other people probably have better suggestions


FYI, here was the list from the magazine (or most of what I could remember). Keep in mind it's probably aimed torward the DIY homeowner for minor projects, not necessarily emergency repairs

1) Pry bar
2) Tool belt
3) Y-shaped allen wrench (for assembing the ikea furniture that uses hex screws)?
4) Plumb bob
5) Cat's paw
6) block plane
7) Jewelers screwdrivers
8) Putty knife
9) & 10) I can't remember

Well, that list could be improved a little IMHO. I don't think a block plane is really a necessity for basic repairs though it might come in handy. You could also live with fewer pliers. But I can think of quite a few important things not covered in any of the two lists:

- good or at least decent files and rasps (Microplane works great for wood and soft materials)
- wire/bolt cutters
- various hex and Torx bits
- paint thinner/White spirit, alcohol and acetone
- metal hacksaw w/ at least 2 quality blades
- handsaw (for wood & laminated)
- at least one combo sharpening stone
- basic set of wood chisels
- small propane torch (necessary for soldering, heating stuff, even heat treating small improvised tools in a pinch)
- if at all possible, a machinist (bench) vise; if there is no room for a work bench, get a folding one
- at least 4 clamps
- 4" angle grinder with cutting (thin ones) and grinding discs (both stone and flapwheels for sanding)
- maybe a bench grinder with one coarse and one fine wheel; the ones with one wheel and a small belt grinder on the other side are very useful, too.

If you add those to your list you will be well equipped for most repairs around the house. Some of those tools require a little skill, but definitely less than using a block plane properly.

Hand tools certainly wear out with heavy use but a second hand, quality hand tool in usable condition will be a much better investment than the super cheap Chinese crap you get at the hardware store. Stay away from the dirt cheap stuff because it really is bad - screwdrivers softer than butter on a warm day, $1 hammers with a cast iron head that shatters if you drop it on the floor accidentally, I've seen them all.

gloves, tape measure, bunch of small nails

Don't forget a phone book to call in an expert when things go awry!!

If you have any wood or weeds/grass or just dirt on your property, to really handy firefighting tools, a pulaski and a McLeod . Those are fantastic tools!!!

Tom L and TeacherRO forgot to mention a tool box to keep them in.

I would also add a bit of plumbing stuff. Enough to fix a leaking faucet at least.

+1!

to fix what you just repaired.

What's a "phone book"?

Read the same magazine, their list was taken from their editors, they each chose a "indispensable" DIY tool, I assume that if there were any duplications, they made a 2nd choice.

The complete list is as follows:

1. Putty knife

2. Y hex end wrench, didn't mention whether it was metric or SAE but I'd get it in metric if it's for assembling store bought stuff.

3. Cat's Paw nail puller/mini pry bar

4. Needle nose pliers

5. Block plane

6. Tool belt

7. Flat pry bar

8. Plumb bob, string line, string level

9. Jeweler's screwdriver set

10. Pocket socket wrench

11. Ratcheting screwdriver with asst. bits

12. 6" steel rule

13. Multi tool, should be pretty familiar with this crowd...;^)

All in all that's a pretty good list, not sure why there wasn't some sort of hammer mentioned, the article says that these are what the various editors claimed to be their own personal indispensable tools so I guess we're supposed to assume that they also have a tool kit with the most basic of stuff already at hand.

If one already has a hammer, basic screwdrivers, pliers and wrenches and some sort of saw and measuring tape, adding the above would make for a pretty good DIY or around the house tool kit. It used up 4 pages of editorial space in the magazine so it must be good for something...;^)

JohnE

I would include a toilet auger.

-Blast

Thanks for completing the list, I couldn't remember the last few tools they mentioned. I don't even remember which magazine I read it in, it's not one I normally subscribe to but the cover page caught my eye enough to read that article.

There were a few items that I thought were somewhat unnecessary, but maybe it's probably because i'm thinking about it in a different context than the magazine. I think I've got a plumb bob somewhere, but I don't think I've ever used it in my life, and if I ever needed one, it's probably faster for me to just find a piece of string and weight than look for it. Maybe I just haven't worked on the project that required it. Also, I've never used a pocket socket wrench, but for a home toolbox I can't see why I'd want one over a regular adjustable wrench. For most people, a tape measure is a lot more useful than a 6" steel rule.

There are a lot of tools that could be on this list, I was just thinking about the most basic tools that people should keep around the house for even the simplest home emergency. My list could go on for 3-4 pages of recommended tools. Right now, probably my most often used tool is a 4 1/2" grinder (actually 2 of them, they like to be in pairs). They are indispensible for the type of stuff I like to do, but I can't imagine the average homeowner getting much use out of it. Same with chisels, I love mine, but I can't imagine people thikning, "I absolutely need a chisel right now!". I guess it would depend on the type of house you live in.

A toilet plunger, that should definitely be on the list. I would hope at least every home had one of those. I'd much rather grab the plunger than the auger to clear a plugged toilet. It might not work as well, but the snake is a last resort on a clogged toilet for obvious reasons

and of course, some duct tape...;^)

The article in question was in Workbench magazine, an occasionally useful monthly. The same issue also has some plans in it for a nice little service type cart that I'm thinking of building for working on the cars and motorcycle with.

JohnE

A plunger doesn't cut it when a 2-yr. old gets bored...
She flushed even washcloth in the linen closet.

-Blast

How could I forget the duct tape? It's just one of those things that I take for granted and assume everyone has rolls of the stuff laying about in every room.

I saw those plans for that service cart, it did look interesting. Right now, I'm using these wheeled trays that I got for free. I think they were from a hair salon to hold the stylists clippers and stuff? I dunno, but someone was getting rid of it, I can't turn down free stuff. I picked them up not knowing what I would need them for, it turns out they're the perfect height to hold tools when working on cars.

We're obviously working on different types of obstructions

You guys are way off! You only need 2 tools. WD-40 and duct tape.

If it should move and is doesn't - use WD-40

If it does move and it shouldn't - use duct tape.

Actually, I would assert that an assortment of wire nuts would be more useful. Everything I have ever fixed as far as home wiring that I can remember has all used wire nuts to connect the wires together.

I thought about it and I would suggest a bit of rebar tie wire (or hay baler wire, same stuff).
You don't need a whole roll of it but a few feet of it might be handy.

You can find it at almost any construction site, just ask and an ironworker will gladly give the last hundred or so feet of the roll he has on his belt. He was just about to change it for a new roll anyhow.

It holds cars together and it fixes broken chairs.
It is the crazy glue of the mechanical world.

It is a haywire world and you need to have some haywire to deal with it!

The Stanley FatMax Functional Utility Bar was on my gift list but no joy:
[url=http://www.stanleytools.com/default.asp?TYPE=PRODUCT&PARTNUMBER=55-119][/url]

Maybe next year. It will definitely be in my go bag.

If you can't fix it with a hammer, you have an electrical problem! (spoken by a guy with every GM factory certification except automatic transmission repair and roughly $30,000.00 in tools) The stuff mentioned so far is great but I have to admit the thing I find myself reaching for more often than not on "rescue repairs" is flashlights. Sometimes lots of them!

As seen several times on many of his home repairs. His hammer is one that even the mighty THOR would envy to own. Unfortunately every time he tries to pound / fix something with his flashlights it looks like a 70's disco for about the first 10 seconds then it goes dark. Then he reaches for the hammer, sparks fly and it is announced that it is an electrical problem and it will have to wait till the morning.

Rantor is my hero. hahahahahahahahaha (love ya brother)

Just for the sake of amusement..

TOOLS EXPLAINED:

DRILL PRESS: A tall upright machine useful for suddenly snatching flat metal bar stock out of your hands so that it smacks you in the chest and flings your beer across the room, denting the freshly-painted project which you had carefully set in the corner where nothing could get to it.

WIRE WHEEL: Cleans paint off bolts and then throws them somewhere under the workbench with the speed of light. It will also remove fingerprints and hard-earned calluses from fingers in about the time it takes you to say, "Oh crap"

ELECTRIC HAND DRILL: Normally used for spinning pop rivets in their holes until they melt.

SKILL SAW: A portable cutting tool used to make studs too short to use in your remodeling job.

PLIERS: Used to round off bolt heads. Sometimes used in the creation of blood-blisters.

BELT SANDER: An electric sanding tool commonly used to convert minor touch-up jobs into major refinishing jobs.

HACKSAW: One of a family of cutting tools built on the Ouija board principle. It transforms human energy into a crooked, unpredictable motion, and the more you attempt to influence its course, the more dismal your future becomes.

VISE-GRIPS: Generally used after pliers to completely round off bolt heads. If nothing else is available, they can also be used to transfer intense welding heat to the palm of your hand.

OXYACETYLENE TORCH: Used almost entirely for lighting various flammable objects in your shop on fire. Also handy for igniting the grease inside the wheel hub out of which you want to remove a bearing race.

TABLE SAW: A large stationary power tool commonly used to launch wood projectiles for testing wall integrity.

HYDRAULIC FLOOR JACK: Used for lowering an automobile to the ground after you have installed your new brake shoes, trapping the jack handle firmly under the bumper.

BAND SAW: A large stationary power saw primarily used by most shops to cut good aluminum sheet into smaller pieces that more easily fit into the trash can after you cut on the inside of the line instead of the outside edge.

TWO-TON ENGINE HOIST: A tool for testing the maximum tensile strength of everything you forgot to disconnect.

PHILLIPS SCREWDRIVER: Normally used to stab the vacuum seals under lids or for opening old-style paper-and-tin oil cans and splashing oil on your shirt; but can also be used, as the name implies, to strip out Phillips screw heads.

STRAIGHT SCREWDRIVER: A tool for opening paint cans. Sometimes used to convert common slotted screws into non-removable screws and butchering your palms.

PRY BAR: A tool used to crumple the metal surrounding that clip or bracket you needed to remove in order to replace a 50 cent part.

HOSE CUTTER: A tool used to make hoses too short.

HAMMER: Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the object we are trying to hit.

UTILITY KNIFE: Used to open and slice through the contents of cardboard cartons delivered to your front door; works particularly well on contents such as seats, vinyl records, liquids in plastic bottles, collector magazines, refund checks, and rubber or plastic parts. Especially useful for slicing work clothes, but only while in use.

D**N-IT TOOL: Any handy tool that you grab and throw across the garage while yelling "D**M-IT" at the top of your lungs. It is also, most often, the next tool that you will need to finish your current project.

Rantor frequently comes over to my garage where I store all of the above tools and practice using them. That would explain why he was able to so accurately describe the uses and results of them. Like I said he is my hero.

"Same with chisels, I love mine, but I can't imagine people thikning, "I absolutely need a chisel right now!". I guess it would depend on the type of house you live in."

When you're in the middle of a recipe that calls for brown sugar and what you find in the cupboard is of construction-grade hardness, the best solution IME is a hammer and chisel.

I would add a hacksaw or one of those little copper pipe-cutters and maybe even a small torch with flux and solder. Or whatever it takes to make minor plumbing repairs to whatever type of pipes you have in your house. All of that stuff is very easy to use.

Exactly, an apartment dweller can do just fine with a small assortment of basic hand tools and maybe an electric drill. Anyone who owns a house though will need a LOT more stuff. At least the folks who like to be reasonably independent and have the skills to fix stuff around the house. In my experience, that requires mostly a basic set of metal- and woodworking tools. On the other hand, quick fixing most electrical stuff doesn't take a lot of hand tools so it's not such a big deal.

You also have to plan ahead. If you have a job that calls for a block plane you'll also need a decent bench and some clamps at the minimum. A bench vise is also absolutely necessary for any precision work. An angle grinder is probably too much for a lot of folks but in at least moderately skilled hands it's a really versatile tool.

I couldn't get by around my home without these four additions:

(1) Solidly built LED flashlight - both low power (small sized) and higher power models

(2) A Dremel Tool with lots of extra bits - cutters, grinders, sanders, etc.

(3) A utility knife you aren't afraid to use hard - therefore no "trophy knives" - I use a $10 stainless Mora for this

(4) Paracord

Thanks Ranter.
That was the best tool explanation I have read yet.

One of my twins accidently dropped his carabiner/compass in & figured it was a gonner so he might as well flush it.

Forget the plunger and the auger. I got to de-install/re-install the toilet for that one.

Regular stick welder.

I don't mean to derail the amusement but you should have ear plugs and safety glasses in there.

I worked in the audio industry for 12 years and through a combination of overexposure, being in one too many rock wannabee bands and genetics, I now have tinnitus. The effects vary from person to person but right now I hear a constant ring in both ears, right at about 10khz. It comes and goes but other sufferers describe a range of symptoms from ringing or buzzing all the way to jet engine-like roaring.
Believe it or not, some sufferers can become suicidal. I'm not anywhere near that but I now carry disposable ear plugs everywhere. You would be surprised how often you get exposed to damaging sound levels. I also work with several machinists with highly compromised hearing. One guy can no longer hear anything above 8khz. He can barely perceive cymbals in a drum set or cell phone ring tones.

Now, safety glasses. My wife is an Optometrist. You would think looking through her medical books at the endless variety of eye injuries would be enough for me to get religion. Nope. Sure enough, like most of us, I had to have a first hand experience to convince me.
Up on the roof I was trimming a tree and a branch bent back and smacked me in the face. I suffered a "corneal abrasion" and the pain was completely imobillizing. I could barely climb down the ladder to get off the roof.

Now you wouldn't go to the shooting range without either ear and eye protection (well, some do) so why not spend $15 on safety glasses and a handful of ear plugs?
This thread is about "indispensible tools". Consider these "safety" tools.

For anything electrical, a cheap multimeter helps a lot.

Acetylene apparently was invented just to go into balloons on the end of a loooong stick and be held over a lit candle.

Somewhere, I think at the beginning of a chapter in one of those post-apocalyptic survival novels like "Atlas Shrugged" or "Lucifer's Hammer", there's a description of the most basic real metal tool with which (at least theoretically speaking) all other tools can be made. It might be a hammer, or it might be a file. I can't remember. Anway, I'd give somebody an original authentic "beany copter" (if I had one) to know the exact reference for that description.

Thank you.

I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be Atlas Shrugged.

And oxygen/acetylene is even better, but you're gonna need a longer stick...