Whether you are serious about DIY or putting together your first toolbox, there are some essential tools which every homeowner should have in their arsenal.
Screwdrivers
Screwdrivers are a must have in every toolbox. From securing cupboards to prying off paint lids, they are extremely versatile. Screwdrivers are either flat head or Philips; you should have both as it is important that you use the correct type for the job at homeowner hand. Using the wrong screwdriver can result in stripping the screw, making it hard to remove, or damaging your screwdriver.
Impact Driver
Impact drivers look a lot like cordless drills. However, they are quite different. Impact drivers deliver more rotational force than drills and are more convenient to use than heavy impact wrenches. Impact drivers are designed to drive screws and bolts that would otherwise be stalled by a standard drill. Screws are less likely to be stripped with an impact driver. Impact drivers have up to three times more torque than a standard drill, so your wrist is less likely to twist too. Impact drivers allow precision screwing.
There’s different between impact drivers and impact wrench that you have to know, too. While there are some similarities between the two, the impact driver is more powerful and lightweight, making it much easier for the user and getting work done faster. An impact wrench is much heavier and bulkier than an impact driver.
Tape Measure
No toolbox is complete without a tape measure. Whether you need to hang a
picture or measure the size of a room, a tape measure is portable, accurate
tool to measure distance. Tape measures can range in length from 12-100 feet or
more.
Hammers
For driving nails, demolishing, pulling out nails and getting things to fit into small spots, a hammer is a basic addition to all toolboxes with homeowner. Ideally, your hammer should have a synthetic handle which is longer lasting than traditional wooden handles.
Wrenches
Wrenches provide the power to turn objects like screws. For small jobs, when you don’t need an impact wrench there is a range of other wrenches which should feature in your toolbox.
An adjustable
wrench is handy as it can be adjusted according to the size of the nuts and
bolts you want to tighten. Socket wrenches or racket wrenches are used to turn
fasteners. An Allen wrench or Allen key is used to join two objects together,
and they are often used in furniture construction. A combination wrench, used
for tightening and loosening as it has one open end and one closed end. Lastly
and open end wrench has two different open sized ends.
Pliers
Pliers are needed for most jobs around the homeowner. Used to cut, bend and strip wire, they are also handy to reach into small, hard to reach places.
Drill and Drill Bits
A cordless drill is useful for drilling holes or driving in screws. Purchase a drill with a lot of power. Power is measured by the voltage of the battery, however the higher the voltage, the heavier the drill. Ensure you purchase a drill with variable speeds and a reverse function for removing screws should you make a mistake. You must understand how to put a drill bit in so as not to damage the drill, select a drill bit of the correct size depending on the size of the hole required, then fix it properly following the provided guide.
Hand Saws
There are many different types of hand saws, so consider the type of project you are most likely to work on. A crosscut hand saw is a good general purpose handsaw. Crosscut saws cut against the grain of the wood, if you need to cut with the wood’s grain you will need a rip saw.
Level
A level is essential to get your lines straight the first time.
Knife
Some type of cutting tool will be invaluable in your toolbox. Whatever your project you can guarantee that there will be cutting involved.
