I was using some of my tools the other day and I got to thinking how some of them are my "must haves" and how some of them have been with me since the beginning. So, I decided to do a series on essential tools.
Depending on the response, I may do other tool themes but first I'd like to start at the beginning...
APARTMENT LIFE
This series is for anyone just starting life away from mom and dad. Most likely, you've just gotten married and moved into a small apartment. Even though the landlord will take care of the big problems, you will still need a basic set of tools for everything else.
Before I present my first essential tool, I need to make a couple of points:
1A) Brands don't matter.
1B) Brands do matter.
Ha ha, right? What I'm saying here is that you should never buy a tool solely on the brand name. No brand makes the best of everything. Don't buy a tool just because your father owned brand x or because brand z is the current "cool tool" line. But, please know that some brands are certainly higher quality than others and that price does not always relate to quality or usefulness.
2) Tools are an INVESTMENT. Your goal should be to buy a tool ONCE. Before purchasing, evaluate it against others using online product reviews and YouTube videos. The worst thing you can do is run out and buy a tool just because you need it ASAP.
3) Take care of your tools during usage. Don't use them in situations they weren't designed for. Don't toss them around or on the ground.
4) Take care of your tools during storage. Once you are done with a tool, take the time to properly clean it (dry it off, remove oils or grease, inspect it for damage, etc.). Place it back in your toolbox so it will be right where you expect it to be the next time you need it.
5) My suggestions are simply that... suggestions. If I show a Ryobi cordless tool, you certainly don't have to buy a Ryobi. However, the item I show does have all the FEATURES that I believe you should have in that type tool. Please keep all those features in mind when comparison shopping.
6) My lists are presented in order of recommended purchase. Yes, I think you'll need tool number 1 before you need tool number 20.
7) Buy them all as quickly as you can afford to. Don't wait until a need arises. Ask mom and dad to buy them as early Christmas or birthday presents.
ESSENTIAL TOOL 1 of 20
Don't give me any crap about this, but the first essential tool is a PLUNGER
There is NOTHING more embarrassing about apartment life than having to call maintenance to unclog a toilet! Most times, it is just too much toilet paper. Also, some toilets are just more prone to clogging than others. Take care of this yucky issue yourself with having your own plunger.
Also, be sure to buy a newer style plunger and not the old orange upside down bowl type. Older toilets had rounder openings but most newer toilets have elongated openings. The old orange plungers can't make a good seal on the newer toilets.
Recommendation: Korky 6-in rubber plunger at Lowe's
ESSENTIAL TOOL 2 of 20
There are a few tool box lines but most of them are either junk or outlandishly priced. DeWALT has a good line that isn't cheap but all the pieces in that line can connect together for easy movement.
You don't need a huge tool box in an apartment, but you want it to be durable, light, have a removable tray, and a gasket to keep dirt and water out.
Recommendation: DeWALT large tool box at Home Depot
ESSENTIAL TOOL 3 of 20
One of the very first essential tools you buy should be a good UTILITY KNIFE.
Sure, you could buy a handful of the cheap, break-off blade knives for the same price. And, those might have a place in your tool box in the future. But right now you need a solid knife that can hold up to some additional pressure, has replaceable blades, and additional abilities that truly move it into the "utility" realm. This one also has a wire cutter, bottle opener, and mini screwdriver built in.
Recommendation: Milwaukee Fasback folding utility knife at Acme Tools
ESSENTIAL TOOL 4 of 20
A SCREWDRIVER SET is about as fundamental as it gets in tools.
Over time, there have been two main types of screwdrivers... slotted (flat) and Phillips (crossed). You'll need some of each and in different sizes to work with the various screws you'll come across. As in, anything from a large Phillips screw holding your refrigerator door on down to a tiny slotted screw holding your wall outlet cover on.
These will not be the last screwdrivers you'll ever buy, but the first set needs to be versatile. These have magnetic tips to help hold the screw in place, and have insulated shafts.
The last feature is very important if/when you work around electrical items. Better to have that feature and not need it than need it and not have it! The screwdrivers you purchase in the future need not be insulated since you will already have this small set.
Recommendation: HORUSDY 6-piece insulated screwdriver set at Amazon
ESSENTIAL TOOL 5 of 20
Other fundamental tools are a PLIER AND WRENCH SET.
As with the screwdriver set, these aren't the only pliers and wrenches you'll ever buy but they need to be the most common types.
A good, basic set will include the following:
Needle Nose - The tapered end allows access inside tight spaces. These typically also have a wire cutter area built in.
Slip Joint - These are the jack of all trades pliers, being the most versatile. Of this set, you'll probably use these the most. They can be adjusted in two ways, larger or smaller, and have a slightly curved jaw area to help hold round objects such as pipes.
Groove Joint - The largest tool in this set, and has more options for adjusting the jaw opening. These can be used for more of your plumbing jobs than the others.
Adjustable Wrench - With its finely adjustable opening, this tool allows you to adapt to any size bolt that needs to be tightened or loosened.
Recommendation: IRWIN 4-piece pliers and wrench set from Amazon
ESSENTIAL TOOL 6 of 20
The next tool will let you pretend to be Thor... a HAMMER! Thankfully, our hammers don't decide if we are worthy to wield it or not.
Probably the simplest tool ever, most hammers have one other function and that is the "claw" on the opposite side of the head. The claw allows you to pry up nails, boards, flooring, etc.
Don't buy a hammer that's too heavy or you won't have as much control over the tool as you should have.
There are at least 20 different hammer styles so be sure to get a general use design.
The one I recommend has an adjustable claw position to allow for a variety of prying situations.
Recommendation: Craftsman Flex Claw 18 oz. hammer from Amazon
ESSENTIAL TOOL 7 of 20
Next up is a TAPE MEASURE, which comes in many different lengths. I think a 25 foot one hits the sweet spot of length vs cost.
Features should be a rubberized case, a high visibility blade color for better readability, printed fractional graduations (great for old timers like me that don't see all those tiny lines like we used to), a wide blade for added standout/reach, and printing on both sides of the blade.
One newer feature many of them have is a magnetic end so you can easily measure the distance away from a metal object by yourself.
Recommendation: Kobalt 25-foot tape measure at Lowe's
ESSENTIAL TOOL 8 of 20
While a utility knife is awesome, it does have limitations. Buy yourself a pair of these incredible MULTIPURPOSE SHEARS to cut everything else you can think of.
These babies are sharp, and they have great leverage to cut through tough items.
Recommendation: Multipurpose electrical shears at Amazon
ESSENTIAL TOOL 9 of 20
Next up is a TORCH LIGHTER. Do not put a crappy old Bic lighter in your tool kit! You need to have something that puts out heat, and a lot of it! A torch will also withstand wind to continue to deliver a flame.
Refill this unit with standard butane.
If nothing else, you can be sure to light firecrackers on a windy New Year's Eve or use it to finalize a Creme Brulee!
Recommendation: Triple torch lighter at Amazon
ESSENTIAL TOOL 10 of 20
This tool will make you feel like a goober but you'll be glad you have it when you need it. Unless you have a third arm, a HEADLAMP will make working in the dark, or a very tight space, so much easier.
Your headlamp should be at least water resistant, if not waterproof. It should also allow you to adjust the aim of the light while still wearing it. And finally, multiple modes help because there are times you need a lot of light and times too much is blinding.
Also keep a spare set of batteries in your tool box.
Recommendation: Energizer LED headlamp at Home Depot
ESSENTIAL TOOL 11 of 20
If you are hanging pictures or installing something that needs to be level, you really need, um, well, a LEVEL.
Don't cheap out and buy a short level. You want a level with a decent length to allow for a more accurate reading.
Features should include a magnetic base, a gutter to allow it to sit on a round object like a pipe, be made of aluminum for durability, and have multiple vials for different measurements. An advanced feature would be for it to have a compass vial so that you can easily determine degree of angle.
Recommendation: Craftsman 9-inch level at Lowe's
ESSENTIAL TOOL 12 of 20
Even though you won't be doing any big construction projects in an apartment, there will be times you need a small SAW.
Most saws work on the outward push, but a few dig into the wood on the inward stroke. And typically, those saws are smaller and thinner giving you finer control over the cut. Since your tool box isn't huge, get one that folds up and has teeth on both sides.
Recommendation: DeWALT pull saw at Home Depot
ESSENTIAL TOOL 13 of 20
Scraping old paint, caulk, or stickers isn't fun but a SCRAPER sure helps!
Get one that has two types of replaceable blades, metal and plastic. You'll use the metal for glass and other hard surfaces and the plastic for softer surfaces.
Recommendation: Double edge scraper at Amazon
ESSENTIAL TOOL 14 of 20
You've probably never seen a PAINTER'S TOOL but let me say it is one of the most versatile tools ever!
Grab this out of your tool box and you can do just about anything with it... hammer, scrape, shield your edge as you paint, screw/unscrew slotted and Phillips, open cans and bottles, squeeze paint from rollers, cut, pry, and tighten/loosen bolts!
Recommendation: Painter's tool at Amazon
ESSENTIAL TOOL 15 of 20
A good PAINT BRUSH is next up.
Of course, it can apply paint but you can also use it for minor dust removal.
A 2.5 inch wide tapered brush hits the sweet spot... not too wide and not too narrow.
If you take care of it, a good quality paint brush will last for decades. So be sure to keep the cover that it comes in so that the bristles don't get bent or the ends don't get frayed.
Recommendation: Purdy 2 1/2-inch paint brush at Lowe's
ESSENTIAL TOOL 16 of 20
Gotta reach way back on the top shelf of a closet? Need to work on a light fixture in the ceiling? Wanting to hang curtain rods over a window? You'll need a good, solid STEP LADDER for those jobs.
People fall from ladders all the time, sometimes seriously hurting themselves. Don't buy a cheap ladder!
Great features would be a platform for you to stand on, not on a skinny rung/step as well as a try at the top to hold some tools while you're working.
Recommendation: Werner fiberglass 4.8-foot step ladder at Lowe's
ESSENTIAL TOOL 17 of 20
Modern electronics have improved the old "stud finders" so much that they are called MULTISCANNERS now.
Beyond finding the studs in your wall (the wood framing that creates walls and helps hold the roof up), multiscanners can also now "see" pipes, conduit, and electrical wiring. Pretty cool if you're about to poke a hole in the wall. Believe me, you don't want to drive a nail into the wall and have it go through a power cord!
Just like the commercials say "call before you dig" you'll want to "scan before you nail".
Recommendation: Zircon 4 in 1 wall scanner at Amazon
ESSENTIAL TOOL 18 of 20
If you haven't noticed, I have not recommended any power tools yet. That's because you probably won't need one in an apartment. But, you might. The one you will need before any of the others is a cordless DRILL/DRIVER.
This tool will allow you to drill holes and also drive screws in or out.
As far as features go, always buy a "brushless" power tool if possible. This helps the tool work less, extends the life of the motor, and doesn't require any maintenance.
Also, don't go with a tool line that has batteries under 18 volts. You want at least 18 volts or more.
And now we need to circle back to my first post where I said "brands don't matter" and "brands do matter". Your first cordless tool purchase will be one of many. You want to go with a brand that has many different tools that all use the same batteries. This keeps you from having to buy dozens of batteries... just have a few and swap them into the tools you need at the time. And you don't want to wind up with two or three different tool lines in your shop/garage later on because you made a bad purchase this time.
To me, there are generally four cordless tool grades...
1) construction grade (Milwaukee/Ridgid)
2) high end grade (DeWALT/Makita/Bosch)
3) home grade (Ryobi/HART/Craftsman/Kobalt)
4) cheap grade (Black+Decker/Worx)
Unless you are a contractor or a construction worker, you don't need to spend the money on tools in the first grade... you are simply throwing money away. Also, you should never buy a power tool from the cheap grade... cheap tools just don't last and rarely have all the features you want. Which leaves us with the two middle grades. For the average person that will occasionally use a cordless power tool, the home grade is best because of the value. Personally, I am a Ryobi fan and a couple of times a year they run some fantastic deals.
Whatever line you decide on, be sure to buy the "kit", which includes the tool, one or more batteries, and a battery charger.
Recommendation: RYOBI brushless cordless drill/driver kit at Home Depot
ESSENTIAL TOOL 19 of 20
If ya got a drill/driver, ya gotta get a DRILL/DRIVER BIT SET to make it useful.
This won't be the last bit set you buy but this one needs to have a little bit of everything... drill bits, screwdriver bits, and maybe some nut drivers.
The quality differences in these accessories vary wildly, and with the cost of the item being so low, it is acceptable to pay the few dollars more for a better quality set.
And just because you may have bought a Ryobi drill/driver doesn't mean you have to use their accessories. Thankfully, most are interchangeable with the other tool lines.
Recommendation: Milwaukee Shockwave impact drill and drive bit set at Amazon
ESSENTIAL TOOL 20 of 20
By now you have a tool box full of useful items that will last you for decades, if not your lifetime.
But this last suggestion isn't for an actual tool, but for the various CONSUMABLES you'll need.
TAPES - There are four tapes you should have on hand:
Recommendation: 3M duct tape at Home Depot
2) PAINTERS TAPE is the blue tape that painters rarely use, oddly enough. But regular folks like us use it to mask off an area that we don't want to get paint on, such as door facings when we paint walls. This tape easily peels off which makes it good for other things, too. A small piece on a drill bit helps you know when to stop drilling down, or it can be used on a wall to ensure multiple pictures are hung in line. Very handy to have.
Recommendation: 3M painter's tape at Home Depot
3) ELECTRICAL TAPE is used to wrap electrical wires so they don't touch each other or metal, which could cause damage or fires. It can also be wrapped around an object you must hold to provide grip and extra cushion.
Recommendation: 3M electrical tape at Home Depot
4) PLUMBER'S TAPE is actually used by plumbers. This thin tape is wrapped around the threads where water fittings are screwed into each other. Want to replace that standard fixed shower head with a cool one that can be held in your hand? You'll need plumber's tape to make a watertight seal between the shower head hose and the water pipe coming out of the wall.
Recommendation: Oatey plumber's tape at Home Depot
MULTIPURPOSE LUBRICANT can be used for more than squeaky door hinges... it can remove bugs and tar from your car, help remove gooey stickers, clean stainless steel items, lubricate bicycle chains, etc.
Recommendation: WD-40 multi-purpose lubricant at Home Depot
SANDPAPER variety pack comes with different sheets of grit (roughness). Sand down rough spots on a balcony railing, deburr metal items, or smooth out items before painting. Use the sanding block to sand larger areas but use the sheet in your hand for finer work.
Recommendation: Sandpaper variety pack and hand sander at Amazon
ZIP TIES are great to hold things together, especially power cables you're wanting to hide behind a piece of furniture. If you need one longer than you have, simply zip two or more of them together to make a chain to wrap around the object and then cut the excess off each one.
Recommendation: Self-locking cable ties at Amazon
ALL PURPOSE MARKERS that are designed for construction sites but we can use one, too. Sharpies are good, but these are made to write on just about anything, wet or dry, and you can leave the cap off for hours and it won't dry up quickly like a standard marker will.
Recommendation: Milwaukee INKZALL jobsite permanent marker at Home Depot
NAIL SET variety pack with various size nails.
Recommendation: Grip-Rite 230-piece nail kit at Lowe's
SCREW SET variety pack comes with various sizes and type screws.
Recommendation: Grip-Rite 170-piece screw kit at Lowe's
RECAP BY STORE
Acme Tools
Milwaukee Fasback folding utility knife
Amazon
HORUSDY 6-piece insulated screwdriver set
IRWIN 4-piece pliers and wrench set
Craftsman Flex Claw 18 oz. hammer
Multipurpose electrical shears
Triple torch lighter
Double edge scraper
Painter's tool
Zircon 4 in 1 wall scanner
Milwaukee Shockwave impact drill and drive bit set
Sandpaper variety pack and hand sander
Self-locking cable ties
Home Depot
DeWALT large tool box
Energizer LED headlamp
DeWALT pull saw
RYOBI brushless cordless drill/driver kit
3M duct tape
3M painter's tape
3M electrical tape
Oatey plumber's tape
WD-40 multi-purpose lubricant
Milwaukee INKZALL jobsite permanent marker
Lowe's
Korky 6-in rubber plunger
Kobalt 25-foot tape measure
Craftsman 9-inch level
Purdy 2 1/2-inch paint brush
Werner fiberglass 4.8-foot step ladder
Grip-Rite 230-piece nail kit
Grip-Rite 170-piece screw kit
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