Every household needs to be equipped with a toolbox. After all, a home is more than a sum of its inanimate parts – in a way, it is a living and breathing “organism” and certain malfunctions and creaks and crevices will spring up every now and then. In order to tackle some of the smaller (and if you are experienced in home repairs, bigger) issues, you need all the tools at your disposal to rise to the occasion. In order to do this, here’s how to properly equip a toolbox for DIY home improvements.
It is a matter of evolution
Before you begin purchasing items for your toolbox, be aware of the fact that there is no such thing as a “complete” toolbox. You will always need to give it a room to evolve as your home improvement projects evolve and, of course, your experience increases. After all, if you continue honing your household tweaking skills, you will not be the same repairman after a few years, and your toolbox should not be the same either.
The skeleton crew
If we are to discuss the most basic set of items one needs in the toolbox, it goes as follows – the wrench, hammer, nails, vice-grips, duct tape and WD40. Of all the mentioned items, vice-grips are probably the most important tool one should have. Also known as mole grips or locking pliers, this is a tool that can “replace” a lot of instruments, some of them already mentioned – like the wrench, so you’ll be able to execute a lot of menial repairs and tweaks with it.
Electronics come next
Of course, what’s a modern man’s toolbox without some modern tech? It is almost unimaginable to tackle any elaborate home improvement project without a helpful tool powered by the electrical current. Electric screwdrivers with a set of bits as well as an electric drill are some of the basic ones. Do not be one of those people that go around the neighbourhood looking to borrow one of these items when push comes to shove.
Measuring tools
The layout and arrangement of items in each household is a matter of distance, and it can play a crucial role in how you approach solving a certain home improvement problem. This is why every set of workshop tools needs to be equipped with proper measuring equipment. While you can always rely on the old-fashioned measure tape, a digital laser distance meter is also very elegant and undeniably accurate contemporary solutions.
When the time comes for advanced items
As you garner experience with a few home improvement projects under your belt, consider enriching your toolbox roster with some heavy-duty advanced items such as a nail gun. While this item needs to be handled with extreme care, it can save you a lot of time and replace all of the exhausting and repetitive hammerings. In other words, as long as you handle it properly, it will help you save a lot of energy and focus on other aspects of the project. A circular saw and a rubber mallet also fall into this “category” of advanced items, but depending on their relative size, they might be too bulky to be considered toolbox material.
All of the extra (optional) items
When it comes to additional items that can be really useful from the very beginning, a utility knife is a versatile tool that can come in handy in pretty much every home improvement or repair-related situation. If you have come to the decision to purchase this item, opt for a more expensive but very useful utility knife set that comes with replaceable blades and a rubber grip. In addition, purchase a big set of hex keys and a claw hammer.
If you want to equip a toolbox for DIY home improvement projects, there is a caveat you need to adhere to – there is no such thing like an “obligatory” set of tools. The last thing you should do is march into a hardware store with misguided confidence and waste hundreds, even thousands of dollars on a bunch of items you simply do not need. Instead, start with the most basic, broad set and, according to the practical needs, expand upon it as the years roll by.
Guest post by Lillian Connors
About the Author
Lillian Connors can’t resist the urge to embark on a myriad of green living/home improvement projects and spread the word about them. She cherishes the notion that sustainable housing and gardening will not only make us far less dependent on others regarding the dwellings we inhabit, but also contribute to our planet being a better place to live on. You can check her out on Twitter and LinkedIn.
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