Do It Yourself Ideas

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Craftsman, Klein, Stanley, Black & Decker make decent quality reasonable priced hand tools for home owners.

You can start with one of the basic sets. They usually include:

Screwdriver handle with multiple bits in the most commonly used flathead, Phillips and torx and nut driver sizes. The nicest thing about these screwdriver handles is that you can’t use them as pry bars and ruin them like you can a regular screwdriver.
Regular claw hammer – most are 16 oz.
25’ tape measure
Utility knife with replaceable blades
Large and medium size regular pliers – also called slip joint pliers
Needle Nose pliers
Vise Grips – 10” is the most versatile.
Dikes – also called nippers. They are designed to cut wire or metal and even small screws or nails.
Common sized wrenches in both standard and metric
Jeweler’s screwdrivers – there are always some jobs that have those itty bitty little screws such as working on most electronic gadgets.
Level – these are usually very simple levels. Buying a laser level is definitely worth it. Get one that can do the entire room and go around corners.

Additional Basic Hand Tools Everyone Needs:

Flashlight – both a regular and a snake light that the flexible neck is long enough to wrap around your wrist. The snake flashlights are great when you are working alone and need someone to hold the light but need both hands free.
12” Channel lock pliers – also called arc-joint pliers. “Robo Grip” type pliers are also nice but they won’t work everywhere.
Razor blade scrapper – the best ones use single edge razor blades that are replaceable.
Pipe Wrench – nothing else really works on stubborn metal plumbing fixtures.
Toilet plunger – buying a drain snake (auger) is a good idea as well.
Hacksaw – needed to cut metal and pipe but will cut almost anything.
Saber / jig saw – you can also you a sawzall reciprocating saw for the same type of cutting that you use a saber or jig saw to do. Personally I use a sawzall for everything except cutting round corners. Then I use a jigsaw.
Circular Saw – absolutely no other type of saw will cut a perfectly straight smooth line.
Scratch awl – an ice pick will work almost as well.
Electric drill – I recommend a 3/8” drill for most jobs.
Drill bit set – I recommend the quick change snap in hex-shank sets. I know that Craftsman, DeWalt and Black & Decker make them.
T-Square – absolute necessity to get things right.
¼ “ deep well socket set
Wire strippers for electrical work
Test light to see if the power is turned on.

Nice To Have Around Hand Tools

Stud finder – will save you a lot of headaches
Caulking gun – never know when you will need one.
Electric sander - necessity for any refinishing projects
Detail sander - needed for anything with a carved or more ornate design like most furniture legs
Flat pry bar - will save you a fortune in replacing broken screwdrivers
Cordless screwdriver – get a really good one or don’t bother wasting your money.
Wood Chisel set – necessary if you plan to work with wood
Putty knife set – for spackling, etc.
Nail puller – absolute must for renovation work.
6’ level for building projects - like the t-square, you need it to get things right. The electronic version is called a transit and pretty expensive unless use will use it regularly.

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