A well-stocked toolbox is an empowering thing, holding the possibilities of every project yet to come. Because a well-made tool can last a lifetime, I believe that it’s worth spending a little more upfront to get high-quality tools. I tend to choose brands like Channellock, DeWalt, Milwaukee and Klein Tools to fill my toolbox—look for American-made parts, forged metal rather than cast and brands recommended by your trusted local hardware store. There’s nothing worse than being in the middle of a job and having a cheap tool break on you. Keep in mind, most pre-made toolboxes—especially those marketed to women—carry poorly-made tools.
I have put together many toolboxes over the years as gifts for other women. This gift-giving season, I’d like to pass along my top recommendations for the essential tools in a proper toolbox. As you follow along with this column, we will use all of these tools over the coming months.
- Tape measure. A 25’ retracting tape measure is perfect for most home DIY-jobs.
- Ratcheting screwdriver with changeable bits will give you a little more power than a regular screwdriver and save your wrists—work smarter, not harder!
- Claw hammer. I prefer a wood-handled hammer with a heavy metal head.
- Mallet. Useful for delivering softer, cushioned blows that protect the surface from scuff marks, dents and damage.
- Level. The smaller 6-8” torpedo levels are great to start with. Longer spirit levels are useful for bigger projects.
- Adjustable wrench. Much easier than getting a whole set of wrenches—adjustable wrenches can fit most nut/bolt sizes that you would find around the house.
- Hex key set (or Allen wrench). A lot of furniture requires this tool for assembly, and it comes in handy for bike repairs.
- Pliers. Needle-nose are super useful, so start with these. If you want to expand your pliers game, split-joint and groove-joint pliers can be added later.
- Knife. I keep both a utility knife and a Swiss army knife handy, and use both regularly.
- Small multi-purpose handsaw, one that has both reciprocating saw and hacksaw blades is best.
- Safety gear, such as a well-fitting pair of safety glasses, work gloves, dust mask and ear plugs. There are a number of companies who create safety gear for women’s bodies, so you can find gear that actually fits properly.
- I keep a miscellaneous smattering of sharpies, pencils, picture hanging hooks, drywall screws, super glue, sticky tack, anchors, putty knife, spackling paste and tape in my toolbox, organized into smaller containers to keep it tidy.
- If you want to take on larger projects, I would recommend getting a cordless drill with a set of drill bits and drive heads, a small circular saw and a set of clamps.
Have a question about hardware and how-to that you’d like to see answered here? Email it to editor@granbydrummer.org with the subject line “Jill-of-all-trades.” To the reader who asked about replacing door knobs and installing a dead bolt, I’ll answer your questions in next month’s column, using some of these tools—thank you!