A well-equipped household tool kit is a basic essential for a DIY buff. However, a question that foxes everyone here is how to decide which are the must-have tools, that are an absolute mandate in a household tool kit! Through this blog, we bring you a glimpse of some must-have tools, which are integral components of your household tool kit.
Must-have tools are somewhat a misleading title, and anyone who has attempted to assemble a basic tool kit for home will testify. It is perfectly possible to put together an impressive array of expensive tools and still find that your door handle undoes with an Allen key that you do not possess, instead of the screwdriver bit that you have in the household tool kit! This episode immediately brings you to think about the must-have tools in your household tool kit.
Well, you must inevitably add items to your basic tool kit for home every time you take on a job around the house. Don’t be tempted to make do with what is in the toolkit either, because DIY disasters lurk just around the corner. Using the wrong tool for the job can result in an accident; at best it can make the problem you are trying to solve considerably worse. Buying the correct tool for the job allows your basic tool kit to grow with your experience and become a comprehensive toolkit, and before too long you will have a tool that you are confident in using.
So, one must have tools that make their job easy and quick. It’s a good practice to first make a list of items in a toolbox.
Must-Have Tools for Your Household Tool Kit
A few basic tools list that will be found in all household tool kit are:
- Measuring And Marking Tools
01. Measuring Tape
02. Steel Ruler
03. Spirit Level
04. Engineer’s Square
05. Soft Pencil
06. Waterproof Pen
- Basic Cutting Tools
07. Knife
08. Saw
- Drills And Drivers
09. Powered And Cordless Drill
10. Spiral Ratchet Driver
11. Screwdriver- Slotted And Cross Head Screwdrivers
12. Hammer – Claw Hammer, Pein And Ball Hammer
- Adjustable Gripping Tool
13. Plier
14. Wrench
- Tools For Making Good And Basic Painting Equipment
15. A Putty Knife
16. A Hacking Knife
17. Paint Tray And Roller Brush
18. A Scraper
19. Brushes
20. Masking Tape
List of Measuring and Marking Tools
Following are Measuring and Marking Tools:
01. Measuring Tape
02. Steel ruler
03. Spirit level
04. Engineer’s square
05. Soft Pencil
06. Waterproof Pen
01. Measuring Tape
A retractable steel measuring tape that measures 5 m is a real asset; measuring shorter distances is simple with smaller measuring tapes, but they won’t run the length of a room. This forces you to add dimensions together, which can lead to miscalculations.
02. Steel Ruler
Another measuring tool, i.e a steel ruler can be used to measure length as well as draw lines.
03. Spirit Level
The spirit level tool is used to check the horizontal and vertical levels. This tool will help you to be a perfectionist in your project. A small spirit level can fit comfortably in a pocket. Such basic measuring tools make us perfectionist.
04. Engineer’s Square
An engineer’s square tool is essential for checking the right angles. Wrongly measured angles can ruin the whole project. So, the use of the engineer’s square kept in your household tool kit can be a blessing in disguise. You must include it in your list of basic measuring tools.
05. Soft Pencil
A soft pencil should be included in your basic toolkit for use on timber surfaces.
06. Waterproof Pen
A waterproof pen is a tool that offers a very useful way of marking gloss-painted surfaces.
List of Basic Cutting Tools
Following are Basic Cutting Tools:
07. Knife
08. Saw
07. Knife or Cutter
If you are trying to cut a complex shape, a craft or a general-purpose knife tool is an ideal option. A craft or a general-purpose knife or cutter are the most essential cutting tools that you must have in your household tool kit.
08. Saw
Another essential cutting tools is a saw. Pick a medium-sized tenon saw to start with; it can be identified by a heavy-duty brass or steel strip on the top edge of the blade, keeping it straight. It is a simple saw to use and can cut across large timbers as well as make smaller, more intricate cuts for joints. Different types of saws work as basic carpentry tools for any DIY project. Always use the protective teeth guard.
Drills and Drivers
Basic hand tools, drills and drivers are needed for plugging walls and driving screws.
Following are drills and drivers:
09. Powered And Cordless Drill
10. Spiral Ratchet Driver
11. Screwdriver- Slotted And Cross Head Screwdrivers
12. Hammer– Claw Hammer, Pein And Ball Hammer
09. Powered and Cordless Drill
It happens many a time, that we need to put nails on the wall, but the most tedious job is of making hole in the wall. A drill in your household tool kit can make your job easy. A mains-powered or cordless drill is something entirely subjective, but in either case, don’t buy a cheap drill. DIY superstores are full of ‘bargains’ but don’t be tempted. Cheap, badly made, noisy, inaccurate equipment is no investment; it will not last and will prevent you from doing a good job. Try to find a drill that will satisfy all requirements – wood, masonry, and screw-driving and which has variable speed control. May it be a cordless drill or a powered drill, you must include it in your list of tools in a toolbox.
10. Spiral Ratchet Driver
An extensive range is available for power driving, but consider a quality manual tool as well, such as a small spiral ratchet driver with interchangeable blades. It gives you the best grip and helps you to unscrew even the most intransigent screw.
11. Screwdriver
Perhaps an insulated electrician’s screwdriver in your toolkit is handy for removing switches or doing any type of electrical work.
A. Slotted and Cross Head Screwdrivers
Another type of screwdriver is a slotted and cross-head screwdriver. This type of screwdriver fits best into the cross slots and eases your work at home.
12. Hammer
Although its role is self-explanatory, yet a point to remember here is that there are several types of hammers available, serving the purpose in diverse ways. For example: claw hammer, Pein and ball hammer.
A. Claw Hammer
A claw hammer tool would be the most useful starter, as the claw would be able to extract nails and pins. In confined spaces, a pair of pincers will do the job of the claw. Claw hammer can not only be used for driving nails or pulling the nails out but also for cleaving wood.
B. Pein and Ball Hammer
Pein and Ball Hammer is an ideal hammer that can be used in metal works. This type of hammer has one rounded head called the peen and one flat head.
Adjustable Gripping Tool
Following are Adjustable Gripping Tool:
13. Plier
14. Wrench
13. Plier
14. Wrench
A pair of combination pliers and an adjustable gripping tool i.e a wrench is mandatory when it comes to gripping work at home, but it is worth including a long-nosed pliers because they can sometimes reach where conventional pliers cannot, and are useful when undertaking electrical work and plumbing work. This Plumbing tool is a must-have tool in your household tool kit.
Tools for Making Good
Following are basic hand tools For Making Good:
15. A putty knife
16. A hacking knife
17. Paint tray and roller brush
18. A scraper
19. Small and medium-size brushes
20. Masking Tape
15. A Putty Knife
Applying putty with the hand is messy, hence the putty knife is the best tool to apply putty without staining your hands.
16. A Hacking Knife
A hacking knife in your toolkit can tear the wood. It can be used in varnishing glass too.
17. Paint Tray and Roller Brush
If you are planning to paint your home, a paint tray and a roller brush is a necessary tool in your toolkit. The duo makes your painting task easy.
18. A Scraper
The stiff blade of a scraper is helpful in removing stubborn paint from the surface.
19. Brushes
The painting task at home certainly requires different brushes. The brush tools in your toolkit can be oval, circular, or square shaped.
20. Masking Tape
Your list of tools in a toolbox must have a masking tape, which is a delicate paper tape. It can be used to cover the areas you don’t want to paint. It is available in different sizes, so you can choose the one that fulfills your goal.
Household Tool Kit
While some consumer items are replaceable because they simply wear out, the majority of your tools will be with you for a long time, particularly if you buy quality ones. So do invest in quality tools and enjoy doing various projects using them. Here’s hoping that the tips in this blog help get you started on stocking up your basic tool kit for home. Your household tool kit must have items in a toolbox mentioned in our blog in order to become a handyman of your home. We assure you, that if your household tool kit possesses all these tools, it will definitely turn out to be ‘neighbour’s envy and owner’s pride’!
With this ‘Must-have tools’ knowledge, I am sure you would love to know about different cleaning tools for your home that will ease your cleaning work.
Cleaning Tools that are Used for House Cleaning
Image Courtesy: Image 7, Image 12, Image 17, Image 21
Author Bio
Huta Raval – An English Literature and Journalism Topper, Huta Raval has graduated from the L D Arts College, Ahmedabad. Post serving for 23 years in the NBFC and Public Library Sectors her desire for ‘writing the unwritten’ brought her to the creative field of content writing. Her clientele comprises of NGOs, Blogging Platforms, Newspapers, Academic Institutions, et al.
