Putting Together a Basic Tool Kit
Putting Together a Basic Tool Kit
Tool Skool's very own Brad Staggs is featured on a Home Improvement episode of Talk of the Town on Nashville's News Channel 5. In this segment of the show, Brad shows what tools should be brought together to make a basic home improvement tool box. Take a look and then read about the tools and Brad's tips below.
Brad Staggs on Talk of the Town - Basic Tool Kit
Brad's Tips for Basic Tools:
#1: Determine whether you are a tool box or a tool bag person. Brad prefers the box over the bags, especially tool boxes like the DEWALT TSTAK1 with organizational compartments on the top for smaller items, and room for larger tools on the bottom. For a better look at the DEWALT TSTAK System: CLICK HERE.
#2: Start with the basics, like screwdrivers. It's perfectly fine to put a full set of screwdrivers into the box, or if you prefer to save yourself a little room, get a screwdriver with multiple tips. Make sure you go beyond Phillips and Flathead. Look for a screwdriver with square, hex, and more so that are prepared for any job that comes along. Stanley makes several of these multi-bit screwdrivers with various types of bits. To purchase on Amazon.com, CLICK HERE
#3: Add a small socket set to your tool box. Unless you are planning to become a mechanic, a small socket set like the one here is fine for a basic tool box.
#4: Or, you can combine the screwdrivers and sockets by adding a multi-tool that has multiple driver bits and sockets. Two examples of this are the Stanley STHT70695 14 in 1 Multi-tool. This tool has 6 screwdriver bits and 4 metric sockets along with a few other tools that all fold up into one compact multi-tool. To purchase for under $15 on Amazon.com (time of post): CLICK HERE
Another option for a combination tool is the Master Mechanic Swift Driver dual-drive ratcheting set. It includes a flexible shaft extension, and a variety of screwdriver and nut driver bits. The Swift Driver can be found at True Value stores for just over $15.
#5: You need a hammer, but remember not all hammers are created equally, and some are created for very specific jobs. Heavier hammers and those with a waffle head are meant for framing and are not what you'd use for most household projects. For a basic tool kit, a 16oz smooth-faced hammer is a good choice. You can find these in hardware stores, big box stores, or to purchase on Amazon.com for around $11 (at time of post): CLICK HERE
For just hanging pictures and smaller jobs, a tack hammer will do the job.
#6: Pocket drivers are perfect for tool kits because they take up much less space than a full-sized drill driver, but they can handle most jobs around the house. They can be found in many brands and the prices vary greatly. Ryobi has a 4V that is one of the tools in Tek4 line. If you already have tools from this line, this might be the choice for you
If you want to step up a bit, many manufactures have a 12V version. Here they are in order of price:
Craftsman Nextec 12V Drill / Driver: For product details: CLICK HERE. To purchase the tool without the battery, you can find some deals on Amazon.com.
The Milwaukee M12 Red-Lithium 12V Cordless Screwdriver is another option for around $100. For product details: CLICK HERE. To purchase on Amazon.com: CLICK HERE
And finally, the Bosch 12V Max Pocket Driver runs around $110. For product details: CLICK HERE. To purchase on Amazon.com: CLICK HERE
#7: You need to have a good tape measure in your tool box. You want to look for high quality tape measure with a wide tape and a solid hook at the end to grab onto things and still get an accurate measurement. You can get a high quality one from Bostitch for about $25: CLICK HERE
At Tool Skool, we like to help out inventors. Future Tools LLC put out the Compass Guide Tape Measure. It's pretty cool because it's both a tape measure and a compass. Just use the pivot point on the tool to draw curves and circles. This is a new tool, so you may have to contact them directly to find out how to order. For the Future Tools LLC website: CLICK HERE
If you'd like to purchase a signed copy of Brad's book, it's just $20 including shipping. It's full of helpful hints and projects with easy-to-follow pictures and instructions. Click the secure PayPal link below to buy it now!
