Invest In A Set Of Basic Tools

Posted by pfadvice
July 19, 2006

tools One of the best investments that you can make is to get a set of basic tools for around the home. I spent a good 4 hours yesterday helping my father put in a new fence in their yard. Esimates from others to put it in were from $3000 – $5000, but we managed to get the job done for about $400 in materials (and a lot of sweat).

He recently purchased a new home and has a lot of odd jobs that need to be done and I have been helping (free labor, can’t beat that ) I am certainly not the handy-man type, but even I can do most basic repairs (I did put a screw-driver through my hand one time – and have the scar to prove it – while putting up a door, but that’s another story and really wasn’t my fault). Being able to do basic repairs can save you money in two ways:

You don’t have to hire someone to come over and make the repair

You can keep things properly maintained so that they last longer and don’t need to be repaired as often

The easiest (and least expensive in the long run) is to purchase a basic home tool set prepackaged. These can be purchased from virtually any hardware store or home improvement store for less than $100. While these prepackaged sets will differ to some degree, they will basically have the same tools:

Claw Hammer: Your basic hammer for driving in nails or hitting a chisels.

Tape Measure: They will range in length, but longer is always better.

Slip-Joint Pliers: Great for getting a grip on something, but shouldn’t be used nuts or bolts as they will likely damage and round the corners.

Needle-Nose Pliers: These pliers come to a point allowing you to reach into tight places and grip smaller objects. They also can be used as a wire cutter which is built into their hinge.

Flathead Screwdriver Set: a set of various sized screwdrivers with a flat head for regular screws.

Phillips Head Screwdriver Set: a set of various sized screwdrivers with a crossed head.

Set of Wrenches: Or a set of socket wrenches. These are what you use to tighten and loosen those bolts and nuts.

Adjustable Wrench: Also referred to often as a “crescent wrench” allows you to adjust it to turn nuts or bolts that aren’t of standard size.

Pipe Wrench: This is used for gripping pipes and comes in handy with plumbing

While there may be some other tools in the set, these are usually the basics. Some other tools I have and I would recommend in addition:

Wood Saw

Hack Saw

Level

Safety Glasses

Electric Drill

Tool Box

These should get you by on most basic home repair projects. As you get better and more comfortable, you can add tools that you find that you need more often. While a basic repair book may be worth purchasing, you can also find everything you need on the Internet and many home improvement stores have free pamphlets on how to do basic home repairs.

Getting a basic tool set will be an investment that pays for itself many times over during their life and well worth the the initial monetary outlay…

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Information: July 19th, 2006; 6 Responses

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Categories: Housing

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Reader Comments

Comment Number:: 1
Written by:: junger
Posted on:: July 19, 2006 at 5:16 am

Wow, major trackback spam. Thanks for the tips, though!

Comment Number:: 2
Written by:: pfadvice
Posted on:: July 19, 2006 at 7:46 am

Wow, major trackback spam

Yep…filters usually catch most of it , but they certainly didn’t today. All deleted.

Comment Number:: 3
Written by:: ~Dawn
Posted on:: July 19, 2006 at 8:06 am

I just love my new cordless drill, I try to find reasons to use it now, even if I could do it by hand…hehehe!

Comment Number:: 4
Written by:: Kevin
Posted on:: July 19, 2006 at 11:06 pm

I work at Home Depot and right now we’re having a “nationwide clearance event,” which basically means we’re putting just about everything that would be on clearance anyway out on tables so everyone can see it. There are a lot of tools (at my store at least) that are being sold below our cost just to make space and get people in the store. Just look for yellow price stickers.

Comment Number:: 5
Written by:: Chris K
Posted on:: August 1, 2006 at 11:54 am

May also add that it’s not necessarily a bad thing to buy the occassional specialty tool when need arises? I got a plumber’s snake ($30) to fix a clogged drain. Wouldn’t have gotten it on its own, but it paid for itself in one use – plus I have it for the future.