What's inside a basic toolbox?
A list of essentials to tackle simple projects and repairs
Santa must have been a DIYer—or maybe his elves were. Because he brought the same Christmas gift to me and my sister: a small toolbox. Inside were some of the basics, a ball-peen hammer, Phillips-head and flat-head screwdrivers, a 20-foot tape measure, a level and a wee little saw. I kept my basic toolbox up until I bought a house of my own, years later. That’s when I realized that the tools were too small to be of much use. (I got blood blisters on my hand after trying to cut the trunk of a Christmas tree with the tiny saw.)
But Santa had the right idea. Every homeowner needs a basic tool kit that can handle everyday repairs. The folks at the National Independent Hardware Association of America (NIHAA) compiled a list of items for beginner DIYers. I have given starter toolboxes as wedding presents and house-warming gifts.
Hammer and nails
Screwdriver set
Adjustable wrench
Stud finder
Level
Tape measure
Utility knife
Pliers
Flashlight
Safety gear
Head to your local hardware store, and someone there will help you pick out these essentials. Before you go, here’s a tip
on terminology. When the clerk says you need a stud finder, it’s not a dis to men.