Okay no I am not going to talk about how set up a shop or what I think a work shop should have. However I read in a Mitre10mega “Howto” Magazine a couple of articles of what some of the basic tools a home handyman requires in his garage, basement or workshop. While would a agree on the most part, when I started reading part II, it switched from a home handyman to a D.I.Y and near the end a serious D.I.Yer
To me a home handyman (person lets be PC about this) can fix a stuck door, install a shelf maybe unblock a drain, paint and wallpaper and maybe installing batts. Moving up to a D.I.Y is when you start talking renovations taking out walls, even re-jibbing, taking out windows, adding doors, building a deck here and there and the like to the Serious D.I.Y, when you are actually building and major renovation.
So if I was to say a Home Handyman required a bench saw I think even I would say… wait a second, why would a home handyman need a bench saw. That is basically what I was reading and then thinking. It was most definitely a sales pitch.
So I have come up with my list, and basically they are the very basics of tools, that every household should have in the shed. As with everything, you do need to think of what jobs need doing, and what jobs may need doing, are you going to fix or get some one in, if you are going to fix what tools have I go and what do I need, (not want). Now you want the tool to last for the job and to able to tackle the job at the very least. So how big is the job.
Now what I am suggesting here is not really any of the above, but really just basic tools every house hold should have, even if you have no intention of doing any fix it jobs yourself.
Basic tools every home should have.
Hammer
Obvious what it is for, and obvious there are different kinds. But we are talking about the standard claw hammer. The hammer knocking in the nails and then ripping them out, to taking out a wall to fix that watch (ok a joke there but hey)
They range in price from your $100 (maybe more) Estwing trade hammer. To your $10 budget hammer. They also range in weight from 16oz to 24-28oz most trade guys use between 20-24oz, heavy enough to bang in the nail quickly but not to heavy when you are swinging it all day and every day. So that is a personal taste. This figure is the weight of the hammer head not the overall hammer, so the handle also comes in to play.
Hammers can have a wooden, steel, fibre glass or a composite handle, and usually have a rubber or sometimes leather grip. What you need to find is one that is comfortable to you to use. Not to heavy if you are going to be swinging a lot, and then not to light as it means more knocks to smack that heavier nail in.
Tape Measure
Going to do any form home handyman stuff you need a reasonable tape measure. As the old saying goes don’t measure and cut 5 times… no wait that’s not right. Anyway I say reasonable because tape measures have a habit of getting knocked around. And this is the same reason why I don’t say a good high quality one. Over the years I have had both the hi quality and the cheap and nasty they all come to the same disappointing end, while so call hi quality did last a bit longer it wasn’t worth the jump in price.
Okay you will want at least a 5m tape measure, look for the rivets on the stop head of the tape measure. Usually 2 or 3 try get one with 3 rivets. The main thing in looking after a tape measure is to resist letting the stop head snapping back home this the most common thing that breaks a tape measure.
Another we test is on a 5m tape measure you should be able to extend the tape out to about 2m with out it flopping. This is handy when measuring something on your own and no one to hold the other end.
Cost of the tape measure based on a 5m range from maybe $5 up to $60-$80, I would look in the range of about $15-$20
Handsaw
Every household should have a handsaw, and I will happily say even if it is just the cheap Jetcut hand saw. However the range that is available is actually pretty scary if you just want a saw. Hence my first recommendation because any saw is better than none. The Jetcut saw cuts both ways on the push and the pull stroke. Many trades-man don’t like them because of this and they can give a rough cut.
They are handy for quick jobs, and for home handy-people. But it does depend on what you are cutting, and the finish you are after. I wouldn’t use it to cut skirting, but no problem the 2” by 4” and the like.
Saws go on the number of teeth per inch. your basic cross cut saw is what the average home should have stashed somewhere, is about a 8 point saw. For finer cuts like skirting and scotia maybe a 10 point or 12 point saw.
There are also short mitre saws, procut, hand saws for ripping instead of cross cut, hack saws and coping, key hole saws, tenon saw and there is more. Each have their use.
Look at the job that needs doing and decide. But if you just need a general purpose saw to cut most wood a cheap jet cut is ok just don’t use it on finer cuts like skirting.
Screw driver set
Now these are more important than a cordless drill the little things about the place you can fix with just a screwdriver, tighten this and that you will be amazed. Again I am not recommending top of the line, however I am also not recommending dirt cheap in this case.
The average home should have say a set of 8 screwdrivers. 4 Flat head, 4 philips of different sizes. You need a reasonable set because once you start tightening or trying to loosen old screws the quality of the screwdriver comes in play. The grip has to be of a decent quality the its not going to break if you knock it with the hammer or truly wrenching on it. So you don’t want a cheap handle or cheap steel.
The steel shaft again semi decent and not cheap alloy. Whilst if you don’t know what you are looking for it can be difficult. But the price can be a give away. $10 set or $50 set. The more expensive sets can be in the hundreds of dollars.
Spanners
Like screw drivers I put spanners up there for the requirement. Now for “average joe” you don’t need top of the line, you are not buying these spanners to strip down the Ducati and then rebuild it. But you have a loose nut and bolt on your kitchen table and or chair or bed, or you bought a set of shelves that needs put together. If you are going to be striping the car and rebuilding and then doing your mates Mazda then yes go higher grade.
If it is just to have around the house in the shed in case the kitchen table or bed or whatever then I would not really pay more than $50 for a set.
Not a lot can go wrong with them untill you start using a tool for something it is not designed to do or you are getting in to the serious side of it all.
Vise Grips & Pliers
Again as the rest does not have to be top of the line, pliers are good for gripping the nearly un-grip-able, for cutting and striping wire. I would suggest a set of long nose and standard pliers.
Vise Grips are like having a mini vise about the place. They are also knowing as locking pliers. They are handy for holding a bolt that you don’t have the correct spanner for. And also a last resort for getting that nut un-done. But you do have to be careful using them as the also have another name that I can’t really say here…
Cordless Drill
Now we are starting to talk a bit of money. But if you are going to do any D.I.Y you will need a decent drill. Now this is where it gets confusing. If you have no intentions of doing any of the “fixer uperings” around the place, then get one of the cheaper brands (I will explain why soon) If you are going to do major work get a drill to meet that need however the price will follow.
Many of the trade tools like Makita and Bosch have also what they class as there D.I.Y power tools. Most of them you can tell by the colour. Example Makita, Blue tool targeted for the tradesman, Green D.I.Yers. So shop about.
So why do I say even if you don’t plan on doing any of the fixing up… Well if something does break go wrong, you may be able to fix it yourself, if a friend comes over at least you have some tools to help, Neighbour might be able to fix…
Power Tools
Professional |
Home User lite DIY |
|
|
Hand Tools |
|
Professional & Trade |
Home User lite DIY |
|
|
This is not a complete list but a list of the more common brands you will see in places like Mitre10Mega or Bunnings.
Now there is cheap… and then there is cheap and nasty. Some things not a lot can go wrong, especially if it is for the home handy man and gets used once a year. But the same tool being used every day it may not survive the rough treatment it may receive.
Shop about, ask questions before before you buy.
Regards
Nighthawk
