Five Tools Every Household Needs

Whether you live in a hollowed out cedar stump like these folks in Oregon, a condo on the coast or a Victorian in Victoria, there will be times when minor things need to be fixed.

So what do you do? Not everyone can call in a "fix-it" handyman for every little thing that needs to be done around the home. Sometimes the repair can be easily done by the homeowner, but even then the right equipment makes all the difference.

Rarely can you get by without some sort of tool. But which ones? What do I need? How involved and extensive does my tool collection need to be?

From my years of experience as a carpenter I've carried a vast number of tools to be prepared for any situation, but that's not what had me thinking about the person who isn't a builder and didn't have access to so many tools.

As a homeowner and house dweller, I have put together a short list of five tools every household needs. Now I don't think that the "stumphouse" owners would find a plunger very useful since plumbing seems to be a "bath with a path" for them, but I bet they would have liked my other choices.

So stay awhile and see what you think. Start building that household tool box. I'll bet you can't stop at five!

Photos by Amazon. Photo credit Amazon Cedar Stump Residence, Oregon Photographic Prints

The claw hammer is number one on my list of tools. It is a tool that has many uses. You can re-nail a piece of door trim and tap a few more delicate upholstery tacks in the ottoman in the den. Then take your hammer outside and pry some boards apart and bang a few stakes in the ground for your tomato plants.

Some may be reading this and saying, "Duh, who doesn't have a hammer?" But you would be surprised how many don't have one and if they do it is an old wooden handled one with a couple of nails holding the head in place. A hand me down from Grandma's old kitchen tool drawer. It's time to step into the 21st Century and spring for a new hammer.

The most versatile is the 16 ounce claw hammer pictured here. This is the type that I use and have used for years. It is light enough for anyone to swing as well as being light enough for small jobs like tapping a picture frame back together. No doubt about it, the hammer is number 1 on my list.

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A screwdriver is next on the list. But not just any screwdriver. Today's fasteners come in all shapes and sizes and head designs. Having just a Phillips and slotted screwdriver just won't cut it. You need one screwdriver that will handle them all. There are many out there that will do the job, but I am impressed with the Klein 11-in-1 screwdriver.

This screwdriver comes with no. 1 and 2 Phillips bits, 1/4" and 3/16" slotted bits. It also carries bits for the new-fangled "star" or torx screws, square recess screws, and can be used as a nut driver. You just pop one bit out and put the other one in. This is a mini tool box in one tool. With a lifetime warranty, you can't go wrong with this tool.

I can't tell you how many times I have had to work on something in an older home, have crawled underneath a cabinet or some other hard to reach place, just to find that they had used both phillips and slotted screws. So I had to crawl back out and get what I needed. Not with this tool, however. You have the bits with you so you can change them out quickly and get the job done. Simple as that.

When you want to get new drapes or window shades, you can't really afford to guess at the sizes. How much paint do we need for the living room, and how wide is that drawer in the bathroom? Inside the house and out, you need a tape measure.

Since a yardstick is only three feet long and a ruler only 12 inches, you are limited to what you can do with them. A good tape measure is just the thing to prevent costly mistakes when measuring custom made and custom cut items.

Tape measures come in all shapes and sizes. I find that if I have a twelve foot tape measure, the next thing I will measure will be over twelve feet. So my choice for the home tool box is a 25-foot tape measure.

The blade is wide and the numbers can be seen easily. Also the bigger ones like, the 25 footer, are more heavy duty and should last for years and years without a problem.

We keep one in the kitchen apart from my set, because it always seems there's something that needs measuring. This way I don't have to go out to my vehicle or shop to fetch mine.

If any of you have read my "Cordless Power Tool" lens, you will know that I am a huge fan of cordless drills. I wouldn't think of putting a shelf unit together without one. They are just a wonderful tool.

They are a bit pricey for the household tool box, but I have included it in my top five list because everyone can use it, and it makes some jobs a whole lot easier to do. From drilling holes, to tightening door catches and hanging shelves, this is the tool to have.

There are so many to choose from. The drill pictured is the one that I use almost every day. However, let me caution you. If you can be sure to purchase extra batteries so that you always have one charged. It seems I'm forever recharging mine.

Another thing to keep in mind is that many cordless drills can be purchased in a kit that includes other power tools. My wife has bought me many of these for Christmas or for other holidays as well. They are priced really well if you can go that route and most come with a carrying tote bag.

Cordless Power Tools Builders Use
For years people have been asking me the question, "What tools do you use?" Some think that the tools in my toolbox are too "commercial" ...

I know that some of you are saying, "Vise grips, why not just a cheap pair of pliers?" Well the main reason is this. Not everyone has an iron grip to squeeze a pair of pliers onto a rusted nut and loosen the bolt. Not everyone has a set of open-end or box wrenches, but everyone can use a pair of vise grips.

Vise grips are adjustable to fit almost anything in the home (with the exception of some plumbing fittings). You turn the adjusting knob to get them to the proper size, put them on the item you want to grip, squeeze the handle and they lock in place. When you are done, just flip the locking lever and they release.

They may look a bit imposing, but this an excellent strain saving tool that should be included in your household tool box. Buy a good pair, and they will last you a lifetime.

Okay. How do I say this? We all have had a "clog" at one time or another and there is only one tool for the job. A plunger. It does the dirty work for you.

Since the days of the 3 gallon per flush toilets have long since gone down the drain and the new water saving 1.6 gpf toilets have taken their place, there has been an increase in the need for plungers. And be honest, your household is no different than the rest of us. We need this inexpensive little device more than we care to say.

This is not a topic that folks sit around the pot belly stove at the general store and discuss, but the plunger usually does the job with no extraordinary measures needed. Except for the time a Barbie doll made her way into the toilet...but that's a whole story in itself (and a true one).

When we have company, or family over (and you know who you are) I like to leave the plunger alongside the toilet. If there is a problem, you know what to do! By doing this, it saves me time and them embarrassment. This bonus tool is a social lifesaver. Even the "cheapo" dollar store variety.

So stop hiding your plunger, let nature take its course and everyone will be a little happier.