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Your Starter Tool Kit by Ron Strasberg of ToolsAtoZ.com | Quality Tools at Discount Prices
Your Starter Tool Kit
Factors Affecting Tool Selection
Not everyone needs the same tools. The selection is usually determined by
three considerations:
PRICE ----- QUALITY ----- USAGE
How much will the tool cost, should it be a low, medium or high quality
implement and how much use will it receive over time?
At this time, I want to start by considering or starting with tools for the
do-it-yourselfer (diy), handyman or homeowner maintenance person. Whatever
name we use, this person is trying to prevent problems, fix problems or
make improvements while saving money.
You're at a home show, in a home improvement store or just cruising through
a neighborhood and spot a fantastic outside light, a set of house address
numbers that look great or just remember that the doorbell at home broke
yesterday. You would like to take care of these improvements and repairs
yourself but you don't have tools.
Some tool owners are fortunate enough to have been raised in families where
the adults were always working on something and had tools in their hands
most of the time. These family members developed self-confidence in their
own abilities and were usually able to make most repairs.
Price and Tool Usage
When most of us began our tool collections, we were usually faced with a
choice between expensive tools and what I would call cheap tools. Can you
guess what I chose in a lot of cases? They were the cheap ones. If I had
only done an occasional repair or project, these tools would probably have
been the right ones and served me for a long time. However, I started
working on more and larger projects as my confidence grew and I soon found
that my cheap and inexpensive tools were getting too much of a workout.
They began to wear quickly and break one by one. That's when we begin to
invest in higher priced value tools.
Caution
It may be wise, for those considering their first tools, to act with
caution in their purchases. Don't jump into a large commitment for new
tools until you have tested the waters and know your likelihood of
continued interest in this type of handy DIY work.
If you find this isn't for you, you're not locked into a huge investment
in tools that will just gather dust for years to come.
If you're experienced or plan to use your tools professionally, I need to
qualify the above statement. Tools used to generate a livelihood should be
durable, efficient and produce quality results. They are an investment and
need to be value products.
Build the Tool Collection Wisely
There are many assembled sets available but some are either super cheap and
won't last through one job or so expensive that you're forced to pay
forever for them.
It sounds great to advertise a 782 piece tool set for $ 29.99*. All the
pieces are neatly laid out and look really great. You get, along with the
tools, a box of screws with 150 little screws, a box of finish nails with
100 nails and maybe, a small box of wire nuts with 25 pieces. I think if
you count the real tools, you'll be surprised to find the actual number of
tools is small in addition to the fact that many break or crack the first
time they receive pressure. You're probably better off buying items as you
go by selecting a good tool source and building your own collection to fit
your needs. Then add the nails, screws and accessories separately.
If you find a brand or line of tool that you like, you can build your
starter tool kit with that brand and the colors and styles will match. For
the fancy sets, that is part of the marketing effort, the presentation. If
having a matched set isn't important, determine the tool quality you want
and then look for the best values.
What Should be in the Toolbox?
This listing contains most of the tools that are suggested for a Homeowner
or DIY Starter Tool Kit.
1.Spatula or Putty Knife for scraping, patching and removing unwanted
surfaces.
2.Wire Cutters for minor snipping, electrical or wire snipping.
3.Needle Nose Pliers are very handy at getting to those hard to reach nuts,
bolts and lots more.
4.Measuring Tape for so many jobs where know size is important.
5.Claw Hammer in light to medium weight.
6.Utility Knife for those tough cuts so you don't end up ruining your
kitchen knives.
7.Hand Saw for those small and light building and remodeling jobs.
8.Flat Head Screwdriver Set for mounting shelves and general repairs.
9.Phillips Head Screwdriver Set for general repairs.
10.Stubby Screwdriver (Flat and Phillips) for those tight places.
11.Open End/Closed End Wrench Set for household appliance and auto
repairs.
12.Standard Pliers for just about any job.
13.Adjustable Gator Type Pliers for those tougher removal and assembly
jobs.
14.Adjustable Wrench for household and automotive fixes.
15.Pipe Wrench (preferably 2) for your plumbing needs.
16.Ratchet and Socket Set to make your work faster and easier.
17.Level that is needed for finished projects to have a professional look.
Safety