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Hey guys and gals.

So I have been living solo for.... 12 ish years now or so but always lived close enough to grab my parents tools and gear. Now I am about 15 minute drive I figured time to get my own.


I got a large free pay check so time to get some stuff needed to live any suggestions?

I got scocket wrench set
Screw drives
Drills
Electric drills and manuals
Table saw
Chain saw
Circular saw
Measuring tapes
Right angle thing lol.
Cutting table.
Few box cutters.
Grinders
Sanders
A wood sculpting tool
Some clamps.
Wheel barrels.
Some chains.
Few axes.

Think that's about it. Since aos hit I kinda went on a tool buying craze and am hoping to finish up things people need to live.

Needed for what? Bare bones, I'd say:

-Something like this:
http://www.factoryauthorizedoutlet.com/porter-cable/stanley-94-248-ergonomically-designed-storage-homeowner-s-tool-kit-65-piece?google=1&CAWELAID=230005750000087567&CAGPSPN=pla&CAAGID=19732019651&CATCI=pla-107150188451&gclid=Cj0KEQiA5IHEBRCLr_PZvq2_6qcBEiQAL4cQ0ygAe3fEVghc_VbMNjc77wBhjxzLYVMLb35R75lsHNsaAvr_8P8HAQ

An electric drill. Yeah, you can go all out, but this fixes most everything I've run into

A really cool hammer.

Also a Zombie machete, er heavy brush remover like this
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Fiskars-24-in-Steel-Blade-Clearing-Machete-385091-1001/206398488

WD-40, pliers, screwdriver, and duct tape should cover 90% of all household maintenance.

Hammer, shovel, locking pliers, CROWBAR. Cheap out on none of these things. An adjustable crescent wrench is also pretty mandatory. Also, a stepladder.

Don't forget elbow grease. Someone always forgets that. Otherwise the two posts above me nailed it.

Decent cordless screwdriver can save you so so so much hastle.

That and maybe some super glue... Because that stuff has a million and one uses from auto repair, to mending a fridge, and a printer!

Normally I just buy tools as projects require. Eventually you build up a decent and varied assortment.

Some things I’ve not seen mentioned:
A couple of 6-packs of beer. Both to reward yourself for doing the home improvement job, and to help lure in some extra help as needed.
Allen/hex wrenches
Bubble level
Multimeter (volts/amps/etc)
Electrical tape
Wire screw-on connecter caps
Teflon tape? (used to wrap around threads in plumbing connections to ensure a good seal)
Big plumbing wrench/murder weapon
Shop vac

Get an Amp detector and a Voltage meter. You will not need them often, and they are cheap. But when you do, they can save your life. Otherwise, I'm a proponent of gradually building your tool arsenal. When a situation arises, buy the proper tool for it.

 Frazzled wrote:
A really cool hammer.

Also a Zombie machete, er heavy brush remover like this
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Fiskars-24-in-Steel-Blade-Clearing-Machete-385091-1001/206398488

I did a double-take when I saw we had them in stock at my store last year. Few different ones even, all look like zombie-apocalypse stuff.

We also sell Viking throwing axes in the Hardware department.

Big extension cord, plus couple smaller ones-always handy.

100ft of 3/4 ton nylon rope-you can use it for everything from rigging to trucking to clothes line.

Can't go wrong with good wooden mallet. Loosens what needs loosening, tightens what needs tightening. Is extremely cathartic.

 Crazy_Carnifex wrote:
Can't go wrong with good wooden mallet. Loosens what needs loosening, tightens what needs tightening. Is extremely cathartic.

Good point. A rubber mallet is also excellent.

Second on the extension cord and various tapes.

Knowledge.
If you don't know what you're doing, all the tools in the world won't help.

 SlaveToDorkness wrote:
Knowledge.
If you don't know what you're doing, all the tools in the world won't help.

Knowledge is for chumps.

 Frazzled wrote:

 SlaveToDorkness wrote:
Knowledge.
If you don't know what you're doing, all the tools in the world won't help.

Knowledge is for chumps.

Measure once, cut twice!

 Nevelon wrote:

 Frazzled wrote:

 SlaveToDorkness wrote:
Knowledge.
If you don't know what you're doing, all the tools in the world won't help.

Knowledge is for chumps.

Measure once, cut twice!

Measure? Thats for hippies. Just eyeball that sucker. What could go wrong?

I'm a big proponent of buying the tools as you need them*, and buying high quality tools instead of cheaping out.

My most recent tool acquisition is a chainsaw on a stick. Broke my pole saw last year, decided to upgrade.

* The caveat being that, if it is something that you will only ever use once, and can be rented, maybe do that. At some point, we are going to do an outdoor patio, and I will need a wet table saw. Unless I can find a good deal on one (since I do not currently have a table saw), I'll rent it, rather than buy.

Buy what you need, as you need it, and remember: "Quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten"

 Frazzled wrote:
Knowledge is for chumps.

Aye, we don't need an electrician for a simple thing like thiZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.....

Otherwise I largely favor the approach of getting stuff as you need them, with the addendum that you should check what you need before starting a project so's to avoid looking stupid. :-)

Not that I usually need to go buy anything, what with living in the same place as father and grandfather used to. There's a ton of different tools in the cellar. The challenge is finding them when you need them.

A Knife. is all you need
It can be a hammer, A Screw Driver, And everything else you need.
Granted, im the least manly man ever. I dont know how to fix cars like my family, I cant remove toilets or redo a bathroom. Or do carpentry like my family. But then again, most of my families jobs are repairmen or so forth.

An awl and a bradawl are surprisingly useful.

It's really easy.

This to fix things.


This to unfix things

And also clear spiders out of the shed.

 n0t_u wrote:
It's really easy.

This to fix things.


This to unfix things

And also clear spiders out of the shed.

You I Like.

Pocket multi-tool.

I probably own a half dozen assorted swiss army knives, multitools, etc. But the one I get the most use out of it my Leatherman Micra. Scissors, screwdrivers, bottle opener, knife, tweezers, file. Don’t need much more then that. It’s small enough I have it with me at all times. Some of the other tools I have are so big they either require a holster, or to be put in a toolbox/bag. So they are not on hand when I need them, despite them having a number of useful things included.

Getting something you are comfortable carrying in your pocket is important. Because having it on hand when you need it is the whole point. If you are going to have to head to the workbench to get the right for the job, then why bother with a multitool?

Obvious things aside, I have a couple of machinist scibers, and they're always coming in handy. You can punch holes with them, widen gaps, you can hammer them, you can use them to pry things open, pick out knots, or claw about in awkward places... the applications really are endless. Buy one and drop it in the pencil pot on your desk, I guarantee that within a week you'll need it for something.