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More light than heat |
So my existing toolbox has been scavenged by the wife and spread throughout the house over the last fifteen years. The old one has been kicked around, broken and generally reduced to near uselessness. I shitcanned the old one last weekend and bought a nice new Kobalt medium. I’m going to rebuild this one anew. In addition to hunting up all the tools in the house that are missing, what items should absolutely go in this box? I don’t work on cars, but you never know about that. Generally, I do basic maintenance, painting, some electrical. I’m going to direct that nobody get into this box except me because we aren’t doing this again. _________________________ "Age does not bring wisdom. Often it merely changes simple stupidity into arrogant conceit. It's only advantage, so far as I have been able to see, is that it spans change. A young person sees the world as a still picture, immutable. An old person has had his nose rubbed in changes and more changes and still more changes so many times that that he knows it is a moving picture, forever changing. He may not like it--probably doesn't; I don't--but he knows it's so, and knowing is the first step in coping with it." Robert Heinlein | ||
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Doesn't work for everyone, but I have my hand tools in the garage with everything in a rollaway, as well as all the power tools. I have a tool bag in the house with tools I typically use in the house with basic hand tools and a power driver. I don't lose tools that way and when working on something, I pretty much have everything I need at hand and don't need to go searching for stuff. Tony | |||
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Give her her own set and lock your toolbox? | |||
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I shitcanned my conventional toolbox and went with a Rubbermaid box that is in the design of a stool. Holds all I need easily. Now 20 plus years old and still going strong. The ability to sit comfortably while working cant be beat. I dont think its made anymore. Shame. And one of my most used tools is: A 6 inch level. End of Earth: 2 Miles Upper Peninsula: 4 Miles | |||
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Age Quod Agis |
I always keep a good electrical tool around. Quality wire stripper, crimper, etc. multi-tool. Klein makes a nice one. I also always have one of those "don't kill me" electrical sensing wands so I don't inadvertently zorch myself. Also need a hammer, tape measure, 3/8 socket sets in both SAE and Metric, box/open end wrench sets in SAE and Metric, cutting pliers, machinists pliers, vice grips, utility knife, and good screwdrivers. "I vowed to myself to fight against evil more completely and more wholeheartedly than I ever did before. . . . That’s the only way to pay back part of that vast debt, to live up to and try to fulfill that tremendous obligation." Alfred Hornik, Sunday, December 2, 1945 to his family, on his continuing duty to others for surviving WW II. | |||
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Member |
Good utility knife with a small pack of new blades. | |||
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| Three Generations of Service  |
 Probably not the guy you want answering your question...  Be careful when following the masses. Sometimes the M is silent. | |||
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Legalize the Constitution |
Your own needs will fill your toolbox, unfortunately, that probably means a project will be delayed while you run out and buy the tools you need. Generally true that what one guy thinks you must have, another guy might never use. That said, I’ll offer these recommendations: Hammers. An assortment. Ball peens, 32 oz. & 16 oz. (The lighter ball peen I use all the time). 1 BFH. A soft face hammer (plastic). A dead blow hammer, and a carpenter’s hammer (I like a framing hammer). A quality set of screwdrivers. I’ve got a set of Snap-on, but I find myself reaching for a set from Stanley—they’re good. Pliers. Also an assortment. Standard pliers, large and small. Vice Grips (also assorted sizes), I have 3 of the small ones and two of the standard sized one. Used all the time. Needle nose, again, at least two different sizes. A couple pairs of what I only know as “Channel locks,” the highly adjustable slip joint pliers. I’ll add: side cutters. I’ve also got a pair of nail nippers (end cutting) from my horse shoeing years. Although not much bigger than side cutters, they will cut through things that side cutters can’t handle. _______________________________________________________ despite them | |||
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| Three Generations of Service |
Seriously, for general maintenance tasks: Claw hammer Tape measure Slip-joint pliers Channel-lock pliers Needle nose pliers Side cutters Crescent wrench Folding utility knife (better than retractable, IMHO) Small set of SAE combination (box and open end) wrenches 1/4 to 1 inch by 16ths Small set of Metric combination wrenches, 10mm to 19mm 6-in-1 screwdriver 3/8 drive socket set SAE/Metric, same size range as wrenches. Vise Grips Good Electrical Tape (3M, not vinyl) Teflon Tape If you do any electrical at all, add: Good wire stripper/terminal crimper. Klein is good stuff Multimeter. Better than a $5 Harbor Freight, but you don't need a $700 Fluke either. $40-ish should get you a decent one. I don't trust the "magic wand" style voltage sensors, I check with the meter to be sure. Be careful when following the masses. Sometimes the M is silent. | |||
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| The success of a solution usually depends upon your point of view |
Many years back I bought my wife a small toolbox for Christmas. It had a set of screwdrivers, chain nose and needle nose pliers, small tack hammer, box cutter, picture hangers, and a few other things. she loves it and it is in the laundry room. It has kept her out of my tools ever since. “We truly live in a wondrous age of stupid.” - 83v45magna "I think it's important that people understand free speech doesn't mean free from consequences societally or politically or culturally." -Pranjit Kalita, founder and CIO of Birkoa Capital Management | |||
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Prepared for the Worst, Providing the Best |
Sounds like the first thing on your list needs to be a lock! My whole family knows nothing pisses me off more than losing my tools. Feel free to use what you want, but put it back where you found it when you're done!!!! I have several, mostly geared towards specific tasks. There's the big garage mechanics box, electrical box, drywall and framing box, gun maintenance box, etc. The one that sounds the most like what you're looking for is my "travel" box, that gets put in the back of whatever vehicle we're taking on a trip. It has: Hammer (3 lb sledge) Hammer (claw) Hatchet Screwdrivers Combination wrench sets both SAE and Metric Adjustable Wench Pliers assortment Wire cutters Small 3/8" socket set with just the common sizes 3/8" extensions Tire plug kit Mini air compressor Spare automotive fuses and bulbs A bag of assorted bolts, nuts, screws, and electrical connectors Electrical tape Zip ties There's probably a number of other things I can't remember off the top of my head...but the idea is to be able to handle most problems I might encounter on the road or while camping even if I can't carry the optimal tool for every conceivable job. | |||
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Member |
I’ve got a rolling craftsman that was full and now about empty with everything scattered. I started over with a cam locker truck box. It it is a medium craftsman tool box containing combo box/open ended wrenches, screw drivers pliers, diagonal cutters, Vise grips, hammer crescent wrenches, needle nose pliers. I have a socket set that is contained in its own case with a snap in slot for each socket. No searching for the right socket in the bottom of the tool box. Cordless drill w battery and charger contained in its own case. Box of bits. Bow saw. Axe. Shovel. Ratchet straps. Jumper cables. Bigger wrenches and vise grips in the sliding tray of the truck box. Wd40, gorilla tape. Contractor trash bags. Tape measure. Small Home Depot bucket. A few other odds and ends. The point is I’ve always got my truck with me. I have to fix things at my mom’s regularly. Everything has its place and I don’t lose it. It’s always together. Standard and metric. All craftsman. Got most at Lowe’s. ----------------------------------------- Roll Tide! Glock Certified Armorer NRA Certified Firearms Instructor | |||
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| More light than heat |
This is going to happen. _________________________ "Age does not bring wisdom. Often it merely changes simple stupidity into arrogant conceit. It's only advantage, so far as I have been able to see, is that it spans change. A young person sees the world as a still picture, immutable. An old person has had his nose rubbed in changes and more changes and still more changes so many times that that he knows it is a moving picture, forever changing. He may not like it--probably doesn't; I don't--but he knows it's so, and knowing is the first step in coping with it." Robert Heinlein | |||
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| More light than heat |
Nope, exactly the guy I want answering my question. _________________________ "Age does not bring wisdom. Often it merely changes simple stupidity into arrogant conceit. It's only advantage, so far as I have been able to see, is that it spans change. A young person sees the world as a still picture, immutable. An old person has had his nose rubbed in changes and more changes and still more changes so many times that that he knows it is a moving picture, forever changing. He may not like it--probably doesn't; I don't--but he knows it's so, and knowing is the first step in coping with it." Robert Heinlein | |||
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Member |
Pliers and Adjustable Wrenches Stored upright to maximize space in deep drawers Most used are Knipex Cobra Klein cutters/strippers EagleGrip locking pliers ChannelLock/Irega adjustable wrenches  | |||
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| Just because you can, doesn't mean you should |
For around the house, a decent multi-meter and a Stanley ratcheting screwdriver with changeable bits get by far the most use. A good tape measure is also a necessity. ___________________________ Avoid buying ChiCom/CCP products whenever possible. | |||
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| No, not like Bill Clinton  |
Everything already listed plus a quality set of mini screw drivers A med and large pry bar | |||
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| Just because you can, doesn't mean you should |
True, I forgot about that somehow. They are my second most used tool category. They are a necessity for all the small electronics that can be repaired by a do-it-yourself'er. Also add one of those magnifying glass headsets. Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Headban...=A1BEAQYBHO6Y12&th=1 ___________________________ Avoid buying ChiCom/CCP products whenever possible. | |||
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Tape measure mentioned multiple times. My experience, I have lent, lost or damaged several over 35 years now. On the other hand, I have an olde skool Kline wooden folding ruler that is like new. No on borrows it, no one steals it, it will probably be passed on to any grandchildren some day. Consider a scanning device that finds studs, etc. That investment years ago more than paid for itself in preventing issues. | |||
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My wife picked out her own tool box and stocked it with things she uses . It's actually pretty complete for general household stuff . | |||
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