A Handy Tool Guide for the DIY'er in You
America was built by the do-it-yourselfer, and we sure couldn't have pulled it off without a good set of tools. Backyard mechanics, home handymen, and the proverbial jack-of-all-trades agree on one thing: without tools, it all comes crashing down. Tools are essential, even lifesaving. The house we live in, the cars we drive and just about anything we do or use during the day wouldn't exist without tools. It can't be stressed enough how important it is to have a good, basic set, ready for that weekend project or emergency repair. That being said, before you go out and plunk down your hard earned money on a shiny new set of screwdrivers, there are a few things you should know.
First, let's talk about what you need. This article will focus on hand tools and here are some of the basics for around-the-house and light auto-repair. A hammer is always handy. They come in all shapes and sizes, but a good 16oz claw hammer should do nicely. Next, a set of screwdrivers is essential. I say a set because screws come in many different sizes, and so do screwdrivers. Most sets should come with different size flatheads and Phillips screwdrivers. The handles and shafts will vary in size according to need. Make sure the handle is comfortable in your hand--a good fit will reduce hand fatigue.
Pliers are another necessary item that you will find useful. A standard set of 6" pliers and a set of arc jaws will help out a lot on those plumbing repairs. A good adjustable wrench is handy as well, but I prefer combination wrenches for nuts and bolts. Combination wrenches are called such because they will typically come with an open end and a boxed, or closed end. Sometimes they come with a different size on each end as well. When buying wrenches get a set of standard and metric, these days you never know which you are going to run across.
A good socket set is important especially if you work on your car. You can't change spark plugs with a wrench. The ratchets come in different sizes. The most common are ¼, 3/8, and ½. The best all around size is 3/8, not too big, not too small. As with the wrenches, get metric and standard, especially metric if you own an import.
Other tools, like a measuring tape, funnel, and hand level, can come in very useful as well. If you've ever been in a tool aisle, you know the skies-the-limit on choices. So unless you're doing major projects or over-hauling your car's engine yourself, what's listed above will do nicely. Most retailers, like Sears, Lowe's or Home Depot carry all-in-one tool kits for the DIY'er.
There's no need to spend a ton of money here, but I will tell you to pay close attention to the old saying: "You get what you pay for." There's a lot of cheap junk out there that will only make your job harder and more frustrating than it needs to be. Brands like Snap-on and Mac tools are for the professional, and the average person doesn't need to go that high-end. If you do a lot of auto repair in your garage brands like 'Craftsman' and 'Kobalt' are a good bet. They both have lifetime warranties--no questions asked--and are very affordable. If you just hang a picture once in a while and tighten a few screws, then a brand like Stanley will do the job well.
Stay away from flea market tools. You know the ones: brand new package, a hundred shiny tools for 10 bucks. Here's another old saying: "If it seems too good to be true, it probably is." Their cheap and when you need to warranty something they're nowhere around.
Keep a set in your home and your car if practicable, and you won't be sorry. The more you use them, the more money you save. I have thousands of dollars in tools, and I have gotten my money back many times over and so will you. So the next time something breaks and someone runs for a phone book, tell them to put it down, you've got this!
