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ESSENTIAL tools for brand-new property owners ►
Drill & Motorist set:
Drill & driver bits:
Wrench set:
Screwdriver set:
Multi-bit screwdriver:
16 oz. hammer:
Set of pliers:
Hex secret (Allen wrench) set:
25' Tape measure:
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Great video, as someone who does some diy house work, carpentry, bike fix, metal work, etc., I’d definitely recommend this video as a great starter kit idea that is well explained and reasoned out (just like your one on the first must have woodworking tools that brought me to buy my first table saw 🙂
Thanks again for a great video!
Great list Steve. How about a step ladder too. Those light bulbs aren’t going to change themselves !
And a flashlight for sure.
If you don’t have a step ladder a sturdy dining room chair works just as well, that’s what I have always done. I think that’s why he didn’t include it.
Step ladders just take the fun out of countertop/back of couch/dining chair gymnastics. 😉
@Jodi Lea my bad, what was I thinking !! 😀
For the drills, just go for a DeWalt or Milwaukee 12v. Lightweight, fair price, great quality and power. I personally have both and use the DeWalt daily on site (kitchens, even building decks.)
5:00 describes how I started woodworking. Being an engineer and having some tools, you instinctively start to build stuff that fixes a problem. Then obviously to solve the said problem better you need another tool, then another…
And then your neighbor gets to know you’re the DIY guru in town and knocks on your door….
Anything else you think should be added to this list?
In my experience a corded drill is better for a new homeowner, Cordless seem to never be charged when you need them.
You didn’t include a set of metric screwdrivers, adjustable wrench, pliers and hammer.
I would say a crane with a wrecking ball could be in order when taking on a project that created more stress and work then originally anticipated. It can be used to really relieve the frustration. LOL Just kidding.
Thank you Steve for your ambition for making this channel happen. I have been thinking of doing it for a long time now just can’t figure out a good pilot.
I would add a hacksaw, it is very cheap and useful to cut wood and metal.
I would say a putty knife or a wide chisel. I use those all the time scraping something smooth.
I would change this slightly to be a 7+ tools list, the “+” being a pair of safety glasses. You don’t want to have bits of your DIY project flying into your eyes. Especially when the project is something like disassembling a bathroom mirror one piece at a time!
I would also say a set of basic DIYer PPE. Along with the safety glasses some gloves, leather and/or cloth and nitrile ones to protect your hands. Some face masks for those dusty or gross jobs, nothing worse than blowing your nose and seeing a bunch of saw dust or dirt come out after working on a task.
@dean S Yep, I’d agree; that’s even better.
I would add a small level and xacto knife as necessary tools for a home kit. Honestly, go to your favorite box store or amazon and buy a kit in a plastic case for $100 or so. It will have everything you need for general home repair and maintenance. It was the best gift my Father gave me when I got my first apartment and my first tools. I upgraded the pieces as I had more money, inherited and added to and now I have a full garage of tools and they started with at the time (25 years ago) a $65 case from Canadian Tire with everything Steve listed except the drill and driver which my first drill was a used one from a garage sale.
Great list! While I have a full shop in my garage, I have a small tool box I keep in the house for everyday needs. After a few years of adding needed items and removing unused items, my current tool box looks a lot like your list. Only extras I have are a utility knife, small level, and diagonal cutting pliers.
I have those too, I call them my “indoor tools”.
The homeowner and DIY was “drilled” into me at a young age. My dearly departed father said to me when I was 5 years old that one day this house will be yours, so you should learn how to take care of it… Little did I know that 50 years later that would be literally true. Besides the saving money angle on home repair DIY, there’s just some feeling of pride and accomplishment when you can do it yourself. But I have to admit my limits on what I want to tackle myself and what I want to hire out… things I don’t know and that are critical, like plumbing or roofing… I absolutely call in a professional.
Great list Steve! A few weeks ago I was in the market for a new adjustable wrench. Instead I bought a pliers wrench (like Knipex 86 03 300). Because of the mechanism it always fits perfectly. I should have bought it sooner. 100% recommended!
Very solid list! Oh, and my journey as a hobby woodworker started as a homeowner 😃
One more thing to add for everyone living in a stone/concrete home:
Hammer drill
You can get a lot of this stuff bundled together as a tool kit that comes in a bag. Buy a somewhat cheap one to get you started and gradually replace and add things as needed. Once that bag fills up and all the starter tools have been replaced you can complete your little Toolkit of Theseus by replacing the bag itself with a toolbox or tool chest.
I prefer a set of hex bits for my multi-bit screwdriver over Allen wrenches. I find a screwdriver handle is much more comfortable for extended IKEA assembly sessions.
Others have already mentioned safety glasses, utility knife, and step ladder. I would also add a pair of work gloves. A lot of minor injuries can be prevented with a good pair of gloves.
I’d add a standard multi-tool, the players and assorted bits in the handles. They are great for every day items and have saved me numerous times. Great list
One other “tool” I would definitely recommend having right up front is a wet/dry shop vac. It will come in handy during an unexpected water emergency, such as having the valve on the water softener explode at 3:00 in the morning and start shooting water all over the place. And yes, this is from personal experience. It also came in handy when the pump on the washing machine failed a few years later and caused another small flood.
When my best buddy bought his first house, I got him one as a house-warming gift. After my experiences, I think it is something every homeowner should own.
I think a small shop vac is essential for a homeowner. A plumbing failure can happen at any time and being able to quickly suck up water can save your floor. The week that we moved into our home, we discovered that the washing machine that was included with the purchase had its drain pipe improperly installed. We’ve had the pipe for an outdoor faucet freeze and burst into the house. We had the refrigerator water dispenser line break, a dishwasher hose break, and an air conditioner drain line clog. All required vacuuming up the flooring. On occasion, I’ve even used it for woodworking cleanup.
Thank you Mr. Steve, you always have a great tips on tools, lots to learn from your video, please stay safe during this crazy COVID19
A well done list, Steve, although you passed 7 before you got half way. Yes, I know some comes as paranoia set, but you could get the whole kit and kaboodle as a set and call it one.
But enough nitpicking. I can think of a couple tools to consider for this list; Japanese saw, snap blade knife, and awl, for example, but the list can get too long too fast.
In my kitchen drawer I keep the tools I find get the most done without running to the basement. They are a mult-bit screw driver, a pair of slip pliers, a small snap blade knife, a tape measure, and an emery board.
Thanks! Stay safe and have fun.