I will be sending my daughter to college this fall and plan on setting up a basic set of tools for her new apartment. She won't be doing any major repairs, just hanging pictures, putting things together, etc. So far I have a hammer, couple of screwdrivers, small adjustable wrench, jumper cables and fix-a-flat for the car. Can you think of anything else she will need.
Tools for daughter's new apartment
- Thread starter ccgeedy
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theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Get her a whole bunch of those 3M Command Hooks. You can hang all sorts of stuff without nails or screws !
crewchief888
Well-known member
bottle/can opener
hate for her to break a nail getting her beer open
gave my niece a little tote box full of some basic tools to take to school with her.
she admitted to using the bottle opener more than anything else
hate for her to break a nail getting her beer open
gave my niece a little tote box full of some basic tools to take to school with her.
she admitted to using the bottle opener more than anything else
Carguy99
Well-known member
vice grips and duct tape... can't fix anything without duct tape
small paint brush putty knife small tupperware with some duabond 20
adjustable wrench..
small paint brush putty knife small tupperware with some duabond 20
adjustable wrench..
Instead of the jumper cables and fix-a-flat, get her one of these:
http://www.tooltopia.com/atd-tools-5926.aspx
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000EJS9IM/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Only downside is they may be a bit heavy for her. You're literally lugging a spare car battery around.
On the plus side, she'll be the life of the party during any blackout, she won't need to find another car for a jump or have to deal with some idiot who doesn't know how to jump a car trying to impress your daughter, and the tech patching the tire will thank you.
http://www.tooltopia.com/atd-tools-5926.aspx
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000EJS9IM/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Only downside is they may be a bit heavy for her. You're literally lugging a spare car battery around.
On the plus side, she'll be the life of the party during any blackout, she won't need to find another car for a jump or have to deal with some idiot who doesn't know how to jump a car trying to impress your daughter, and the tech patching the tire will thank you.
TwoInch
Well-known member
forget the fix-a-flat. worthless.... get a junk tire and teach her how to use a plug kit.
as for a tool kit for a college girl, id go with something like this
1. set of screw drivers, and a small set of assorted general purpose screws.
2. a hammer, and a small set of assorted nails
3. a pair of regular old pliers, and a pair of needle nose pliers
4. duct tape
5. small 6" adjustable wrench, and maybe a 10"
6. electrical tape
7. VISA card
as for a tool kit for a college girl, id go with something like this
1. set of screw drivers, and a small set of assorted general purpose screws.
2. a hammer, and a small set of assorted nails
3. a pair of regular old pliers, and a pair of needle nose pliers
4. duct tape
5. small 6" adjustable wrench, and maybe a 10"
6. electrical tape
7. VISA card
them things are junk they dont stick that well
TwoInch
Well-known member
they are pretty tried and true. ive personally used the, and they were strong as hell.
just gotta wash the spot on the wall before you stick em up. gotta be clean.
HandyManny
Well-known member
Bottle opener and a 70 can capacity cooler, what more does she need. Just give here the essntials. She can pound a picture hanging nail into the wall with the heel of her shoes 
My brother has a similar kit to this and said that over the years it has come in very handy:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000UHMITE/?tag=atomicindus08-20
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000UHMITE/?tag=atomicindus08-20
When my daughter went off to college (dorm and apartments), we gave her a tool box with appropriate tools.
I also included a rope ladder, a 2 pound sledge hammer with 24-inch handle, leather welding gloves and eye protection. If there was a fire, I wanted her to be able to break windows and smash through sheet rock if necessary (dorm windows are usually sealed). We also gave her a portable smoke detector, battery radio and quality battery emergency light.
She had a AAA membership for the car. But, we made her jump start the car and change a few tires just for practice.
I also included a rope ladder, a 2 pound sledge hammer with 24-inch handle, leather welding gloves and eye protection. If there was a fire, I wanted her to be able to break windows and smash through sheet rock if necessary (dorm windows are usually sealed). We also gave her a portable smoke detector, battery radio and quality battery emergency light.
She had a AAA membership for the car. But, we made her jump start the car and change a few tires just for practice.
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Stick Figure
Well-known member
Depending on her furniture situation I would say either a set of allen wrenches and or a small screw gun with some bits. 90% of the cheap furniture out there is assembled that way. Most should come with a wrench, but not all of it does. The other thing that may come in handy is a small level. Although I'm guessing she will have a "smart" phone and if that's the case you can just download an app for that. Oh and a tape measure of some sort. I would almost think the sewing style one would be a better overall choice in this case.
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Outlawmws
Well-known member
There was a similar thread that covered this last fall. I'm betting a thoughtful search would find it...
Stuey
Well-known member
Back in college the only things I remember using were my flashlight, 10' tape measure, #2 Phillips, scissors, and maybe pliers.
Command hooks work great as do 3M double sided tape.
Command hooks work great as do 3M double sided tape.
glenmore
Well-known member
Her first year will probably be in the dorms so a small kit is probably all that is necessary. Get her one of those small plastic toolboxes to keep everything together.
If she is in a dorm, blue tape is essential! She can stick up what she wants and not damage the walls later. Another thing I saw that another Mom brought and that I can't seem to remember to bring (even though I have done this 3 times now) was a big box of Clorox disinfecting wipes. You wipe down EVERYTHING, especially the bathrooms and kitchen.
If she is in a dorm, blue tape is essential! She can stick up what she wants and not damage the walls later. Another thing I saw that another Mom brought and that I can't seem to remember to bring (even though I have done this 3 times now) was a big box of Clorox disinfecting wipes. You wipe down EVERYTHING, especially the bathrooms and kitchen.
UncleJoe
Well-known member
I just picked up one of the little all purpose tool kits that the box stores sell. Not the best quality but my girls were not going to be rebuilding engines with it either.
I also recommend a AAA card. Both my girls used it a lot. Keys locked in car, friends flat tire, yes AAA said as long as she was there they would pay for the tire change, and ran out of gas once.
The other thing is one of those "disposable" Visa cards where you can put $100 or $200 on it and tell them it is for real emergencies not beer. I told mine that if they did not use it I got it back at the end of college. They knew if they used it they better have a good story to tell me. Neither had to use it but it was good to know they had it just in case.
I also recommend a AAA card. Both my girls used it a lot. Keys locked in car, friends flat tire, yes AAA said as long as she was there they would pay for the tire change, and ran out of gas once.
The other thing is one of those "disposable" Visa cards where you can put $100 or $200 on it and tell them it is for real emergencies not beer. I told mine that if they did not use it I got it back at the end of college. They knew if they used it they better have a good story to tell me. Neither had to use it but it was good to know they had it just in case.