"Harry Homeowner" Tools

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

I went searching for some decent stuff to give my son-in-law to be when they (my daughter and him) get married and move off on thier own soon. I feel kinda bad for him since his dad is sort of a jackass that never attempted to teach him much in terms of DIY'n it and only got annoyed and told him to "go away" anytime there was a project around the house as he was growing up....I had him help me with a few projects since he's been hanging around with us and I realized he can actually use basic hand tools and will be doing / not affariad to tackle all the usual little projects around the house...put together a set of shelves and change the oil in the car sort of stuff.....So the wife says "you better buy him some tools for Christmas" and so I have starting shopping a little....Just online so far...Im hesitant to buy a "mechanics set" 'cause it's more than he will need to start off. I also don't like the "homeowner" sets I've seen so far becuase they all seem to be junk tools ( if I wouldn't use them, I'd hate to give them to someone - is that just being "tool obsessive" LOL?).....the problem I have with any sets is they almost always have items that will either never get used or there's duplicates of stuff that's just not needed (how many different versions1/2 sockets to you realy have to have?) So I figured I'd peice together a set of select quality items in decent brands - not one brand specific - make up a small box of tools to give him.
Here's what I came up with so far:
16' Measuring tape
Channellocks - 10"
A pair or 2 of vice grips
Basic metric / standard combo wrenches
multi purpose saw - little "pistol" type with a few types of blades
Screwdrivers
torpepo level
square
3/8" drive set - ratchet / sockets / couple of extensions
oil filter wrench / pliers
pliers - needle nose, diag. cutters
Metric / standard allen wrenches

Commenst? Suggestions? Stuff I missed (keep in mind - I want to keep this simple for the newbie)?

 

[MoToys]

I'd add a good open end adjustable wrench, otherwise looks good.
That evolv stuff just feels so cheep, stay away.

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

I'd add a good open end adjustable wrench, otherwise looks good.
That evolv stuff just feels so cheep, stay away.

As soon as I hit the "submit" button I remembered to put a basic claw hammer and adjusteble wrench on the list.

...and that evolv stuff is exactly what I was talking about for junk -- I would'nt buy that **** for anyone I liked.......hell, I wouldn't pay money for that stuff....

 

[ChrisF250]

utility knife?

 

[Alchymist]

Cordless drill - even a cheaper one - comes in real handy.

 

[xwarp]

a decent flashlight.
wire strippers.

 

[93sr20det]

Pry bar
Chisel
Putty knife
Scraper
Sanding block
Small set of basic drill bits
"4- in-1" type screwdriver

 

[bad_idea]

my sister-in-law gave me one of those laser level things when the wife and i got married. it was a cheesy little thing but surprisingly i have used it quite a few times hanging pictures around the house.

wonder-bar
safety glasses
ear muffs

 

[Davo3]

Bucket organizer so he can tote all that stuff around to where the project is.

 

[Jim C.]

When I got married, I already had a pretty good start on hand tools (from my dad). About a year later, right after we bought our first house, my dad showed up with some much needed, but unexpected lawn and garden tools to include a shovel, a leaf rake, a metal garden rake, pruners, a wheel barrow, and a 6' step ladder. Almost 25 years later I've gone through a few shovels, but still have, and regularly use, everything else.

Jim C.

 

[74grabber]

multimeter

 

[GirlnAgarage]

Couple of clamps/wood clamps

 

[LB-1911]

Vaughan V-5 Smooth Face Hammer.
Stanley Wonder Bar II.
Stanley Cushion Grip Nail Set.
Bent Needle Nose Pliers.
Gamma Seal Bucket Lid-4-A-5-Gallon Bucket-
Craftsman 5 pc. Thinwall Flip Socket Set-

 

[pcgold]

Circular saw (probably doesn't need a mitre yet)
Teflon Tape
Electrical Tape
Assortment of Marettes, wire connectors, soldering iron
Assortment of nuts, bolts, screws and nails

I'm putting together the same sort of tool kit for both of my teenage sons. I'm just not putting in any power tools yet since by the time I finally force them out of the house technology will have changed. Since this project will take years for me to complete, I can afford to buy a little at a time, but certainly better than the least expensive. The little brats better appreciate this.

 

[NJHandyGuy]

cordless drill
hammer
rubber mallet and allen keys
hacksaw
adjustable wrench
screwdrivers
circular saw
3/8" sochet set
i feel you shouldn't skimp on electrical masking and recular tape
Hd or lowes makes pre packaged painting and drywall kit's for $20 1 of each
small ladder
garden tools
basically enough to get him off and running with the basics for carpentry plumbing electrical hvac and furnature assembly and yard care

NOTE cman makes a $20 shop vac this is a MUST

 

[kissmeimgerman]

make sure he has a good level for hanging all the pictures his wife is going to want up in the house 8) other than that, great suggestions ITT already.

 

[ijroorda]

+1 on a cordless drill; I use mine constantly around the house. The Ryobi 18V stuff at Home Depot is cheap enough to give as a gift, but it's definitely not junk. They have an 18V drill for $79, or a combo kit with a drill and circular saw for $89 - free shipping on both. I wish I had bought Ryobi instead of the cheap-o Northern Tool cordless drill that I had before I got my DeWalt.

There are some good cordless tool deals coming up on Black Friday as well.

 

[twincam00]

utility knife and a putty knife are necessities

 

[Stuart in MN]

I'll go against the grain and suggest a corded drill instead of a cordless one - assuming he's not going to be using it every day, he won't have to worry about the batteries going dead.

 

[Davefr]

safety glasses
ear muffs

^^^ Great idea. Newbies often forget the safety aspect of working on a project especially if they haven't been coached.

I'd add a small household fire extinguisher and a pair of mechanics gloves.

However I'd probably stop once you decide on the basic tools and give him a gift card for extras that he can decide on as his projects evolve.

 

[Wakefield]

Screwdriver could be a nice ratcheting one that takes all kinds of bits including some Torx and Allen
If into landscaping it is amazing how much more a good pro ($100.?) nursery spade can do than an ordinary shovel

 

[porphyre]

Here's what I came up with so far:
16' Measuring tape
Channellocks - 10"
A pair or 2 of vice grips
Basic metric / standard combo wrenches
multi purpose saw - little "pistol" type with a few types of blades
Screwdrivers
torpepo level
square
3/8" drive set - ratchet / sockets / couple of extensions
oil filter wrench / pliers
pliers - needle nose, diag. cutters
Metric / standard allen wrenches

Commenst? Suggestions? Stuff I missed (keep in mind - I want to keep this simple for the newbie)?

I love these threads.

I WOULD NOT provide any electrical supplies as others have suggested. No wire, crimp splicers, wire nuts, etc. He WILL have a project come up and he will use whatever's in the box and it will be the wrong supply for the job.

Instead of diagonal cutters, I'd get a quality pair of linesman's pliers.

Include a pair of thick leather work gloves.

I would also buy a box store's "assorted hardware". A big box with 15 each, finish nails, framing nails, brad nails, 1", 2", 3" drywall screws, etc.

If providing power tools, I also vote for corded tools.

FYI - Sears is selling their metal 3-drawer rally box for $30 on Black Friday. Even though it's Chinese lol_hitti) it should still work great for storing -and organizing- this little toolkit. Also, if you doorbuster the store, you get a free tool bag w/ a purchase of $20. So, two containers for the price of one.

 

[Jackman]

Buy that $19 ladder from Lowes on Black Friday.

 

[jaysonb]

A DIY home repair book.

 

[38Chevy454]

A lot of fasteners on cars and other appliances are torx these days. So maybe a multi-bit assortment that has torx and some of the other less popular (square drive, etc) drive bits. It can also double as the 4-in-1 screwdriver mentioned earlier as the multi-bit assortment will also have all the screwdriver bits.

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

I WOULD NOT provide any electrical supplies as others have suggested. No wire, crimp splicers, wire nuts, etc. He WILL have a project come up and he will use whatever's in the box and it will be the wrong supply for the job.

Yeah, I was thinking I would hold off on any electrical stuff since I don't think he's ever done anything in that area -- he will be calling for help if something in that area comes up.

Lots of other good ideas I hadn't thought of that yet I will add to the list

 

[Jackman]

Yeah, I was thinking I would hold off on any electrical stuff since I don't think he's ever done anything in that area -- he will be calling for help if something in that area comes up.

Lots of other good ideas I hadn't thought of that yet I will add to the list

Electrician's pliers would be good if he has speakers though.

 

[fvfvsix]

Agree with the list thus far. I would, however, make a suggestion on tool quality. For things that will see a lot of use, I'd go top shelf. For example, the Williams 29-piece starter sets in the blue metal boxes (USA made) are super high quality and won't break the bank. And, a couple of things I've found indespensible lately:

Snap-on Ratcheting Screwdrivers
Wera's Universal Bit Check (29 bits)


For the wrenches, I'd start him out with a pair of $20 sets of the Craftsman Raised Panel wrenches.

I also agree with the other posters on the electrical stuff. You have to know what you're doing before you start tackling these jobs. Let him do the research and buy the tools/components as needed.

 

[cashishift]

^^^ Great idea. Newbies often forget the safety aspect of working on a project especially if they haven't been coached.

I'd add a small household fire extinguisher and a pair of mechanics gloves.

However I'd probably stop once you decide on the basic tools and give him a gift card for extras that he can decide on as his projects evolve.

Mechanics gloves or some leather ones, either way.

 

[rebelram]

A DIY home repair book.

I agree with this!

I have a copy of this book and have given copies of it to friends and family.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0696221802/?tag=atomicindus08-20

It is surprisingly well written and has decent illustrations.
Covers most all of the basics a homeowner will likely run into.

 

[Squankum]

In addition to the DIY home repair books by BH&G, and RD, this:

Reader's Digest Complete Care Care Manual
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0895770881/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Copyright is 1981, and that's not important right now. It's outstanding for the noob.

 

[crewchief888]

something i use more than i thought i would

one of those plug in electrical testers with the 3 idiot lights on it.

at least i know if the outlet has power or not

 

[Outlawmws]

something i use more than i thought i would

one of those plug in electrical testers with the 3 idiot lights on it.

at least i know if the outlet has power or not

Ditto this, I can't believe how many outlets I've found wired bas akwards...

Most of what I would suggest has been covered, but I'll also ditto the big drive bit set with all the odd drives in it. I got one for Xmas 20-25 years ago, and I still use the hell out of it, both with screw guns and hand drivers.

 

[gary300]

Hardware assortment, selection of nuts, bolts, washers in a plastic case. Also, an assortment of wire nuts, **** spices and termination crimps along with a crimper tool.

 

[camarotoolman]

The 10 piece plyer set at Lowes would be good $30.00 It has vise gripe, cuters, dikes, channel locks etc. Also life time warrenty.

 

[strnjss]

Caulk Gun?

 

[Brentocool]

Bandaids

 

[Vvmvbb]

Don't forget a drill bit assortment (ryobi, dewalt...)

 

[slip knot]

Sounds like they need more help/advice at this point. Really hard to tell what kinda tools they need until you find out what they're good at. If he aint comfortable working with electricity then maybe you need to offer electrical assistance rather than tools? Once he gets some experience and you see what he's capable of then you'll know what kinda tools he needs.

 

[AZ_Catskinner]

I'd throw in a short sleever bar - I brought an old one home, and I've found it to be the indispensable household tool of the century.