Tool set for my kid?

[kelpaso1]

I would like to get a tool kit/set for my 19 yr old daughter and her boyfriend (first time living on their own). They have no tools what so ever. They live in a house/apartment. I want to get them a good complete set that would cover most things needed for basic house hold repairs, bikes, bbq, furniture, patio stuff, etc.

Something like this http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00JN3FGA4/?tag=atomicindus04-20

But I don't think a 1/2 inch ratchet and sockets are necessary and more wrenches would be. It's a little pricey but I want them to have as much as possible that your average homeowner/renter would need. Any suggestions?

 

[rsanter]

Seems decent, however I think I would be tempted to go to Sears and get them a 99 pc set for the sockets and ratchets. Then get them a small toolbox that you can add a wrench set, hammer, screwdrivers and a couple of pliers to

Bob

 

[HanShotFirst]

That's a decent start. Stanley's ratchets are pretty nice and their sockets seem pretty tough. My 3/8" Stanley ratchet gets a good amount of use, but these days I'm constantly reaching for my Harbor Freight composite ratchet.

 

[Zapp Branigan]

That set should be a good start. Get a small toolbox and toss in a few extras too, like some wd40, duct tape, a piece of wire coat hanger, a hammer, a small level, and let them fill it up the rest of the way.

Oh yeah, paint your daughter's name on them in pink, just in case it goes south.

 

[bobemmerich]

That's a good starter set. Only things I would add are a level and a hammer.

 

[dede2897234]

kelpaso1,

I found on Amazon this Crescent tool set for slightly under $100: LINK. It is very similar to the Stanley tool set you linked to above. If you buy the Crescent set, you give up the tape measure, utility knife, and nut bits. However, you gain a couple more combination wrenches. In addition, the Crescent ratchets are built around a 72 tooth design. According to the Stanley website, the Stanley ratchets have a 7 degree swing arc (or about 51 teeth).


Dave

 

[Fugio]

Add a basic cordless drill to the set. Everybody needs a basic drill/screw gun.

 

[foghorn1966]

This is what i set up both of my stepdaughters up with when they moved out on their own.

Claw hammer, torpedo level, multi-bit screwdriver, small stanley wonder bar, 6” adj wrench, 10” adj wrench, folding std allen keys, folding metric allen keys, wire cutters, needle nose pliers, slip joint pliers, measuring tape, good flashlight & utility knife. All in a small plastic toolbox.

& if I had a HF near me I would have thrown in one of the free or next to free multimeters as well.

 

[srmofo]

Apartment? Boyfriend doesn't own any tools? Go buy a $10 3/8 set, a Philips and flathead and cheap hammer, and a 10' tape measure. That's more than enough to put together the ikea furniture and put a few holes in the wall

 

[kelpaso1]

That set should be a good start. Get a small toolbox and toss in a few extras too, like some wd40, duct tape, a piece of wire coat hanger, a hammer, a small level, and let them fill it up the rest of the way.

Oh yeah, paint your daughter's name on them in pink, just in case it goes south.

Haha, I was thinking what to do in that case

And also good points above.

 

[kelpaso1]

Apartment? Boyfriend doesn't own any tools? Go buy a $10 3/8 set, a Philips and flathead and cheap hammer, and a 10' tape measure. That's more than enough to put together the ikea furniture and put a few holes in the wall

I had to give her one of my extra crescent wrenches so she could put the front tire back on her bike when her mother brought it over to her place in her car

 

[Tatsuya]

How much are you willing to spend...? Personally I would put together a tool bag, that way you can customize it. I recently did this for my brother in LA after I helped him move, called it an early birthday present. Went to Home Depot and threw odds and ends together, it was fun actually. After spending a frustrating 20 minutes trying to remove a stripped P2 screw with a P1 screwdriver and a pair of slip joint pliers, it was the least I could do.


http://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-8-Volt-Lithium-Ion-Drill-Kit-HP108L/205105605

I bought him one of these but didn't get to use it. Out of curiosity I bought one after I flew back. It's a far cry from an 18V but it's a lot better than a dinky cordless screwdriver. Perfectly fine for drilling drywall anchor holes.

 

[Cato]

How could you let your little girl date a guy who doesn't own any tools?

j/k


But anyway, this could be a good time to pass on your unwanted, but functional tools. Just put them in a nice 20 inch hand box.

 

[kelpaso1]

Heh reminds me of this I saw on another thread somewhere on here, which I sent her. Got me thinking about this.

 

[rice rocket]

I have an old Stanley set as well that I pull out as a backup set sometimes, it's held up well, ratchets are still good, but some sockets are rusty.

It was about 1/4 the price you have listed there though.

 

[kelpaso1]

How much are you willing to spend...? Personally I would put together a tool bag, that way you can customize it. I recently did this for my brother in LA after I helped him move, called it an early birthday present. Went to Home Depot and threw odds and ends together, it was fun actually. After spending a frustrating 20 minutes trying to remove a stripped P2 screw with a P1 screwdriver and a pair of slip joint pliers, it was the least I could do.

I was thinking about doing that but these are 19 and 20 yr old kids
If all the tools are in a "kit/set", then when there is an open space it's more noticeable and they better get looking for the missing tool!!

 

[Tatsuya]

I was thinking about doing that but these are 19 and 20 yr old kids
If all the tools are in a "kit/set", then when there is an open space it's more noticeable and they better get looking for the missing tool!!

That is completely beyond your control and probably not something you should get your hopes up about. I love my brother to death but I know he don't give a damn about tools else he'd have had some already, and I know he ain't interested in wrenching on anything. I just wanted him to have some decent tools when he needs them and that's what counts. Hopefully he throws them back in the bag but their his tools now.

At the very least, if you slap something together yourself it shows some thought. But let's be honest here...putting thought into it is more selfish than anything in this case. If I had the cash, I would have put a whoooooole lot more in that bag just for the fun of it.

 

[Docman]

The amount of sockets in that kit may be way overkill. Besides the 1/2 set being unnecessary for homeowner and DIY tasks, keep in mind many apartment places do not like their residents to work on their cars in the parking areas.

 

[Tatsuya]

The amount of sockets in that kit may be way overkill. Besides the 1/2 set being unnecessary for homeowner and DIY tasks, keep in mind many apartment places do not like their residents to work on their cars in the parking areas.

These are good points here.

If I had to pick only one I would opt for deep well sockets over shallow too. All of mine were stolen and I haven't replaced them yet. Could have used them when helping a friend move recently where my shallows were too short. And I can't recall ever needing a shallow socket in the house due to clearance. Another reason to consider building a customized kit.

 

[Tatsuya]

Just some food for thought here. Cripe has some good deals. I'm not saying I'd buy these items (I went out of my way to find the cheapest options), but if you shop around you can lower that Stanley price tag, get rid of things they probably don't need, and add in some things they could use. This is just a start.

22" tool bag
Slip joints
Crescent wrench
Tongue and groove pliers
Long arm SAE/metric hex wrenches
5" vice grips
16'/5m tape measure
Cheap utility knife
18 different screwdrivers, hook and pick set
18 pc SAE/metric 3/8" drive socket sets
KD 3/8" drive ratchet, USA made
24" aluminum 3-vial level
16 oz hammer
Craftsman 30-pc screwdriving and drill bit set or 50-pc set for another $1.50

$76.00

 

[d.mcfarland]

If the kid doesn't have tools now he isn't going to be using the ones you get him to fix his car or the apartment or whatever. At least I would hope he doesn't fix your daughters car just "trying" to save money or something.

Like someone else said, they need to assemble furniture or hang a picture.

 

[trentonmakes]

You can buy the tools, but I think you'll still get the call to help them use said tools. Lol

Ah well, at least you'll get time with your daughter[emoji106]

Hammer and level is a must, I wouldn't get anything much more than a basic set

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[JimbosGarage]

I did the same thing for my son in law, I went to lowes bought a tool bag went up and down the iles and put a little of everything in the bag. It was a good bag of tools, He has all he needs to do any repairs. They live in a condo. its perfect! The cost was about $200.Thay can add to it as they need to.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

You can buy the tools, but I think you'll still get the call to help them use said tools. Lol

Ah well, at least you'll get time with your daughter[emoji106]

Hammer and level is a must, I wouldn't get anything much more than a basic set

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Agree.. Small claw hammer and a torpedo level. Keep it basic.

Add a plier set, small screwdriver set, couple adjustable wrenches, hacksaw, utility knife, and don't forget the tape measure.

Include a few supplies like super glue, sandpaper, small roll of mechanics wire, an assortment of screws and nails, duct tape, and a small can of oil..

Enjoy the calls when She tells You in detail how Her repair job was performed

 

[Dave in Mass]

Did this for my son a few months ago when he and his wife moved from a 1 bedroom condo (Tiny molded case tool kit, more like a door prize thing) to a large home.

I went the Lowe's and HF route knowing he won't be doing much at first but also wanted to have the basics there when I go to help him. He has a nice basement with a pretty good sized workbench down there. Basic set as I remember

Bench top 3 drawer tool box
Cordless drill with drill bits and driver bits
Hammer
Tape measure
Speed square
Set of screw drivers
Set of pliers
Combination wrenches
Ratchet with SAE and metric sockets
Duct tape
2 foot level
Pack of Sharpies
Bag of zip ties
hand saw

Probably a bit much fro your needs but this was to get him started with the joys of home ownership and the above along with a lawn mower were house warming gifts.

The total for the box and tools was somewhere around $200

I still have to go over to help him with basic (kitchen faucet, outlet, garage door spring and safety cable so far) things as he learns but I always try to leave my tools in the truck so he gets to know he can do a lot with what he has on hand.

 

[Robinson1]

I'm a general contractor and had an apartment maintenance contract a while back. When I went on service calls I showed up with a small 14 inch tool bag. 99% of the time it had everything I needed. The other 1% of the time I needed practically everything on my service truck.

On apartments it seems that most things that go wrong is either a simple repair or a major project. There is not much in between.

It's been a while but the best I can recall the contents of that bag were.

* 16 oz hammer
* torpedo level
* 1/2" & 1" wood chisel
* 1 1/4" putty knife
* utility knife
* nail set
*6-in-1 screwdriver
multi bit precision screwdriver (mostly used for thermostats)
420 & 440 channellocks
lineman pliers
*needle nose pliers
*slip joint pliers
8 & 10 inch crescent wrenches
1/4x5/16 DOE wrench (only ever used for thermo couplers on gas appliances)
wire nuts
electrical tape
Teflon tape
pipe dope
GFCI outlet tester
Basic multi-meter ($20 model from Gardner Bender is plenty)
basin/faucet wrench
faucet handle puller
*tape measure


Skip the sockets and mechanics tools for now. Every time I needed them on that particular maintenance contract I was dealing with porch railing, or some large structural connector - not something the tenants should be messing with.

In all reality if they have the tools I have marked with a * it will cover everything that they should be doing. Anything more complex and they should be calling whoever is doing the maintenance.

 

[Negen]

Just some food for thought here. Cripe has some good deals. I'm not saying I'd buy these items (I went out of my way to find the cheapest options), but if you shop around you can lower that Stanley price tag, get rid of things they probably don't need, and add in some things they could use. This is just a start.

22" tool bag
Slip joints
Crescent wrench
Tongue and groove pliers
Long arm SAE/metric hex wrenches
5" vice grips
16'/5m tape measure
Cheap utility knife
18 different screwdrivers, hook and pick set
18 pc SAE/metric 3/8" drive socket sets
KD 3/8" drive ratchet, USA made
24" aluminum 3-vial level
16 oz hammer
Craftsman 30-pc screwdriving and drill bit set or 50-pc set for another $1.50

$76.00

As a person in that was in this boat about 7 years ago. I have built my own tool collection over that time no one helped me out. I think this option is better than the kits. I had started with a kit and while changing the breaks on my wife's car I broke a ratchet. You will get a much better value than a kit when you build your self. The only changes I would make are find a metal tool box rather than a tool bag. Stanley-Cantilever is a good enough box. Also it would be nice if you could find room in there for a drill of some sort. Even if it is a corded drill just something to start them out with. But one of the most important things for a newly one their own couple to learn how to do is find a stud. Stud finder This stud finder is 20$ at costco. This is also something they should learn how to use.

 

[Tatsuya]

As a person in that was in this boat about 7 years ago. I have built my own tool collection over that time no one helped me out. I think this option is better than the kits. I had started with a kit and while changing the breaks on my wife's car I broke a ratchet. You will get a much better value than a kit when you build your self. The only changes I would make are find a metal tool box rather than a tool bag. Stanley-Cantilever is a good enough box. Also it would be nice if you could find room in there for a drill of some sort. Even if it is a corded drill just something to start them out with. But one of the most important things for a newly one their own couple to learn how to do is find a stud. Stud finder This stud finder is 20$ at costco. This is also something they should learn how to use.

+1 on the stud finder.

I disagree about the tool box. There once was a time when I wouldn't. But for my job, I'm forced to keep all of my tools in the trunk of my car. I couldn't do this without 5 or 6 different tool bags/totes. It's not necessarily organized (and I hate that) but it's amazing how much you can put in a good tool bag. Husky is a cheap option that's pretty good about that. The only tool bag I've ever enjoyed using is a Husky, and my big general bag (respirator, lubricants, long breaker bars, etc.) is a large Husky bag.

Besides, it seems like the end user in this case won't give a damn anyway. Larger tool boxes that have drawers are nice but cumbersome. Metal hand boxes with tote trays aren't organized. Cheaper plastic tool boxes ****. I'd go with a 18" or 22" tool bag, personally.

 

[kelpaso1]

So many good suggestions here, now I don't know what to do
I thought that Stanley kit looked ok but I agree- too many sockets for them right now as they don't drive so nothing like that to fix, and not enough "home" related tools. So I guess I will have to put my own together for her. Lots of lists of tools you guys mentioned that I will go over. I have some time (4 months before Xmas).

So now the question is- what to put the tools in? Id like something that's well organized, something more portable and not too heavy. Maybe a couple different boxes, bags, buckets, etc? Some of you already gave some suggestions, just looking for more.

I also hope to keep it less than $200. That's Canadian so about 100 of your bucks

 

[trentonmakes]

Portable?
The husky suitcase bag!!!
It's a pretty deep bag with rollers to store oversized tools and boxes for nails, screw, anchors.... , has pouches for tool storage, can lug another toolbox or whatever on top as the zipper top of the bag is kind of sturdy.
The handle pulls out like a suitcase and additional support in transit!

I'll find a pic for you

I like this bag a lot doing service work, I can pretty much bring everything in 1 trip!


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[trentonmakes]

http://m.homedepot.com/p/Husky-14-i...C-vURRYYk3x4nOupan2nwaAh5S8P8HAQ&gclsrc=aw.ds

You can pack so much **** in there! Plus it be easy for your daughter to bring it to different rooms and hopefully keep tools in one place.

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[mcmlvif100]

Lots of good suggestions already. Did something similar for our two sons, now 24 and 25, only I started buying tools for them 15+ years ago. Every time I found a really good deal on homeowner "essentials" like those previously listed, I picked up two and stored them in a cabinet.

Other tools that were in their collections and that you might consider -- a stainless steel yardstick and a carpenter's square that were both free after rebate from Menard's, a little telescoping magnet (handy when you need it and dirt cheap), a Stanley surfoam plane (or a wood rasp), a good pair of scissors (heavy enough for the garage and not to be used for sewing), and a digital air gauge (my favourite is Accutire which Sears puts on sale for ~$6 a few times a year).

Other non-tool items that you might include in a home-care package would be an assortment of tapes (electrical, Teflon, masking, painters), a few decent pencils and a pencil sharpener, and a box of shop rags.