What tools for a 13 year old?

[stanj]

Our church adopts a needy family at Christmas each year. This year, one of the gifts on the list was "tool box and tools for a 13 year old boy". The story behind it is that he is a young Mr. Fixit around the house and would like some real tools. These families are vetted well, so I know that the need is real.

So what does a starter tool box look like for a 13 year old?

My first thought is a claw hammer, a set of screwdrivers, set of combination wrenches, small 1/4" and 3/8" socket set and a box to hold it all. I already have the sets of Vise grips and Channellocks from Menards and the free tape measure from Harbor Freight.

What else should we get for him?

 

[kc-steve]

That seems like the potential for danger. I was fairly mature at 13 but I know I still did things mechanically to my own bicycle that could have resulted in serious injury. I was lucky, like most of us.

Steve

 

[sasquatch12]

Can't think of much else than a handsaw of some sort, didn't see that mentioned.

 

[Gary S]

Your list sounds good to me. Buy him some good US made tools and they will last him a lifetime.
Both my Sons had their own US made tools and were working on cars by the time they were 13 years old. Starting at that age, they learned so much more than the people who buy a new car and don't understand how it even works.

 

[Bikes&Bowties]

A ball pein hammer. So that he can have the right hammer for any job.

 

[John in OH]

Hmmm .... 6" & 8" adjustable wrenches (the "crescent" style), 12" combination square, 9" torpedo level, retractable blade utility knife, 8" rat-tail file, 10" flat mill ******* file, 8" wood rasp, small hand-crank drill with bit set (up to 1/4").

 

[Steinmetz]

Allen wrenches. Maybe the folding pocket-knife style. A hacksaw.

 

[oak_park]

adjustable wrench and small flashlight. Nice of you to do this.

 

[wornoutoldman]

What is the budget for assembling this box and tools?

 

[John Timmins]

Enderes 4 in 1 screw driver...maybe $8 or less.

 

[Wakefield]

Specialty bicycle tools such as would be of use in a bike shop?

 

[creativecars]

You are doing a great thing and on the right path. But remember if he has not had many tools before he probably does not know how to care for them. We all had to learn this. He needs a place for everything and everything in its place (tool box). I don’t think lifelong tools are the answer, some will be lost, some left out in the yard to rust etc…
I would say the HF professional 22pc wrench set- It will give him enough metric and SAE wrenches to do something. Some of the Kobalt socket sets are nice for the price or the HF.
Adjustable wrenches and vise grips can tear up more stuff than not. Maybe give him some time and show him how to use them properly.

 

[RCStocker]

If he is anything like me he will be able to fix most things at his age.
My one grand father was a general contractor and the other was a farmer. I was adopted and a lot of my fathers friends would teach me many things. One was a machinist who had quite a few patents on early aviation and auto industry.

I was 6'-1" and wore a size 12 shoe at the age of 12. I had been driving smaller tractors on the farm. I tilled the garden and mowed. I could put points in a small engine and make it hum. My father who was a collage professor had rentals and I would always help him paint and fix things. I was much better at it at 12 than he was. My friend had me take the bus to his house on Saturdays and he taught me how to run all the small shop machines he had in his basement. Hit son was a doctor and was our neighbor. His wife would cook us a nice lunch. I was lucky that I had everyone to teach me. I was also a natural. I started ninth grade when I was 13. My friends were all older than me and we really had good times without ever getting into trouble.

My step grand mother died and my parents left me at home. It was before my thirteenth birthday. I had all kinds of places I could go if I needed anything. I could cook and take care of myself. They went off for 5 days to the funeral. Dad had a gas hot water heater ready to install. I installed it and checked it for leaks and told my folks when they came home.

Mom said, "**** you better go check it." Dad did then came back and said it was just fine. That is what I was doing at 13 and my 2 sons grew up on a farm in the country and could do the same at that age. Kids are smarter than you think. Some don't catch on but they are the ones who grow up having others doing their repairs.

If the kid is handy any tools you give him will be put to use.
You can fix a lot of things with a small tool box. 2 adjustable wrenches will do almost every job around the house including fixing a bicycle.

It is nice that you are really giving a gift that someone can use. It sounds like you have a good church and group of friends.


Don't forget a good small tool box so the tools don't get lost. LOL

Some kids can and some can't. We are all different. I play the piano bout would love to really play. I don't have the gift but I do have when it comes to building things. The talents were are given are all different.

 

[Outlawmws]

It would help if we knew what sort of fixing he was mostly into, but here are some ideas:

To carry:

Pocket LED flashlight (single AAA type)
4" Crescent wrench

"Shop" tools (in no particular order):

A small carry box to get the tools around
430 Chanellocks
a good set of Vise Grips
12" crescent
3/8 socket set, ratchet an extension and a speeder.
Set of combinations wrenches.
a good set of driver bits (preferably with a 6-7 pc hex drive drill bit set), and a good driver handle (should include Torx bits and possibly others of the newfangled bits...
#1 and #2 Phillips drivers
1/4" and 3/16 flat blade drivers
A set of folding Allen wrenches
A good vintage small vise, one of the homeowner exposed type (light and can be mounted on almost anything)
A decent back saw, or better still, a Japanese saw.
A couple of wood chisels
A 225 series B&D WorkMate
A decent 16 oz. claw hammer
A decent 10-12 ox Ball Peen
a center punch
a scratch awl
an ice pic
a utility knife
a couple of files, flat, round half round. (Not too big)
1/2" and 1" cold chisels
A torpedo level
a simple battery drill
A basic Digital volt meter
a Basic 120V outlet continuity tester, (these are cheap and EVERYONE should own one...)
Depending on his interests, book on those interests...
A bucket and a bucket boss
A basic hand plane

Maybe an offer to help teach him to use some of the tools?

 

[jjjrmx5]

Our church adopts a needy family at Christmas each year. This year, one of the gifts on the list was "tool box and tools for a 13 year old boy". The story behind it is that he is a young Mr. Fixit around the house and would like some real tools. These families are vetted well, so I know that the need is real.

So what does a starter tool box look like for a 13 year old?

My first thought is a claw hammer, a set of screwdrivers, set of combination wrenches, small 1/4" and 3/8" socket set and a box to hold it all. I already have the sets of Vise grips and Channellocks from Menards and the free tape measure from Harbor Freight.

What else should we get for him?

That list looks like an awesome package from my end.

It's always easy to make it bigger but a list of core tools is simple but yet so complex with so many choices.

 

[pendragon1998]

Maybe add a few boxes of fasteners, nails, wood glue, zip ties, etc.

A link to garagejournal forums?

Any idea what he likes to work on?

 

[Outlander]

How about a little (or long) note with some tips on how to care for the tools you are providing?

 

[DieselSaves]

Our church adopts a needy family at Christmas each year. This year, one of the gifts on the list was "tool box and tools for a 13 year old boy". The story behind it is that he is a young Mr. Fixit around the house and would like some real tools. These families are vetted well, so I know that the need is real.

So what does a starter tool box look like for a 13 year old?

My first thought is a claw hammer, a set of screwdrivers, set of combination wrenches, small 1/4" and 3/8" socket set and a box to hold it all. I already have the sets of Vise grips and Channellocks from Menards and the free tape measure from Harbor Freight.

What else should we get for him?

I'd say that simple list is a great idea. Most any other tools over that should come with a two minute lesson on proper usage, which is also a great gift. I know time is a far more valuable thing than the tools and far harder to spare. I had some good mentors growing up always appreciated the little bits of knowledge they shared on how to do things right.

 

[stanj]

What is the budget for assembling this box and tools?

I am looking at starting with about $100. But if I know me, I will reach that and them find something else, then something else, then something else. . . . .

 

[stanj]

It would help if we knew what sort of fixing he was mostly into,

That's part of my problem. Now days, they try to keep these type of things anonymous, so I really don't know what he is interested in. It would be great if I could meet him and show him how to do stuff, but I don't know that I can make that happen. I plan on putting a note in there, but I don't know that it will even reach him.

 

[ddawg16]

Along with all the above suggestions....how about a 'fix it' book?

And....yes....I like what your doing.

 

[jake00]

Allen wrenches and torx ( the folding kind). Also. A small flat and Phillips screwdriver

 

[Jim C.]

Get him in the habit of working safely, so how about some safety glasses?

Jim C.

 

[Farmall450]

Definitely sockets & ratchets.

Hammers of different types, like a rubber mallet. One of my favorite tools since I was far younger than 13...

Zip ties!!

Crescent wrenches, maybe a screwdriver w/ exchangeable bits for torx, etc.

This website's URL of course!

I'll get back to you if I think of anything else...I'm two years older, so I guess I should roughly know what he needs/wants...

 

[captain14]

Magnetic pickup tool and the spring loader 4 finger pickup tool. That can always be used to get the part that got away

Fixit book so he can research And of course the link to garagejournal.

 

[wumpus138]

That's part of my problem. Now days, they try to keep these type of things anonymous, so I really don't know what he is interested in. It would be great if I could meet him and show him how to do stuff, but I don't know that I can make that happen. I plan on putting a note in there, but I don't know that it will even reach him.

Talk to whoever is running this at your church and see about making that happen...oddly enough they might support this.

This could be exactly what the boy needs, someone to look up to and learn from. Think mentoring...

 

[ez-duzit]

hand tools

With $100 budget you would do well to start with some used, donated items. To that you can add the $100 to fill in the gaps. Find deals on quality used tools.

lock-blade pocket knife with plain blade
small tool bag (carpetbagger style) (less likely to do accidental damage)
6-way screwdriver (not the multi-bit kind--yuck!)
stubby 2-way screwdriver
small instrument flat-blade & Phillips screwdrivers
Ford wrench
small and medium adjustable wrenches
small ViseGrips
water pump pliers
needle-nosed pliers
Allen key set (jackknife style)
utility knife
razor scraper
hacksaw
claw hammer
nail set
3/4" wood chisel
diamond sharpener
scissors
machinist's probe/scratch awl
putty knife
X-acto knife
adjustable square with level
pencil compass
pocket tape measure
machinist's protractor
plastic dial caliper
files (pattern-maker's, mill, rat-tail, ...)
Japanese razor saw with replaceable blade
block plane
(wooden) sanding block

Add:
combination wrench set, socket/ratchet set, ...
as budget/donations allow.

 

[skruft]

All good suggestions, but I think you might include a book on how to use them. They shouldn't intercept that.

When I was 13, like many other California kids I was learning to work on cars and begging for that sort of tools.

 

[stanj]

Thanks for all your help, support and ideas. Several great ideas that I might not have thought of, especially the book idea.

A few of the suggestions reminded me that I had things in my "next Garage Sale box." Generally things that came in a box where I bought it for one or two items and got the rest "free".

Based on what everyone said and combining similar ideas, here is the list.

Book - How- to
Center punch
Chisel - wood chisel
Chisels - 1/2" and 1" cold chisels
Drill - a simple battery drill
Drill - Bits
Drill - Hand Crank
Electrical - a Basic 120V outlet continuity tester,
Electrical - Multi Meter A basic Digital volt meter
Fasteners
Files (pattern-maker's, mill, rat-tail, flat, round half round)
Flashlight
Glue
Hammer - Ball Peen Hammer 10-12 oz.
Hammer - claw hammer 16 oz.
Hammer - Rubber Mallet
Ice pick
Knife - lock-blade pocket knife with plain blade
Knife – Utility Knife
Level - Torpedo Level
Machinist's probe/scratch awl
Machinist's protractor
Magnetic and Mechanical Pickup Tools
Nail set
Pencil compass
Plane - basic hand plane
Plane - block plane
plastic dial caliper
Pliers - needle-nosed
Pliers- water pump Channellocks
Putty knife
Razor scraper
Safety Glasses
Sanding block
Saw - back saw
Saw - Hacksaw
Saw - Handsaw
Saw - Japanese razor saw with replaceable blade
Scissors
Screwdriver - 6-way screwdriver (not the multi-bit kind--yuck!)
Screwdriver - stubby 2-way screwdriver
Screwdrivers - #1 and #2 Phillips drivers
Screwdrivers - 1/4" and 3/16 flat blade drivers
Screwdrivers - a good set of driver bits (preferably with a 6-7 pc hex drive drill bit set), and a good driver handle (should include Torx bits and possibly others of the newfangled bits...
Screwdrivers - small instrument flat-blade & Phillips screwdrivers
Sharpener - diamond sharpener
Sockets - 3/8 socket set, ratchet an extension and a speeder.
Square - adjustable square with level
Square - Combination Square
Storage - A bucket and a bucket boss
Storage - A small carry box to get the tools around
Storage - small tool bag (carpetbagger style) (less likely to do accidental damage)
Tape measure
Torx Driver
Vise - small vise, one of the homeowner exposed type (light and can be mounted on almost anything)
Workplace - A 225 series B&D WorkMate
Wrench - Allen key set (jackknife style)
Wrench - Ford wrench
Wrench - ViseGrips
Wrenches - Combinations wrenches.
Wrenches- Adjustable (6”, 8” 12”)
X-acto knife
Zip Ties

When I get it all together, I will post pictures of what I came up with. I am new to GJ, but I understand, "If there aren't pictures, it didn't happen"

 

[BK13]

I don't have much to add, other than good on you for doing this. (Well, that, and I need to work on my four year old's tool collection...)

 

[gtrotter]

How about a pair of leather gloves? Never know what the little guy might be working on.

 

[ez-duzit]

Add a pair of dikes (diagonal cutting pliers/side-cutters).

And a corded drill would be better, for the money.

 

[scaron]

if i were building a good little foundational tool kit for someone i'd maybe suggest doing something like the following

16 or 22 oz claw hammer
rubber mallet
tack hammer
crowbar
cat's paw
pin punch
center punch
straight shears
a few files maybe with a handle thrown in
utility knife
a few chisels
a nice 6-piece basic screwdriver set (you want at least #1 and #2 phillips, 3/16" and 1/4" slotted)
16' tape measure
combination square (you get a little level, a rule, and a square! what a tool!)
a few black sharpie markers
a klein 11-in-1 driver
an ideal 'lil ripper stripper' romex stripper
a pair of 5"-6" dikes (diagonal cutters)
a pair of, say, 10-18 AWG strippers/cutters (or just one of those electrician's 6-in-1 tools)
a pair of lineman's pliers
a non-contact voltage tester
an outlet tester
a pair of 12" channellock pump pliers
a pair of 5"-7" needlenose pliers
a pair of plain old slip joint pliers
one or two 10" or 12" adjustable wrenches
a pair or two of vice grips
a good 40-some-odd piece 3/8" drive socket set, SAE/metric/standard/deep
a 3/8" drive spinner handle if your socket set didn't include one
maybe a few combination wrenches in very common SAE and metric sizes; not so critical if you have a few good adjustables and a nice socket set...
two sets of allen keys, one metric and one fractional
a 4"-5" putty knife
a hand saw for wood, i really like those japanese 'pull saws', they are great for speeding thru small jobs
a hack saw

maybe a power drill (i prefer corded, others cordless) with a set of drill bits and a set of driver bits

and a toolbox to store it all in. i think it should be possible to pack this all into a good sized carry box.

 

[nicksnothereman]

Our church adopts a needy family at Christmas each year. This year, one of the gifts on the list was "tool box and tools for a 13 year old boy". The story behind it is that he is a young Mr. Fixit around the house and would like some real tools. These families are vetted well, so I know that the need is real.

So what does a starter tool box look like for a 13 year old?

My first thought is a claw hammer, a set of screwdrivers, set of combination wrenches, small 1/4" and 3/8" socket set and a box to hold it all. I already have the sets of Vise grips and Channellocks from Menards and the free tape measure from Harbor Freight.

What else should we get for him?

Actual fasteners (screws, nails, bolts, maybe brass hooks).

Lemme see what else:
Needlenose pliers. You could probably get a set from home depot, lowes, or sears that is decent enough for household work; I friggin use them at home. Not fancy but very durable in my opinion.

Torpedo Level

Pair of utility gloves (medium?)?

You can also get the taskforce screwdrivers for something like 88 cents a piece. Durabilt screwdrivers at target are good (I use those as well) and really cheap (around 2 bucks for 2).

You can get a lot of good stuff pretty cheap so comparatively you could buy him more tools for what you're willing to spend. For some of it, you should hit up a dollar store (99 cents only or dollar tree); I've found a ton of good usable stuff there: fasteners, corner rule, consumables, level, rope, etc. Granted most of the guys on here won't touch this stuff but I do. Good bang for your buck with a lot of the stuff they sell. Dollar tree sells (or sold) a mid sized level that is really well constructed in a rubberized plastic (?) vector brand I believe; I'm not the guy that spends 30 bucks on a professional level.

 

[rusty_ratchet]

A multi-tool (Leatherman Sidekick etc) can be pretty handy, although it would be somewhat redundant with the tools on your list.

 

[Banjorear]

Your list sounds good to me. Buy him some good US made tools and they will last him a lifetime.
Both my Sons had their own US made tools and were working on cars by the time they were 13 years old. Starting at that age, they learned so much more than the people who buy a new car and don't understand how it even works.

I agree with this. If you look, some of the Craftsman sets they are selling are still US-made.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I still have and use my 1/4" & 3/8" socket set I got for Christmas when I was 15.

A 1/4" hand spinner (screwdriver handle with 1/4" on the end) is still one of my favorite add-ons.

 

[bbrins]

Get him a toolbox that can accept a padlock, and a padlock to go with it, when I was that age, my siblings loved going into my toolbox and then leaving everything outside in the rain, a padlock stopped all of that. It might be worthwhile to see if you can find out what kind of "fix-it" stuff he is into and try to gear it towards that. A book or two might be a good idea, even if it is just something like one of those Reader's Digest "how to fix anything" type of books. Definitely include a pair of safety glasses, and maybe a link to this forum.

 

[got2boostit2]

I've got a foster kid from my church that I plan to some tools for him. Good list here, but I would add hearing and eye protection to the list ( did not read all posts ).

 

[NC-Shaun]

Our church adopts a needy family at Christmas each year. This year, one of the gifts on the list was "tool box and tools for a 13 year old boy". The story behind it is that he is a young Mr. Fixit around the house and would like some real tools. These families are vetted well, so I know that the need is real.

So what does a starter tool box look like for a 13 year old?

My first thought is a claw hammer, a set of screwdrivers, set of combination wrenches, small 1/4" and 3/8" socket set and a box to hold it all. I already have the sets of Vise grips and Channellocks from Menards and the free tape measure from Harbor Freight.

What else should we get for him?

I recieved a small 3/8 Craftsman case of sockets and a ratchet when I was that age. I remember it had a spark plug socket also, maybe a a 3 inch extension.