Wife Tool kit

[FSUwelder1212]

So, my wife regularly borrows my tools for “projects”. My tools are 90% snap on and I’m not to keen on her taking them to work. So I’m looking to put together a basic tool kit for her own. She’s not very handy so some basics should cover it but I’m wondering if you guys have any suggestions I may have missed. Here’s what I’m thinking so far

• Screwdriver set
• Small claw hammer
• Slip joint pliers
• Needle nose pliers
• Channellocks/water pump pliers
• Side cutters

Also what weight hammer do I buy for a woman, 16 oz?

 

[Holt]

If you go to target or Walmart there is usually pre made kits. Some are pink setups as well.

 

[Ray-CA]

Is this an "around the house" type set?

If so, Harbor Freight has some sets (https://www.harborfreight.com/105-p...MIj6H0uaj_5gIVTP_jBx3R-QqAEAQYAyABEgJPnPD_BwE) Just have to add a hammer etc.

And here is a Craftsman set on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RN2RMHY/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Ray

 

[FSUwelder1212]

Yeah, mostly odds and ends around the house. I don’t want to go pre made kits for 2 reasons. 1 I like to buy quality when I can afford it, whether it’s needed or not. And 2 I’m viewing this as an opportunity to try some other quality manufacturers offerings out without making a commitment since my wife won’t care what they are.

 

[Professional Tool User]

It really depends on how much you want to spend and whether or not you care about quality. If cost is the main concern, any Made in China kit from a big box store or Harbor Freight is good enough. If quality is the important, I'd go Wera or Tekton for screwdrivers, Channellock for pliers, and Vaughn for hammers.

 

[unslow1]

A few women in my family have requested this kit. Harbor Freight 130 pc.


https://www.harborfreight.com/Tool-Kit-with-Case-130-Pc-63248.html

 

[jabberwoki]

Don`t forget these two.

 

[65k10]

That looks like a good start without there being too much stuff. I'd maybe add these things. A small pry bar so she isn't tempted to use a screwdriver to pry on things. A good utility knife. A bit driver with extra phillips bits.

 

[four.cycle]

12-ounce claw hammer

#00, #0, #1, #2 phillips screwdrivers
1/8", 3/32", 3/16", 1/4" slotted screwdrivers

see HERE: https://www.ebay.com/sch/m.html?_ssn=talon664-6&_armrs=1&_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=screwdriver&_sop=15

(don't be bashful about knocking the price down if you order half a dozen pieces or more)

miniature screwdriver set
I ordered one of these for g/f:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Precision-...Slotted-Repair-Tool-Kit-12-Piece/192086326494
(has the #000 phillips in it)

little girly pliers (same seller as the screwdrivers)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Pro-America-8005-5-Inch-Groove-Joint-Pliers/293403890516

regular slip-joints as well to grab bigger stuff, but I'd suggest an 8-inch or 10-inch pair of groove joints like this Wilde model from Harry Epstein:
https://www.harryepstein.com/10-hje-tongue-groove-usa-pliers-w-purple-grips.html.html
(also available in a rainbow of colors)

adjustable wrench - 8-inch is perfect

needle-nose pliers
these are nice: https://www.ebay.com/itm/C-S-Osborn...ose-Stretching-Pliers-6-1-2-Long/401594060585

if you want to add diagonal cutters, see:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=8287486#post8287486

some sort of box to put the stuff into.


(can you tell yet that I just did this?)

 

[Rickster]

Screwdriver set???.... No.2 Phillips, Two flat blades, one for screws and the other to open paint cans... oh and a No.1 Phillips to poke holes in drywall.

I’d add a small level and a 12 ft tape rule to your list. And get nice baggy cheap purse off eBay or from a garage sale to put it all in. Extra points if you can pick up a worn out Coach purse for cheap!

 

[sberry]

Might as well start at the bottom and work up if you are really curious about tool quality. Straight jaw Channelocks and Vise Grip are the standard and am committed that I will rarely buy another screwdriver other than HF. Ideally buy a set and then add the staples in singles, number 2 stuff mostly.
I been using some models a long time and it feels funny if its not that exact but most women don't do that and wouldn't have the power anyway to do pipe wrench work with 440's or 9 Klein's.

 

[LOW1]

Allen wrenches? Metric and sae

 

[four.cycle]

almost forgot:
small pair of needle-nose pliers with smooth jaws to work on jewelry, glasses, and such.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Pro-America-5005-5-Inch-Chain-Nose-Pliers-with-Cutter/293403905499

(Actually even better if you can find a set containing end nippers, looping pliers (round jaw), and smooth-jaw needle nose as well.)

I wouldn't give my girlfriend a pair of locking pliers (e.g., "Vise Grips")
When she gets her fingers pinched in them it will be your fault.

Yeah... and tape measure. 6-footer is dandy. Small diminutive size.
I found mine a "Lady Oxwall" but right now there aren't any available.
This one is pretty nice:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Oxwall-Measuring-Tape-Red/254240428922

 

[thin_concrete]

Torx set
Socket set with wrench and screwdriver that sockets can attach to.

 

[81turbota]

Snap on did have a “kitchen drawer” kit that was pretty good. All jokes aside I like that you’re putting together a tool kit for her. My wife used my Wiha precision drivers and made a comment how good they were...needless to say she was gifted a set.

 

[RTM]

I made a set for my daughter for her first apartment. ( Maint man took her Channel lock pliers when he didn’t have any... Land lord paid for a new pair.) Gave her the 6 in one screwdriver, one mid sized flat blade. Add in a pair of tweezers so they don’t have to use their good ones. 8 inch Crescent.

I skipped the bit sets, power screwdrivers etc since I didn’t expect her to assemble IKEA furniture without me.

Roll of masking tape, duct tape are about the only things missed that I recall.

 

[PFSard]

As well as the great suggestions already offered,

I assume you know which tools she has regularly borrowed, so I would start there.

 

[bwringer]

I put together a kit for my wife to carry in her car.

Much of it is the higher-quality Harbor Freight stuff.

The $30 kit has too much low-rent **** in it, IMHO, but you could get a lot done with it if you had to. I also don't like the cases that don't leave room for extra stuff.

It's all general home and car stuff; she's basically a caretaker, she's in people's homes a lot, and most of her workplaces are about 65 miles away.

Even if she doesn't know much about working on her car, having some tools at least opens up the possibility that I can coach her through something on the phone or perhaps someone there can help. So I included a little test light and VOM.

If I were starting from scratch, I'd get a nice durable tool bag and hit Meijer for a batch of Tekton gear, or perhaps Northern Tool for Klutch stuff.

Avoid the crappy pink "do it herself" kits. It's really sort of patronizing. And ladies want real 16oz hammers...

Also toss in some gloves that fit -- some nitrile gloves for dirty stuff, and some nitrile-coated or mechanic's gloves for the rough and dirty stuff.

 

[M6erfan]

You could do all your shopping at Tekton and not miss out on quality.

 

[crasher98]

If you get her any wrenches make sure they're long enough to give some torque assist - most of the wrenches that come in the HF-type homeowner sets look pretty short which means more umph is needed to break something loose.

In the same vein, if you're giving her sockets also include a corresponding-sized breaker bar or long ratchet.

 

[rharman]

My wife would kill me if I gave her pink tools!

She has a good set of C-Man screwdrivers, pliers, etc. and I end up borrowing her "in the house" tools quite regularly.

 

[designer485]

My wife would kill me if I gave her pink tools!

She has a good set of C-Man screwdrivers, pliers, etc. and I end up borrowing her "in the house" tools quite regularly.

My wife is a bigger tool snob than I am (that's what happens when her Dad worked for Snap-On for 21 years)...the only pink tools she has are her set of Snap-On mini screwdrivers. I'm pretty sure her toolbox in the kitchen is 75% Snap-On.

Don't underestimate that your wife would appreciate nice tools if she is regularly using them.

 

[bonneyman]

My wife would kill me if I gave her pink tools!

She has a good set of C-Man screwdrivers, pliers, etc. and I end up borrowing her "in the house" tools quite regularly.

I guess you'd come down with a case of pink eye? As in "pink hammer in the eyeball"?

 

[Parrothead]

First, my wife is welcome to use anything she can safely operate from my toolbox

Secondly we do have the wife’s tools/kitchen tool box. I can accomplish a heck of a lot out of that box. Buy decent/good tools as if you’re giving her junk, she’ll go find the stuff that works. That doesn’t have to be Snap-on, but something you’d use. If I get a chance I’ll inventory my kitchen tools.

Think about what she’d do with the tools. As an example, we have a non contact voltage tester in case she need to swap a light switch or change a fixture when I’m out of town. Flip the breaker and verify you hit the right one.

My wife isn’t rebuilding an engine, but she could swap door knobs, or paint the living room. Buy accordingly.

 

[bczygan]

My "Wife Toolkit":

Bill

 

[2ndGearRubber]

A 5'6 woman is more than capable of swinging a standard weight hammer. I'd build a little kit with usa Williams screwdrivers, a bit socket set, claw hammer, a panel/trim tool, knipex cobras and linesman, and a pair of dykes.

 

[3 Gun Shooter]

A lot depends what they are planing to do with it. My ex it was mostly driving tacks, small nails in the wall for pictures. She would usually grab a smaller claw hammer from my tool bucket.

One day first hammer she saw was one of my finishing hammers where I has forming some aluminium over a dolly. She grabbed that and put small marks in the face.

I bought her a plastic tool box to keep a small tack hammer, pliers, indexable screw driver, wire cutters and a small 'Visegrip'. It kept her from grabbing my stuff.

 

[bczygan]

My "Wife Toolkit":

Bill

Wife told me that's what SHE wants.....!!!

Bill

 

[powhitehorn]

Don`t forget these two.

Made my day, lol

 

[d.mcfarland]

Snap on did have a “kitchen drawer” kit that was pretty good. All jokes aside I like that you’re putting together a tool kit for her. My wife used my Wiha precision drivers and made a comment how good they were...needless to say she was gifted a set.

The kit is pretty good, but has it's shortcomings as far as usability of the included tools.

 

[upper_tanker]

I know you said you don't want cheap HF stuff, but I have had this kit in my plow truck for 4 years now:
https://www.harborfreight.com/tool-kit-with-case-130-pc-63248.html

It's gotten it's fair use and abuse over the years in very cold weather and has held up fine. Obviously it's no quality kit, but it sounds like it would work for what she's going to be using it for. I have no complaints about it IIRC, other than it's not as comfortable as higher end stuff would be.

 

[lardy1]

My lady worked upward from machine operator into mid level management at a small ( 3 plants) machine shop. Her tool box is better stocked than many men I know.

And then there's the house tool box...…………...

 

[PelicanPines]

90% snap on?

Just give her your Snap on guys contact info. Let them work out a deal for her own tools.

 

[Robbie B]

Go ahead and get this for her. https://m.snaponindustrialbrands.com/prod-57-1-7-26/williams-mammoth-set-complete-1390-pieces.htm


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[theoldwizard1]

My wife has had her own tools for over 20 year. Craftsman, and probably all Made in the USA !

 

[Maddog3355]

I would get her the same kit you carry because if she breaks down while your with her at least you will have some tools to fix it!!!

 

[1cargarage]

In my limited experience at trying to equip my girlfriend (and girlfriends of the past) with tools to limit their losing of my tools, I have found:

They are (by and large) not going to use everything you give them. I.e. A screwdriver generally serves as a prybar, poker, makeshift hammer/mallet, etc. An adjustable wrench is used for banging things. You get the idea.

I would get her the bare-bones essentials (5 pc screwdriver set, 3 pc plier set, 4" adjustable wrench, hammer/mallet, pick & awl set, utility knife) and see how it goes. I'd love for my girl to love tools and use them properly and put them back all the time, but it's just not going to happen and I'm not here to force anything.

I don't know about your wife, but girls/women seem to love picking and pulling stuff. Think tiny picks, hooks, pliers, etc

 

[kctyphoon]

Vacuum
Mop
Oven mitts
Sponge
Laundry basket
Treadmill

 

[bwringer]

Make sure your SO understands you love to ponder and purchase tools, and would be happy to do so for her.

My wife and I have had some nice bonding moments when she asks "how can I...?" and we find a solution together.

However, teaching her how to do anything can quickly turn into a minefield... 23 years of marriage and it's still tough to show her how to do something without the whole thing going off the rails.

 

[lis2323]

Vacuum
Mop
Oven mitts
Sponge
Laundry basket
Treadmill

Don’t forget one of these