In-House Toolkit Essentials

When it comes to tools, I'm a pragmatist. That may be because of the small spaces we've lived in (no McMansions for us). It may be because I don't like clutter. It may be because I'm frugal to a fault. But in any case, I carefully consider each tool before I commit. 

In a garage, that's one thing. There's plenty of room for some flex. But in a condo, there's not. If the condo toolkit is too big, it often becomes a mess and presents its own hassle to find the right tool. A bloated toolkit is also cumbersome to move around - whether size, weight, or both. When this happens, the toolkit is a hassle to move, so tools get taken individually and often misplaced. On the other hand, if a toolkit is too small, it may lack usefulness.

Every tradesperson has their core set of tools. It's important to know what that core set should be, and that takes time, experience, and careful thought. So I took the time to write my experience & careful thoughts down for your advantage.

I have consistently found that there are a few tools essential to have at hand at all times in the house for common tasks. Such tasks include putting up pictures, fixing appliances or a broken doodad, assembling Ikea furniture, changing batteries, etc. Having a small toolkit nearby makes it easy to knock out most random tasks/fixes as soon as they come up. 

Being able to immediately address tasks is important, because if getting tools takes extra work, the tasks are more likely to be delayed or never completed. Delayed tasks bug me. They also bug my wife - who then bugs me. No bueno. Having the essential In-House toolkit helps knock out mini-projects (even major projects) quickly. 

Without further ado, these are the "essential tools" that I find myself constantly needing & using in the house:

1. A small toolbox. I recommend it have various compartments. They shouldn't all be full either - it's important to have some empty for holding little pieces when you're working on a project. 

The one I use is a Kobalt organizer box that I took off of the top of one of my large rolling toolboxes. It's wide and flat, so it never tips over and is stable to set places and put things on top of. It also has a clear top. It's awesome. Unfortunately, you can't buy it alone. Sorry. So, I would recommend something like the one shown above instead.

2. A SOLID 6-in-1 screwdriver. I have the Lutz 6-in-one type. It's amazing. The 6-in-1 means #1 & #2 phillips + #1 & #2 flathead screwdriver tips, plus a 1/4 and a 5/16 socket drive.

The solid part is important because I often use this screwdriver for light hammering with the end of the handle. For that reason, your screwdriver should have some weight and the handle should be durable for impact (not hollow or shatter-prone).

Those screwdrivers with interchangeable short-tips are nifty, but not a replacement for this core tool. For one, the Lutz switched to the smallest philips tip can be used for drilling anchor holes into drywall. (big win!) Twisting + light pushing will provide a pretty decent drilling action, alleviating the need for a drill + bits when installing those drywall anchor inserts.

3. A measuring tape. Any kind will do. If I had to recommend one, I'd recommend the Stanley Fat Max. A full-size measuring tape will allow you to use it to pound (against the flat face) when needed.

Sidenote: As a handyperson, this mini tape is one of my favorite gifts EVER (received or given). 

4. A pencil. A 0.7mm mechanical or standard #2 pencil will be just fine. It should have an eraser. You will thus be able to erase your marks if needed (like from the wall). Don't use a pen or sharpie, because they're not erasable - thus not useful for all tasks. (Note: if you use a #2 wooden pencil, you can sharpen it with your razor knife - like in the photo above)

5. WD-40. While this famous lubricant has countless uses & life-hacks associated with it, it's core ability to easily apply and stop squeaks lands it a solid spot in the essential toolkit list. A little hard to insert your key in the front door? WD-40 in the key-hole. Hard to turn the handle? "WD-40" it. Door hinge squeaking? "WD-40" it. Those are just some front door examples. The list of uses around the hose goes on & on. WD-40 takes seconds to apply. Saves you countless irritations. 

6. A tiny metal screwdriver or hard-steel rod. I use this all the time for verifying stud location before sinking in a screw; I tap it into the wall with the measuring tape or screwdriver handle. It's much easier to patch/hide a tiny hole than a large hole. 

I have no clue where I got my tiny steel rod, but when I have misplaced it, I use my 1.4mm screwdriver from my mini screwdriver set. This mini screwdriver is additionally awesome for all of the small-bit sized tasks & fixes that come up. I use the smallest ones surprisingly often; the bigger ones stay in the garage.

7. A razor knife. Any standard construction razor knife will do. I have one with quick-release blades, so it's easy to take the blade out and use it for scraping as well.

Optional - You May or May Not Find These Essential

8. OPTIONAL With all of the Ikea-ish furniture we have, I have left a couple of the allen wrenches in my toolkit so that I always have them handy. They've come in useful when needing to tighten furniture or take something apart. If you don't have furniture that uses these, then they won't be as useful in your toolkit.

9. OPTIONAL Blue painters tape is useful beyond just painting. We use it for marking places for wall pictures, shelves, etc. We use it for a variety of things, but normal masking tape is usually just as good (just don't leave it on too long or it can leave a residue when removed). You can get blue tape for under $5 at Lowes, Home Depot, etc. hardware stores. 

10. OPTIONAL I keep a potpourri of extra fasteners in my toolbox, so that I always have a few handy. This consists of various screws (wood screws & picture-hanging screws), plastic drywall inserts for hanging pictures, molly-bolts, ceiling hooks, etc.

11. OPTIONAL A stud finder is extremely useful if you find yourself hanging a lot of pictures, shelves, etc. I haven't found one that's 100% reliable, but they'll get you a lot closer than the wall "tapping" method will. I use mine to locate the stud, and then use my steel rod or mini screwdriver (see #5 above) to verify that there is in fact a stud there.

12. OPTIONAL Tube of Alex paintable caulk. This stuff is amazing. After finding this, I've never gone back to using putty again. It's quicker/easier to use and looks more paint-like than putty (which dries dull & stands out). I just put a dab of caulk on my finger, push it on the hole, swipe, and I'm done. It rarely needs paint (except darker-colored walls). 

They also make Alex caulk with silicone (the Alex "Plus" or "with Silicone" types). It's still paintable, but I haven't used it, so I can't recommend the silicone variant. I like the thickness of the standard caulk for filling holes, and I'm guessing the silicone type may go on thinner. The silicone version is also more expensive. The plain Alex latex caulk is under $2 at Lowes, and is ready to go and will last quite a while (especially if you squeeze just a little extra out to dry as a "cap" to the tube & preserve the rest inside).

Conclusion

You're now equipped and organized enough to handle most daily home projects with speed & convenience. Don't be surprised at an occasional trip out the garage. But if you're NEVER taking any trips to garage, you probably need to take-on some more substantial house projects!

If you have any other tools suggestions for the In-House toolkit essentials list, please leave them in the comments below. I will test out your suggestions, and if they make the cut, I will add them to the essential toolkit tools list!

Clinton J Nelson

Hi! I'm Clint. I'm A... Husband. Father of three. Software Engineer. Professional Engineer (structural). Sippy-cup filler. Carpenter. Mechanic. Entrepreneur. Archer. Follower of Jesus.

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