If you're doing any kind of DIY projects, you'll need to have a tool box. But what are the essential tools? In this post, we'll cover what tools the beginner needs for their toolbox to cover their basic needs. But we're also going beyond that by - we have 6 specialized tool boxes for the specialized DIY individual, from the Drone Hobbiest to the Golfer. Keep reading to find out what tools you need to get your hands on!
For the Basic Toolbox, you'll need the following 10 items. Since this guide is for a beginner, we'll be fairly explicit about what each item is for.
- Hammer - for putting nails in walls and furniture.
- Vise-Grips - to keep whatever you're working on from slipping, whether it be for hammering a nail or tightening a screw.
- Utility Knife - for clean, narrow cuts.
- Leatherman - this tool has a lot of other handy tools in it, and is easy to carry when you're on the go.
- Screwdriver and Bits - for screws.
- Hacksaw - for sawing pieces down to size.
- Level and Ruler - for accurate measurements.
- Measuring Tape - for longer measurements.
- WD-40 and Duct Tape - to grease and to tape, respectively.
- Allen Keys - you never know when the project you're working on may need these, so stock up on em!
The Basic Toolbox is fairly straightforward. In the specialty boxes, however, the purpose of some tools is not so apparent. Without further ado, let's dive into each of these tool boxes!
The Drone Hobbiest
- Spudger - if you're messing around with electronics, it's good to have one of these around. They are basically antistatic plastic sticks to poke or pry with.
- Magnetic Project Mat - you don't want to lose the many metal pieces of electronics, so keep them magnetically in place with this mat.
- Torx Driver Set - the 6-sided star screw head is common in electronics.
The Household Plumber
- Propane Torch - for working with copper pipes to make them more pliable.
- Basin Wrench - for the tight spots that you can't get another wrench or your hand in.
- Hand Auger - for clearing drains that a plunger can't.
The Picture Framer
- Adjustable Clamps - keeps wood in place.
- Mitre Saw - to make the cuts at the perfect angle.
- Glass Cutter - for the panes on the frames.
The Gunsmith
- Bullet Puller - for separating the bullet from the shell if it isn't right.
- Gun Vise - for holding your gun during repairs, cleaning, sighting, or other modifications.
- Leatherman Mut - related to the Leatherman above, this is for on the go firearm maintenance.
The Bicyclist
- Chain Lube - don't want the chain to get gummed up, so keep it finely tuned with chain lube.
- Multifunction Bike Tool - has an assortment of handy tools for bikes.
- Pedal Wrench - to give the adequate leverage to take off a pedal.
The Golfer
- Ball Retriever - for getting your ball back from hard to reach places.
- Divot Tool - for repairing divots left in the green.
- Club Groove Tool - if the grooves on the head of your golf club get dull, this tool can put them back in.
We hope this guide was useful to you in embarking on your DIY adventures! For visuals of the tools from the Basic Toolbox, check out the infographic below.
