Stocking your tool supply
| The necessity | Comment |
| Tool box | “First, you have to have a place to put all your tools,” said Jim Pernsteiner of Miller’s Hardware. “Probably a tool box at least 13 inches long.” This length is required for easy ruler and hammer storage. “If the tool box has a tray, all the better,” he said. “The choice really begins with metal or plastic. Metal is sturdier, but plastic is lighter weight.” |
| Hammer | “You need a basic claw hammer, and they come in either fiberglass or wood handles. That’s true with a lot of tools. Fiberglass handles are lighter,” Pernsteiner said. A 16-ounce claw hammer used for general construction purposes is the most common, and it’s a nice size for the average person. |
| Screws and nails | Steve Martin of Steve Martin Construction said to include “a dozen or two different sized screws and nails. It’ll cost about a buck and then the average person is set for years.” |
| Tape measure | “You need one at least 12-feet long. This fits great in a tool box because it’s a little smaller than other tape measures,” Pernsteiner said. Make sure it has a tape lock for easy measurement. |
| Level | “A level is a good idea,” said Martin. “A lot of times, if you have a longer lever you can mark places to hang several pictures at once.” |
| Pliers | You’ll need “a good set of jaws for gripping” and an adjustable wrench “with a stay-tight adjustment,” said Pernsteiner. 6-inch pliers and a 10-inch adjustable wrench are good tool-box size |
| Screwdrivers | “You can get a good screwdriver set for about $6,” Pernsteiner said. “At least have a No. 2 slotted and a No. 2 Phillips. These are the most common sizes you’ll need.” Martin suggested purchasing a four-in-one screwdriver set. “It’s great for the average person and probably all they would ever need.” |
| Saws | A small saw is about 15 inches long, and will require a slightly bigger tool box. It’s handy for cutting small pieces of wood or a 2-by-4. Pernsteiner suggested a saw with cross cut teeth for this purpose. Martin said a hack saw would be a good idea too. “If you just wanted to buy one saw, a hack saw would work because you can use it for either metal or wood.” |
| Cordless drill | “If the average person could splurge and buy one tool, a cordless drill is a great choice,” Martin said. “I use it all the time. They are so sweet. I have five of them. But I can justify that because that’s how I make my living.” |
| Other necessities | Flashlight, fresh batteries, utility knife with either fixed or retractable blade, 4-inch wire cutters, duct tape, electrical tape, pencils, pens, WD-40. |