Don’t be caught scrambling for the tools you use the most. Accumulating a tool set can take some time and money. You can go out and buy a toolbox with a variety of basic tools and be set for a while. But the more you do in terms of projects around your home, the more likely you are to require more specific tools for jobs.
You may not have ever thought you’d need a metal crimping tool or a leather hold punch before, but one day, the task that you have at hand might require them. It’s absolutely possible that you will buy a tool for an urgent job and never use that tool again. There are tools that you will use over and over again. These are the ones that everyone knows what they are, and many building projects require them. Do yourself a favor and have multiples of these on hand. Unless you’re the most organized person in the world, tools are easy to misplace, and you don’t want to be without a basic one when you need it the most. Adding multiples of specific tools makes a lot of sense.
Get multiple tape measures
You don’t know when you’re going to need them
Credit: Chris Hachey / MakeUseOf
I cannot tell you how many times I’ve been asked to measure something at the drop of a hat. My wife and I are constantly trying to improve our home, and making changes means finding new furniture or discussing built-in units while also considering how a light fixture would look in the room.
Receiving the text, “What’s the height of our nightstands?” isn’t one I’d be surprised to get at any moment, since I know my wife wants to replace the ones we have and she’s looking at some new options on her phone. I don’t want to have to search around in a drawer to try to find a tape measure.
The fact that I’m frequently asked to measure things in different rooms also makes it foolish to keep my tape measures only in the basement with the rest of my tools. I would guess that I have at least five tape measures in my home, all of them spread in different areas.
This may seem chaotic, but I generally have a good idea of where they are, and I keep them in drawers or toolboxes. I have one on my office desk, and we have one on the guest room nightstand. This is because we measure things so many times in different bedrooms as we look to improve them. I have one in the kitchen and two in the basement that I can think of.
Tape measures come in all shapes, sizes, and lengths. Some are sturdy and can lock easily to maintain a measured length, while others are smaller and lighter, meant for less intensive measuring jobs. Having multiple tape measures available to you helps you avoid the awkward moments of not being able to answer that nightstand text in a speedy fashion.
Phillips head screwdrivers should be readily available
Buy or build up a set
Screwdrivers are tools that help you install and assemble. The number of projects I’ve had to put together with screwdrivers is too many to count. I’ve used my electric driver for some of them, but others require a handheld screwdriver due to the delicate construction.
Flat-head and Phillips-head screwdrivers are the most common types. Having sets of both is ideal, so you can make sure you get the job done efficiently with the least amount of twisting motions for your wrist and hand. I’ve gotten plenty of blisters from turning screwdrivers for long periods of time, so doing it efficiently can minimize the strain on your body.
But when it comes to Phillips head screwdrivers, the leverage that you can have against the screw you’re trying to install or remove is important. There are many times when a long-handled Phillips head screwdriver is just too big a tool for the job. A short one can help you set your screws up properly. Sometimes, you might need something more severe to remove rusted or damaged screws, but a Phillips head can often do the trick for undamaged cross-tip screws.
I have Phillips-head screwdrivers in all my tool boxes, knowing I’ll need them at different times. The varying lengths also come in handy, as there are some hard-to-reach areas that you need to fit into that require an extended handle. I’ve never had a problem finding a screwdriver that will do the job because I have many.
Phillips head screwdrivers use a numbering system for their cross-shaped tips. The #2 that you see in the photo above is the most common, while they can range from #0000 to #5. These can work with different sizes of screws.
Having levels around the home helps you finish projects
There’s no one-size-fits-all level either
Credit: Chris Hachey / MakeUseOf
Probably because I’m still in the process of putting my home together and making it feel more finalized is why this one feels more pressing to me. There are levels of all different sizes, and they all measure how balanced something is.
Most levels use a bubble that will sit in the middle of the surface that they are on top of. Whether you’re hanging a picture, putting up curtain rods, or installing light fixtures, you want to ensure you do so as precisely as possible and make them look straight.
One of the most noticeable aspects of a home is whether its picture frames are crooked. It catches people’s eyes and makes them tilt their head to match where the frame is, not where it’s supposed to be. As you’re hanging something, having a level to place on top of it can move your project closer to completion.
However, there are larger jobs that require more than the levels that will fit on a picture frame. If you’re putting in pavers outside or laying brick, you want to make sure it’s as even as possible. A larger, more industrial-sized level could come in handy there. I have larger and smaller levels in my home for different projects. One I keep in my toolbox among the removable inserts, while others have to sit out in the tool area. I even keep one in the garage by my outdoor tool box for outdoor projects. They all serve different purposes, but are all important to have.
You can never have too many pairs of scissors
Scissors, shears, and cutting tools are universally necessary
Credit: Chris Hachey / MakeUseOf
This one may seem like a no-brainer, but I’ve lived in an apartment by myself before with just one pair of scissors. After losing said pair of scissors, you have to get creative to open things up. After stabbing a package of chicken with a knife to open it and nearly slicing my hand in the process, I quickly went to the store and bought some scissors.
Scissors can obviously be used for many different tasks and can cut many different things. Having a variety of scissors for different reasons is smart, as you don’t want to ruin some scissors by using them incorrectly or trying to cut something that is too strong to be cut.
There are wire cutters, kitchen shears, garden shears, and plenty more cutting devices that you can have around your home to pick up and use. But you’re not going to cut spaghetti with wire cutters, so you need to have different kinds of cutting tools.
The amount of plastic packaging I’ve had to cut through from my kids’ toys makes me want scissors that are sturdy and can handle serious force being put on them. Then again, I want my child to be able to cut her own construction paper, so having child-friendly scissors makes a lot of sense, too.
Having multiples of some tools helps you in the long run
Do you need to have multiple versions of every tool in your toolbox? Absolutely not. But some of the most common ones that you use a lot should be considered for repeat purchasing. You never know when you’re going to need to measure or cut something, so having multiple tape measures and pairs of scissors is a good idea. These aren’t expensive tools to add either, so you’re not going to be sinking a lot of money into owning multiples. The convenience factor is high for me when I think about having these tools readily available.
