Folks here is a list of tools and their many uses that I feel woman or man should have around the house and garden.
Feel free to add anything that I have missed.
You will see I am bouncing back and forth from types of stuff as I think of them.
A good tape measure, and if you can afford it get three.
A small 12 foot tape a wide 16 foot tape and a wide 30 foot tape.
Even a 100 foot reel tape is good to have.
Choose good ones and take care of them.
I have one I still use from over 30 years ago.
A combination square.
This little jewel was invented by L.S Starrett back in 1878.
Today L.S Starrett Co is the go to company for fine measuring tools.
You can use the thing for all sorts of stuff from finding the center of the end of a board to checking the height of something.
It isn't just a square
Look it up and see what you can do.
Hammers
I have a ton of them from small tack hammers to sledge hammers.
Even welding chipping hammers.
A good claw hammer needs to be around all of the time and you dont have to spend a fortune on one.
All of mine are wooden handled.
A good hand saw.
I have so many hand saws for different uses I dont know what to do.
I will often use them so I dont have to drag out the cards to cut a little thing or two around the house.
When I was a little kid I was the go to kid for cutting and hammering by the other kids.
My mother bought me a little carpenter set when I was a wee little thing and I used the saw to cut my way out of the crib.
The darn toys actually worked back in the 50's and 60's
A screw driver set.
I dont use them at work but those combo screw drivers are great to have around the house for odd jobs.
Pencils.
Remember them.
You cant have enough pencils and a little sharpener.
A good pocket knife and learn how to keep it sharp with a wet stone.
Scissors for inside and out.
Bypass sheers for trimming plants
Shovels.
Channel locks
Three sises of channel locks.
I keep the wee ones in the kitchen drawer.
Get the blue channel lock brand I have used all of the other types and these are the best.
A wrench and socket set for around the house.
And dont forget a few sizes of the adjustable crescent wrenches.
A good battery operated drill that will hold a 1/2 inch bit.
I drill bit set.
Get a screwdriver bit set and extension to drill screws in.
Be forwarned the batteries for these things cast as much as the set so get a good one to start with.
I bought the Ridgid one and it is a great drill.
Problem with it was the batteries that came with it were smaller and didn't last a year.
The say lifetime but it is only for the one time exchange.
I called Ridgid and got the run around
I went to Home depot and complained and they exchanged both for free with the bigger better batteries.
I lucked out.
Ryobi makes a nice little screw driver bit and counter sink holder I have used for a long time I keep in the drill.
A good razor knife not one of those stupid safety knives.(what a piece of junk)
An assortment of cutting type pliers like end nippers and diagonal cutters for cutting wire and nails.
Needle nose pliers.
Just get the assortment pack.
Pry bars.
You cant have too many.
String and rope for odd jobs.
Some sort of saw horses to work off of.
I made my own.
C clamps to hold things, as many as you can get your hands on of many sizes.
A vise to hold things.
Bar clamps.
You just cant have too many clamps.
Step ladders.
Level you need levels and a coupled of string levels too.
The string level and tape measure will tell you the grade of your property and so many other things.
A plumb bob.
Dead on accuracy for many projects.
A friend and myself used several of them handing from the ceiling to straighten up a motorcycle frame.
Straight edges and long rulers many of them short and long.
Digging bars to bust up soil and rocks while digging in hard ground.
A wood chisel set.
So many good uses for these.
Center punch.
Stuff that is nice but dont really have to have
A good skill saw again mine is as old as the hills and still works great.
Saber saw.
A hole saw set.
Drill press small or large but get one you will find so many uses for it.
The bigger the better.
And get some center drill bits to go along with it.
Table saw of some sort but make it a good one also.
Reciprocating saw, some people call them a saws all.
It is indispensable for things you want to destroy and get out of the way fast like a wall.
A small bench grinder.
Add more as we go.
Worth