The Five Tools Every Handyman Needs
Written without the help of AI (which explains all of the gramatical errors) by: Ian Clayton-Owner and Principal Technician at MacLeod’s Handyman Services in Rochester, NY and the Finger Lakes Region
Tools are crucial when it comes to running a handyman business or being a DIY home owner. Having the right tools can make the difference between a quick job and a multi-hour job. As a handyman, having the correct tools for the job is difficult because so many of them are needed, especially because our profession covers so many different fields. You need tools for electrical, plumbing, carpentry, drywall, and the list goes on. How does one know which to buy if they are starting a handyman business or becoming a first time DIY homeowner? Well, here is my list of five must-have tools for a professional handyman or homeowner.
Basic Hand Tools: What I mean by this is your very basics, such as a claw hammer, Screwdrivers, wrenches, hex-bits, and torx-bit sets. This will at the very least allow you to assemble the most basic of products, hang pictures, and perform the most basic functions of being a diy homeowner or handyman. I highly recommend something like this to get you started, it will also cover the tool we are about to talk about next.
Socket Set with Ratchet: It doesn’t need to be expensive or a nice ninety-tooth ratchet, the most basic set from Harbor Freight can get you started (like the one above). This will allow you to assemble most things while saving you from turning the wrench a few hundred times and saving you some time. I recommend this set from you guessed it; Harbor Freight. This set comes with your most common sizes in SAE and Metric, extensions, and two spark plug sockets for you to change the spark plugs on your small engines.
Cordless Half-Inch Drill: This will do almost anything you need it to as a drill or driver, which is why I have put it above an impact driver. It can drill holes, it can drive fasteners, some of them even have a hammer-drill setting. Whether you need to drill holes in the wall to hang a shelf, replace some deck boards, or pilot a hole, this is your all in one must have power tool. I highly recommend the BAUER 20V Cordless, 1/2 in. Drill/Driver Kit with 1.5 Ah Battery and Charger from yeah, you guessed it; Harbor Freight. I use this on an almost daily basis as a full-time handyman and it performs amazingly well, and fifty five dollars for the tool, a two and a half amp hour battery, and the charger it’s a hard deal to beat. The only thing I would do personally is get a five amp hour battery to go along with it, this will give the drill a little more umph.
Quarter-Inch Impact: If you get tired of constantly changing between drill bit and driver bit and also want a tool that is specifically designed to drive fasteners, then this is a must have tool for properly securing whatever it is that you need fastened. I highly recommend the BAUER 20V Cordless, 1/4 in. Hex Compact Impact Driver Kit with 1.5 Ah Battery and Charger, and at this point i’m not even going to tell you where to get it. Another tool that I use and abuse on the daily, I paid sixty dollars for it, and it works amazing. Once again would upgrade to a five amp hour battery.
Oscillating Mult-tool: This doesn’t need to be cordless, the corded ones would be acceptable for DIY home owners or entry handymen. This can be used for cutting dry-wall, wood, PVC, and with the proper blade metal. It’s great for precision and flush cuts, it can be used for longer cuts but is best used for shorter cuts. This is a tool that I somehow end up using almost daily whether it be for plumbing, drywall work, carpentry, and every general repair or upgrade you could imagine.
Whether it be the most complex or simple repair or upgrade, the list of above tools are ones that I rely on the most to get the job done. In future posts I will go over the tools needed to get into specific jobs. But for now, get the tools listed above and get to fixin.