the
washington
post
.
thursday,
may
26
,
2022
DC
4
BY LAURA DAILY
M
y motto has always been: Use the right tool for the right job. It’s something I learned early
on; my father made sure I had an array of tools from the moment I started living on my own.
I’m grateful for that. It’s embarrassing (and sometimes expensive) to call a handyperson
for a simple repair. Or to be caught unprepared when you discover that a dining room chair
leg is wobbly just before guests are scheduled to arrive and you don’t have a
what-do-you-call-it to tighten it up.
Even if you weren’t gifted a set of tongue-and-groove pliers — more on those later — with teal handles
for your 18th birthday (thanks for that, Dad), it’s not too late to compile your own assortment of
essential tools and supplies. Here’s what experts suggest you need. Note that many of the items are
multipurpose, which can save you space and money.Hammer. H ammers are the workhorses in any tool kit. You can
use them to close a paint can, pull out an errant nail or pound that
security alarm sign into your flower bed. Consider it a must-have,
says Chuck Khiel, senior vice president for Bethesda-based Fred
Home Improvement. There are various types, including ball-peen,
sledge and mallet, but the 16-ounce claw hammer, which has a head
that is split and curved on one side, should handle most jobs and
isn’t too heavy to wield.Tape measure. Look for one that is at least 25 feet long to
measure pretty much anything inside or out. It should have the
fractions of an inch — down to^1 / 16 — labeled, so you can concentrate
on the measurement and not on counting the marks, says Vineta
Jackson, who writes about home improvement at the Handyman’s
Daughter.Four-in-one screwdriver. W hether you need to tighten a
loose hinge, assemble a toy or change an item’s batteries, this is the
ultimate affordable tool, says Sean Walsh, a general contractor and
CEO of Walcraft Cabinetry in Ohio. It comes with two double-sided
bits, including two flat heads and two X-shaped Phillips heads.
These can be swapped in and out of the screwdriver handle.Set of pliers. A standard three-piece set includes six-inch
slip-joint, needle-nose and diagonal (or cutter) pliers. “They allow
you to get a grip on anything,” says Kevin Busch, vice president of
operations for Mr. Handyman. Needle-nose pliers are especially
efficient in small, tight spaces, and diagonal ones are ideal if you
need to cut wires.Tongue-and-groove pliers. These adjustable pliers are
good for tightening threaded fittings, such as sink drains, and
turning handles or valves. “They’re my go-to for plumbing repairs:
to stop leaking water, change a shower head or grip a stuck valve, so
you can apply enough leverage to turn it off,” Walsh says.Socket wrench set. A socket wrench does the same job as a
conventional wrench, only more efficiently. Instead of buying
dozens of wrenches, you can buy a single handle and removable
sockets in different sizes. A socket wrench, with its ratcheting
handle, lets you turn a nut or bolt without repositioning the tool on
the fastener — as you would need to do with a wrench — when there
isn’t enough room to turn it in a full circle. A set with about
25 sockets should be sufficient.
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGEThe 15 tools every
homeowner should have
Hammers, tape measures, pliers: These items are toolbox staples
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