6 in 1 magnetic screwdriver
hammer
Leatherman PST
6″ Adjustable wrench
16′ tape measure
6″ torpedo level
box cutter
stud finder
Small jar of finishing nails
Maglight
Digital multimeter

However, that does not mean they are not worth getting. If you don’t already have a large collection of tools, they’re a quick and cheap way to get up to speed. Using the right poor-quality tool is better than misusing the wrong high-quality tool.

There are some tools in those kits that many people are only going to use a few times. Why spend a ton of money on them? Sure, the ones you use frequently are going to break, but that only helps you identify what you should spend your money on. Replace them with the best you can afford.

A few pads of 0000 steel wool. They seem to get used up fairly regularly on all kinds of things around my house, mainly for cleaning durable surfaces and refurbishing the appearance (where appropriate) of the stuff I get from thrift stores. Works great with Krud Kutter.

I make sure that at least one of the wrenches in my kit can turn off my gas and water, so I know where it is if I’m in a hurry.

And I LOVE the relatively new “liquid bandage” stuff that is essentially super glue for skin. I always seem to get a cut in the middle of a project (when I don’t have time for extended first aid), but now I just clean the wound w/ some alcohol and drop the liquid bandage on it and dry it quick by blowing on it. Sometimes it takes two or three applications to stop active bleeding, but it will stop it, it’s waterproof, and I’m right back to work within 2-3 minutes max!

Right next to my liquid bandage is a set of precision tweezers, suitable for very tiny splinters, or ticks, or whatever.

A small bottle of Liquid Wrench for dripping on old fasteners before trying to remove them has come in handy as well (I don’t get the spray can version, too big for the smalll toolbox).

No one said WD-40 yet? I guess I just did, and would like to add that my hinges don’t squeak.

A decent-sized magnet (mine is just a large refrigerator magnet stuck on top of my toolbox) so I don’t lose small screws or parts.

A few sets of gloves (latex, nitrile, whatever) for repairs when you don’t want messy hands (like right before the guests arrive for the party).

Not in my toolbox but kept handy are a large (12X20 foot) tarp with plenty of rope for covering an unanticipated hole in my roof, along with a gallon of roof patch cement (that can be applied in the rain) for smaller holes. I live where hurricanes and tornadoes are fairly common- try buying a tarp AFTER the storm hits… not likely!

For a small portable “fixit kit” I find these basic items are a must to carry in a small pouch: an adjustable wrench, vise grips, multidriver*, small socket set*, needlenose/Linesman’s pliers, dropjaw pliers, electrical tape, knife, hammer, mini maglite. (*often are included together in cheapass kits) … and BandAids - I’m a notorious bloodletter!

I’ll second everything Leslie said, especially about tire-changing. I’m still pissed that my driver’s training wouldn’t teach me stick-shift! Fire extinguishers and first aid training should be covered in middle school, too. Learn CPR, please.

Back on topic: Before you can fix anything, you need to know what’s wrong. A broken chair is pretty obvious, but when the chandelier is on the fritz, some diagnostic tools are essential. An outlet tester and multimeter are good, but a non-contact voltage sensor also comes in handy. You should know what every setting on the multimeter does and how to use it; if you don’t, there are plenty of resources online. Also consider some phone line testers: Both a red/green wiring checker (I like the BG Micro TOL1020) and a line cord with alligator clips. If you’re a cordless-only house, keep a corded phone somewhere for diagnostics and power failures.

Personally, I don’t keep a home tool kit. Everything’s in the garage, sorted into cubbies under the giant bench. Moving a subset into a toolbag is a per-activity exercise, because otherwise it’s not in the bench when someone goes looking for it. If I cant fix something with the Swisstech on my keychain, it’s worth grabbing the *right* tool.

Tools:

Vise grips, hammer, needle nose pliers, multi bit screwdriver, utility knife, 6″ junior hacksaw, adjustable wrench, putty knife, tape measure, level, soldering iron, multimeter, file, head lamp

Consumables:

Electrical tape, teflon tape, marrettes, mollies, mirror clips, Goop, cyanoacrylate, plaster, resin core solder picture hangers, zip ties, pipe clamps, replacement electrical plugs, RG 6 terminators, 3 in 1 oil, graphite dry lubricant.

mixed assortment of each of the following: washers, wood screws, machine screws, machine bolts ‘n nuts, nails, abrasives, batteries.

Multivoltage wall wart.

Flask of scotch.

It’s worked fine for her. Also I wanted to keep it limited to prevent her from trying to do too much. With her: Hang a picture=ok. Replace a heating element on the water heater=Ambulance.

Hand tools:

Hammer
tape measure
6pc screwdriver set
Speed level
Adjustable wrench (small and big)
Utility Knife
Hack saw
Hand saw
Plier set (standard, channel lock, needle nose, snip. maybe some vice grips if you really want)
Allen Keys

Power tools:
Cordless drill
drill bit set

The list could go on forever, depends on how much work the person needs to do.

Apartment tool set:
Hammer
6-in-1 screwdriver
tape measure
hex key set (furniture assembly)
pliers

tools
—–
crescent wrench
vice grips
phillips, flat, and bit holder screwdrivers
small pry bar
small tape measure
6″ metal rule
nail set
small ball peen hammer
hex key sets
1/4″ drive sockets
set of drill bits
multi-tool
box cutter
needle nose and standard pliers
wire strippers
pritchel chisel
small LED flashlight

supplies
———
pill bottle of fasteners
electrical tape

It was getting hard to close the lid recently, so I traded the wrenches and sockets for a crescent wrench, and haven’t regretted it. For the most part, these are my best quality mechanical (not woodworking) tools. This kit will handle most machine tool setup, simple automotive work, household repairs, and appliances. In most cases I can get far enough into a project to see what tools I need from the big tool boxes.

But may I take a moment to bitch about folks (not you guys, but referring to the picture) who create this flimsy collections of crap that they market to women as “home tool kits”? Not only have I never seen one that was anything other than pink, I’ve also never seen one that wasn’t horrible quality. And what happens is that women who really didn’t have the privilege, as I did, to grow up being taught how to use tools and to believe that I could and should do anything I wanted, get something like this with hopes of learning how to do things themselves.

But then they find that they can’t do much with the seriously underweight and poorly balanced hammer, the pliers and other tools aren’t good enough quality to give them any real control, the chintzy screwdrivers get messed up with the first semi-stubborn screw, and not knowing any better, they blame it on their own incompetence instead of cheap-ass undersized poorly designed tools, and they give up trying.

Please guys, teach the women and girls in your life (and the boys as well, of course) how to use REAL tools, manual and basic handheld power. Make sure that they’re capable of doing a lot of basic everyday maintenance (including basic electric, which seems to cause great fear in too many folks I know, including guys) around the house - if they later choose not to, fine, but this is just as important as it is for every kid should know how to change a tire and check and add fluids before they’re given a driver’s license and allowed on the road by themselves.

OK, end soapbox rant.

p.s. I’ve always said that almost anything in the world can be at least temporarily fixed with vice grips and a roll of duct tape.

Not to get off topic too far… For all of the hype it gets, I don’t think I have ever used Duct Tape to seriously repair something that was broken.

1. Duct tape
2. Regular and needle-nose vice grips
3. driver set - I’ve got a fairly generic Craftsman set with most common driver heads
4. utility knife
5. Zip-ties
6. crescent wrench (1 small and 1 large)
7. Hammer
8. 16′ tape measure
9. pencil

For jobs that demand more, I’ll just go and get the necessary tool from my workbench.

1] 16oz Hammer
2] Screwdrivers, Standard, Phillips and Jewelers
3] Tape Measure, 24′ and 10′
4] 6″ Rule
5] Levels, 24″ and Torpedo
6] Box Cutter (with extra blades) and Knife
7] Scissors
8] Pencils and Pens
9] 7″ Speed Square
10] Stud Finder
11] Flashlight
12] Spare batteries

ELECTRICAL
13] Needle Nose Pliers
14] Linesman Pliers
15] Wire Cutters/Strippers
16] Electrical Meter
17] Outlet Tester
18] Electrical Tape

PLUMBING
19] Channel Lock Wrench
20] Cresent Wrench
21] Vice Grips
22] Pipe Tape

PAINTING, ETC
23] Paint Brush
24] Putty Knife
25] 5 in 1 Paint Tool
26] Drywall saw
27] Masking Tape

At the very least, since tapes were already mentioned, there’s Elmer’s glue, crazy glue, gorilla glue (I used this stuff to plug up leaks in a window when nothing else worked late night on a Sunday) - anything else can be purchased as needed. A good flashlight or headlamp is good to have, as is a caged/fluorescent hang light.