The Dirty Dozen


All of us have a collection of tools that we have put together over the years. Some of us have been collecting for many years and have a tool for every job, no matter what the job calls for. And many of us have most of the tools we need, although there are times we wish we had more. But if you are just starting out, you may not even have all the basics, or even know what the basics are. And that brings us to The Dirty Dozen...12 tools that will enable you to carry out many simple home repair and improvement jobs.

I'll include a rough price guide for each tool to give you an idea of the cost. You will always be able to find less expensive tools, but it has been my experience that you get what you pay for. Saving money by buying cheap tools and then having to run to the store in the middle of a job to replace a tool because it broke is no fun. Paying a little extra for brand name tools will save you time, aggravation and money in the long run.

Screwdriver(about $6)

To have a screwdriver for most screws, you should have at least 2 sizes of flat drivers and 2 sizes of Phillips drivers. Or you can save a bit of money and buy a 4-in-1 driver which comes with interchangable tips. Make sure the tips are held tightly in the shaft and the shaft is held tightly in the handle.

Slip-joint pliers(about $12)

These will come in handy when you have to retrieve a ring, spoon, or clog from the p-trap under the sink. A 10-inch slip-joint plier will be big enough to grip the slip nut that holds together the p-trap.

Plunger(about $5)

While I'm on the subject of plumbing, a plunger is a handy tool to have around the house. Sometimes it will save you the trouble of having to get out the slip-joint pliers. The rubber bell on the working end comes in two styles - the standard bell shape, for most sinks and tubs, and one that has a collar on the end for use in toilets. The collar fits down inside the drain of the toilet for a better seal.

Measuring Tape(about$4-$8)

These come in many legths, from 3 feet to 100 feet and over. But the size most useful your basic tool set will be 20-25 feet. Look for a 1 inch wide blade, which is

The copyright of the article The Dirty Dozen in Home Renovation is owned by John J. Pascarella. Permission to republish The Dirty Dozen in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Go To Page: 1 2 3

Articles in this Topic    Discussions in this Topic