Here’s a few of the tools that every handyman needs. The tools required by a particular handyman will all depend on the types of tasks, jobs and projects that they do.
- Safety equipment – work boots/shoes, overalls or work trousers, knee pads, ear defenders, ear plugs, goggles (safety glasses), etc.
- Tool bag or tool box
- Tape measure
- Hammers (claw hammer, sledge hammer, joiner’s mallet, ball pein, cross and straight pein, soft-faced hammer)
- Screwdriver set
- Chisels
- Electrical tester
- Putty knife
- Paint brushes
- Wire cutters
- Wrench / spanners
- Clamps
- Workbench
- Socket and bit set
- Brench vise
- Sandpaper
- Jigsaw
- Files
- Pliers
- Saws (wood saws, hack saws, etc)
- Supplies including screws, nails, gaffer tape, masking tape, etc
- Crowbar
- Digital calliper
- Pipe wrench
- Stanley knife plus extra blades
- Allen key (Hex key) set
- Stud finder
- Scissors
- Shears
- Strimmer
- Chainsaw
- Vacuum cleaner
- Ladders
- Utility knife
- Multi-tool
- Shovel
- Spirit level or laser level
- Chalk, pencils, etc
- Wire strippers
- Staple gun
- A selection of power tools (including a cordless drill, glue and heat gun, etc)
- A radio!
- Left-handed screwdriver 😉
- Glass hammer 😉
- Tartan paint 😉
- Skirting board ladder 😉
- Replacement bubble for the spirit level 😉
Of course, the last five are fool’s errands, just thrown in for a laugh but the rest might be absolute essentials for any self-respecting handyman or handywoman, depending on the types of tasks, jobs and projects they carry out.
Ok so that’s a long, long list of tools so if I was to narrow this down to just ten, yes ten, tools that are essential for a handyman to possess, here’s what I’d probably go for. If I could only carry around ten tools, here’s what I’d opt for:
- A tool bag or tool box – you need to keep your tools safe and together somehow right. I suppose you could keep them in your van all separately and take them into a property to do a job one by one (or, more realistically, a few at the time) but you’re much better off having some type of holdall to keep them in and carry them around in.
- A level of some kind e.g. spirit level, laser level – pretty obvious why this is at essential tool. No-one wants wonky tiles or photos which aren’t perfectly placed.
- A cordless drill – many jobs that a handyman will carry out will almost always involve a cordless drill!
- A hammer – I’d go for a claw hammer as it’s probably the most popular and versatile.
- An electrical tester – essential when you’re carrying out a wide range of tasks.
- Screwdrivers – can’t really put screws in or take them out without a set of these.
- Socket set – absolutely essential if you ask me.
- Vacuum cleaner – useful for preparation and cleaning up afterwards.
- Utility knife – no handyman can be without this tool.
- A tape measure – obvious if you want to plan your jobs properly.