Basic Toolkit?

[unopened]

In the DIY Dunces thread, a couple of people have mentioned putting together basic toolkits for their son or daughter.

So what is a basic toolkit? The obvious component is a large bag of common sense, which looks to be in short supply. Beyond that, what should there be? There are some things you would expect, like a selection of Standard, Philips and Pozidrive screwdrivers - but the question is, what exactly would you get - I have lots, of which I tend to use only about three or four. Similarly, what fixings would you include - what type of nails, screws, rawlplugs etc. If I want chipboard screws, all I ever seem to have is woodscrews and vice versa.

For some, the basic toolkit is a credit card and a nearby 'shed', and a large garden shed to store all the tools you've used only once!

I did look in the uk.d-i-y wiki (possibly not hard enough) - and I don't think there is an article on a 'Basic Toolkit' there, so perhaps answers to this thread could eventually make it into the Wiki as a useful article?

Cheers,

Sid

[John Rumm]

If you use something like twinthread screws (quicksilver from screwfix) then they can be used for most applications.

That is a good question actually...

Much of the answer depends on who is using it, where, and what range of tasks you expect them to take on.

You could go for something as simple as a good swiss army knife or better still a leatherman tool. That would take care of basic screwing, snipping, stripping, and gripping tasks.

Beyond that I would have though a small box or bag with screwdrivers, pliers, tape measure, small torch, wire cutters and strippers, medium sized adjustable spanner, small multimeter, hammer, box of assorted twinthread screws, small cordless drill, and assorted multi purpose plugs would cover a good deal of jobs.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Trouble is it will vary by a large amount from person to person. Some may only want to stick up a couple of pictures and do a bit of decorating - others may need to include plumbing. Etc.

But keep an eye on Lidl etc special offers. They often do their version of this.

[unopened]

That's great John! Given this is uk.d-i-y, I'm surprised the ubiquitous angle grinder hasn't made it's way in there ;-) I will go and get some twinthread screws.

The least used item of mine in that list is the hammer. I have a hard rubber mallet used with some woodworking chisels that gets more use as a general encouragement tool, but it's probably a bit too esoteric for a basic toolkit.

I have a small (miniature) ratchet socket kit and ratchet screwdriver with a selection of heads which both get used extensively. The Stanley knife gets a lot of use as well, with curved blades rather than straight ones.

Cheers,

Sid

[Cicero]

========================================= This looks like quite good value for a starter kit, although you might consider it a bit too slanted towards car maintenance:

[Rod]

Actually I had been mulling over contributing 'mallet' to the thread. Really useful for things like flat pack assembly - though I use a cheap rubber one rather than wood.

Recently I seem to have used loads of round head screws - lots of fixing things to walls.

Also - just been to look at my 'ready kit':

waterpump wrench hex/allen key set pencil (and sharpener) Uniball write-on-anything-at-any-angle ballpoint (e.g. ) try square spirit level glue (PVA and superglue? - maybe epoxy) abrasive (emery, sand, wet-and-dry and maybe small sanding block) countersink bit (preferably snail-type) hacksaw (and, if any plumbing is possible, compact pipe cutter!) maybe a small folding saw (e.g. Bahco gardening saw) PTFE tape centre punch and/or bradawl files string or cord gloves (e.g. nitrile disposable and knitted cotton) plastic boxes for storing all sorts of things (screws, nails, fuses, etc.) Ikea template for marking out door/drawer handle positions (cheap orange plastic) silicone grease white lithium grease aerosol sticky stuff remover

[pete]

I'd be inclined to put in cheap a 12V cordless drill, plus set of screwdriver bits and metric drillbits maybe a Tungstem-carbide tipped bit, too. The cordless drill is much easier to use than handheld ones. OK, they need charging, but that gives the user time to sits and consider what they are actually planning to do.

I'd also include a lump hammer, retractable knife with snap-off blades and a small "pull stroke" handsaw. An adjustable wrench and some pliers, too.

I wouldn't bother with nails (the lump hammer has other uses ;-), but a good selection of various length X-head screws, nuts 'n' bolts, washers, cable ties, tape-measure, small bullseye level and a torch. A small tube of polyurethane adhesive, some araldite and a roll of tape. Last of all would be some clamps, a pair of thick gloves and a box of plasters.

[meow2222]

To that I'd add waterpump pliers, pointy nose pliers, duct tape, snapoff bladed knife, sets of twist & masonry dill bits, coarse tooth saw, assorted nails, and I'd go for a hex bit type screwdriver set before traditional screwdrivers these days - but avoid the junk end of the market, those are really a waste of time. Maybe add a miniature spirit level too. And maybe add a note that eyes were currently out of stock so goggles were included instead.

Trouble with this question is to get any more precision on it you'd have to answer several questions:

- whats someone willing to spend

- what diy jobs will they try and what will they run & hide from

- what else will they do with the tools, other than diy

Plus ultimately it seems academic, since beginners' tool kits are available from ok suppliers (eg draper) at peanut cost.

NT

[John Weston]

For a basic kit, a cordless drill is not a good idea IMO. With a DIY starter, they will only be using it infrequently, so the battery will likely be self-discharged between uses - especially a cheap one. It won't have enough grunt to do much real work when needed. Because of this, for basic drilling, would not a corded drill be better, especially one with speed-control?

[someone]

[unopened]

One thing I have always envied my father for having is a hand-driven drill (not a brace-and-bit) - obviously no use for concrete masonry, but for precision drilling of wood, it is wonderful. It's also perfectly good for putting holes in plaster and brickwork. No problem with batteries or power supply either. It's to long for confined spaces, but all the same, I covet it.

Regards,

Sid

[Huge]

I inherited my grandfathers tools, and the nice wooden chest they live in. I love them. Indeed, I can see why people collect antique tools.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

A chippie I once knew reckoned the sort of tool steel best for wood chisels wasn't available at any price these days. He thought the secret died out somewhere down the line. Sounds far fetched - but he had some very old chisels that kept their edge far better than any modern ones. And he knew all the good tool shops in London - wasn't talking about shed tools.

[meow2222]

Whats good about the mujis?

NT

[Rod]

In Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle there is a wonderful section which describes the steel making in India from the seventeenth century. Apparently, despite the misleading name, this is what became Damascus steel. Did their secrets ever get lost?

And Tiranti (sculptural supplies) sell riffler files with incredibly hard, long-lasting teeth. Not at all sure where they are made - I always thought Italy, but have since wondered.

[The Medway Handyman]

I have a 'first response' bag in the van that goes with me into almost every job;

2 x pozi screwdrivers 2 x flat screwdrivers 1 x electrical size screwdriver 2 x stubby screwdrivers 3 x wood chisels 12, 18 & 25mm combination square tape rule 2 x small pry bars 1 x claw hammer 1 x tacking hammer 1 x torch 1 x adjustable spanner 1 pr waterpump pliers 1 pr small mole grips 1 pr small long nose mole grips 1 pr combination pliers 10" level 4" scraper stanley knife scissors filling knife 2 x 'F' clamps bradawl pincers sml hand saw jnr hacksaw.

Drill drivers, bits, plugs, screws etc in another bag, specialist plumbing tools in another, electrical in another.