A woman’s guide to putting together your first toolbox

When I was a kid, my three sisters and I shared one bathroom.  We, being the overly hygienic types, used plenty of toilet paper.  If you do the math, that was a lot of tissue for the old house plumbing pipes to handle and every so often the toilet would get clogged.  Dad would be summoned to work his magic, and with one swift push of the plunger, the porcelain throne would live to clog another day.  Well I remember one time when I was about 13, Dad, apparently tired of coming upstairs to clear the pipes, summoned us into the bathroom to show us how it was done.  We took the lid off of the toilet and he explained the inner workings of that wondrous fixture.  My husband may dispute this fact, but to this day I am the best toilet-clog-clearer in the house.  This one skill has come in handy many, many times – even at work.  Yeah, I know, work – TMI.  Any-who, what is the point of this story  and what does it have to do with a toolbox?  The point is – don’t think you can’t unclog a toilet, change a tire or do any other task that “people” often associate with manly work.

So here is my little guide to putting together a tool box for yourself based on my own experience of tools I have actually used.  Also, it’s a good idea to build your tool box over time since quality tools are expensive.  What usually happens is – something catastrophe occurs that requires a certain tool, you go out and buy one and voila – add the tool to your handy toolbox.

Tool box:

Make sure this is large enough, don’t get one of those mini toolboxes and save the vintage tool boxes for something cute like your collection of Barbie shoes or nail polish.  You need something a little more practical.

Tools:  (Listed in order of handiness IMO)

Screwdrivers – Flat head and Philips

Pliers

Hammer

Tape Measure

Long nose pliers

Utility knife and extra blades

WD-40

Duck Tape

dust masks

Flash light

Mini level

Small pry bar

Allen tool (that little metal tool you get with your IKEA furniture)

Super Glue

Picture hanging kit

Safety glasses

work gloves

Twine

Bell ties

And… any other tool that you find helpful or required for your particular home or situation

Make sure your hammer fits in the bottom of the toolbox…

 You will notice that there is no wrench on my list – that’s because I have never used a wrench, ever. Feel free to add a wrench if you want.  But in my book, if some task requires a wrench – that’s when I usually call a plumber!  Know your limits.