Situation: Daughter is unfortunately single and a new homeowner. She lives 20 miles from me.

As with any homeowner, there is some tools needed for a quick fix to home repairs. Naturally I will go over and do the major stuff. Yet what tool would you include in a tool box for her to keep so she can do some things herself?

Certainly it would include a hammer, various screwdrivers and pliers.

What else would you put in a tool box for a 30 yr old single homeowner?

roll of duct tape
roll of electrical tape
pair of scissors
tape measure

How much have you taught her about tools?
My daughter has drill, saws, wrenches, pliers, carpenter rule, cutters, boxes of nails, screws, bolts, etc. enough to replace faucets, fix lawn furniture, put up shelves, replace ends on entension cords, and so on.
She put down the wood flooring and installed the TV and sound system in the entertainment room.

I know one nice lady whose most useful tool is the list of phone numbers to call for repairs.

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Science plus Art

Flashlight-Pencils for Marking-Level
Vise-Grips-Drill Motor-Drills
Rubber Mallet-Razor Knife-Putty Knife / Scraper
Glue- Some Assorted Nails and Screws
Couple Pipe Wrenches-Crescent Wrench
Painters Masking Tape (Blue)

Most home improvement type stores sell basic tool kits in a case. After my wife complained about me locking up my roll-aways with all my tools; I bought her one of the kits. It pretty much has all she is capable of using; hammer, screwdrivers, pliers, measuring tape, scissors, utility knife, etc. Now I don't have to worry about her and the kids loosing/breaking my tools.

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"... shall not be infringed."

A small electrical tester, If her house has gas, a special wrench fixed to the gas line to shut off the gas. My daughter also uses a flexible light bulb changer ( you know one of those rubber tipped springy things) saves her from getting on ladders.

I also got her one of the pre-made home repair kits.

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James L. "Jim" Rhiner

My daughter was using air nailers at 10 so my point of reference is probably different than yours. Other than what was mentioned I get a cordless screw gun/drill. I think anymore I use that more than anything. I've had one for decades but last Christmas my wife bought me a cordless drill/sawzall/circular saw/flashlight combo. I was skeptical about the saws but they work fine for light stuff. I can still drag out my 8" Rockwell if needed.

Buy her a good cuts and scrapes first aid kit as well.

Picture hangers, battery operated drill, string, and a cell phone to call you when she needs to know how to use the tools you gave her.

Pete

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NRA, GOA Lifer

After spending 8 yrs in med school, she better already have a good first aid bag.

She has a cell phone already. Not sure but I think it has been surgically implanted to her hand since I do not recall seeing her without it for the last four years.

A good book on home repair, it can be invaluable. If a water pipe brakes it's good to know the first thing to do is turn off the main.

Beat me to it.

I would add, the first two numbers programmed in should be Daddy's and a male relative, cousin, brother, acquaintance, etc., to call in an emergency. Next, program in a couple of tradesmen, plumber, electrician, carpenter, etc. I think there should be a j-frame and/or k-frame or two in strategic places. Beyond that, my 30 year-old single daughter would be strained to use anything beyond pliers and a couple of screwdrivers.

Why do you say she is "unfortunately" single? I wish my 30 y/o daughter had a worthy husband, but after seeing the choices some of her peers and classmates made in mates, I have to say that "fortunately" she has completed an education, earned an advanced degree, has a good job, money in the bank, is buying a home, and is unencumbered by a worthless mate and the children of such a union.

There is more than one way to look at things.

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Georgia On My Mind

Medical school does not equal pre-hospital care training.


After seeing an ER doc at a boating accident, I firmly believe they should stay indoors and wait for EMS to bring the patient to them

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I miss my 4546 the most.

First must know how to shut off the water, gas and power. Also how to relight the pilot lights.

I wrote a 'blog post on this not too long ago. I'll just copy/paste.

I don't think everyone needs a fully-equipped machine- and wood-shop in their basement or garage. Goodness knows it would keep the ER's and Ambulance Drivers busy. I do, however, think that every single home should have a minimum of essential tools, and at least one person that knows how to use them. If you live alone, you are nominated by default.

None of these need to be expensive. In fact, I'll bet that you can acquire the vast majority of this list for under $200 total - and that's buying quality tools, not from the $0.99 bin at Walmart.

First bit of advice: spend the extra money for better tools. Craftsman (Sears) has a no-questions-asked lifetime warranty on their hand tools. Break it, they replace it. Period. It's worth the extra few bucks to get that warranty. Kobalt (Lowes) also makes pretty solid hand tools. If you're feeling wealthy, I suppose you can look to Snap-On or Mac, but there's really no need. Power tools? I fall squarely in the Dewalt camp. They take a heck of a beating; there's a reason you see yellow tools on construction sites.

So. Bare minimum you need to have:
- a set of screwdrivers. Flat and phillips, a couple different sizes. Buying a pre-compiled set for $10-15 is worth it.
- a hammer. A plain old 16oz claw hammer. Bet it costs you $8, maybe $10.
- a slip-joint pliers. Nothing fancy here.
- two crescent wrenches. One 6" and one 8".
- a 12' tape measure
- a drill/driver of some kind. Cordless are convenient but only if you remember to keep the battery charged. Corded are less convenient but cheaper and never have dead batteries.
- a set of drill bits
- a 24" spirit level
- duct tape

That's it. That's the bare minimum. You can do 90% of home projects with those tools. I'd strongly suggest adding to the list, though.

- a set of allen (hex) wrenches
- a socket set, with SAE and metric sockets
- needle-nose pliers
- water-pump pliers
- wirecutters (dikes and/or lineman's pliers)
- another 6" crescent wrench, and a 10" crescent wrench
- a 16" cross-cut saw
- a hacksaw
- a drywall saw
- a chalk line
- a combi-square
- a set of box or combination wrenches (SAE and metric)
- electrical tape

Now that wasn't so bad, was it? Only one power tool in the bunch! If you want to start adding power tools, I'd hold off until you have a project in mind that actually needs them. My most-used power tools are my drill and my circular saw, with the jigsaw being a distant third, and the nailers way down the list.

When my daughter turned 18, I got her a complete hand tool assortment from Sears - Craftsman, and the tool bag to stow them in. Screwdrivers, pliers, dykes, hammer, prybar, tape measure, needlenose, drill kit, digittal volt meter, channel locks, teflon tape, electrical tape, duct tape, allen wrenches in standard and metric, open/boxed ended wrenches standard and metric, socket set.

Additionally I got her a cordless drill as they make a job so much easier.

Far a homeowner, I'd get or make her a bench. A collapsable one is OK, but a built-in is best. 5" vise is a best 3rd hand, mount one on the bench.

Set her up with good lighting.

Additionally, an assortment of adhesives and lubricants is a must.

If nothing else, you'll have a place to do repairs for her when you visit and won't have to take things home to fix them.

I have tools stashed in various rooms around the house, bathroom, kitchen, etc. so I don't have to climb the stairs to get what I need for those fast fixes. Something like an old coffee can with a standard and phillips, channel locks, dykes, allens and whatever else is needed for that particular room. Takes almost no space and makes that sudden repair go fast.

In my car I carry my work tool case. I can fix damn near anything out of that and have.

I also set up my Mom's house with a tool stash - she doesn't know it's there but I do and when we visit and something needs repair - done.

Don't give her anything to do with electric, electric is a good way to get her dead. Basic tools, channel locks - 300 & 430, pair of pliers, screw drivers, duct tape, tape measurer, and a 3/8" socket set. Or just go get the big Snap-on box and fill it to the top.

Get her one of every tool in your shop. If you don't, when you go over to fix the big things, the proper tool will be at home 20 miles away. That's what happens when I have sonny-do's at Mom's.

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Insert short witty words here

I gave my daughter a tool box with just Lingerie in it and some handy man phone numbers...told her to put it on when she answers the door...she tells me they never ever charge her full price and some don't charge at all...

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

3 things that I would add to your very good list are:
Channel Locks 10" or 12" (better yet get both)
Vice Grips
a flat file

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Forum consigliere

An old 4" Model 10, if she doesn't have something better already.

And a kit with jumper cables for the car.

As my not very handy friend Bill describes his household tools: pounders, grippers, turners, squeezers, drillers, wood sawers, metal sawers, cutters, benders, etc. His household handyman work does not often rise to the quality of "improvements"...

epoxy patch for emergency leaks and repairs in general. This is the stuff that looks like clay and you have to knead.

Also, some decent electrical tape, like Scotch super 33+ Stay away from the cheap stuff.

OM45,

Two small (5x7) tarps, duct tape (2 small rolls), plastic wire ties (10 large, 10 med, 10 small) different colors, Needle Nose and Medium size ViseGrips, small and med Slip Joint Plyers, Lineman Plyers, Plumbers Epoxy (one tube), Small Trim Pry-bar, Electrical twist connectors, leather gloves, good hammer, good 1/4 inch socket set (metric and american sockets), two kick a55 flash lights.

Not sure where she is living but she should also have a baby SHTF kit for loosing electrical power and such. Flash lights, candles, stike anywhere matches, glow sticks, emergency radio that runs on crank power and batteries, emergency blanket (3), two red flashing blinkers (like for biking).

Congrats on her graduating from Med School, a wonderful thing.

B2 (;->

I have a good set of tools, but for most things that come up around the house (routine I guess) I use my Swiss Army knife. Hands down the most useful thing I own. Suppliment that with a hammer and good set of pliers and she should be good to go until Dad arrives.

Only thing I can add to what has already been said...you've probably already done this but...

Fire extinguisher(s), and show her how to use one. Make certain the smoke and/or CO2 detectors are up to date and batteries fresh. I don't know if this is a new or old home..but if it's an old home, and have no idea when the detectors were installed- replace them. It's a small price to pay for saving a life.

Most people have them yet never know how, or more importantly when to use a fire extinguisher. It won't put out a building already on fire, but it can stop a small area fire commonly started in the kitchen or bathroom.

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Lost it all in a boat accident

Thank you. No I had not thought of this and I am a registered Safety Engineer. One will be bought today. You are correct and I never even thought about one when she moved into her new home.

Two things a women cannot be without in a new home - a toilet plunger (for guests of course) and a wine opener.

"Channel Locks" are apparently what I've always just known as "water pump pliers". Learn something new every day!

Vice Grips are definitely a good addition, as is a flat file. (Actually, both of those things were added to my toolbox on an "as-needed" basis. Most of my tools beyond the basic set have been acquired in that way.)

I'm mystified by the number of people who don't have a bare minimum tool set around... but what the heck, handymen have to earn a living too, right?

STOP! Everything she will need is right in this kit here.

Get two. One in the Kitchen the other for the bedroom, get your mind out of the gutter guys. 1/3 of the day is spent there and if you hear a smoke alarm in the middle of the night an extinguisher and a flash light are a lot easier to find there than in the kitchen which might be where the fire is.

On the subject of alarms, think about a natural gas alarm too. I've heard three stories of folks whos houses went up that way (two degrees removed).

B2

Back in the mid-1970's when I was teaching young airmen to troubleshoot and repair medical equipment, the first female BMET (Bio-Medical Equipment Technician) hopefuls showed up at the school and were issued Jensen JTK-17 toolboxes. Two of the four had no more trouble with the curriculum than their male counterparts, but from the other two we learned that it is entirely possible for someone to have a mechanical aptitude >85 percentile plus an electronics aptitude >90 percentile and still have absolutely no knowledge of handtools.

When one young lady was observed trying to loosen an Allen head setscrew inside a squirrel cage fan with a small Crescent wrench, we realized that while we were teaching people to use test equipment, we weren’t teaching people to use handtools. Then we found out the AF didn’t have a course on basic handtool usage, in fact, the AF didn’t even have a TO (Manual) on basic handtools even though they had TO’s on mundane things like proper paperclip usage. The Army did, but it was oversimplified to say the least. So we had to improvise and provide some individual training for those that needed it.

Here’s one of the end results of that can of worms that got opened back then. There are better books on how to use handtools, but the price is right on this one.

http://www.robins.af.mil/shared/medi...091006-041.pdf
Note to Mods: The manual's cover states "Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited", so no copyright infringements.

Do yourself a favor and put a copy of it in the toolboxes you give your less than tool savvy family, friends and acquaintances.

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Added: +1 on fire extinguishers. SWMBO and I have an ABC rated one in bedroom, guestroom, kitchen, basement, garage and shed.
Also, be sure to check the gauge periodically. We check ours when we change to or from Daylight Saving Time.

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Age + Treachery = JohnnieB

You are so right, Red - Even I use that screwdriver from-time-to-time

Pete

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NRA, GOA Lifer

And when you buy them, remember that they are like gun safes. Figure out which size you need, then buy a couple of sizes bigger. Even though they aren't pretty, don't let her put it in the back of the closet, because you don't want to be fumbling around trying to find it when you really need it.

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Insert short witty words here

Ferril is right. She needs to know how to turn the utilities on and off. And for that she may need a tool to help her turn the water valve on/off at the main. I can barely turn mine. The wife couldn't do it without a T handle that my plumber gave me.

For around the house misc stuff I bought the wife one of those 125 piece $30 household tool kits that comes in a plastic carry case. She's had it for several years. There are 119 pieces that have never been taken out.... but the hammer, screwdriver/bits, pliers, wire cutters and adjustable open end wrench are missing. I'm guessing that's probably what your daughter will find handy too.

If she has a gas water heater long fireplace matches come in handy.

Gardening tools?

Might want to go over and check all the plumbing valves before she signs. Turn them all off and then back on, then back off a 1/4 turn for screw types and just a bit for ball valves. Hardest valve to move is one that is thrown open in a rush and never touched for years. Learned that when I drove fire trucks some years back. Gating back pressure from a 1250 GPM pump was equally a pain from time to time.

Check for leaks when you move the valves, bring paper towels and a good 5 gallon bucket (another important item to have come to think of it).

B2

She is not into gardening. Does not have a water valve since the entire subdivision has the water service and there are few water valves over the 200 homes. She knows how to turn the faucets below the sink. There is no gas service since the home is total electric.

She has a wood burning fireplace but she has to light it with those little fireplace logs.

I am making a list of each tool mentioned in this thread and will get them for her. It may weigh 400 pounds but I since I already own virtually every tool Craftsman sells, I see the need for the tools, even those that may be used once in a lifetime. When you need it, you need it.

Man, you don't know how lucky you are..... My daughter bought a house, 297 miles from mine. The house she got is a "fixer-upper" and seems I'm the "fixer" in this equation.
The only saving grace in this whole thing is going to her place gives me and the Mrs. an excuse to go to VEGAS......... That's where she lives.

Sir, I've just about got tools coming out of my ears, and yet have never attained the fabled "bare minimum tool set." Every time I think I've finally achieved it, I discover (usually in the middle of a project and after the hardware store has closed) that there's something else I need. :-/

Semper Fi,

Ron H.

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Wishin' don't make it so.

Save yourself the trouble and expense.

You should send her this thread to pick you a new son-in-law!

I should say now that I'm not available.

Zercool, you are missing the "real mystery". The real mystery is which end of a screwdriver to use, as asked by the ones that don't have a basic tool kit.

By far the most important thing is knowing how to turn off the services (in her case, water and electricity). Tools are never a crisis, but gushing water sure can be. Most of the time, she will probably wait for you to show up and make repairs, anyway.

Most ladies get by nicely with a few screwdrivers, allen wrenches, maybe some torx wrenches, an adjustable wrench and a couple pairs of pliers.

I agree with the post that said to encourage her to stay away from anything electrical. Keeping them around and changing a circuit breaker is no big deal, but I would just as soon not have my daughter doing that.