Tape Measure
A 25-foot measuring tape should be enough for all simple home jobs. A smaller 12-foot can also do and is much more portable, fitting snugly in your pocket.
Hammer
We suggest a 16-oz curved claw nail hammer. If you find it too heavy, try a 13-oz one. Try to avoid buying anything smaller than that as those light pounders may not drive nails as well as you would like.
Slotted Screwdrivers Set
Get a whole set of slotted screwdrivers (the one with a straight tip.) Make sure to get a good quality one. I once owned a set of cheap screwdrivers and they can't turn a tight screw whatsover.
Phillips Screwdrivers Set
Get a whole set of phillips screwdrivers as well. Find a good quality, magnetized one. They help a heap.
Pliers
Get a long-nosed one for most home jobs. A heavy grooved one will help for removing large nails and staples. Some pliers can cut wires too but never as good as a wire-cutter.
Adjustable Wrench
Get an adjustable open-end wrench. It can take the place of a lot of different-sized wrenches.
Stapler
This will be very useful for a lot of tacking and hammering chores. Get one that can handle different sizes of staples and you'll be fine.
Saw
For starting a toolbox, get a 26-inch crosscut saw. If you foresee a need for cutting metals, get a hacksaw as well. The 26-inch crosscut saw will do for most home repair needs. It can cut through both across and along the grain.
Plunger
A force cup plunger will help you unclog problematic drains and toilets and is a must-have for every household.
Utility Knife
Utility knifes are so useful for many cutting needs. A bit more expensive will be those that come with extra blades of different sizes but they are a worthy investment.
Level
A level will be a great help for straightening frames, drilling holes in even lines, leveling appliances and installing shelves. Get a torpedo level if you want one that can last a lifetime. Any cheaper one can also do for most home improvement tasks.
Vice Grip
This resembles pliers but grips things tighter and stronger, providing a no-slip hold. They can remove tightly-bolted screws as well as twist apart fastly-bonded things.
Assortment of Nails and Screws
Get an assortment of nails, screws, nuts and bolts. Having them at hand can save a lot of trouble right when you need it.
Wire Cutter
They will make it extremely convenient snipping wires.
Glue
Get an all-purpose glue, white glue and an epoxy. They will alll be useful in their own time.
Sandpaper
A few sheets will do.
Tape
You'll need a duct tape, an electrical tape and, if you're planning to do some painting down the line, a blue painter's tape for masking off areas you need to keep paint from.
Lubricant
A small can of machine oil and a spray lube will silence many mechanical squeaks around the home.
Flashlight
Get a flashlight for when bad things happen at night or, worse, a brownout!
Get all these and more household diy tools and supplies from Acme Hardware.
