Your definition of “basic hand tools”

[The Critic]

FIL and I recently had a discussion about our definition of “basic hand tools” for a homeowner who performs light maintenance/repair on his house and his vehicles.

We did not see eye-to-eye on this topic, but I am curious what you consider to be necessities in this situation.

 

[AZjeff]

Including power hand tools?

Access to YouTube is a great tool for DIYers.

 

[B1974]

Depends on your definition of light maintenance and repair?

 

[Tdbo]

Basic hand tools in any context covers hammer, screwdrivers, pliers.
However, many specific situations require more depth of equipment than that.
Tool requirements are situation dependent.

 

[Leo99]

Screwdrivers, hammer, adjustable wrench, cordless drill, flashlight, and pliers are basic for home repairs. The tools some folks keep in their kitchen drawer.

If you get into vehicle stuff, you need sockets and ratchet and maybe a wrench set, oil filter wrench/socket.

I can't think of anything more than that that would be considered basic.

 

[Escape08]

No power cords

 

[The Critic]

Including power hand tools?

Access to YouTube is a great tool for DIYers.

Depends on your definition of light maintenance and repair?

All of those items were part of the “debate.”

 

[RooflessVW]

IMO anything not specific to a make/model is a "basic" tool.

 

[xgmad]

phillips, flat, wire stripper with all the crimping stuff, hammer, box of nails, screws, pliers, needle nose pliers, vice grips, adjustable wrench's, and pipe thread

 

[Chris Meutsch]

phillips, flat, wire stripper with all the crimping stuff, hammer, box of nails, screws, pliers, needle nose pliers, vice grips, adjustable wrench's, and pipe thread

Those are all good, but what is this about?
"Volkswagen makes the most reliable and powerful cars in the world that are the most superior in every way."

 

[spasm3]

To me, basic tools are, hammer, screwdrivers, pliers, skill saw or hand saw , drill of any type.

 

[Dave9]

Once you throw in the word "basic", I can't include anything more than screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches, hand saw, hammer, tape measure/ruler, level, duct tape, and WD-40.

 

[AutoMechanic]

Basic hand tools: screwdrivers, wrenches, pliers, hammer(s), sockets and a ratchet, maybe a tape measure or level.

 

[BlueOvalFitter]

Don't forget a tape measure.

 

[D60]

Basic hand tools: screwdrivers, wrenches, pliers, hammer(s), sockets and a ratchet, maybe a tape measure or level.

All this plus a code reader (even a $15 one), test light and multimeter. Floor jack and flip sockets, and hex sockets and torx sockets. I might even argue line wrenches. 24" breaker bar for sure.

Not kidding, all this stuff is basic IMO. To me basic maintenance should mean you could replace pads and rotors on most vehicles.

I'm a tool junkie and feel naked without the basics. Other people don't care, and that's fair.

 

[AZjeff]

A 24" level could be considered a basic hand tool to have. While not common in the past 24 hours I've used a torpedo, 24" & 48" level. Could have done everything with a 24". Bit of a tool junky as well but trying to thin down. Except for the few small things I got at the old guy's garage sale down the street the other day....

 

[eljefino]

What problems can the homeowner have that they want to fix themselves?

Plugged drains, clogged toilets, leaky faucets
Bad outlets, switches, lighting fixtures, bulbs
Putting a "pigtail" on a new appliance
Fixing doorknobs, shimming jambs, changing locks
changing HVAC filters
Opening a desktop computer up
Mending sewing
Polishing silverware
Painting, stripping, taping, mudding
OPE and car stuff, snow removal, pool maintenance
Gardening

Pick the hobby/ need then go down that rabbit hole, same as any of us.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Michael, you youngsters have it made with today's incredible tools, especially cordless. Back in the day, bailing wire was a must and nobody had anything metric, even if they owned a VW bug. Craftsman was the ultimate...

 

[Egg_Head]

Basic hand tools in any context covers hammer, screwdrivers, pliers.
However, many specific situations require more depth of equipment than that.
Tool requirements are situation dependent.

My father fixed a heck of a lot of stuff around our home when I was growing up with just these and taught me as well. He thought he had died and gone to heaven when he finally broke down and bought a set of Vise grips. He never wrenched on cars nor ever had a need for a socket set.

 

[GSCJR]

IMO, hand tools do not include power tools (i.e. electric drills) or supplies (i.e. nails).