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Essential Arsenal: 20 Must-Have Tools for Every Home
20
items 20 essential tools every household should have.
Sections
15
Drills
Wrenches
Pliers
Saws
Screwdrivers
Stud Finders
Drills
Compatible with any ¼-inch hex impact driver, this Makita drill bit set creates holes in wood, metal, and plastics. The 75 pieces are coated with titanium nitride for increased durability and range in size from 1⁄16- to ½-inch. This is a great basic ...
Makita B-49373 75 PC Metric Drill & Screw Set
Cordless drills are efficient, powerful, and portable. Not to mention, they can be just plain fun to use. This DeWalt model is one of the best ones we’ve tested and comes with two rechargeable batteries, a charger, holster, and storage case. The comp...
DEWALT 20V Max Cordless Drill Kit, Compact
Wrenches
An Allen wrench, sometimes known as a hex key, performs more like a screwdriver: It fits into a fastener head instead of around it, like most wrenches. The tool is handy for set screws and ready-to-assemble furniture. This 9-piece set from Rexbeti in...
REXBETI 9 Piece Hex Key Allen Wrench Set, SAE
An adjustable wrench saves you space and money because it can tackle various tasks unlike the fixed jaw of a combination wrench. The Channellock 8WCB has a maximum jaw capacity of 1.5 inches with a ruler on the head that takes the guesswork out of se...
Channellock 8WCB 8-Inch WideAzz Adjustable Wrench
Pliers
Patented in 1924, locking pliers might be more familiar to some people under the brand name Vise-Grip. Decades later, a Vise-Grip is still a reliable choice when you need a powerful grip. Irwin’s 10-inch model has a maximum jaw capacity of 1⅞ inches ...
IRWIN VISE-GRIP Locking Pliers, Curved Jaw, 10-Inch
For more serious wire or cable cutting, choose a heavy-duty linesman pliers, which are also called side cutters and electrician’s pliers. This 9½-inch Knipex model cuts soft and hard wire, comes with a built-in crimper, and has a long cutting surface...
Knipex 9.5-Inch Ultra-High Leverage Pliers
Saws
This corded 7¼-inch Skil is a mighty fine machine at a great price. During testing, we discovered it handles nicely, has a dust blower for keeping your cut line tidy, and the 15-amp motor is powerful enough to make deep, accurate cuts (with the help ...
SKIL 15 Amp 7-1/4 Inch Circular Saw - 5280-01
A jigsaw is a versatile tool that cuts more deftly than a circular saw can. In fact, it’s the only portable power tool that can effectively cut curves. That makes it a natural requirement for anything beyond the most basic carpentry work. This compac...
BOSCH JS470EB Corded Barrel-Grip Jig Saw, 7.0-Amp
We love using power saws, but sometimes handsaws are actually the better tool for the task. If you’re working with pipe or metal, choose the HT50 from Lenox, which is one of the best hacksaws we’ve used. It cuts straight, has a good line of sight ove...
LENOX 12-inch High-Tension Hacksaw, Blue
Screwdrivers
Save room in your toolkit or junk drawer without sacrificing performance with a multi-bit screwdriver. Choose from slotted, Phillips head, star-shaped, square, and nut-driving tips, and store whichever bits you aren’t using in the handle. The ratchet...
WORKPRO 12-in-1 Ratcheting Screwdriver Set
Stud Finders
If you’re hanging anything, especially something heavy, you’ll need a stud finder to ensure that your item stays securely in place. This Black + Decker is able to precisely locate stud centers as well as detect live AC wiring, and other metal or wood...
BLACK+DECKER Line Laser with Stud Finder
Hammers
There are nearly two dozen types of hammers out there, but none are as important as your basic curved-claw hammer that drives and removes nails. The 13-inch Curved Claw Solid Steel Hammer from Estwing is made in America and forged in one piece, which...
ESTWING 22 oz Curved Claw Framing Hammer
Socket Sets
For fastening or loosening nuts and bolts, you need a socket wrench set. This 55-piece Tekton kit includes ¼-inch drives which can be used for appliance and electronics repair. Complete with a storage case, each piece in the set has large stamped mar...
TEKTON 1/4 Inch Drive 6-Point Socket Set, 55-Piece
Multi-Purpose Tools
Most electrical jobs are made easier with a wire stripper, which deftly removes insulated tubing from wires. Klein’s Multi-Purpose Electricians Tool does that and more. It has front, mid, and rear shears; a crimper; and bright, easy-to-read markings....
Klein Tools 1001 Multi Tool, Wire Stripper/Cutter
Multi-Meters
A multimeter combines a voltage tester—a critical safety tool for electrical work— with the ability to measure current, resistance, and more. As soon as you learn how to use one, it becomes a powerful part of your setup. We regularly turn to the high...
Fluke 115 Digital Multimeter, AC/DC Voltage to 600V
Levels
If you’re hanging pictures and building almost anything, you need a level. Empire designed this I-beam with durable aircraft aluminum and impact-resistant vials, which the company says are accurate to 0.0005-inches per inch in all working positions. ...
Empire EM81.12 12-Inch Magnetic Tool Box Level
Tape Measures
The auto-locking feature makes this Milwaukee tape measure easy to operate alone, and its reinforced frame protects the mechanism inside if you drop it or it falls off your work table. Attach it to your person with the steel belt clip for easy access...
MILWAUKEE 25Ft Compact Magnetic Tape Mea
Utility Knives
A utility knife makes simple cuts through twine, rope, carpet, tape, or whatever material you need to slice. The Fastback II Flip opens with one hand, clips to your belt loop, and has room to store an extra blade inside the handle. It also has a wire...
Milwaukee Fastback Flip Utility Knife Set
Vacuums
Clean up workshop waste, water, and other messes too hefty for your regular vacuum with a shop vacuum. Ridgid is a reliable brand for shop vacs, and this 4-gallon model has a 1⅞-inch-diameter hose and a 20-foot power cord.
RIDGID 50313 4-Gal Portable Wet/Dry Vacuum, Red
Generators
With a peak of 12,000 watts, the Duromax is one of the most powerful portable generators. It has a user-friendly electric start, dual-fuel capability so it can run on propane or gas, and individual breakers on the power panel for added safety.
DuroMax XP12000EH 12000W Dual Fuel Generator