If you consider yourself a handyman, you have to be able to rise to the occasion. Handymen can fix most things and they don’t require a whole team of people to complete these tasks.
Part of this means having the right selection of tools. General contractors fall into the same category. Handymen and contractor tools should be specific, yet able to perform a number of tasks.
We’re going to cover a number of essential tools for you to consider buying today. Hopefully, with these tools in your arsenal, you’ll be able to complete every task that’s asked of you.
Essential Handyman and Contractor Tools
Some jobs require highly specific tools. In those cases, you might have to run to the store and buy appropriate tools as needed. With the following tools, though, you should be able to complete a broad range of general tasks.
Let’s begin:
- Utility Knife
No matter what you’re doing, there are going to be plastics to cut, wires to break, and edges to cut. Having a utility knife is the most entry-level, essential tool that a handyman has to have.
There are a number of knives available that have numerous functions as well. Try to find a sturdy, multipurpose knife that can get the job done and comfortably fit into your pocket.
- Multi-Head Wrenches and Screwdrivers
Another essential piece of being a contractor or handyman is having a versatile selection of screwdrivers and wrenches. Try to be comprehensive when you get your selection of heads.
Sure, there are a number of sizes and shapes of bolt or screw that are general, so you can buy a few heads that will take care of most of the work you’ll face. But there’s nothing worse than getting to a point in a project where you can’t move forward because you have the wrong screwdriver head.
It seems like a no-brainer, but you can’t underestimate the value of a complete set of heads.
- Putty Knife
Putty knives are needed for smoothing out the rough edges of numerous projects. We’ve all seen a drywall job or two that was shoddily thrown together, leaving smudges and marks along the rough result of the wall.
Having a decent putty knife on hand will allow you to end up with smooth, seamless repairs that no one will ever even notice.
- Wire Cutters
As you move into the more complicated areas of home repair, you may need to deal with some electrical wires. If you don’t plan on dealing with electrical wires at all, you won’t need to get any cutters.
With that said, it’s absolutely essential to have them if you’re working on electrical equipment. Don’t, under any circumstances, deal with electrical equipment that you don’t understand, though.
That’s a great way to get yourself severely injured.
- Sandpaper Set
If you want to have a polished end result, you’re going to need a complete sandpaper set. Dealing with wood and metal (in other words, most home repairs) requires that you have a set of sandpaper gradients on hand to smooth out and polish your work.
Try and find a quality set that has a number of grades, ranging from very rough to extremely fine. You can also run to the store and grab paper as needed, though, because it’s relatively cheap and is often project-specific.
- Quality Wood Saw
Instead of getting an expensive chainsaw or table saw, consider getting a nice wood saw. Whenever you’re working with wood, you’re going to encounter times when making cuts is necessary.
Even if that means working down a quarter-inch or less. While more advanced saws are extremely helpful and time-saving, the cost might outweigh the benefit if you’re just working on small projects.
By all means, get a nice saw if you’re going to be using it day-in and day-out. With that said, putting a little elbow grease into a project in the name of savings is something we can all appreciate.
- Staple Gun
A staple gun can come in handier than almost anything else on this list. Sure, the handyman in you needs something that can work to piece things together in a sturdy way. Even simple projects can always use a little reinforcement.
At the same time, household tasks are made simpler with a staple gun. Consider putting up Christmas lights in difficult places, for example. Instead of laboring over placing nails or gently laying a line of lights in a delicate spot, try stapling that bad boy up.
Staple guns aren’t as expensive as they seem, either. They can often come in under 20 dollars and are well worth the investment.
Honorable Mentions
As you move your way into heavier projects, your arsenal of tools is going to have to expand. Like we mentioned earlier, you’ll want to get a table saw or another similar saw that’s suited to your work.
You will also want to get a number of electric drills, measuring tools, chalk lines, and ladders. These are all things that have numerous uses and should be considered carefully.
When you’re moving into the area of concrete and laying foundations, you’ll also want to take a look into the best trowel machines. These are machines that help you to achieve the utmost level of ground levelness without having to labor intensely.
Working as a contractor will require you to have such tools and understand how to use them. If you’re simply trying to up your handyman skills, though, you have a little more flexibility in what you decide to purchase.
For example, the handyman can hire out a contractor to finish the job when it gets too complicated. On the other hand, the contractor is the person who comes in to do the job.