Basic Hand Tools Everyone Should Own Today
Everyone should own at least the basic tools for small jobs around the house. Quick fixes around the home oftentimes require you to unscrew something too tight or grab something too small; calling a technician is time consuming and expensive, and starting your own hand tool set at home is easy and super affordable with Tool Shack Web.
We offer a huge selection of hand tools for professional and DIY work at discounted prices. There are over 12,000 hand tools in our inventory - something for virtually every job, task, and repair. Our selection includes auto repair tools, woodworking tools, measuring tools, screwdrivers, ratchets, wrenches, scrapers, pliers, pry bars and more. Browse our entire selection, or if you are looking for something specific, simply search or call us and one of our expert customer service representatives will assist you. They have the knowledge to help you select the right tool for any job.
We are always looking for the best essential homeowners tools for the best prices, so if you do not see a hand tool you are looking for, let us know. Not only do we offer amazing discount prices, but all orders usually ship within 24 hours, free shipping for orders over $49 and all other orders ship for $7.99 or less within mainland USA.
A Wrench
Wrenches tighten and loosen, and are available in a wide range of styles. The types of available wrenches include adjustable wrenches, ratchet wrenches, pipe wrenches, and more. Wrenches are great for many common tasks and various situations and are helpful to have around the home when you need to loosen stuck fasteners, you can't get a grip on something or you need to be able to apply more torque without risking damage.
Pliers
Pliers and cutters are available in many styles, and which one you'll use will depend on your needs.
Needle Nose Pliers As their name suggests, needle nose pliers are long and narrow, which makes them great for jobs where you need to fit into tight spaces, hold on to small things or cut through something with extreme precision. Needle noses are used for both cutting and holding and have insulated handles because they are oftentimes used to work with electric components. This highly versatile tool should be a part of everyone's at-home tool kit, as it is capable of assisting in anything from fixing to bending and shaping; for example, a jewelry clasp that no longer closes properly.
Round Nose Pliers
Round nose pliers actually have a bit of a rectangular jaw design, however, their jaws are rounded which makes them perfect for electric wiring jobs, to put bends into wires and for jewelry making.
Crimping Pliers
Crimping tools are used to quickly and easily, without the use of other complex tools such as soldering irons, join two pieces of metal or wiring together. They're great for electronics and also jewelry-making jobs, and are heavily relied on in the computer industry.
Diagonal Pliers
Diagonal pliers have an angled edge, which gives them extra strength to cut through thick wires or even nails. They're capable of cutting objects flush with a surface, since their cutting edges are diagonally offset, which makes them great for a range of at-home carpentry or electrical work.
Slip Joint Pliers
These pliers are similar to an adjustable wrench, since you can narrow or widen the jaw grip. They're great for holding things steady, bending objects into shape or gripping nuts and bolts. You'll want a pair of these pliers around if you're ever planning on dealing with sink or toilet repairs, but they're also great for car jobs or if you need to install hoses.
Tongue & Groove Pliers
Tongue-and-groove pliers are a type of slip joint plier. They're also commonly known as Channellocks, and feature an angled, locking jaw that is great for jobs that require better holding or pinching power. Tongue-and-groove pliers are multi-functional tools that don't require the user to exert a lot of power.
Screwdrivers
Everyone should have at least two screwdrivers: one with a flat head and one called a Phillips. A combination screwdriver such as this one is a great option for homeowners because it includes interchangeable bits for both flathead and Phillips, as well as seven other screwdriver head bits and looseners for hexagonal bolts, which will help you tackle a range of jobs jobs around the house.
Hex Keys
If you have screws with a hexagonal socket, you'll need a hex key - or Allen wrench. Hex keys are super affordable and usually come in sets that include all of the common sizes. Hex keys come in standard (SAE) and metric sizes. Standard and metric sized screws or bolts can be very similar in size, however, they should never be used interchangeably because you'll strip your screws. Metric is the most commonly used sizing standard used throughout the world, however, if you'll be working on a domestic vehicle, you'll definitely need SAE Allen wrenches.
Having both metric and SAE options in your tool kit will save you a lot of time and headache in the event that you need an Allen key in a hurry. Our affordably priced hex keys make it easy to stock up on both styles while still leaving plenty in your budget to fill the rest of your essentials tool bag.