What Every Handyman Should Have in the Toolbox

Every home handyman dreams of having the best toolbox, with a tool for every occasion. But apart from those once-off tools, what are the basic essentials necessary to tackle the majority of home improvements? Here's a handy list:

Hammer
A good quality carpenter's hammer with a comfortable handle is a must.

Assorted screwdrivers
Make sure you have a good selection of plain, cross-head and torx screwdrivers in various sizes.

Utility knife
Use this to cut string, tape, and sharpen your pencil or used for any cutting job. A knife with replaceable blades is best.

Putty knife
Necessary when repairing windows to apply and smooth out the putty around the new pane of glass.

Pencils
Carpenters/pencils have flattened sides, (to stop them rolling away), and a broad lead to give highly visible markings.

Measuring tape
Most traditional carpenters would opt for a folding ruler, but a good quality 25-foot measuring tape with imperial and metric markings will do nicely.

Pliers
Generally useful for holding, gripping and removing nails or other items.

Hacksaw
A must if your need to cut metal items. You should have a good selection of blades to fit, aimed at various types and thicknesses of metal.

Spirit level
Nothing looks worse than a set of drunken shelves. Use a good quality spirit level which is at least 24 inches long to keep things horizontal and vertical.

Combination electric drill / screwdriver
A variable speed drill is best, with a chuck capacity of at least 3/8 inch.

Set of drill bits / screw bits
As with the hand screwdrivers, go for a good assortment of normal, cross-headed and torx bits of various sizes.

With these must haves in your toolbox, you should feel confident in tackling most jobs around the home.