Homeowner’s Must Have Hand Tools
Homeowner’s Must Have Tools
We are taking our “professional remodeling” hats off for this review and putting on our “Basic Homeowner” hats. A lot of our reviews focus on the professional tools and best practices on the job site. We decided to start back at the basics with this article.
Most of these tools are tools the average homeowner should have on hand. We have added a few extra tools, which might not fall in the “basic” category, but are still a good idea to have for your household needs.
Standard Screwdrivers
Undoubtedly the most popular home tool is the screwdriver. The two main types of screwdrivers are the Philips or Flat-head (often time called slotted) and they come in various length shafts. Quick identification markings on the handle make it easy to identify screwdriver tip size, including Phillips, slotted
Featured in this article is the Milwaukee MT200-6 6pc Cushion Grip Screwdriver Set. , and cabinet tips. This set has 3-inch, 4-inch, and 6-inch shank lengths. The Milwaukee Cushion Grip Screwdriver Set is made in the USA with, USA-sourced materials all backed by a complete Lifetime Guarantee.
The Milwaukee MT200-6 6pc Cushion Grip Screwdriver Set sells for $55.00 at Acme Tool here: MT200-6 Screwdriver Set
Multi-Bit Screwdrivers
There are many other types of tips on screwdrivers and that is where multi-bit screwdrivers come in handy. Having all these bits (some specialty) “onboard” is extremely convenient and a space saver for sure. All of these bits and nut drivers strategically fit into one another.
This is the Milwaukee 48-22-2917 13-in-1 screwdriver and these are the 13 options included
- Philips #1
- Philips #2
- Slotted 3/16″
- Slotted 1/4″
- Square #1
- Square #2
- ECX #1
- ECX #2
- 1/4″ nut-driver
- 5/16″ nut-driver
- 3/8″ nut-driver
- 1/2″ nut-driver
- Loop Maker
Hex Key Sets
A hex key set (also known as an Allen wrench set) offers several practical benefits for homeowners, especially for managing common maintenance and assembly tasks around the house. Here’s how having a hex key set can be useful:
Many pieces of modern furniture, particularly from stores like IKEA, come with screws that require hex keys for assembly. Having a full set ensures you can easily put together bookshelves, desks, cabinets, and other furniture without needing specialized tools.
If you have bikes, hex keys are commonly used to assemble parts or adjust components, such as handlebars, seat posts, or brakes.
Many appliances, tools, and fixtures around the house use hex screws. Having a hex key set allows you to quickly tighten or adjust screws that have become loose over time. Some furniture pieces, door hardware, or other fixtures may require hex keys for routine adjustments, ensuring things like hinges, handles, and legs stay secure.
48-22-2187 – SAE/Metric L-Key Set
Adjustable Pliers
Adjustable pliers, also commonly referred to as water pump pliers, straight jaw pliers, or channellock pliers [Channellock is a brand], have serrated jaws generally set 45 to 60 degrees from the handles. The lower jaw can be moved to several positions by sliding along a tracking section under the upper jaw. An advantage of this design is that the pliers can adjust to several sizes without the distance in the handle growing wider.
These pliers have various sizes of handles for increased leverage. It is recommended to have at least one pair of adjustable pliers but ideally two pairs [one small and one larger] would greatly benefit you.
Our set has three sizes of straight jaw pliers from Milwaukee. They include the 6″, 10″, and 12″ handle lengths.
- 48-22-6306 – 6″ Comfort Grip Straight Jaw
- 48-22-6310 – 10″ Comfort Grip Straight Jaw
- 48-22-6312 – 12″ Comfort Grip Straight Jaw
Miscellaneous Pliers
In addition to the adjustable pliers, we think a few other pliers would benefit a homeowner. Long nose [commonly called “needle nose”], Linesman Pliers, and Long Reach Pliers.
Long Reach Pliers
Long-reach pliers are those pliers that you never have when you need them. The long reach is a perfect description as they are 13″ and can get into the toughest-to-reach spots. Seen here they make easy work of clearing a clogged shower drain from hair. Before this, we needed to seek out a metal coat hanger, cut it down and go “fishing” for the hair.
Our article features:
48-22-6542 – 2pc Long Reach Plier Set
MT550C – 9″ Linesman Plier
MT555 – 8″ long nose Plier
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- Long-Nose Pliers
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- Long-Reach Pliers
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- Lineman’s Pliers
Adjustable Wrenches
An adjustable wrench is a wrench with a movable jaw, allowing it to be used with different sizes of fastener heads [nuts/bolts] rather than just one size. Adjustable wrenches offer multiple options by being adjustable and could eliminate the need for an entire wrench set. Homeowners can benefit from the adjustable wrench in several tasks. Loosening bolts or nuts on lawn equipment, maintenance of patio furniture, or adjusting seats or tires on bicycles.
The most popular sizes [handle size] are the 6″ and 8″, which we have in our homeowner set. They do however make handle sizes up to 12″. You typically see professional plumbers have adjustable wrenches this size.
Featured Here:
48-22-7406 – 6″ Adjustable Wrench – $16.97
48-22-7508 – 8″ Adjustable Wrench – $25.97
Lighting
The ACC crew recommends that at minimum you have one flashlight handy. Power outages can happen without warning. There are so many types of flashlights available to homeowners, but we recommend one that is rechargeable.
If you are in the market to carry a battery-powered flashlight, in your tool belt or on your person, we recommend something small with a durable clip to keep it secure.
Milwaukee has an impressive line of flashlights (rechargeable battery, USB charging, and alkaline battery). In our article, we shared the Milwaukee 2105 Penlight and the 2114-21 Pivoting Flood Light
2105 – Penlight
2114-21 – Pivoting Flood Light
Voltage Detection Tools
Most people think electrical equals a lot of money. While not saying having a licensed electrician won’t cost you, we feel there are things a homeowner can do to test issues before calling in the heavy hitters.
Voltage Tester
Everyone wants to be safe and avoid accidents that can cause fires, severe injuries, and possibly death. Checking to see whether an electric line has power can be done with a no-contact voltage tester. These testers can detect between 50 and 1000 volts AC. They have a tip that you can insert into outlets to detect power. These testers will sound an alarm when power is detected and often times will illuminate red to visually show you there is power.
Digital Multimeter
A digital multimeter might be overwhelming to someone with no real electrical experience. All electricians use these tools but could save a homeowner some money.
There are several settings on these meters but 2, maybe 3 settings are relevant for basic use. These settings include measuring AC voltage, measuring DC voltage, and measuring continuity in wires.
Let’s say you are having an issue with an appliance. Your refrigerator isn’t running correctly or your toaster oven is always tripping your breaker. Before you call an electrical, you can diagnose the problem first to see if it is an appliance issue or a problem with the electrical wiring.
Simply set the multimeter to AC volts and insert the leads into the outlet. The red lead should be inserted into the smaller size prong slot and the black into the larger one. You should get a reading close to 120v. If you are getting significantly lower numbers you have an issue with the wiring and should seek assistance from a licensed electrician.
If you do get the proper reading, then you know you have an issue with an appliance and possibly just saved yourself a good chunk of money by figuring out the issue.
For this article, we feature the Milwaukee Voltage Tester (2202-20) and the Milwaukee Multimeter (2217-20). These items come in an Electrician’s Combo Kit that Milwaukee offers. It is model 2220-20 and sells at Acme Tool for $199.00 here: Milwaukee Electricians Combo Kit
Wiring Tools
Just because you have a busted extension cord, it does not necessarily mean it needs to be thrown away. Extension cord repairs are simple and will save you money. Here are the tools you can use to repair your extension cords.
You can check the continuity of the cord with the multimeter by placing a probe on one side and another on the opposite side. If there is constant continuity, the meter will sound. If there is a break in the line it will not sound.
Wire strippers and cutters will come in handy when you are fixing the extension cord. Strip down the wires so you can attach them to the appropriate leads on the replacement plug. You can purchase replacement plugs can be purchased at box stores for under $5.00.
In this article, we can be seen using the Milwaukee 48-22-3044 Compact Comfort Grip Wire Stripper & Cutter which retails for $15.97, and the Milwaukee 48-22-3082 Milwaukee Self-Adjusting Wire Stripper & Cutter. They are sold at ACME Tools or Home Depot for $20.99
Hammer
Hammers are essential for simple repairs around the house, such as fixing broken furniture, reassembling wooden items, or replacing nails. Hanging pictures, shelves, or mirrors requires a hammer to drive nails or screws into the wall securely. Hammers are needed for routine tasks like repairing loose siding, securing trim, or fixing other structural elements in the home.
The hammer featured in this article is the TIBONE 15oz Smooth/Curved Titanium Framing Hammer
Tool Storage
Tool storage is very important. Not only is tool storage important to keep your tools safe, but it also keeps you organized. There is nothing more frustrating than not being able to find a tool that you know you have. Spending countless times searching for tools you have is annoying. We want to stress the importance of organization.
There is an abundant amount of options when it comes to tool storage. Do you want to store your tools in a toolbox or a carrying tote? The sky is the limit, to be honest. Our recommendation is to make sure you get enough storage for the tools you have.
Featured in this article are the Milwaukee Packout 4 Drawer Toolbox and the Milwaukee 10″ structured tote.
The Milwaukee 48-22-8444 – 4-drawer packout toolbox sells for $199.00 here: Milwaukee 4 Drawer PACKOUT
and the Milwaukee 48-22-8311 – 10” structured tote sells for $219.97 on ACME Tools here: Milwaukee 10″ Tote
Final Thoughts
The best part of tool kits is you can either buy one that is already built out or you can build out your own. What you put in your kit is your decision and may work for you and not for me and vice versa. There are an abundant amount of tool brands on the market that can get the job done. Some of the tools in our kit may seem a bit out of the “basic homeowner” category. They are geared more towards the homeowner with some remodeling experience, which could be your situation.
