10 Must-Have Tools for Any Workshop
From ancient Archimedes' early descriptions of lever and pulley systems to Greek philosophers who recorded wheel and axle mechanisms, humans have a substantial history involving hand tools. Using an aide to bore, strike, cut, measure or hold has become an essential ingredient in human progress; hence, the home workshop filled with timeworn hand tools.
We admit, outfitting your workshop with handsaws and hammers may feel antiquated, but there are just some jobs that can't be accomplished with a power tool. For a well-stocked workspace, you'll need a few multipurpose tools for routine home maintenance or the occasional DIY improvement project.
And, thanks to this roster of perpetually expedient hand tools, you won't even need to take out a second mortgage to feel like you've mastered your domain. No matter your skill level or experience, these 10 will prove, well, handy.
10: Duct Tape
While some people may not consider this a tool, this multi-use product has patched up a particle accelerator, made equipment repairs on the moon and been used to fashion everything from waistcoats to wallets. Yes, we're talking duct tape, one of the most inexpensive and indispensable tools a well-equipped workshop needs [source: Popular Mechanics].
Traditionally, duct tape features a 1 7/8-inch (4.8-centimeter) wide flexible, silver-colored material backed by extreme stickiness. The tape saw its first use during World War II to seal ammunition cases. It seemed to work particularly well because the polyethylene-coated tape kept moisture at bay [source: Princeton].
Today, duct tape can be purchased in a variety of colors and widths, and is a home and workshop staple. Just don't use it for actual ductwork. According to scientist Max Sherman of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, duct tape "failed reliably, and often catastrophically," when used to seal ducts [source: Sherman]. Good thing it's still a handy tool for, well, everything else.
9: Hammer
A well-oiled workshop needs at least one hammer. Lucky for you, there are more options than ever. And unless you're a serious hobbyist or professional woodworker, just about any variation will do.
Take the anti-vibration hammer, for instance. This beauty has a tuning fork hidden within its padded handle that will reduce vibration. Also helpful? A hammer with a magnetized head. This version makes it oh-so-much-easier to start a nail without smashing your fingers in the process. Whichever helpful innovation you choose, consider the face on the business end of the hammer; a smooth face will help prevent marks on surfaces, while a textured face will offer traction when pounding nails.
In addition to a claw-foot hammer used to drive in nails, consider a rubber mallet. These are great for driving stakes into the ground when you're setting up a tent or banging on wood or other soft surfaces without leaving a mark [source: DIY Network].
8: Crowbar
Watch nearly any action movie and you'll see a bad guy with a crowbar, right? Perhaps. Turns out, what often is believed to be a crowbar actually isn't. A crowbar is a steel bar with one end culminating in a flat wedge. Its opposite end may bend at a slight angle and end either in a dull point or in a wedge with a split in the middle.
What you'll see on the screen has a more dramatic appearance. Like many of its cousins, this steel bar has a split beak at one end, like a crow's foot. However, unlike a true crowbar, the other end has a shepherd's hook. It's called a wrecking bar [source: Brians].
Kevin Bacon and six degrees of separation aside, either one of these tools would serve you well in your workshop -- especially when you have some demolition to do. Both are good aids when you need to pry loose boards or pull nails out of wood, and unless you're a construction expert, you'll find crowbars and wrecking bars work about the same.
7: Pliers
Pliers are the "opposable thumbs" of the home workshop. Without this handy tool, you'd have a hard time gripping, turning or twisting things. While there are a number of variations, ranging from long-nose pliers designed to grip tiny wires to expandable pump pliers made for gripping, we recommend the common slip-joint pliers. This all-around tool can grip, bend, twist and turn wires, and open stubborn lids. Plus, it has a bolt near the pliers' teeth that can be made to "slip" into a second position, enabling the pliers' mouth to open wider and grip larger objects. There are limits, though. To loosen most nuts from bolts, for example, you'll need a wrench.
Whichever type of pliers you decide to add to your home workshop arsenal, choose one that has at least a 2.5-inch (6-centimeter) gap between the handles when closed; this will prevent you from pinching your palm or fingers when using the tool. And be sure to regularly put a drop or two of oil on the hinge. This will help your pliers work better, while extending its life [source: Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety].
6: Wrench
The wrench: This indispensable tool is used to loosen or tighten nuts and bolts. There are several different types of wrenches, one of which is ideal for a home workshop. The crescent wrench, first manufactured by the Jamestown, N.Y.-based Crescent Tool Co. in 1907, was designed for early automobile owners who needed to adjust the brakes and clutches on their vehicles. The tool assumed its place in history, however, in 1927 when Charles Lindbergh took his famous trans-Atlantic flight and quipped that he took only, "gasoline, sandwiches, a bottle of water, and a Crescent wrench and pliers" [source: Popular Mechanics].
What makes the crescent wrench unique are its adjustable jaws. Thanks to the turn of a dial in the handle, one side of the jaws can expand or contract. This allows the user to make it exactly the right size, rather than having a battalion of wrenches that are various sizes and taking up room (and, initially, your budget) [source: Encyclopaedia Britannica]. A pipe wrench is good for plumbing jobs as it can tighten and loosen pipes.
5: Screwdriver
When it comes to screwdrivers, there are two points of focus: tip and grip. You'll want a couple of different kinds of screwdrivers, each sporting the most popular (re: useful) types of tips. A Phillips-head screwdriver features a cross-shaped metal tip that corresponds with the cross-shaped depression in the most popular type of screw. You'll also want a flathead screwdriver, also known as slot head screwdriver. This jack-of-all-trades screwdriver is designed to fit traditional screws with a single, linear depression. And because of its wedge-style tip, it's also good for prying or scraping.
Whatever the head, choose a screwdriver with a cushioned, textured grip. This will help you torque tight screws. And consider buying a few flathead and Phillips-head screwdrivers in a variety of handle lengths. You may not use the shortest handle lengths often, but when you need to fit in a tight space, you'll be glad they're in your arsenal [source: McKay].
4: Utility Knife
The utility knife is one tool a well-stocked workshop should never be without. At $5 to $15, this retractable knife is inexpensive and easy to use. It's a pint-sized workhorse that can be harnessed to break down cardboard boxes, trim carpet, cut drywall, splice cords or accomplish myriad other workshop tasks.
Although you can occasionally find nonretractable utility knives available for purchase, steer clear. Wielding -- and storing -- a perpetually open, razor-sharp knife is just a bad idea.
On the flip side, retractable utility knives with snap-off blade segments are ideal. Because the thin blades dull quickly, you can simply snap off worn sections as needed (as long as you've availed yourself of pliers and safety goggles) [source: Mahoney].
3: Level
Every workshop needs a level. Ideal for ensuring well-positioned wall hangings and perfectly upright posts, a level lets you know when you've achieved a horizontal plane. It does this through the use of an air bubble trapped in liquid and encased in a glass tube centered in a plastic, wooden or metal frame. Simply place the level on a surface and the air bubble can be measured against two static, vertical lines. If the air bubble is not perfectly centered between the vertical lines, the surface is not level [source: Encyclopaedia Britannica].
The most common levels come in 2-foot (61-centimeter) and 4-foot (122-centimeter) lengths, although longer levels are available, too. For durability (and aesthetics), steer clear of plastic versions; an aluminum or wood level should last a lifetime, particularly if you keep the wood well-oiled and store in a cool and dry place. Some level manufacturers offer replacement vials, should yours break, and this guarantee will be spelled out on the label [source: Carter].
2: Handsaw
Your grandfather or great-grandfather probably had a handsaw in his workshop, and you should, too. You never know when you may need to shorten a plank, build a sawhorse or fell a wind-damaged tree branch.
There are two types of general-use handsaws, and it's a good idea to have both on hand. A crosscut saw has backward-angled teeth and is used to cut against the wood grain, while a ripsaw has downward-facing teeth that flex left and right during action, and is used to cut parallel to the grain. On both types, look for evenly set, sharp teeth set into a blade that's arrow-straight and tapered at the end.
There's one other important factor to consider, too. Unlike a power tool you can easily buy over the Internet, selecting a handsaw is a more personal matter. When done right, you'll be adding an heirloom to your workshop, one that feels balanced and comfortable in your hand. Shop around and saw the air with a few different models. You'll know when you find the one that fits [source: McKay].
1: Tape Measure
It's not a new idea, but it's a good one. In 1865, Justus Roe & Sons started making steel tape measures and three years later, a New Haven, Conn., inventor named Alvin J. Fellows filed a patent to add a retracting spring mechanism. It didn't take long for the retractable tape measure to dominate construction sites and home workshops, making the previously popular wooden folding rulers nearly obsolete.
Even today, you won't want to get caught without a retractable tape measure (or two) in your workshop. You'll need this tool for nearly every hands-on project you tackle. A quality measuring tape can last for years. Look for metal measuring tapes that will extend without bending for up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) with an L-shaped end that grips surfaces.
For most jobs, a 16-foot (4.8-meter) measuring tape will suffice, but 30-foot (7.6- and 9.1-meter) lengths are available, too. Whichever length you choose, make sure it has large and easy-to-read markings [source: Christopher].