A first toolkit should cover the jobs you will actually do: hanging a shelf, assembling furniture, tightening a hinge and checking that a picture is level. You do not need a full van of tools. Six hand tools from the Graft range total £98 at the lowest listed option, which leaves a little change from £100 and covers most household work.
The six tools
Start with the Hollis Fibreglass Claw Hammer, 16oz, at £18. It drives nails and pulls them, and the fibreglass shaft keeps the weight down. Add the Hollis Screwdriver Set, 10 piece, at £24, which covers slotted and Phillips heads in the common sizes. The Hollis Tape Measure, 5m, at £11 is plenty for indoor work and has a clear blade. The Hollis Box Spirit Level, 600mm, at £22 is the right length for shelves and cupboards. The Hollis Retractable Utility Knife, at £9, handles boxes, plasterboard and trimming. Finish with the Hollis Hardpoint Hand Saw, 20in, at £14 for timber, skirting and plant supports. The total is £98.
What to add later
A pair of pliers, a small set of drill bits and a decent tool bag are the next sensible buys, but they can wait until a job needs them. If you already own a drill, spend the saved money on a good bit set and a second battery. If you do not own a drill, borrow one for the first few jobs rather than buying a cheap tool you will replace. The Graft First Toolkit bundle at £89 is another route, and it adds a 22in tool box to a similar set of hand tools.
Look after the tools
Wipe metal parts with an oily rag after damp work, and keep the tools in a dry box rather than a damp shed. A drop of oil on the moving parts of the utility knife and the tape measure spring keeps them working. Do not use a hammer as a pry bar, and do not use a screwdriver as a chisel. The right tool lasts longer and does less damage to the job.
Buy the best version of the tools you use most. A cheap tape measure that slips and a level that is out will cost you more in mistakes than they save at the till. Check a new level against a known straight edge before you trust it, and replace a tape measure that will not hold its blade.
Toolkit checklist
- Choose tools for the jobs you have now, not a fantasy workshop.
- Keep the total inside your budget before you add extras.
- Buy the common sizes rather than a large set of odd ones.
- Check that the hammer weight suits your grip.
- Test a new level before you rely on it.
- Store tools dry and wipe them after damp work.
- Add a drill and bit set only when a job needs them.
Wear eye protection when cutting or hammering, and check for pipes and cables before you drill or fix anything to a wall. A small, well-chosen toolkit used with care will do more than a large box of tools you do not understand.
