Hello.
Husband has recently found an interest in fixing things around the house.
Birthday is very soon and would like to suprise him with a tool box and tools.
What are your must haves for a tool box that dont specialise in a specific trade?
So far have bought a measuring tape, washers, spanner and a few screw drivers.
That's a very nice gesture OP! Hopefully you can get everything for your husband and that he appreciates all the effort you put into his birthday gift!
Did you get him something like this?
Eneloops
Kincrome T shirt
A second smaller tool box to hold tools for the mouse that lives in the walls
Hi OP.
Good on you.
Headlamp (so we can see where he's looking hands free at night / dusk)
A tool kit. Ie somewhere that all the tools are kept so it's easy to find what he's looking for. Doesn't need to be too fancy.
Silicone gun.
There's a good bunch of suggestions here already. :)
I think I'd go with following:
Other things to consider:
Wiha 26 in 1 is great. Such a space saver. Thats on my list to get tomorrow. Thank you.
In my humble opinion rather than buying a whole lot of tools that he can buy as he needs them I would invest in a good quality 18v drill and driver set such as a Mikita brushless kit for around $650 if it’s in your budget. It will get endless use. Try Sydney Tools, Total Tools or Bunnings for the best price.
Probably OTT
This is good advice, but sometimes you need something to get you started.. I bought a metal toolbox with cheap tools in it for under $50 that would have me set for most handyman tasks, and as the items have either worn out or broken, I then replace them with a quality piece. It means I have all the tools, and can slowly upgrade them to better quality over time as I need/use them.
electric screwdriver. got one from bunnings for like $30 - best thing i ever bought
Fully stocked beer fridge for the garage. Nothing beats a cold one after a hard work.
Part of the enjoyment of having tools is wandering around Bunnings and buying them yourself. I'd be a little disappointed if somebody took that enjoyment away from me. Consider instead buying only a toolbox and inside a bunch of cash (not gift-cards!!!) with a nice card saying "please fill this toolbox".
Haha, yeah, it's the male equivalent of IKEA. Go in for one or two things, end up taking an hour or two and impulse buying a bunch of random crap. Luckily you can return stuff easy…but then you get more stuff whilst you're there…vicious cycle :(
True. I don't appreciate tools the way he would. Got me thinking now.
Bunnings Gift Card. Because buying your own tools is a great experience in itself.
Bunnings Gift Card. Because buying your own tools is a great experience in itself.
Great point. Also, even if a bunch of stuff is bought as the gift (or a tool set that should make it cheaper as a 'bundle') still include some amount, as a gift card, so he can go get anything his partner missed, but he really wants or needs. He can go pick it up himself to finish of the tool collection.
Surprise him with something kinky in amongst tools. Maybe condoms, so he can do some drilling later.
I would suggest buying a nice toolbox for him first- then he can populate it with tools as he learns more and does research about tool brands. As people have said above- buying the tools is 3/4 of the fun! I spend tons of time researching different tool brands and deciding which would be best for the next job to tackle. Part of doing any handyman job is the first trip down to Bunnings for a snag and then the tools and materials for the job! And then the second trip to bunnings mid way for more supplies and more sausages….
A toolbox is a lot less subjective and sticking with quality brands (kincrome, sidchrome etc) will put you on the right path…
https://www.bunnings.com.au/sidchrome-4-drawer-top-chest_p00…
^is what I have, and am slowly filling it up with new tools as I need them!
Sorry! I mean't to + your comment. How do I undo that negative?
A cheap or expensive cordless multitool with decent set of bits, it does almost all job in small scale.
Torx screwdriver. Bought a small set for $4 off aliexpress. Comes with the tri screwdriver and just the odd connections, with decent length.
I'd recommend making sure the screwdriver tips are magnetic too.
Thank you all.
I started buying from the list compiled from some the suggestions and a few comments got me thinking about the experience too.
I don't appreciate tools the way he would shopping or using them so now Im on the hunt to buy a tool trolley to fit his existing and new tools.
https://www.bunnings.com.au/stanley-roller-tool-chest-combo_…
OR
https://www.bunnings.com.au/kincrome-9-drawer-chest-and-trol…
Which one would you prefer? Alternatives?
I'd be over the moon with either of those. My "tool box" is a discarded fishermans tackle box I found at the tip :-(
Either of those with some tools inside for "starters" is going to be an awesome birthday present.
Consider that that would be very bulky to carry out of bunnings…
Better to devote that money to better tools.
Could get excellent impact drill, driver, screwdriver set, plier set, drillbit set, metric sockets, gloves, hammers, multitool for that price…
You can probably buy a sptools roll cab for around the same price or slightly more than the kincrome.
toolbox full of cash so i can pay someone to do the work …..
surprised to not see caulk gun yet
Or the OzBargain staple item - Xiaomi Mijia WiHa screwdrivers from ShopPro
You tell him what needs fixing, he then goes about fixing it.
Dont break the system
No imperial sockets, spanners, drill bits etc.
Make sure all tools are in Metric.
Ear muffs and safely glasses.
Can see a lot of people saying metric and imperial spanners. Kinda seems pointless to me to have so many pieces for infrequent use.
Probably one of my favourite tools in my box (cough! boxes) is my Knipex Pilers Wrench. In terms of adjustable wrenches this is a killer. Once adjusted the force applied further tightens the clamping force so you don't round out the nut. And once released the jaws open up ever so slightly that is easy to reposition.
I'm serious, you won't believe how efficient this is to use. Those Germans, they really know what there doing.
Knipex is the best brand out there for pliers and this wrench is multi purpose allowing to tackle imperial and metric nuts and fittings. If 250mm is not a good size, try 180mm or 300mm. 250mm is probably a good general size.
Knipex is still German made, but to the Bunnings crowd, these things don't come cheap.
For example: https://www.totaltools.com.au/57305-knipex-250mm-pliers-wren…
But I like my tools and I'm very fussy on the design and quality. If quality is important to you, checkout Wera, Wiha, PB Swiss. These brands are pretty much to best when it comes to screw drivers, bits, pliers, sockets. Festool make really nice storage container. These brands pretty much make up my hand tools.
Of course there are other brands which are equally as good but a more niche in application.
P.S: For the love of God, stay the hell away from cheap Chinese bits*. Use Wera or Wiha. Also understand the difference between PH and PZ screw heads. How many people in the industry still think the two are interchangeable begs belief, rounding out screws by using a PH on a PZ screw. Drives me made.
Bits*= Those little screw driver attachments you slot into a screwdriver.
Hope this helps. At the very least at least you're now educated on the top quality/brands.
Glass hammer.
Totally get one of these for him if he doesn't already have one:
https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/429777
I use mine all the time, and have been able to throw away my random cheap shitty screws from $2 shops I gathered over the years.
Get double sets of every thing you buy a nice set to look at and brag about and a set you actually use and won't cry about if it breaks lol.
(Every mechanic)
I've seen a video online where this woman gets a handyman in to fix her sink plumbing, and he had a banana, cucumber, bottle of honey and chili, turkey baster in his toolkit.
Good multi grips, not cheap ones
Just get him a Bunnings gift voucher. No matter what you buy it wont be exactly right. Right tool for the right job as they say. Plus he can feel like a real handyman when he plonks the tube of Liquid Nails on the Bunnings counter.
Superglue, to seal up deep cuts.
Measuring tape
Eye protection
Gloves (disposable nitrile and also cloth/leather)
Ruler, square
Pencil, marker
Stanley knife
Araldite
Multimeter
Infrared thermometer
Thread tape
Cloth tape
Gaffer tape
Insulation tape
Double sided tape
Flashlight
Screwdrivers
Hammer, claw
Pliers
Multigrip wrench
Spanner set, metric open/closed combination
G clamps
Hacksaw
Handwash and cloths
Magnifying glass
Wire
Self tapping screws
Get him toolbox with fork, knife, spoon, plates and can opener cake and beer. Fix hungry tummy. And tissues to wipe stuff.
And get bunning gift card so he can have fun on his own and buy what he wants. Research is part of the fun.
Bandages and alcohol
Condoms