The number of things that you can build and projects you can do is as limitless as your allow your imagination to be. But to build things you need tools to build them with. Luckily you can do a lot with a few very simple tools, and although fancy tools can make things much easier you won’t always have access to such things. So here is our list of 7 basic, must have tools you need for your workshop.
Hammer
Just about anything you’ll build will need to be fastened in some way, and nails are a common solution for that. But to use nails, you need a hammer to drive them with. If you have the choice then go for a claw hammer. A claw hammer can remove nails if you need to and has the alternative use of acting as a crow bar if you don’t have one. When picking a hammer get something with a head that isn’t too heavy so it isn’t too hard to swing with good accuracy. As far as the handle you have some choices there as well. I’ve always liked wooden handles just because they feel strong and look old school but fiberglass or polymer handles can be great as well.
Screwdrivers
Sometimes a nail won’t do the trick for whatever reason and a screw is a better choice. You may not have access to power drills or the screw may not even be long enough to warrant using a drill so the use of a simple hand held screwdriver is in order. The two most common types of screws have either a philips head, which looks like a cross, or a flat head which looks like just a straight line. So it’s good to have at least one of each of these types of screwdrivers.
Handsaw
Again, you may not have access to power tools and when it comes to power saws that is likely a good thing unless you are very familiar with them and have had a lot of practice since they are even more dangerous than power tools of other kinds. But even without some sort of power saw you still need to be able to cut your boards, or pipe, or whatever it is that you are working with. A simple hand saw is what you need. Not difficult to use and not at all unsafe if you are smart and don’t put your hand under the blade while you’re cutting. You’ll also get the added bonus of getting a good arm workout anytime you need to cut anything.
Planer
A planer is a tool that fits in your hand and has a flat bottom with a short blade that shaves away wood as it is run over a surface. It’s good for shaping wood, for instance if you want to put an edge on a piece of wood or take an edge off or otherwise shape it. This tool can be a bit tricky and may take some practice to get the technique and rhythm just right but once you do it can be a valuable addition to your peg board.
Hand Drill
When you need to drill holes, whether for bolts or pilot holes, and you don’t have an electric drill, a hand crank drill is the way to go. There are a couple of different varieties, and which one is best would depend on what exactly you are doing. Another use for a hand drill is running screws if the job is too much for just a screwdriver. For instance if the screw is to long for a screw driver or the material is particularly dense.
Clamps or Bench Vice
When hammering, screwing, plane-ing, drilling, or saw-ing, often times you will need to hold whatever it is you are working on in place, or hold it to something else. This can be done with both clamps or a bench vice. Now if you have access to both of these then that is certainly preferable because I think clamps are better for holding things together and a bench vice is better for holding things in place. But if you only have one, or can only get ahold of one, then both can do both jobs.
Adjustable Wrench
And last but not least is a couple of good adjustable wrenches. You need at least two so that you can grip the nut and bolt head at the same time so they don’t just spin in place as you tighten it down. Now my preference in wrenches is to have set sizes because they don’t loosen up as you use it as adjustable wrenches tend to do. But adjustable wrenches are a good way to go if you are just starting out or are very limited in what you have to work with as they can be opened or closed to work on a multitude of nut sizes and thus are much more versatile.
Where to Find Them
Well there you go. Those are my 7 must have tools for your workshop to get you started. Power tools definitely make things faster and easier if you have them but these will get the job done if you have the patience, determination, and skill. As far as where to find these it’s likely that your dad or grandpa already have some if not all of these that they would let you use or have but if not they can be found at hardware stores or yard sales are a great place to look if you want to spend less money or find old tools. Old tools are great because they are often much more rugged and sturdy and will last longer than some new tools if taken care of properly. Consignment shops can be a good place to find old tools as well. Good luck, happy hunting and best of building! Tag us on instagram on some of your projects so we can see what you put together.