The other day while browsing at Ace Hardware it occurred to me that I don't have any tools in my house. Not being very handy when it comes to household repairs I never thought about it, but my new situation as a dad made me think again. Living in Bali I have to say that the chance of me doing renovations or home improvement are virtually zero, but things do go wrong and can require tools to fix. Ace Hardware sells a selection of those red metal tool boxes and I was wondering what I should include if I was to buy one. I ran out of ideas after, flashlight, wrench and hammer.
Here's my deal. I don't want a garage full of tools as I don't know how to use them. I want a handy little box, so that when Made the handyman comes ever to fix the house after the next tsunami, I will have something to help him.
The box will probably be no larger than 2ft long so let's hear your suggestions for the New Tool Box.
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G’Day Nick,
You’d have to have a Leatherman!.
Thanks Glen. That sounds good, even though I don’t know what to do with any of that.
Barrie, those things are useful, I guess I was looking at larger tools.
Gaff Tape
Here’s what I think is a very good minimum tool kit:
1- You don’t need the fancy red toolbox. Many pro tradesmen just use a 1, 2 or 5 gallon bucket here, maybe with a tool holster for the bucket.
http://shop.store.yahoo.com/tmt/crbutoor.html
2- one 10 to 16 oz claw hammer, look for one that feels well, balanced, if wooden handled, check the end cut for numerous and tight growth rings in the grain of the wood for strength.
3- One Picquic six pac “revolver” style screwdriver. (I have 4 of these) It is unlikely that you will lose or break bits, because they are strong and you need the current bit to push out the bit you need, so it automatically gets stored.
http://www.picquic.com/sixpac.html
4- any good quality plier that can also cut wire.
5- good quality adjustable wrench, like a Crescent wrench
6- Olfa knife
7- C or D cell Maglite flashlight expensive, but very reliable, heavy duty, well built and guranteed for life.
8- electrical tape
9- can of WD40
This would be an optional “nice to have….”
10- small (12 piece) 3/8 drive ratchet set, probably in metric since you’re in Bali.
That’ll about do it for an emergency kit for me.
Just the essentials in that box for mine.
Made’s phone no. to call when you next have a problem. And a six pack of chilled beer to drink while you you wait for his arrival.
Put a couple of hundred thousand RP in an envelope with the HP for a plumber, electrician and a builder. Thats all you really need. You already know all the local places for a roof over your head. The HP for someone in the local banjar is also useful and can speed things up!
I’m surprised someone hasn’t posted the Seminyak tool box (3 pack of ribbed condoms, 6 pack of Bintang and some KY jelly).
G’Day Nick,
I thought that was the Kuta Strip tool box!.
Besidies, we are all paragons of virtue on this blog. Yeah right!!!!!.
hi Nick,
my emergency tool box contains a flat and a phillips head screwdriver, round and snub nosed pliers, a couple of shifting spanners, adjustable, a big and a small claw hammer, some nails and screws, some gaffer tape, plumbers tape and electrical tape, a tape measure and I also have a cordless drill with drill bits.
hope this helps !
we will be there next tuesday, out of the cold of country Gippsland !
Annyf, I like that…tape measure! I know how to use that, I can going around measuring things. Maybe measure Jevon’s growth.
Hey Nick get the kid to the doc straight away if he’s got a growth!
Have a systematic look around your home and see how everything is held together. Then figure out what you would need to repair or replace the things which may fall off or fall to bits. Maybe different in some respects to what many of us are accustomed to. Make notes to guide your tool buying.
In addition to the suggestions already made, a small pipe wrench may be useful if you have any metal plumbing. Or anything which may have to be turned, where a shifting spanner or socket won’t fit.
I remember one time we were staying at the Vienna Beach Hotel in Lipah and the toilet cistern wouldn’t stop running, not fast but with that incessant swishing noise. I got one of the staff to have a look and he fiddled around with it without success.
I had a look myself and realised that the distance from the floating ball to the water inlet cock wasn’t long enough. But what to do? Well I found a paper clip lying on the drive and that did the job of lengthening the connection.
So don’t forget to include a paper clip in your toolbox!
Hi Nick,
A few suggestions:
* Flat and Phillips head screw drivers - 4 of
each in various sizes
* Measuring tape
* Bull nosed pliers
* Long nosed pliers
* Wire cutters
* Flat file
* Round file or half round file
* Electricians tape
* Some nylon ties
Cheers,
Glen
PS: Planning a holiday to Bali in November this year.