In honor of Valentine’s Day, I thought I would let my Valentine, John, take over my blog. He is the muscle and power tools behind all of my projects and ideas, making everything possible.
A lot of 21 Lane’s home decor requires installation, as a husband I am clueless about design. However, I do know a thing or two about installation, basic carpentry, and getting things hung up properly so that they are straight and level. Even in hard-to-work-with material like plaster.
The number one thing to remember about being “handy” is having the courage to dive in, you’re going to mess up, but you’ll learn with time and practice. YouTube and Google will be your best friends! You can always hire somebody if you get in over your head, but overtime as your skills improve you will be able to do more yourself and save a TON of money. Plus, knowing that you did the work is very satisfying… and the beer you drink while you stand back and look at what you’ve done tastes that much better 🙂
Before 
During 
After
We replaced the TV in our living room when it went out. It probably would’ve cost at least $200 to hire someone to install it for me, but I did it in a couple hours on a Saturday and it is perfectly level. Our niece had to watch cartoons on a crooked TV, I fixed that for next time 🙂
So, how do I know about all of this stuff? I am not a contractor, but I did do construction for several summers in high school and college. I eventually became a farm manager/handyman/Mr. Fix It. I re-roofed the farm garage, hung gutters, fixed toilets, installed lighting, and hung TVs. Plus, I built shelves in the garage, a 2,000-foot-long fence, gates, and outdoor storage containers. I even taught myself how to operate a backhoe (one of the big yellow ones you see on construction sites).
I had almost no experience at the time (other than basic carpentry), but I never wanted to tell them I couldn’t do something. I spent my days working and my nights googling how to do it. I messed up, a lot, but I got everything done and done right.
After college, I went to work in the finance industry. Doing work around the house is something I enjoy, and I’ve saved us so much money over the years.
So, I’m going to give you two different setups of tool kits so that you too can become handy. A little advice from my Grandfather can kick us off, you should always buy the best tool you can afford. Quality tools last for many, many years and you’ll get tons of use out of them.
Tool Kit 1: The absolute bare minimum, every homeowner should have these items to address minimal household projects. If you aren’t very familiar with tools, I would start with these items.
- Hammer
- Scissors
- Phillips and flathead screwdrivers
- Tape measure
- Torpedo level
- Pliers
- Duct tape
- Vice grips
- WD-40
- A basic tool organizer (i.e. a tool box or bag)
Tool Kit 2: You’ve been sharpening your skills and you want to take on more projects, but you still want to leave big projects to the pros. This is my setup and it should allow you to do about 85% of home projects and repairs.
My Tool Kit 
Laser Level
- Drill/Impact
- Screwdriver set
- Duct and electrical tape
- Electric socket tester
- Scissors
- Channel lock cross cutting pliers with end cutter (useful for removing nails)
- Needle nose pliers
- Chisel
- Cat’s paw (small)
- 16 oz hammer with curved claw
- Adjustable wrench (small and large)
- Wire cutters
- Wire stripper
- Tape measure (I like the ones with fractions on the blade)
- Construction calculator, simple model is fine
- Standard adjustable pliers (small, medium, and large)
- Pencils
- Laser level and measuring laser (optional)
- Nail set
- Good scissors
- Staple gun
- Super glue and wood glue
- Stud finder
- Metric and standard allen wrench set
- Lights
- A non-contact voltage detector (this thing will keep you from getting zapped when doing electrical work)
- Zip ties
- Utility knife
- Torpedo level
- Laser measuring tool
- 20 feet of 550 lb test paracord (this has a zillion uses)
- Safety glasses
- Ear protection
Drills 
Impact Drivers
Pictured above are 12 and 18 volt Milwaukee Drills and Impact Drivers. If you never plan to “heavily” use them, you can get away with 12V (any brand). I’m pretty partial to Milwaukee because their tools are very high quality. No matter what brand you purchase, stick to lithium batteries.
The larger ones are 18V and they are substantially more powerful than 12V, but for home use the 12Vs can do almost everything the 18Vs can. Also, purchase a high-quality impact bit set. The 12V set pictured can take care of most home chores.
Screwdrivers, get a good set, even the Torx ones too. I find that for home use, Husky/Cobalt ones are sufficient. I am partial to Craftsman because I’ve had them since I was a teenager (they are actually made by the same company that makes Husky set, western forge).
A stud finder is necessary in order to hang heavy items on the wall properly so they don’t tear through the dry wall or fall down.
Here are some of the tools mentioned above that belong in every handyman or woman’s arsenal. Pencils (I bought hot pink because I always lose them), a bright LED light, channel lock pliers, nail puller, and of course, the cat’s paw pry bar.
You also need a basic socket set. Putting together IKEA type furniture is a breeze with these tools. I always laugh when I see the cheesy Chinese wrenches that come with them before throwing them in the trash. That’s why people get so frustrated haha. Having the right tool makes assembly a piece of cake.
Lastly, I really like the 5-gallon bucket organizers. If you break the bucket, they are only a few bucks and keep everything well organized. Another thing while we’re talking about buckets, get and keep a few 5-gallon buckets at your house. The uses are endless.
This entire set fits in one bucket. Your tool set will likely differ depending on your needs. This set isn’t all inclusive, but it is sufficient for most minor home repairs. This kit doesn’t include all of my tools, but it is enough to get you off to a great start.
You might have noticed in the photos that all of my tools have green paint or tape on them. I do this so I can easily identify my tools when I’m working on a project with someone or I lend my tools to a friend. It’s important to mark your tools with a color or write your name on them.
Remember, you don’t have to run out and buy all these tools right away, I’ve accumulated all of these over a period of 15 years or so. When you need a tool, buy it and get a good one. If you don’t think you’ll use it more than once, most home centers have an affordable tool rental system. Have fun with your next home project, don’t forget, YouTube and Google are your best friends!