My Top 5 Favourite Tools

You may not be surprised to learn that I spend an awfully large amount of time at hardware stores and in tool shops. I have an enormous number of tools because I don’t just have one specialist trade. I don’t need only carpentry tools, or just plastering tools. I also carry tiling tools, and flooring tools, and painting tools and plumbing tools onboard, in addition to all the random bits and bobs.

Consequently, as your friendly local handywoman, I have feelings about which items in my toolkit are the most versatile or useful or time saving. If you’re a beginner in this world of do-it-yourself, just dipping your toes in and doing a few jobs at home here and there, you don’t want to spend heaps of cash to just get started.

So, here’s my list of top 5 must-have tools, what they do, and why I love them. Plus, keep reading for the other tools I reckon should be on your Wish List as you journey along into more home maintenance.

1. THE 7-IN-1

Also known as a 5-in-1, painter’s tool, and a few other names depending on the brand, this tool is invaluable. I honestly use it on pretty much every single job I do.

WHAT IT DOES
As the name suggests, 7 things! Actually more, but officially some combination of:

• Paint scraper
• Putty spreader
• Gouging/Digging
• Paint can opener
• Nail removal
• Paint roller cleaner
• Nail setter (hammer-like)

MY TOP USES
I use my 7-in-1 a lot for prying and levering, and silicone removal (scraping and gouging). But it’s always readily available in my tool tote for everyday use.

WHY I LOVE IT
It’s exceptionally handy. I love tools that are multi-function and this one happens to be that, and cheap and lightweight.
BUYING GUIDE
My favourite brand in the category is Poly (it’s yellow and black). The blade is strong steel (because I use it a lot for levering, I don’t want any flex), and it’s comfortable in the hand. They’re about $20 each, and you can find it in the paint section.

2. COMBINATION SQUARE

So called because it combines the functions of a set square, a ruler, a miniature level, a scribe (for marking), a depth gauge and a 45° angle.

WHAT IT DOES
I’ve kind of given the game away above, but the main purpose of a square is to…well, make sure things are square! ‘Square’ means at right angles (90°), which when it comes to the built environment is an ideal standard. Whether you’re squaring off to mark lines so your cut is straight, or checking your flatpack furniture is all aligned, a square is your best friend.

The combination square has a sliding stock (or handle), and that’s one of the primary differences between it versus other types of squares (speed square or carpenter’s square).  
MY TOP USES
Definitely I use mine as a depth gauge a lot. By moving the stock along the ruler, and then holding the it hard against an edge, I can precisely measure and/or mark the depth or width of material. It has a small groove in the centre of the ruler which I can use to rest my pencil and as I move the ruler I can create a perfectly straight line at the required depth.
WHY I LOVE IT
Measuring accurately is a definite skill, and frankly I make mistakes despite daily practice. When a millimetre matters, removing the room for error is key to success. By using it as a depth gauge, it saves me trying to read the numbers on a measuring tape because I can simply lock the stock in place and it’ll be correct every time.

BUYING GUIDE
The flaw of combination squares is that they go out of square over time. I have an Empire brand one which has a lifetime warranty though so I can exchange it. The other thing is that they come in different lengths. I have 400mm and it’s too long and cumbersome. Next time I’ll get a shorter one.

3. OSCILLATING MULTI TOOL

You may be picking up a theme by now that my favourite tools are the ones that do multiple jobs for me. The multi tool is the power tool that pretends to be lots of other power tools (and even some hand tools)!

WHAT IT DOES
The ‘oscillating’ part of the name refers to the vibrating back and forth action. By attaching different types of blades, this range of motion allows it to do different types of cutting (mostly). So, for example, you can add a scraper blade (to remove old adhesive, or slide under a tile edge to lift it), it has a plunge blade (eg: to cut into the middle of plasterboard, MDF or timber), a saw (for straight cutting), a diamond blade for grout removal or cutting tile. Plus you can attach sanding or polishing pads. Seriously, with the right blade you can do lots of different tasks, all with a single tool.

MY TOP USES
I probably use it mostly for plunge cutting, such as if I need to cut out a hole in the back of a cabinet for a powerpoint or something. But I also use it to cut the heads off of stripped screws, by sliding it between the door knob and the door or behind a hinge, for example, if the screw can’t be removed. I buy nail-embedded timber blades for just this purpose!    
WHY I LOVE IT
Again, it’s because it comes in handy for more than one job. It’s the kind of tool that often gets me out of a pickle when something has gone wrong. Switch to the correct blade and Bob’s your Uncle – you have a new tool ready to problem solve.     
BUYING GUIDE
The blades are quite expensive and they wear down quickly. You can buy ‘universal blades’ but be aware they aren’t actually universal, so make sure they actually fit the specific tool you buy. I have a Makita one, and they use a Star Lock system which makes it easy to swap out blades. It’s battery-operated so it’s highly portable, and costs around $220 skin only. But you can get corded ones which are less expensive (batteries are pricey). I reckon a home D-I-Yer could do just as well with a Ryobi version.

4. COMPOUND SLIDING SAW

This is not, in fact, an essential beginner’s tool. Truth be told, I don’t even own one! But it’s still in my top 5 because as far as saws go, I think it wins over the other options. Again, that’s probably largely because of its versatility, but the drop saw is also uber accurate and that’s why I think it deserves a place in the list.

WHAT IT DOES
I have pictured a compound sliding saw. It’s often just called a drop saw or a mitre saw, but the compound sliding saw specifically has a sliding arm which allows the blade to extend out to enable it to cut wide pieces of timber. Depending on the brand and model, you can cut on an angle – called a mitre (sometimes up to 50° both ways), and also a bevel cut which is where it tilts (again, up to 50° either way). Think of it as cutting on an angle from front to back as well as top to bottom. You can even do both at the same time, hence ‘compound’.
MY TOP USES
It cannot be beaten for accurate mitre cuts (45°), such as for skirting board corners or picture frames, but it’s also incredibly useful when I need to do repeated straight cuts of the same length, such as fence palings. I just set up a 'stop' at the length I need and don’t even need to measure – I just go to the saw, push the material hard against the stop and drop the blade, and it’ll replicate the exact same cut over and over.
WHY I LOVE IT
It’s incredibly accurate, and takes out the margin of error in manual cuts with a circular saw for example. Plus, it has loads of safety features so even though it looks intense, it’s incredibly simple and safe to use.  
BUYING GUIDE
A good compound sliding saw will easily set you back over $1200. When I eventually buy one, I’ll get something that has all the features (wide angles, tilting bevel, sliding mechanism, a laser, and a proper saw stand with stops) because the main benefit of this tool is its ability to do more complex cuts that over-rides human fallibility. Probably the biggest consideration will be its weight, and how well it packs up for better mobility and ease of on-site set up.

5. STRAP WRENCH

One of these tools is not like the other! The strap wrench is the odd one out in this list because it just really does one thing, but it does it really well. It’s such a clever little device and it has got me out of trouble on more than one occasion. Plus, it’s a fan favourite in my Intro to Tools workshops!

WHAT IT DOES
Women in my workshops have said that use it to get the lids of jars when they seem to lack the strength to do it by hand. But it’s actually used to untighten PVC or chrome-plated nuts when you don’t want to damage them. The rubber strap part wraps around the nut, and it’s tensioned against the handle to create a levering action to loosen the nut.
MY TOP USES
The strap wrench really only has one use, and that’s what I use it for. I can avoid stripping the little ridges off a PVC nut (such as those joining two pieces of waste pipe) or damaging the chrome finish on a tap by using this simple but highly effective wrench instead of a metal one.

WHY I LOVE IT
It uses leverage to maximise the force applied, so I don’t need to exert much strength to remove really tight nuts (or jar lids!).  
BUYING GUIDE
You’ll pick one up for a tenner. I don’t know there’s much variability between brands. Probably the only thing is making sure the handle allows you to get a good grip on the strap.

And that’s it! They are my 5 favourite tools. However, there are a number of other tools you may want to acquire to round out your beginner tool kit, including these ones below, which I believe are pretty essential for the home owner or D-I-Y enthusiast.