Five Essential Tools for the Home Garage

Whether you plan on tackling large projects or the occasional basic maintenance, there are some essential tools that no garage should be without. No matter the size of the job you're working on, having the right tools on hand can be the difference between success and frustration. Here are five essential tools that should be in every home garage.

Complete screwdriver set

There is no doubt that you will need a great set of screwdrivers. Whether you're assembling or disassembling something!

If you buy a high-quality set with the most common sizes, including flat and Phillips-shaped heads, you won't look back!

You can also get electric handheld screwdrivers with removable heads, which is only a good option if you have a handy toolbox to store all the little pieces! Shop here for excellent storage options.

Basic Garage Tools: Saws

From table saws to classic hand saws, you should have at least one in your garage. Saws are useful for project work, but they're also essential if you need to cut limbs or tackle trees in your yard.

Saws are important to every homeowner, so make sure you have at least one or more in your arsenal of tools.

Work Lights

For safety reasons, you need to be able to see what you are doing without any shadows or dim light.

We recommend that you have strong lighting over your work area and that you also purchase portable shop work lights (the kind that is mounted on a tripod). They are always high-intensity halogen lights that illuminate an area and can help you stay safe, but also allow you to see even the smallest tools or fasteners as you work.

Utility knife

This is one of the must-have tools, ready to go on your tool belt!

Can't open that box? No problem! Use your utility knife!

Can't cut tape? No problem! Use your utility knife!

Can't get a piece of cardboard through! No problem! Use your utility knife!

You can even use it to scrape off excess glue or resin left on a project, or even paint that prevents windows from opening easily!

Torque Wrenches

No home garage would be complete without a torque wrench. This simple device allows you to tighten fasteners to their original factory torque specifications. This is critical for two reasons: you always want to make sure the wheels are tight enough to withstand normal driving, and you never want to overtighten sensitive parts and risk damage. Using a torque wrench dialed into the correct torque will do both jobs without any guesswork.

Depending on the type of work you plan to do, you may need two different torque wrenches, one for heavier jobs and one for lighter jobs. Heavier jobs typically require tightening fasteners to foot-pound specifications. Lighter jobs usually require tightening fasteners to inch-pound specifications. There are also different types of torque wrench designs. The most basic unit is a beam wrench, which simply uses a pointer on a scale. But the most popular unit looks like a ratchet that "clicks" when the desired reading is reached. The most important is the digital torque wrench, which reads readings on different scales and allows the user to slowly approach the target reading with a beeping sound.

With these essential tools, you'll be ready for any problem you face on a repair job. Remember: craftsmen are only as good as their tools.

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