This is no comprehensive list but it contains the tools that I consider essential and others that are ‘nice to haves.’ I don’t explain the essentials because I feel they speak for themselves, but I do explain why it’s nice to have the others.
Essential Tools
General
- Hammer
- Drill with various size bits
- Socket and adjustable wrenches
- Miter saw
- Carpenter square
- Clamps in various lengths
- Sharp knife (i.e. exacto, razer)
- Pencil, pens
- Paint, brushes
- Plyers
- Various nuts, bolts, nails
- Duct tape
For Electrical, Motors
- Soldering iron
- Wires in various gauges
- Wire nuts
- Electrical Tape
- Heat-shrink tubing
Nice to Haves
- Great stuff – Everyone uses this to expand their projects. It’s a hate-to-love
- Chip brushes – Expendable. Good for when you don’t want to ruin a good brush. I use these a lot for tombstones (Drylock), and other non-latex coatings.
- Heat gun – A hairy dryer can be used as a replacement but I use this quite a bit.
- Dremel – So many uses for this that it’s hard not to included in the Essentials area.
- Heat pens and wands – Really good for tombstones and adding details.
- Rubber mallet – Useful for when you want to ensure you don’t put dents in objects.
- Mini / Handheld sledgehammer – I mainly use this driving rebar into the ground.
- Jigaw – If you want to do any circular cuts or just to make it easier on yourself.
- Orbital sander – You could argue this is a must have but depends on what you are building.
- Pipe cutter – helps make straight cuts but can be substituted with a saw.
- Sewing machine – Can be substituted with sewing by hand.