A true handyman can tackle pretty much any repair job that pops up around the house. A little bit of plumbing? No problem. Install a ceiling light? Absolutely. Lay a concrete patio? Let us just grab our cement mixer, and we’ll be right over. But a handyman isn’t so handy when his toolkit comes up short. On top of being versatile, a handyman should be ready to go, especially if he’s trying to make a career of it. It’s a fact that when people go on the hunt for a handyman, a common consideration is whether the person in question has the right tools for the job.
Now, we won’t patronize you here by listing the utter basics—we know you don’t want for wrenches, screwdrivers, and a trusty claw hammer. We’re here to take a look at tools you should have but possibly haven’t yet added to your collection. ADA Fastfix can provide several essential tools. Let’s have a look at nine critical, but perhaps overlooked, tools that can elevate any handyman’s game.
Tile Cutter
Any handyman who’s been at it for a while knows that requests for tile work come in with regularity. So, unless you’re willing to turn down a lot of work—and it’s doubtful that you are—you’re definitely going to need the right tile tools. Chief among them: the right tile cutter. Any handyman who can lay some tile never has to worry about finding work.
Digital Level
It’s a safe assumption that most handymen already have a fine enough level. A digital level, though? That’s a less common part of the handyman’s toolkit. That’s a shame, because a digital level allows you to operate with greater efficiency and, more importantly, it allows for fine-tooth precision. And a handyman who operates with precision is a handyman who gets plenty of work.
Cordless Drill
A powerful cordless drill with a good battery life is essential for every handyman. Now, it’s likely that you already have a power drill, but if it’s old and a little tired or if you simply have a model that lacks oomph, go ahead and upgrade. A reliable, heavy-duty cordless drill is a hands-down must-have for every handyman.
Bar and C-Clamps
Having a good set of clamps at the ready can save you plenty of time and keep you from looking silly. After all, you don’t want to stand there holding a couple pieces of woodwork together as you’re waiting for glue to dry. But clamps aren’t just for woodwork. They are widely applicable and often overlooked.
Cut-Off Saw
A handyman with the right cut-off saw is ready to chop through just about anything, from metal to concrete. This is the kind of heavy-duty tool with the versatility that can give you a leg up on the competition; you’ll be ready for the everyday stuff, but you’ll also be able to cut through the hard stuff that a lot of handymen won’t have the right saw for.
Stud Finder
Absolutely, without question, every handyman needs a stud finder. More often than not, you’ll use your stud finder on walls, but it’s not uncommon for a job to require a device that works on ceilings and floors, too, so keep that in mind, as some stud finders only work well when hunting for studs and joists behind walls.
Multi-Position Ladder
A good multi-position ladder reflects some of the critical capabilities that the ideal handyman should embody: It’s versatile and ready-to-go. The right multi-position ladder is easy to transport and is great for jobs when you need a little boost—it’s also there for you when you need to scale up for higher-elevation work.
Wet-Dry Vacuum
If you do great work but leave behind a messy jobsite, your likelihood of being rehired or getting a good word-of-mouth job from your client will have plummeted considerably. Lots of handymen don’t think about cleanup, but they should. So you want to have a good wet/dry vacuum at your disposal. Of course, a wet/dry vacuum isn’t merely good for end-of-job tidying. Sometimes you need to suck up dust, debris, and water as you work.
Rotary Tool
Having a rotary tool and knowing what to do with it is the mark of true handyman professionalism. This device is good for scores of tasks, from polishing metal to intricate sanding jobs that no other tool can handle. This ace-in-the-hole, underappreciated machine generally comes with a wide array of attachments that give it a hard-to-believe breadth of applications. If a handyman has a rotary tool, you can likely rest assured that he’s no joke.
If you’re a handyman and have these tools at your disposal—in addition to the basics—you’ll be prepared for the vast majority of jobs that come down the pike. After all, a handyman worth his salt has to be ready at the drop of a hat. Scrambling to acquire the right tools after a job request comes in isn’t a great look, and it’s not good for job security.
