The 10 Tools That Solve 90% of Problems (Part 2) | Episode 603

Picking Up Where We Left Off

In the last episode, we talked about the first five tools that handle the majority of repairs around the house. Today, we’re finishing that list with five more tools that, together, will solve about 90% of the problems the average homeowner runs into.

Once you go past this list, you start getting into specialty tools. Those are the tools you might only use once every few years. When that happens, you don’t necessarily need to buy them new.

One trick is checking places like Facebook Marketplace. A lot of people buy a tool for one specific project, use it once, and then sell it afterward. If you catch it at the right time, you can often buy it cheaper, use it for your project, and sell it again when you’re done. You basically rented the tool for twenty or thirty bucks.

But the tools in today’s episode are the ones you should actually own.

A Good Claw Hammer

If you somehow don’t own a hammer yet, go fix that immediately.

Your first hammer should just be a standard claw hammer. Nothing fancy. You don’t need some crazy expensive framing hammer or specialty tool. A basic claw hammer will do almost everything you need it to do around the house.

My general rule when buying tools is simple: skip the absolute cheapest one in the store.

There’s always some garbage version that’s barely usable. Instead, look at the next cheapest option. That’s usually the sweet spot between price and quality.

Eventually, you’ll probably add a rubber mallet to your toolbox as well. They’re cheap and they’re incredibly useful when you need to move or tap something into place without destroying it. Flooring, trim, or anything delicate benefits from that softer impact.

Tape Measure

You absolutely need a tape measure.

You’ll use it constantly. Cutting wood, fitting furniture, installing shelves, measuring rooms before you buy materials—this tool comes out all the time.

The real trick is learning how to actually read it well. Fractions matter, and if you’re working with someone else you need to be able to communicate the measurement correctly. Saying something like “eight and three lines” will get you laughed out of a job site.

Also avoid gimmicky tape measures. Some of them try to cram in extra markings, metric conversions, or weird features that make the tape harder to read. A simple, clear tape measure with easy-to-see markings is all you really need.

Level (and Square)

A level is another tool that gets used far more than people expect.

Hanging pictures, installing shelves, mounting TVs, building furniture—if something needs to be straight, you need a level.

A three or four foot level works great for most homeowners. It also doubles as a straight edge when marking cuts.

One trick I’ve used for years is using my level as a saw guide. Clamp it down along your cut line and run your circular saw against it. It works surprisingly well and saves you from buying specialized guides.

Alongside a level, you’ll eventually want a square too. That’s the triangle-shaped tool carpenters use to make sure cuts and corners are perfectly 90 degrees. If you do enough projects you’ll probably end up owning several different types.

But starting out, one level and one square will cover a lot of ground.

Headlamp

This is one of the most underrated tools you can own.

A headlamp lets you see exactly what you’re doing while keeping both hands free. That’s huge when you’re working under a sink, inside an engine bay, or anywhere that doesn’t have great lighting.

Sure, you can hold a flashlight in your mouth or make a kid stand there holding it while you yell at them to point it in the right spot.

Or you can just wear a headlamp and solve the problem.

Magnetic flashlights and lanterns are also fantastic. Stick them under a car hood or onto a metal surface and suddenly your whole workspace is lit up.

Step Ladder

The last tool on the list is a step ladder.

And yes, you need one.

If you don’t have a ladder, eventually you will do something stupid. You’ll stack buckets. You’ll climb onto chairs. You’ll balance on random things that were never meant to hold your weight.

Most of us have done it at least once.

Having a proper step ladder eliminates all that nonsense and makes life easier. Whether you’re reaching storage, fixing something overhead, or grabbing gear off a high shelf, you’ll use it far more often than you expect.

Building Your Core Tool Kit

Between this episode and the previous one, you now have ten tools that solve the majority of problems around the house.

You don’t need a giant workshop or thousands of dollars worth of gear to be capable. A small set of practical tools—and the willingness to learn how to use them—goes a long way.

Preparedness isn’t just about food storage or bug-out bags. Being able to fix your own stuff, repair your home, and solve problems without calling someone else every time is a huge part of real self-reliance.

This has been James from SurvivalPunk.com. DIY to Survive.

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