When I started this handymanning thing, I already owned a nice big steel toolbox, and I have been using that for years, but it only has a top and bottom compartment so things tend to get jumbled. So now I need to move up. I just bought (actually my sister bought it as a xmas present) a high end Klein backpack toolbag, and boy is it awesome:
These are just a few of the FORTY NINE pockets this thing has!! So anyway I thought it might be fun to share what a handyman like me has to carry to every job, as you just never know what you might need. Here goes:
hammer
pliers
needle nose pliers
pinch pliers
channel locks
screwdrivers, philips:
large
medium
small
tiny
offset
screwdrivers. slotted:
large
medium
small
tiny
offset
plus a 6 way screwdriver with both heads
putty knives:
large
medium
small
sharpies
pens
pencils
chisel
crowbar
file
wood rasp
clamps
tape measures (large/medium)
ruler
work gloves:
leather
disposable latex gloves
neoprene gloves
nylon ties
paintbrushes (regular/tiny)
wood:
stir sticks
popsicle sticks
1×2 pieces for whatever (kept in truck)
shims
toothpicks
soft copper wire (romex)
grout brush
toothbrush
scrub brush
straw
liquid nails
wood glue
silicone
nylon string
magnets
WD40
Bolt loosener
long drill bits
circuit tracer
voltage tester
black tape
wire nuts
electrical pliers
water
cordless drill
cordless drill batteries
drill bit case
long drill bits
stripped screw head removal kit
razor blade window scraper
box cutter
jackknife
ice pick
flashlight
aa / aaa / 9 volt batts
headlamp
tin snips
vice grips
stud finder
wire brushes
fasteners: screws, nails, molly/butterfly bolts
stain pens
sandpaper
rubber hammer
grout float
assorted primers and paints
socket set
And there are more little doodads bought for one job and never used again that don’t live in the active toolkit, but I keep them on the tool shelf just in case. That includes spackle, drywall joint compound, drywall tape, foil tape, mesh tape, wood putty, bondo, and sandpaper everywhere. Plus my dremel saw. door lock drilling template kit, and an orbital sander.
This backpack saves major wear and tear on my elbow ligaments when hauling this 45 lbs of stuff. And of course it keeps things organized which is huge. See you on the next job 🙂
