Homeowners, RV campers and cruising yachtsmen are usually advised to establish a certain level of self-sufficiency for routine repairs and maintenance. This requires a versatile kit of power & hand Tools. Inevitably, something in the home, RV or yacht will require fixing. In those moments of emergencies, a well equipped toolkit can be a real boon.
On a fundamental level, one of the first decisions to be made when planning what to include in a tool kit is whether to emphasize hand tools or power tools. This is not a light decision. Sure, power tools accelerate workflow; but some professional carpenters, cabinetmakers and furniture makers that have spent decades using power tools, deliberately use hand tools when working on projects where there is pressure of time. They find using hand tools a more satisfying experience and use power tools only when it improves accuracy or minimizes the drudgery of repetition.
For example, cruising yachts allow only a tiny amount of storage space and yet must be reasonably self-sufficient in case they experience an emergency at sea. Their tool kit must be highly prioritized.
Each individual has different recommendations about what should be included in a basic of tool kit. Most would, however, agreed that a hammer, pliers, wire cutters, screwdrivers, allen keys, wrenches, wire stripper, wood and metal saws, utility knife, and a mallet should all hand tools that form a basic kit.
As far as power tools go, they usually justify their expense because of the accuracy they promote and the time they save cutting, shaping and smoothing. Product quality and production efficiencies have improved dramatically over recent decades. Most branded power tools are nowadays reliable, versatile and reasonably priced. Must-haves include the predictable drill driver, angle grinder, angle drill, orbital sander, and reciprocating saw. One stand-out worth mentioning is a multi-master unit.
Ratchets or sockets are useful units to have ready to hand. Widely used imperial sized drives include one-quarter inch, three-eighths inches, one-half inch and one inch. A variety of SAE and metric sizes are also useful. Standard units have 12 point heads but units with six point heads are also available in each size. They units are also available in standard depth or deep depth.
Another handy unit to consider is a right angle drill (or driver) kit. This tool is great for boring holes in hard-to-get-at spaces. Depending on the brand and model, angle drills operate at about 0 to 1,000 rpm and deliver about 100 inch-pounds of torque. They typically have a chuck size of about three-eighths of an inch.
Right angle drills can penetrate wood or synthetic surfaces, including FRP laminates, like butter. They are compact in size and light in weight. Given the nature of their job, cordless units are preferred; many have battery packs that are based on Li-ion technology. Some have a battery recharge time as short as only thirty minutes.
In conclusion, the above list may form a good base from which to start selecting a basic set of power & hand tools. When it comes to power tools, cordless units with a rechargeable battery pack are a very popular format. An electric sander and a drill for boring wood, metal and synthetic materials (like fibreglass) are both, of course, essential power tools. A rotary cutter is also worth considering; some cutters have a built-in LED light that throws a powerful beam onto the cutting location.
