Tool bags

Open to discussing junkyard tool bags, but I'm mostly concerned with:

What is in your general home ownership toolbag? 

I'm just putting one together.  I'm moving to an apt, and I'll be keeping my house (at least for the near term), so I want a 'go bag' of sorts that has what I need in it to accomplish most basic tasks.  Mine so far (not all items are in picture)

M18 Drill

M18 Driver

Assorted drill bit kit

A couple different phillips head driver attachments

2x phillips head screwdrivers, 2x flathead (I think #1 and #2 of each)

Tape Measure

Adjustable wrench

Needlenose

Cutters

Small pliers

Hammer

Pencil

Sharpie

Gloves

Hammer

Channel Locks

What am I missing?

I need a small socket set (self contained) for general home stuff - any suggestions?

I put together this one for a cross country fly and drive:

Crap, ignore my post. Reading comprehension is not one of my strengths, lol. 

In reply to ProDarwin :

Wire strippers. Vice grips. 
Small pry bar/nail puller. Razor blade knife. 

Thanks.  The utility knife is in there.  Good call on the vice grips an nail puller.  Wire strippers are more of a nice to have for me, rarely do I do anything where they are critical -  I can always strip wire with a razor blade anyway.

ProDarwin said:

Thanks.  The utility knife is in there.  Good call on the vice grips an nail puller.  Wire strippers are more of a nice to have for me, rarely do I do anything where they are critical -  I can always strip wire with a razor blade anyway.

Or your teeth!

Stud finder. Basic multimeter. 

Along with the Phillips driver tips, I would include some hex drivers. 1/4" and 5/16" as a minimum. I also carry T-25s and #3 Phillips.
 

I gave up on regular screwdrivers years ago. Instead of carrying a bunch of different sizes (then having trouble finding the one I need), I only carry combination screwdrivers.  That gives me a #1 Phillips, a #2 Phillips, small flat, medium flat, 1/4" hex, and 5/16 hex all in one.  I have several in my toolbox. I don't carry the fancy all-in-one drivers that have so many more tips in them. They are too big and too heavy for daily use (or to slip in my pocket)

Ive got a great portable socket set... I'll get a picture later 

I agree about the multimeter. 
 

Disagree about the stud finder. I own several and almost never use them. They are so rarely used that every time I pull one out the battery is dead, and I do without. It's too easy to find the studs without them. I don't need to take up that much space in a portable tool bag. 

1 decent sharp wood chisel.  You don't need a set, but one is good to have. I have a 1/2" with a metal tang that passes through the handle and becomes a striking surface at the back, so I can tap it with a hammer. 

Are you likely to do any plumbing repairs?  Then carry at least 2 channel locks. I carry a large and a small one (and I gave up on the adjustable wrench)

Speed square

i can do 90% of what i need to with my leatherman and my wera toolcheck. the other 10% could be done with the addition of any drill and hammer

In reply to gixxeropa :

I don't leave home without a leatherman.  I use it every day.

But the only thing it does is save me a few trips to the truck each day. There are a lot of things a leatherman can do, but nothing it does well. Every tool on it is a poor substitute for the real thing. 
 

If I had to use only my leatherman every day for everything, I think I'd use it to commit Hari-kari.

In reply to SV reX :

maybe its the model I have, but I actually really like the pliers and the knife holds an edge well. That's really all i use from the leatherman, the rest is the toolcheck (and at work I can do most of my job with the toolcheck, a terminal screwdriver, and a set of side cutters). If I can't get it done with that I generally roll out my packout box

In reply to gixxeropa :

Funny you should mention the pliers... 

I have 2 Waves in my truck today. This is them in the fully closed position:

The jaws don't fully meet.  They'll never be able to grab something small neatly like a good pair of needle nose.  If you need torque, it's not that hard to torque them out of alignment and lose grip.

You're right- the blades hold an edge. That's the primary reason I use them. It's excellent for cutting rope, but it's not a good enough edge to replace a utility knife for construction work. 
 

The screwdrivers are a complete joke. What were they thinking?  Neither the Phillips nor flat tips fit screw heads properly, and the handle is much too awkward to spin.

I do use the tiny scissors. Frequently. Who'd a thunk?

Then there are those other weird blades... a file that won't file, a "can opener" (haha).  I've used the saw a couple times (repeat... a couple times. In probably 20 years of use). 
 

Fish hook remover on the end of a razor sharp saw?  Sure, if you want to mutilate the fish.

Has anyone EVER used the ruler?  Ever?  Where is zero?  I hope they never need more than 3", cause it ain't gonna be right when they get to 5".

Ever watch someone who doesn't use it regularly try to unlock the blade and fold it?  An amputation waiting to happen.
 

You and I agree... I can't do without my Leatherman. It's a good tool.  But there is no way I would make the claim that I can do 90% of my construction activities with just a Leatherman. It simply doesn't serve much purpose in a DIYer's home repair tool bag.  It's perfect hanging on my belt going through the woods or construction sites daily. I don't get dressed without it.

In reply to SV reX :

maybe I hit the manufacturing lottery with the pliers on mine, they do well. Agree on the screwdriver, especially the tiny one, if you try to put much pressure on it it'll slip past the tensioner thing. But I use the toolcheck for all screwdriver type activities. If you don't need the pliers much I like the milwaukee utility knife with the fold out screwdriver, I keep it on my coffee table and it sees a lot of light use around the house and saves me a few trips to my tool box in the garage.

not saying you can do 90% of your activites with a leatherman and toolcheck, but I am saying I can do 90% of mine, which is a very different thing I'm sure

Fair enough.  I don't know your needs.
 

I just don't consider it an adequate primary tool for 90% of most homeowner's home repair projects. It's an excellent secondary tool. 

I said earlier I would get pics of my portable socket set...

This set is my favorite. 1/4" and 3/8" SAE and metric. 83 pieces.  No 1/2".

Some sets are too big for me to want to call them "portable".  I keep stuff like that in the shop- too heavy to lug around.

Some sets are too small to be useful.  I've had several.  I try to throw them away eventually.

This set is just the right size, and it also has the benefit of having a very sturdy case that keeps the pieces secured well.  Nothing quite as annoying as a having to dig through the bottom of a case to find a piece that got loose.  I can tell that everything is in place at a glance, snap the locks, toss it in the truck, and every single piece is where it needs to be when I reopen it, no matter how much touch terrain I've covered.

Disclaimer... I would consider this overkill for a DIYer portable bag.  It's become part of my truck, and is really useful for roadside mechanical stuff, but I wouldn't carry it if I was just concerned about residential home repair.

One last concern about the leatherman...

When doing home repairs, I frequently do minor electrical repair.  It's BAD that my Leatherman is so convenient. I keep wanting to reach for it for a quick wire cut or twist of a wire nut. ITS ABSOLUTELY WRONG FOR THAT!  It has no insulation, and is perfectly awkward for creating an electrical hazard.

I won't use it for electrical, but with it hanging on my hip while I am standing on a ladder, it's so darned convenient that I have to force myself to go to the truck to get my lineman's pliers.

Mine's got the basics for sure—hammer, screwdriver set, pliers, tape measure, and a cordless drill for those fixer-upper moments. I also keep a utility knife and some electrical tape handy for those "you never know" situations.

SV reX said:

I agree about the multimeter. 
 

Disagree about the stud finder. I own several and almost never use them. They are so rarely used that every time I pull one out the battery is dead, and I do without. It's too easy to find the studs without them. I don't need to take up that much space in a portable tool bag. 

Interesting.  It's one of my most commonly used home tools.  For me other methods never seem to work accurately enough.  Probably user error :( but the stud finder is a cheap easy way to overcome that.

added a bunch of other stuff listed here, thanks for suggestions everyone!

In reply to Slippery :

Where did you get that neat green bag from??

In reply to ProDarwin :

Nothing wrong with that, if it works for you. 

This thread is relevant to my interests. I've allocated an old Craftsman Rally three-drawer box for light household and garden duty, like addressing a minor leak, installing a bookshelf, or laying out a vegetable garden, and it's a pretty good fit.  That said, Mrs Monohue has mentioned that portability is a priority for her, so changing to a more manageable bag is probably the right thing to do.

I'll get back on later tonight and rough out the contents of our household box and maybe make some suggestions for your bag.

Alrighty, here's a rough inventory of our non-automotive toolbox.  Keep in mind this is more a result of what we had kicking around the house than of careful planning; some things are here simply because they don't really fit in anywhere else.  There are other items we obviously use that aren't listed here because we both know where they are stored.

Top (half width) tray:
Small can WD-40
Safety glasses, yellow (easier to find when dropped!)
Telescoping mirror
Electrical tape
Stud finder
Outlet tester and chicken stick
Stainless steel ruler
Tape measure
Utility knife
Pencil
Chip brush

Main tray:
Screwdrivers: stubby, small, medium, and large, in flat blade and Phillips, plus a mini/eyeglass set
Pliers: standard, mini needle-nose, slip-joint
Wire cutters: standard and mini dikes, mini nippers
Vise grips

First drawer:
Staple gun and staples
Claw hammer
Assorted nails and screws

Second drawer:
Chalk line
Masonry/landscape string
String levels (2)
Drywall saw
Wall anchors
Torpedo level

Third drawer:
Adjustable wrenches (6", 10")
Pipe wrench
Pipe cutter
Plumber's tape (strap)
Teflon tape
Faucet grease
Putty knife
Wood chisels (three small)

The above could be improved or at least better organized, but maybe it is at least a little helpful.  Obviously some of these are of no benefit to you on the road.

Outside of the occasional 1/4" and 5/16" hex head fasteners, I don't remember the last time I used a socket on a home repair job, but a cheap and basic 1/4" drive ratchet and socket set might be cheap insurance if you're going to be away from home with this bag.  I would also throw in a basic imperial Allen key set just to cover by bases.

A speed square, as SV reX suggested, is a smart idea.  A Leatherman, or at least a good SAK + pliers combo, in the pocket would also be a great safety net.  And a flashlight.  I have a ~$30 USB chargeable Anker unit that is compact enough to carry in a front pocket and is plenty bright.

We also have an M18 drill and 1/4" impact driver like you listed, and I think those will probably end up in their own dedicated bag with a basic drill index and driver set.  That way they are still organized and portable, still readily accessible for automotive stuff, and not eating space in the main/home tool bag.