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Step 1
Get a toolbox that is well made. You will probably want one that is very heavy gauge plastic or metal because tools are heavy and you don't want it to wimp out on you when you need it the most. The toolboxes that have little top drawers that lift out are remarkably handy. Just put the tools you need for the moment in the top shelf and pick it up and you are good to go.
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Step 2
Take the drawer out of your toolbox. Cut a piece of thick cardboard to put on the bottom. This will provide a little shock absorber for your tools so that they won't clang around quite so bad. It will also serve as a blotter if anything gets spilled in there--and somehow that always seems to happen. It isn't a necessity but it is a nice little added touch.
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Step 3
To clean an old toolbox, get a big old towel or a piece of tarp and dump out the contents. Sort through the tools and get rid of anything that is unusable--that means anything that is broken, rusted, missing pieces and never used. Spray the inside of your toolbox with some regular household all-purpose cleaner. Wipe it down with paper toweling. If it's really dirty you can then spray it again and wipe it dry. Clean out the inside of the drawer int he same way. Wipe down the outside of the toolbox, too. If it's rusty and you don't want to replace it, sand it down and paint it with a primer then your choice of color. Be sure to tape up the handle or any hardware.
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Step 4
Put a good hammer in first. Choose an all around 16 to 20 inch with a claw on it for removing nails. This should be all the hammer most people will ever need. You need an assortment of screwdrivers in slotted and Phillips head styles. Get a screwdriver set with bits that fit into the handle. For a toolbox, you just can't carry one of everything so this is a nice cost-effective, space saving alternative.
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Step 5
You need an assortment of screws, nails, tacks, hooks and other essentials to put in there. Department stores have tons of these small plastic kits that close up nicely with assortments of all of the above at great prices. You can just buy the little plastic boxes. Look in the crafts department for a super collection and then raid your tool shed, garage or your dad's place for these little odds and ends. A few of several types and sizes of each should be all you need.
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Step 1
Know that a good pair of adjustable pliers for turning, grasping and holding small items is important and so is a pair of needle nosed and channel lock pliers for teeny things and for pipes. A level for hanging pictures and making sure that anything at all is level, even or straight is also good to have in the toolbox. You should also have a good straight edge like a metal ruler and a small hand-held plane for things like sticky doors.
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Step 2
Everyone needs a roll of duct tape. It's good for just about everything. You should also have a roll of black electrical tape, some string, a chalk line with chalk, some work gloves and safety goggles. Don't forget a few types of adhesives such as super glue, wood glue and glass glue. A utility knife is an essential and make sure it closes well and you'll need extra blades for it as well. A staple remover is great if you ever pull up wall to wall carpeting and a pencil and sharpener should go in there for jotting down measurements.
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Step 3
Remember that wrenches are a must have, too. Pick a few each of open and box wrenches in the mid sizes and get one small and one large of each. Laying them out on fabric and rolling them up and tying them together with string will keep them all together to store better. You'll need a tape measure. Be sure to get the retractable kind that is 25 feet which will cover just about any need you'll have. Toss in a good pair of utility scissors.
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Step 4
If you have a particular job coming up that requires other tools, but these then. There's no sense in buying a bunch of stuff that you may never use. Keep your toolbox in an accessible place. Keep it clean and well stocked and it will serve you well for many years to come.
