These are all the things you need for a workshop you can be proud of.  I know.  You don’t really care about having a workshop you can be proud of.  But you should, a home without a well stocked workshop can only lead to Anarchy.  ANARCHY I SAY!

1) The Basics

Cordless drill and various drill bit

Measuring tape

Hammer

Compact flashlight

Hand Saw

Level

Multi bit Screwdriver

Needlenose pliers

2) Freestanding multidirectional flashlight

This is the kind of flashlight you can stand on the ground and point it up or down.  It’s body pivots basically.

3) Sliding Compound Miter Saw

Added bonus: really too big for anyone to borrow

Nothing will impress (or intimidate) a man more than a lady who owns her own sliding compound miter saw.  It sounds like something bizarre that you’d never ever need, but it’s uses are endless.  It’s what you would use if you were going to cut your own crown moulding.  I don’t advise you cut your own crown moulding however, because it’s really, really hard and might make your brain explode.  This is my saw.

I’ve used mine for cutting baseboards, making raised planter beds in my backyard and rebuilding my deck.  This Christmas I decorated my outdoor planters with 5 ft tall birch logs, pine branches and huge white glass balls.  I cut the birch logs to length in a jiffy with my handy, dandy sliding compound miter saw.  Basically if you need something cut perfectly straight or at a specific angle it’s what you want.

4) Chisel set

Again … if you’re at all sane, you’re probably thinking … um … I’m pretttyyyyy sure I don’t need a chisel set.  You do.  Why?  You’ll find out.

5) Hacksaw

Just a little handsaw with a very fine blade.  You can cut through anything with it.  Just ask those guys who steal bicycles.

6) Assorted large files

One of the many tools I inherited after my dad died.

These are big metal files.  Like a gigantic nail file that could file the hooves of a goat in one swipe.  The last time I used mine was when I had to cut my door sweeps to length with my hacksaw.  The hacksaw left the ends of the metal door sweeps with a few sharp edges,  just waiting to rip an unsuspecting toe to shreds.  Swiped it a few times with a big file and it was as smooth as a Martha Stewart fondant.

7) Skill saw

This is a hand held circular saw usually used to cut boards to length.  Not as accurate as the miter saw, but not as expensive either.  Pair it up with a couple of saw horses and you’re set.

8) Orbital sander

An orbital sander (this is mine) is just a little electric sander that fits into the palm of your hand.  I once bought an antique bowl that was full of mould at a garage sale.  Enter … the orbital sander.  I also used it to sand a section of the  hardwood floor in  my dining room where my cat used to pee.  And continues to pee.  Is there ANY WAY to STOP that???

Hand planer securely in purse.

Gate on your fence sticking?  Hand planer.  Two pieces of wood don’t quite match up?  Hand planer.  Poorly behaved children in the grocery store?  Hand planer.

9) Adjustable wrench

If you’re going to fix anything you’ll need an adjustable wrench …

10) Socket set

… unless you have a socket set.