This Old House

Ten tool belt must-haves

One of the habits I’ve carried with me since my days as a working carpenter is to always wear a tool belt when I’m doing projects around my house. Having the necessary hand tools readily accessible improves my efficiency—and the end result.

These days, I tackle most repair and remodeling tasks on my own, whether carpentry, plumbing, or electrical. I find the work rewarding, but have enough experience to know when I’m in over my head and need to call in a pro.

As my skills have evolved, so has my hand-tool collection. Having the right one for any job makes the task more pleasurable. After all, we’re passionate about working on our own homes because

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