i would add a basic socket set.

Humm... I have all those things (the essentials) - in some cases, more than one. Have to say that my two favorite things are my cordless, rechargable drill/driver and my staple gun. I've hung blinds and curtains (for a couple of neighbors as well), re-upholstered various pieces of furniture, run cable from the corner where it comes into my apartment to the area where I actually wanted the t.v., not to mention the outside projects...

I've got 10 of the 15 and, like oceandreamer, for my own purposes would move the staple gun up into the must-haves. I resisted buying one for years but ended up purchasing a pretty basic one for a specific project and now the hubby and I ask ourselves once a month or so: "what did we do before we had the staple gun?"

Also: I my cordless drill and socket set.

sorry, that was supposed to be I heart my cordless drill and socket set.

Why is a chisel one of the essentials? Seriously, I have been doing a bunch of stuff and have most of these things but can't think of what I would use a chisel for. Although I LOVE my cordless reversible drill and it came with a set of bits that just clips in the base and it is officially now the best Xmas present ever!

I have 10 of the 15 - one of those (the electrical tester) I don't remember using. But I do use a staple gun, which I'd echo those above and say move that to the essentials list.

And does sandpaper count as a tool? I use that all the time, held over a block of wood if need be (one of these days I'll buy a little sander!). Oh, and gloves, gloves, gloves - maybe those don't count as tools, but they should be in every toolbox. And I also like a glass cutter.

Items on the essentials list that I really do need to get: Eye protection and a wire stripper. I've been stripping my wires by hand with my trusty utility knife....

Oh, and a complete bit set should include diamond-tipped bits to drill into bathroom tiles beautifully. Flashlights are also a toolbox necessity!

boomer, my mom about fell off her chair laughing the first time she saw me doing my 'don't have time to dust' dusting - I just picked things up and blew the dust off the table. How much more I could have gotten with an air compressor!! It's now on my wish list - thanks!!!

Yep, got em all- except the toolbox, LOL!!

Boomer, I have been progressively removing, painting and re-hanging every door in my house and so far haven't ever used a chisel. What am I missing? Is it for putting in new doors when you need to make sure the hinges fit in just right? Seriously, I'm baffled here. I was actually about to go take down another door so I can give it a coat of paint when I get home from work.

The chisel is used when you replace the lockset on the door. Both the plate on the jamb and the plate on the door need to be inset into the wood -- and the new hardware rarely is the exact shape and size of the old hardware.

It can also be used to dig out the inset for the hinges, but those are less likely to need to be redone.

And a chisel is great for cutting away the bit of molding that is preventing a large piece of furniture from being properly affixed to the wall....

It is easy.... Especially since it doesn't matter so much what it looks like in the door hinge. Try it! Start off gently, so that you don't go too deep or chip off too much. It's helpful to score the area first. Then just tap along the scored border. You can experiment with angles to see how much will come off. (Well, anyway, that's how I've done it.... Please note that I am NOT an expert. Happy to be corrected by someone who knows more. Or by you, boomer, since once you try it, you'll have your own idea of how to do it.) Just DO it already, especially if the doors are sitting there waiting to be hung. It won't take long. And if you have a mallet, use that instead of a hammer. Let us know how it goes.

Well, good to know. So far apparently all my chisel needs have been served by a flathead screwdriver. Love that thing!