I could not agree with you more. I would also add a hand saw to your list - it's probably a little bizarre, but we use mine a lot for small projects (like cutting 2x4s to brace the air conditioner, etc). Great idea for a post!

this is a great idea for a post. i'm tool-less. i own a hammer and a paint brush...errm. that's it.

would love to hear what i need to kit myself out with a VERY simple set

I love my multi-tip screwdriver. So much better than using a handful of different screwdrivers.

I'd add on a mini-glue gun too, for all around random use. I even used one once to temporarily stop a leaky sink until I could get the apartment manager to come in and fix it.

I have a huge number of tools, but I swear I mostly use a 4-in-1 screwdriver and a Leatherman (for the needlenose and wood file primarily.)

Totally agree with the above list for the basics and also the addition of a handsaw and probably a miter box. I might even add in a cheap set of those super mini screwdrivers. And a staple gun.

I think a power drill is pretty essential too, but admittedly most people just come borrow mine if they don't have one. And while you're at it, make sure to include a flashlight and small mirror (ideally on a long handle - like a dental one) while you're putting together your toolkit. A strong magnet also can come in handy (for picking up after you spill your nails, at the very least.)

And then make it easy on yourself and buy a soft-bag toolkit holder so everything is in one place and the container itself isn't heavier than the tools!

I agree with the crosscut saw. They only cost maybe 15 bucks and you can get em tiny. I can cut through a 2x4 in 30 seconds or so with my 16 inch crosscut.

Next time, I would get a set of screwdrivers, rather than the changeable ones. I'm constantly losing the little magnetic tips. Maybe 6 total for 3 different sizes of philips and flat.

I rob freely from my husband's tool boxes for MY toolbox :) But I really love the folding carpenter's rule because it is stiff and can be used by one person---especially nice if you need to measure UP (like inside a window frame).

Can't live without a package of Museum putty, or earthquake wax. I use it to secure paintings and other wall hangings that won't hang straight, and things I want to display tipped against a wall. It's a miracle product.

Also a good light-weight oil. (NOT WD-40 which is cleaner, NOT a lubricant.)

Long tweezers are good for picking fragments of Norfolk Island pine branches out of the vacuum hose and many other uses. The dental mirror is very handy as well. Hardware stores sell both of these items.

My standard new-apartment recommendation is a cordless drill or at least a cordless screwdriver.

Cordless Dremel. Good for cutting, polishing, carving, reshaping and deburring. I find I don't need it all that often, but when I do need it I really NEED it.

Soldering pen. Just since last XMas, I've fixed two broken electronic kids' toys (a lightsaber and a talking/musical game) where the only defect was a simple failure of a single solder point, easily accessible after opening the toy with mini screwdrivers.

I thought it went without saying, but maybe not. :-) I'd also be unable to survive without a combination wire cutter / stripper. Without that, even the most basic wiring jobs are off the table.

We got a toolbox last Christmas, and used it a lot. The plunger is still to be bought, though.

Gracia

home body- Couldn't agree more on the Leatherman! It does everything. I've had mine since I use to work in a wood shop. I keep it in my purse at all times.

Ratchet screwdriver with changeable bits, because the drill is never, ever charged up.

When it comes to a saw i recommend Japanese saws like the ones found here:

http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?FamilyID=850&refcode=05INFROO

They cut when you pull rather than when you push, allowing much cleaner edges and less work when cutting. Large 'western' saws (the usual kind) are really for framers doing construction and not worrying about the fidelity of their cut. A good Japanese saw allows anyone with a steady hand to get super clean results.

I always have sandpaper on hand too. Many different grits in full sheets.

A set of mechanics wrenches and a socket wrench are good for leaks etc.

A full complement of drill bits is important since you can easily strip screws if you drill the wrong size pilot hole.

A machinists square is good to have on hand for drawing perpendicular lines.

Beyond that i agree with most of the previously mentioned things, especially clamps.

I keep all of my tools inside of a red tool drawer which i got from sears, which is then inside of an ikea PS cabinet.

The tools you have largely depend on your skills and the items you work on. My tools run from automotive to electrical. An electric screwdriver is indispensable for quickly driving machine screws into threaded holes, a ratchet screwdriver for wood and concrete screws. Needlenosed pliers, wire strippers and snips are important for electrical work. Plumbing work cannot be done without two adjustable, and/or channel lock wrenches. A ratchet wrench set with imperial and metric sockets and hex pins, is critical for car and motorcycle maintenance.

My advice, buy the tools you need, keep them organized and never, ever give them away or throw them out.

In addition to your list, I use a staple gun, strap wrench, end nippers, needle nose pliers and utility knife pretty regularly. Oh, and those triple hex tools (http://www.glorycycles.com/thwayhexwraw.html) are excellent.

As add-ons, I also like to keep a supply of various picture hangers, nails/screws, wall anchors for drywall, disposable foam paint brushes, flashlights, stick-on felt furniture pads, and extension cords.

I swear, I feel like I'm constantly buying extension cords and NEVER have one when I need to put a lamp where there is no convenient plug.

I also find that a flexible putty knife and a container of spackle is good to have on hand. I may be handy, but it doesn't mean I don't make my share of holes and wall dents.

Staple guns are great. The cable guy left his accidentally when I got cable installed, so I got one for stapling cords... I use it all the time for hanging lights and hanging fabrics.

Rathchet set with all the fixins! Make sure it has metric and western and the hex keys. This will all be key if you assemble IKEA. The better you assemble it the better it looks and the longer it lasts. Yes, it makes a difference.

Cordless drill! A must! With a screwdriver bit set!

I was looking at the picture after reading the title of the post and thinking, "Why does everybody need all those bike tools?" I own most of them, but build my own bikes, and those of friends, along with repairs.

I'll second the Dozuki saws, though sometimes you'll break teeth off if you use it heavily.

Husky makes a great multi-screwdriver that ratchets, clicks into a 45 degree driver, and stores all of the tips in a nifty holder in the bottom of the handle.

If you're looking for a multi-tool, splurge on the expensive ones, either Leatherman or Gerber. The cheap ones, especially Kobalt, will break under any kind of heavy usage.

Speed square and a bullet level are musts if you're doing regular DIY projects.

Get the ones you need as you need them, or you will end up with a bunch of stuff you don't really use.

I do think everyone needs a hammer and a kit of picture hooks and finishing nails for hanging stuff on the walls. And at least one or two flat head and one or two phillips screwdrivers. And an adjustable wrench is nice. But after that, see what you need.

basics are hard for me to really say; i worked for about a quarter of my life as a designer and builder but here's a short list of tools i use without fail on every job:

hammers, various, but a 16 oz claw is all-purpose.
linesman's pliers - an absolute favorite. cut/strip/shape wire, pull nails, tighten/loosen, hammer in a pinch.
cat's paw - small prybar/nail puller. great for molding.
utility knife - i like a simple retractable one with extra blades.
screwdriver - spend the money (about $12) get the klein 10-in-one. two slotted, two phillips, two square, two torx, and two nutdrivers.
carpenters' or framers' squares (either) - more useful than machinists' squares for most home jobs. generally cheaper, too.
wrenches, various but i think an adjustable (crescent) fits most bills.
drill motor - cordless preferred and no bigger than you need.
i have five and 95% of the time i use my compact 12v rigid.
drill bits - good bits are worth their weight in gold. even if you don't use them that often it's not worth buying cheap bits which don't cut :(
saws - have to agree with the opinions out there already; a hack saw and a back saw are all you'll need.
fasteners and adhesives - drywall screws in a couple sizes, wall anchors, small brads, painters' and gorilla tape (it really is good stuff), super glue, zip ties.
seven-in-one painters' tool - scrape, prep, pull nails.
torpedo level
measuring tape
pencil (put a piece of painters' tape about where you want to mark and mark on the tape, not the surface)

additional tools for more special needs:
a good caulking gun - no drip (i like sherman williams')
metal shears, multi-joint pliers (channel-locks), pipe wrench, wire strippers, wire cutters (also good for nails), drop cloth, 3/4" wood chisel, more hammers, a better level.

i think beyond these you're well past the basics :D

Safety goggles, even for something as simple as drilling a hole. Also a mouth mask (for DIY, not a doctor's mask), as some stone debris can't dissolve in your lungs and may cause serious health problems. A damp bandana is also sufficient for smaller projects.

I just came across this thread and thought I would recommend including some wood carving tools in your collection. Some tools like the rotary carving tools are a must-have for the average do-it-yourselfer. http://www.treelineusa.com