Whether you’re the progeny of Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor or you the kind of man who would rather leave things to the professionals, there comes a time in every man’s life when he’s got to use his tools. Let’s face it. If you live in a home, you’re going to find yourself needing (or wanting) to do some project around your home. 

Most guys have a screwdriver, a hammer, a wrench, and maybe even some pliers for this very reason, but there are some other accessories that will make your life as a DIY repair guy much easier. 

Headlamp

Stop conscripting the wife and kids into the Mr. Fix It Army. Save yourself the frustration of getting into arguments over their lack of flashlight pointing abilities by investing in a nice headlamp. That way, the light will always shine in the direction you’re looking. Fixing that sink or working in the crawlspace will be so much quicker when you have a bright light always directed exactly where you need it. 

Stud Finder

Don’t learn the hard way that anchoring a heavy, expensive mirror to nothing is a bad idea. Make your next home project simpler and safer by being able to identify exactly where the studs in your walls are. Many people would rather tap a hammer all over the wall or pretend their knuckles are sensitive enough to figure out where the studs are, but, come on, guys, we need to know when to let technology help us. 

Hex Keys

A few years ago, hex keys may not have been all that important. Today, these nifty tools, also known as Allen keys, really need to be in your toolbox. They help to tighten or loosen hexagonal screws, and more and more furniture is held together solely by hex screws. Many big box furniture brands are turning to a little to no tools needed to assemble model, and hexagonal nuts and bolts are becoming the legos of home furnishings. Who knows? If you have a good set of Allen keys, you may be able to get away with not reading the instructions the next time one of your kids gets a platform bed.

Laser Level

Laser levels tend to be more accurate than regular magnetic ones. Laser levels can also make a one-man job much easier because many of them come with tripods. If you can use a level without actually holding it, you have two free hands to work with your tools.

We all know how bad a DIY project gone bad can get. If you’re going to work on your own home, do it right! Get the accessories that will make the job easier and less frustrating for yourself. This will give you more energy to focus on making your home into the castle you deserve one project at a time.