Any suggestions for basic tools for a tool box?

At the bare minimum I would have:

pliers, vice grips or channel locks
an adjustable wrench
multipurpose screwdriver
paint scraper
10’ tape measure
Duct tape
electrical tape
hammer
wire ties

You need screwdrivers, flat and phillips heads. You may want to think about a cordless screwdriver and also a small drill with assorted bits. A rubber mallet comes in handy, and a couple different types of hammers, one with a ball peen, and one with a claw.

A basic home repair manual, a nice tape measure that is at least 25 feet long, a screw driver with interchangable heads (different size Phillips, flatheads), various nails and screws, a good level (metal, not wooden), wrenches, sockets, pliers, assorted tape (electrical, masking, blue painters’, etc.), gloves, paint brushes, a pencil and notepad, a hand saw…off the top of my head, that is what is in my tool bag.

thanks all!

@bkcunningham A lot of the nails, screws, tape and paintbrush stuff we already have in the basement so I do not feel I need to replicate all of that but the other suggestions are great.

You also might want to start with a tool kit/set. Sears has some good one’s like this one.

It has the basics and then you can supplement with things as you need them. It’s also going to be cheaper to buy the set than to buy the tools individually.

A vise grip is useful to have too, in addition to things other people have mentioned. And a good staple gun.

@lillycoyote A vice grip would be nice right about now!

Absolutely. A good staple gun. I pleated my living room curtains on a cornice board with the help of a good staple gun.

Needle nose pliers are by far the most used tool in my toolbox.

@janbb: I’ve had my own tool kit for 16 years and am about to buy a mallet.

I also use a box cutter; a single-edged razor blade in its little handle.

I second @Aethelflaed on the needle nose pliers.

I’ve been thinking about what I use most, in addition to what’s already been mentioned and a in the plier department I would also recommend a pair of slip-joint pliers, wire cutters/diagonal pliers. One thing I uses my wire cutting pliers for is to cut off the little black tabs on the caps of bottles of Listerine. It “unchild-proofs” them so I can unscrew the cap with out having to press in on it. That annoys me.

Also, One of these things, whatever they’re called for cutting and stripping electrical wire. An assortment of various sizes of cable ties. I use them a lot. They come in handy for all sorts of things. And maybe a nice rubber mallet for pounding things you can’t, shouldn’t or don’t want t pound on with a hammer.

LOL. I was working on my answer and as I went to post it in I noticed at @gailcalled mention that she was going to buy a mallet. I love my mallet! Very handy. I’ve been using it a lot this week, pounding in stakes to secure the mesh on my fence because my dog has been slipping out underneath it.

Go to Walmart and pick up the purple and grey Stanley tool kit for women. Well, I guess it’s for women because all of the tools, as well as the bag, are purple and grey. It has everything you need – hammer, screwdrivers of all sorts, pliers, needle-nose pliers, scissors, level, allen wrenches, tape measure, jewler’s screwdrivers, and even a set of assorted nuts, bolts, nails, screws, picture hanging wire, hooks and stud-maker hooks. I have had a lot of tool kits, but this one is the best, plus the tools are higher quality.

Word to the wise – hide it from your husband and sons! That is what happened to my former tool sets.

I second @lillycoyote‘s Sears suggestion.
We replaced old family hand me downs by gong to Sears and getting all the Craftsman sets we can afford to get at any given time.

Besides the hammers, pilers etc, I can’t live without our Sawzall or our jigsaw for indoor and outdoor projects.

@SpatzieLover I’m a fan Craftsman tools. The hand tools at least. Power tools are another story. And Sears still guarantees the hand tools for life. One breaks, take to the store and they give you new one.

I’d add a Fiskars hand drill. Great for drilling anywhere.

If you have a Harbor Freight in your area they will hook you up with a toolset and a case to put them in. You can get a lot for your money there and the quality is fine for most DIY’ers. Craftsman stuff is nice but it isn’t totally necessary as long as you aren’t planning to start a home repair business.

I love all tools and I always buy the best I can afford, cheap tools aren’t worth a damn! Also I am not a fan of interchangeable head screw drivers. Most jobs can be done with a flat or phillips. I prefer Japanese pull saws instead of the traditional push saw. And channel lock pliers, did anyone say that? If you can afford a good set of ratchets is always a good investment as well. Now let me know when you wanna talk about power tools and we can really get you set up!
A plane is always good in the summer when the humidity makes everything swell up.

Goodness, all of the above plus a set ( or 2 ) of bent needle nosed pliers. I have bad hands & the bend at the end seems to make them a little more ergonomic.