100+ Daily Life Tools That You Need: A Detailed A-Z Guide
Tools have been an essential part of human life for centuries, helping us complete tasks more efficiently and accurately.
From simple hand tools like hammers and screwdrivers to advanced power tools like drills and table saws, each tool has a specific role in making everyday tasks easier.
This guide offers a comprehensive list of tools, covering everything from basic household items to specialized equipment used in construction, gardening, and other trades.
Whether you’re a professional or a DIY enthusiast, understanding the purpose and use of each tool can help you tackle projects with confidence.
A
- Allen Wrench: Tightens or loosens hex screws, frequently used in furniture assembly.
- Axe: Designed for chopping wood or cutting through dense material.
- Awl: Punctures holes in materials like leather, wood, or canvas.
B
- Ball Peen Hammer: Used in metalworking, great for shaping and striking metal surfaces.
- Bolt Cutter: Cuts through thick metal items like chains, padlocks, and bolts.
- Box Cutter: Handy tool for slicing cardboard, plastic, and other packaging materials.
- Brad Nailer: A tool for firing thin nails, perfect for finishing carpentry.
- Brush Cutter: Used to clear thick grass, weeds, and small trees in gardening.
C
- C-Clamp: A clamp that holds objects in place while working on them.
- Caulking Gun: Dispenses caulk or sealant to fill gaps and cracks.
- Chisel: Used for cutting or carving hard materials like wood, metal, or stone.
- Circular Saw: A power saw used for cutting wood or other materials in a straight line.
- Claw Hammer: A common hammer used for driving nails and removing them with its claw end.
- Chainsaw: A powerful saw used to cut through wood, especially in removing trees.
D
- Drill: A tool for boring holes into materials and can also drive screws.
- Dust Mask: Protects against dust, paint, and fumes during various tasks.
- Dovetail Saw: A fine-toothed saw used for cutting precise joints in woodworking.
- Dremel Tool: A versatile rotary tool for sanding, grinding, and carving small objects.
- Drain Snake: A flexible tool used to unclog drains and pipes.
E
- Electric Sander: Smooths surfaces quickly using rotating or oscillating sandpaper.
- Extension Cord: Provides extra reach for electrical devices, which are essential for powering tools.
- Electric Screwdriver: A powered tool for quickly driving screws in and out.
- Edging Tool: Used in gardening to create clean edges along paths or flower beds.
F
- File: A hand tool used to smooth rough edges or shape metal or wood.
- Flashlight: A portable light source powered by batteries used for illumination in dark spaces.
- Funnel: Used for pouring liquids or powders into small openings without spilling.
- Framing Square: A large square used for measuring right angles in framing or carpentry.
- Fencing Pliers: A multi-purpose tool for cutting, twisting, and hammering fence wire.
G
- Glue Gun: Dispenses hot glue for crafting or small repairs.
- Grinder: A power tool for grinding, polishing, or cutting materials like metal and stone.
- Goggles: Protects eyes from dust, chemicals, or flying debris during tasks.
- Grease Gun: Used to apply grease to mechanical parts, reducing friction.
- Grounding Rod: A metal rod is driven into the ground to connect electrical systems for safety.
H
- Hammer: A basic hand tool used to drive nails or break objects apart.
- Handsaw: A traditional saw for manually cutting wood or plastic.
- Hex Key Set: Commonly used to tighten or loosen hexagonal screws, especially in furniture assembly.
- Hacksaw: A saw with a fine-toothed blade used for cutting metal or plastic pipes.
- Hedge Trimmer: A gardening tool for trimming and shaping hedges or shrubs.
I
- Impact Driver: A power tool that delivers high torque to drive screws into tough materials.
- Insulation Knife: Specially designed to cut through insulation materials smoothly.
- Impact Wrench: Tightens or loosens nuts and bolts with high torque, often used in automotive work.
- Ice Pick: A sharp tool used to break or chip ice, sometimes used for crafting purposes as well.
J
- Jack: A mechanical lifting device used to raise heavy objects, such as cars, for repairs.
- Jigsaw: A versatile saw with a narrow blade for cutting curves and intricate shapes in wood or metal.
- Jumper Cables: Cables are used to jump-start a car by connecting its battery to another vehicle’s battery.
- Jaw Pliers: Pliers with adjustable jaws are used for gripping and turning objects of various sizes.
K
- Knife: A versatile cutting tool used for a range of purposes, from food preparation to crafts.
- Knockout Punch: Creates holes in metal sheets for wiring or pipe installation.
- Keyhole Saw: A narrow, pointed saw used for cutting small, tight spaces, especially in drywall or wood.
L
- Level: Ensures that surfaces are perfectly horizontal or vertical.
- Ladder: Provides access to elevated areas for tasks like painting or gutter cleaning.
- Locking Pliers: Pliers with a locking mechanism for gripping tightly onto objects.
- Laser Level: Projects a straight laser line for leveling or aligning objects during construction.
- Lawn Mower: A tool used to cut grass to a uniform height, essential for lawn care.
M
- Mallet: A hammer with a large, soft head that won’t damage the surface being struck.
- Measuring Tape: A flexible tool used to measure distances or dimensions with high accuracy.
- Miter Saw: A specialized saw for making precise angled cuts in wood or other materials.
- Multimeter: A device used to measure electrical properties like voltage, current, and resistance.
- Masonry Drill Bit: Used with drills to bore into tough materials like concrete or stone.
N
- Needle-nose Pliers: Perfect for gripping small objects or reaching into tight spaces.
- Nail Gun: This gun drives nails into wood quickly and efficiently, and it is often used in construction or carpentry.
- Nut Driver: Tightens nuts with precision, commonly used in mechanical and electrical work.
O
- Oil Can: A container used to lubricate machinery or tools with oil.
- Oscillating Tool: A multi-purpose power tool used for cutting, sanding, and scraping in tight spaces.
- Oxygen Torch: Used in welding to cut through metal with a high-temperature flame.
P
- Pipe Wrench: A large adjustable wrench used for turning and gripping pipes, which is vital in plumbing.
- Pry Bar: A flat, strong tool used for prying apart materials or removing nails.
- Paint Roller: Quickly applies paint to large surfaces, ensuring smooth coverage on walls or ceilings.
- Plumb Bob: A pointed weight suspended by a string that checks if structures are perfectly vertical.
- Putty Knife: Used for applying and smoothing materials like putty or spackle onto surfaces.
- Planer: A woodworking tool that smooths and flattens rough or uneven boards.
- Pressure Washer: A high-powered water sprayer used for cleaning surfaces like driveways and decks.
Q
- Quick-Release Clamp: A clamp with a quick-release feature to hold objects tightly in place.
- Quick Square: A triangular tool used to measure and mark precise angles for cutting.
- Quilt Basting Gun: Temporarily secures layers of fabric together while quilting.
R
- Ratchet: A hand tool that turns fasteners like nuts and bolts with an adjustable ratcheting mechanism.
- Rivet Gun: Inserts rivets to fasten two materials together, commonly used in metalworking.
- Router: A power tool used to hollow out an area in wood, creating grooves and decorative edges.
- Reciprocating Saw: A power saw that cuts materials in a back-and-forth motion, ideal for demolition.
S
- Screwdriver: Used to drive screws into materials, available in both manual and electric versions.
- Socket Wrench: A tool with interchangeable sockets for tightening or loosening nuts and bolts.
- Spade: A digging tool with a flat blade commonly used in gardening or construction.
- Sledgehammer: A large, heavy hammer used for demolition work or driving stakes into the ground.
- Speed Square: A triangular measuring tool used to quickly mark angles for cutting wood.
- Stud Finder: Locates studs behind walls, helping to anchor objects securely in construction or renovations.
- Sandpaper: A rough paper used for smoothing surfaces by hand or with power tools.
T
- Tape Measure: A retractable tool used to measure distances, essential in construction and home projects.
- Tongs: These are useful for gripping hot or small objects, and they are often used in cooking or metalwork.
- Torque Wrench: A specialized wrench used to apply a specific amount of torque to a fastener.
- Table Saw: A large, stationary saw used for making precise cuts in wood, commonly found in woodworking shops.
- Trowel: A small hand tool used for applying or smoothing mortar or plaster, often used in masonry.
- Tile Cutter: A tool used to score and break ceramic or porcelain tiles cleanly.
- Tin Snips: Heavy-duty scissors are used to cut sheet metal or other tough materials.
U
- Utility Knife: A versatile, retractable blade used for cutting through materials like cardboard or plastic.
- Upholstery Staple Gun: A specialized tool used to secure fabric to furniture during reupholstering.
- U-Joint Tool: Essential for removing and installing universal joints in vehicles.
V
- Vice: A clamping tool used to hold objects tightly in place while working on them.
- Vacuum Cleaner: A common household tool used to remove dirt, dust, and debris from floors and other surfaces.
- Volt Meter: Measures electrical voltage, ensuring safety when working with circuits.
W
- Wrench: A hand tool used for gripping and turning nuts, bolts, or pipes, available in adjustable and fixed sizes.
- Wire Strippers: Used to remove the insulation from electrical wires before making connections.
- Wheelbarrow: A single-wheeled cart transporting heavy materials such as soil or construction debris.
- Wood Chisel: A sharp tool used for carving or cutting wood in woodworking projects.
- Water Pump Pliers: Adjustable pliers are used to grip pipes and other objects during plumbing work.
X
- X-Acto Knife: A precision cutting tool used in crafts, hobbies, and detailed work like model making.
- Xenon Flashlight: A high-intensity flashlight, ideal for outdoor use or in emergencies.
- X-Bevel Gauge: A measuring tool used to determine or replicate angles, especially in woodworking.
Y
- Yardstick: A measuring stick exactly one yard (36 inches) long, used for measuring or drawing straight lines.
- Yoke: A clamp used to align and hold pipes together during plumbing installation or repairs.
- Yankee Screwdriver: A vintage tool that uses a ratcheting mechanism to drive screws more quickly than a manual screwdriver.
Z
- Zip Tie: A plastic fastener used for bundling or securing wires, cables, or small objects together.
- Zipper Tool: A small tool used for fixing or replacing broken zippers in clothing or upholstery.
- Zoning Rake: A landscaping tool to level and prepare soil for planting or other outdoor work.
Additional Tools
- Air Compressor: Powers pneumatic tools by converting energy into compressed air, essential in auto repair and construction.
- Bar Clamp: Holds large materials in place while working, commonly used in woodworking and metalworking.
- Crowbar: A long, metal bar used for prying apart materials or for demolition work.
- Digital Caliper: A precision tool used to measure materials’ thickness, diameter, or depth with high accuracy.
- Edge Trimmer: Created clean, defined edges along gardens, driveways, and paths.
- Fence Pliers: Multi-purpose pliers designed for cutting, twisting, and securing wire fencing.
- Grease Gun: A tool used to apply grease to machinery parts, helping to reduce friction and wear.
- Hydraulic Jack: A device that uses hydraulic pressure to lift heavy objects, such as vehicles, for repairs.
- Inspection Mirror: A small mirror on an adjustable stick used to see into tight or hidden spaces.
- Jack Plane: A hand tool that smooths wood surfaces by shaving off thin layers.
- Knee Pads: Protective pads worn to cushion the knees during tasks like flooring or gardening.
- Laser Distance Measurer: A tool that uses laser technology to measure distances quickly and accurately.
- Magnetic Level: A level with a built-in magnet used to ensure accuracy when working with metal surfaces.
- Nut Splitter: A tool to break apart rusted or stubborn nuts without damaging the bolt.
- Orbital Sander: A handheld power sander that moves in a circular motion and creates smooth finishes on surfaces.
- Pipe Bender: A tool used for bending metal pipes without breaking them, essential in plumbing and metalworking.
- Plier Wrench: A versatile tool that combines the functions of pliers and a wrench for gripping and turning objects.
- Quick-Grip Clamp: A clamp quickly secures materials and can be released with one hand.
- Rubber Mallet: A hammer with a soft rubber head used to strike materials without damaging them.
- Stud Finder: A device that detects studs behind walls, making it easier to hang heavy objects securely.
- T-Handle Hex Wrench: A hex wrench with a T-shaped handle for extra leverage and control when turning screws.
- Trenching Shovel: A shovel with a narrow blade used for digging trenches for pipes, cables, or foundations.
- U-Bolt: A U-shaped bolt with threads on both ends used to fasten pipes or other cylindrical objects.
- Vacuum Sealer: A kitchen tool that seals food in airtight bags to preserve freshness for longer periods.
- Welding Torch: A tool used to weld metals together using extreme heat.
- Xylophone Mallet: A lightweight mallet used to strike the bars of an xylophone, producing sound for the musical instrument.
- Y-Drill Bit: A specialized drill bit used for drilling triangular holes in certain materials.
- Zipper Foot (Sewing Machine): An attachment for sewing machines used to stitch zippers onto fabric.
- Zigzag Scissors: Scissors with serrated blades cut in a zigzag pattern are often used in crafting.
Final Words
Having the right tools is key to getting the job done right. Each tool serves a distinct purpose: cutting, measuring, fastening, or shaping materials.
By familiarizing yourself with these tools and their uses, you can make your work more efficient and less time-consuming.
This list is a helpful reference for anyone looking to expand their toolkit, whether for home repairs or larger projects.