50 Tools You Need To Survive Life | 11 - 20
Part two of a five-part series covering tools 11–20 of 50 essential tools every man should own. Emphasis on durable, versatile, quality tools suited for homesteading, property maintenance, and general mechanical work. ---
Key Concepts
| Concept | Definition |
|---|---|
| Static rope | Non-stretching rope; preferred for utility/pulling work (vs. dynamic climbing rope which absorbs shock) |
| Friction-fit tool head | Handle seated by impact rather than a fixed fastener — requires safety awareness during use |
| Brushless lithium cordless drill | Current gold standard for cordless drills — longer battery life, more power than older brushed motors |
| Center punch vs. drift punch | Center punches have a pointed tip for marking/starting holes; drift/taper punches are for pushing out pins and aligning holes |
Notes
Tool 11 — Mattock
- Ancient digging/grubbing tool with roots dating to the Bronze Age
- Two main head variants:
- **Pick/spike on one side**: Best for rocky ground; spike also functions as a pry bar
- **Axe blade on one side** (similar to a Pulaski but heavier): Better for root-heavy, woody terrain
- Handle is friction-fit (not fixed) — designed to break down for transport
- **Safety rule**: Never let the head rise above your hands during a swing — loosened head can slide down and injure hands
- East Coast tradition: add a screw/bolt through the handle to prevent head sliding
- West Coast: typically not done
- Use case: replaces a shovel in hard, compacted soil or rocky ground
Tool 12 — Quality Rope
- Spec: **50-meter (≈150–160 ft) static nylon braided rope**
- Avoid: dynamic/climbing ropes (too much stretch for utility work), cheap hardware-store rope
- Best source: arborist supply sites (e.g., tree stuff retailers) — bull ropes designed for pulling trees
- Use cases: livestock rescue from bog/mud, vehicle recovery (pinch use), guiding tree falls, general rigging
Tool 13 — Pipe Wrench
- Recommended size: ~8-inch (minimum); keep at least one on hand
- Recommended brands: **Ridgid** (professional grade), **Husky**
- Maintenance: sharpen the jaw teeth with a triangle file when worn
- Use cases: trailer balls, large nuts with no matching wrench, oil filters, threaded pipe — extends far beyond plumbing
- Can use a cheater bar (2–3 ft extension) for extra leverage without breaking the wrench
Tool 14 — Needle-Nose Pliers
- Essential for fine/detail work and reaching into tight spaces
- Look for a model with a **wire cutter on the side**
- Recommended brand: **Channellock** — still made in the USA, strong warranty, good value
- Multi-tool packs offer several tools at reasonable price
Tool 15 — Hacksaw
- Cuts metal when power tools and torches aren't available
- **Blade quality matters**: avoid discount multi-packs; buy quality blades (Lenox or similar — German/Swiss/USA made)
- Good blade ≈ $7 each; cheap blades ≈ 3 for $2 — difference is real
- Buy 3–4 spare blades and store them
- Use cases: cutting bolts to length, cutting cable, any metal cutting around the house
Tool 16 — Tape Measure
- Recommended: **Stanley FatMax 25-foot**
- Highly durable; survives drops from scaffolding and ladders
- 25 ft preferred over 30 ft
- Old 30-ft tapes were cramped into 25-ft housings → retraction issues
- If 25-ft and 30-ft models share the same housing size, choose the 25
- Measure twice if you need more than 25 ft
Tool 17/18 — Cordless Drill
- Possibly the greatest tool invention of the last 30–40 years
- **Spec: lithium-ion, brushless motor, cordless drill**
- Limitation: batteries degrade; realistic lifespan ~5–6 years of regular use (10 years light use)
- Considered somewhat disposable but indispensable
- Recommended brands: **Milwaukee**, **Makita**; higher-end DeWalt also acceptable
- **Always buy with two batteries** + a drill bit kit
- Chosen over the impact wrench (more versatile: drills holes, mixes paint, drives fasteners)
Tool 19 — Tin Snips
- Recommended brand: **Wiss**
- Handle color guide:
- **Yellow**: straight cut — the one to buy if you only get one
- Red: left-hand curve cuts
- Green: right-hand curve cuts
- Use cases: cutting sheet metal, cutting metal banding/strapping on deliveries
- Cuts thin-gauge sheet metal like scissors through paper
Tool 20 — Center Punch Set
- Need a **set of ~6 punches**, not just one:
- **Tapered/drift punches** (3 sizes: small, medium, large): for pushing out roll pins, aligning bolt holes, drifting components
- **Center punches** (pointed tip, 3 sizes): for marking drill locations on metal
- One long (~10-inch) taper punch is especially versatile
- Hole alignment tip: drive a taper punch into misaligned holes — as it seats deeper, it draws the holes into alignment so a bolt can be started
Actionable Takeaways
- Buy rope from arborist supply stores, not hardware stores — better quality and full 50-meter length
- When buying a hacksaw, invest in quality blades (Lenox or similar); store 3–4 spares
- Always buy a cordless drill with **two batteries** included
- For tin snips, start with the **yellow-handled** straight-cut version
- Build a center punch set of ~6: three tapered/drift punches and three pointed center punches in small/medium/large
- Sharpen pipe wrench jaw teeth with a triangle file to extend the tool's life
- When using any friction-fit tool (mattock, splitting maul), **never let the head rise above your hands**
Quotes Worth Keeping
When you need a rope, you need it — and it was important enough to make it number 12 out of 50.
The rule of thumb when using a Mattock or a friction-fit tool is to never let it go higher than your hands.
Get steel is hard — it takes very specialized tools to deal with it.