Assemble a Tool Box Full of Useful Deals for Your College-Bound Child

So your son or daughter is off to university and will soon be living in an apartment of their own for the first time. Along with this major life milestone comes furniture assembly, plumbing problems, picture hanging, and other household chores that are incredibly tedious without the right tools on hand.

Why not make their lives a little easier by equipping them with a tool box full of the basics? They might not appreciate the gesture right away, but they'll be thanking you mightily when that dinky wrench that comes with Ikea furniture snaps in half.

Below, we've listed a handful of bargains on top-quality tools that should be indispensable for anyone living on his or her own.


Tool Box: Of course, tools aren't worth much if they're lost in the bowels of a drawer or under a sofa among the pizza boxes. A good set of tools needs a home. The Stanley Tools 2000 Series 12.5" Toolbox ($5.55 with free shipping via Prime, a low by $7) has two lid organizers for small items, a removable tray, and a lock, the latter of which comes in handy if they have roommates who don't honor the "if you borrow, then return" policy.

Claw Hammer: Any time you need to pound, this is the tool to have. Plus, its claw is ideal for removing nails that were not precisely placed (a likely occurrence for a novice handyman). The Estwing 16-oz. Curved-Claw Rip Hammer ($23.31 with free shipping, a low by $2; or, $17.99 with in-store pickup) is light enough for even young arms to wrangle, yet substantial enough to drive a nail with authority. It's forged from a single piece of metal too, so there's no need to worry about the head flying off and busting out a window.

Vise Grips: When you need a pair of pliers, think vise grips instead. The plier-like tool can lock in position, giving you a much better grip on the problem, whether it's a loose plumbing pipe or a bolt that won't come loose. (It can also be useful to crack nuts!) The Irwin VISE-GRIP 6" Groovelock V-Jaw Pliers ($7.88 with free shipping, a low by $3) is a good option.

Tape Measure: For those times when a precise measurement is necessary, a tape measure is indispensible (remember, measure twice, cut once). This Stanley 25-foot Steel Tape ($12.72 with free shipping, a low by $2; or, $8.99 with in-store pickup) has an automatic rewind, perfect for playing with the cat when not using it to measure.

Adjustable Wrench: A set of pliers can round off the edges of a nut and make it impossible to loosen. Instead, an adjustable wrench is the proper tool for this job, with flat edges that mesh with the flats of a nut perfectly. The Stanley 6" MaxSteel Adjustable Wrench ($11.91 with free shipping via Prime, a low by $1) is large enough for most household chores.

Needle-Nose Pliers: There are times and situations where the vise grips are too large or clumsy to wield; repairing jewelry is one example. A pair of needle-nose pliers is much more sensitive and easy to maneuver. The Stanley 5" Needle Nose Pliers ($4.50 with $3.48 s&h, a low by $4) is a very versatile example.

Screwdriver Set: Although it comes as a surprise to many people, there is a right size of screwdriver for every screw; one size doesn't fit all. This Stanley Cushion Grip 16-Piece Screwdriver Set ($13.99 with $8.99 s&h, a low by $7) offers a variety of sizes in the two most common types of screw head — slotted and Phillips.

Utility Knife: From cutting tape to scoring drywall, shaping plastic to trimming wood, a good utility knife is an essential part of any tool kit. This Irwin Retractable Utility Knife ($5.49 with free shipping via Prime, a low by $6) uses razor blades to provide a clean, smooth cut.

Toilet Auger: Lastly, a tool that will be a godsend to anyone living in an apartment or house with old, inadequate plumbing (and this is likely the case for your student). Forget the plunger and instead invest in the BassCraft Homeowner Toilet Auger ($9.22 with free shipping). It's well worth the price, saving your child from multiple plumber visits, landlord calls, and roommate shouting matches.


^{All items mentioned are available at the lowest total price we could find from a reputable seller at the time the story was published.}


 Photo credit: simplyla via Flickr

Tom Barlow formerly wrote for Aol's WalletPop and DailyFinance, and in addition to his dealnews contributions, he currently writes about lifestyle topics for Forbes.com. You can follow him on twitter @tombarlow. You can also sign up for an e-mail alert for all dealnews features.