More Tools for College

by Brian Simkins

Back to Tools for College

As you begin to pack up your belongings to head off to college for the first time you will most likely find yourself with a pretty big shopping list. Everything from towels to dishes are necessary for day to day survival in a college dormitory. A few things that may slip your mind as you make these preparations are some tools. A basic tool kit will come in handy for more tasks and projects than you can possibly imagine. You may think that you don’t really need any, but you’ll be missing the ability to raid dad’s toolbox the first time you try to hang a picture in your new room and can’t find a hammer.

This is a short, annotated list of hardware store items that you will most likely find yourself needing at some point in your college life. Some are actual tools, while others are trinkets and gadgets that you will be glad you had around. Your biggest challenge won’t be in figuring out how to use your tool kit, but how to keep your unprepared neighbors from borrowing all of your tools.

Tools:

Hammer: This tool is a must have. You don’t necessarily need a huge framing hammer, but a small, lightweight craft or hobby hammer will come in handy more than you could ever think. You will use it for everything from hanging pictures to pounding the support pins back into the frame of the questionable quality bed with which the university housing authority provided you.

Screwdrivers: A medium sized Phillips head and a small to medium sized flat head are essential. They will be used to remove battery covers, remove paint can lids, repair eyeglasses, and a hundred other things that you can’t predict. Oh, and occasionally, you might actually use one of them to drive a screw.

Pliers: An inexpensive, medium sized pair of pliers will come in handy in situations where you least expect it. Need to adjust the feet on your mini-fridge? Use your pliers. Is the room really, really warm, but the adjustment knob on the radiator is too hot to touch? Use your pliers. Are you having trouble putting together that desk that was supposed to be easily assembled? Your pliers will probably make the job a little easier. Are you noticing a trend here? Pliers are great tool to have around in any circumstance. They can even help you remove the lids from stubborn jars.

Adjustable Wrench: This tool makes a nice complement to your pliers. Though this is not a tool that you will use everyday, you will be glad that you have it when you need it. If there is a nut or bolt coming loose on your bed, desk, dresser, or closet door, then this is the tool for you. An adjustable wrench saves the expense of buying a full set of wrenches in various sizes and is a great “one size fits all” solution to a number of problems.

Utility Knife: A utility knife is another tool that you may not think that you would ever need, but once you have one around you will find yourself using it all of the time. Did you find a carpet remnant to cover up your dingy dorm room floor? Cut it with the utility knife. Do you have an art project that requires stenciling? Cut them out with the utility knife. Are your shoelaces stuck in a knot? Maybe that’s not the best use for it, but you could use the utility knife for that if you really needed too.

Duct Tape: This is perhaps the single greatest tool in collegiate dormitory history. You can, and will, use duct tape to hang posters, hide electrical cords, repair your sneakers, repair your books, repair your mattress, hold your desk together, and about a million other things. Don’t show up for your move in day without a roll. I guarantee that you will need it at least twice in the first five minutes that you are there.

Putty Knife: This may seem like an odd item to put on the list. You’ll be thankful though, on the day that you move out. On that day, you will take down all of the pictures that you hung up during the year and will see all of the holes that you put into the walls. At this moment you, and your security deposit, will be glad that you brought a putty knife, because now you can fix those holes. Leave the place looking like new and make sure your security deposit finds its way back into your pocket.

Other Supplies:

Screw Assortment: You can purchase a small assortment of screws at your local hardware store. Make sure that you get an assortment with a variety of sizes. You never can predict just what you’ll need them for.

Finish Nails: Finish nails are ideal for hanging pictures because they cause minimal wall damage and leave a very small hole. Get a small box of #4d finish nails and you’ll have enough to see you through your entire collegiate career.

Extension Cords: If you think that you will need two, then bring three. If you think three, then bring four. Extension cords are one of those items that it seems like you can never have too many of in a dorm room. Electrical outlets are usually not placed in ideal locations and you may have to stretch to get that extra sub-woofer plugged in.

Three Prong Adapters: You’ll want to check with your school to make sure, but many dorms on older campuses don’t have electrical outlets with grounds. This means that none of your appliances, hair dryers, stereos and computers with three prong plugs are going to fit. You can buy three prong adapters at any hardware store for very little money. Pick up a few before you get there and save yourself the hassle.

Surge Protectors: While these are now standard issue with most computers, make sure you have one. You never can tell when the guy next door is going to drop his laptop into the fish tank and throw the breaker for the whole building. Make sure your electronic stuff is protected.

While there will always be little things that you wish you had, this is a pretty good list to get you going. In the rush to get school supplies like notebooks and pens and paper, don’t overlook the fact that you are now going to be living on your own and you need tools just beyond those required to study, you need tools to live.