Aside from the usual hammers, screwdrivers, wrenches and mowing and weed whacking equipment, chainsaws etc,what tools do you have and use in the barn that might be slightly out of the ordinary? I know some of you have a hubby or SO who has a complete set of everything but what do you think every barn should have?
Bolt cutters and a fence tool (they can save a horse’s life if they get caught in something.). Also a sawzall.
2 Likes
vice-grip pliers to move stall mats
1 Like
Nylon tow straps, 20ft X 3 inches wide, 2each. They are wonderful for getting a horse unstuck when down, along with a host of other uses. Also useful for rolling over a cast horse, if that happens. I keep them in the First -Aid box.
Also a nice hook ended tow chain, hooks on both ends… It comes in useful for an amazing number of uses around the farm. At least 20ft long, rated for 5000 pounds. Not so heavy to move or carry it, still able to pull a car, tractor, logs or tree pieces if needed.
Headlamp that works. Really helpful when you need to use both hands fixing something.
Heavy duty extension cord in a long length. 12 gauge wire, to provide enough juice for the job way out there.
Shovels include a long-handled digging spade and square ended shove for moving rocks and dirt piles. Also good for breaking ice. Scoop shovel, steel, aluminum, plastic. Depends on what you are moving. I am getting a lot of use now from platic scoop for snow, sawdust on mats. Very light to use. I used aluminum for that before I found the plastic. I used the steel one at my old barn when all the floors and aisles were cement, to scrape things clean. The lighter shovels wore out too fast there, too costly too use. These are mostly used for push shovels for scraping for me, not hoisting huge scoops of weighty poop. I do lift and move snow with the plastic one. It has a metal strip for wear on the shovel lip, saves wear on the plastic. Love that shovel!!
Cordless drill/driver of good size. No weenie little house drills, nothing in pink. I have been very happy with my Makita, 2 batteries included. Powerful, adjustable speed for screws or drills. Batteries last for use WAYYY far from the barn. Weird color is usually pretty easy to spot if someone borrows it, not returned.
Miller Bobcat welder and cutting torch.
Cordless grinder with cutting wheels, ours is Milwaukee, same batteries work on our hammerdrills.
C-clamps to move mats, chains and straps, crowbars and sledgehammers, manual post hole digger, T-post pounder and tamping/pry bars and fencing pliers.
All size levels and tape measures, flags and orange tape.
Flat end long handle shovels in each vehicle and by each door, our rattler shovels.
A leaf blower and a rolling magnet.
1 Like
TRASH bags - baggies - flashlight - WD-40 aka weasel piss
[B]water meter key
mace - pepper spray
- baggie with paper and a marker *[/B]
1 Like
The best thing I did was get my barn its OWN toolbox, so no more going back and forth from the garage to the barn to get the basic tools. It just has the basics, plus a mini sledge hammer along with extra tractor implement pins/bolts, snaps, screw eyes, etc. My garage toolset is pretty complete so any additional items can be brought to the barn if needed.
Fire extinguisher and a shovel
In addition to alloftheabove: Hand cream (for me), Scott Rags-in-a-Box, Gorilla Tape, 10" galvanized nail spike to start a perfect sized hole for screw eyes + wind them in, permanent magic markers in loads of colors, pair of reading glasses…and a check book to pay hoof trimmer, barn help and anyone else.
Oooooo I love tools. You must have: Duct tape, electrical tape, ZIP TIES, a foldable compact pry bar, fencing pliers, regular pliers, needle nose pliers, at least 2 sets of vice grips. Most used drill bits, extensions and adapters, measuring tape,Tin snips! Bolt cutters. A GOOD drill with a hammer drill setting (I’m a Milwaukee fan). Couple sets of hose repair fittings in various sizes, rubber hose gaskets, various cotter pins for equipment, extra snaps and stud chains, vet wrap, bandaids, eye protection, extra set of gloves, latex gloves, paper towels, clamp on lights… hole punch, rivet punch, SOLDERING IRON!!! Love that thing and it’s CHEAP! Markers, note pad, gallon plastic baggies, pipe dope or thread tape…
1 Like
Why’s it have to be the “hubby” who has the tools? All the tools here are mine.
Bolt cutters - two sizes
Circular saw
Sliding miter saw (best thing ever)
Jab saw
Hand saw
Hack saw
Pick Mattock
Palm sander
Post hole diggers
Shovels
Volt meter
Wire strippers
Crowbar
Sledgehammer
Socket set
Battery powered drill
Corded drill
Plumbing items (solvent, glue, pipe pieces and connectors, etc.)
And all the “usual” items as indicated (just the chainsaw is my boyfriend’s)
2 Likes
*Rubber mallet.
Easier - less concussion - for me to pound in fencing staples than using a steel claw hammer.
*Cheap nightlight that turns on when it gets dark - no more fumbling in pitchblack.
*old plastic-handled steak knife with blade broken half off - fits in a pocket without making holes,
Perfect for cutting twine off bales of hay & for bags of pelleted bedding < slit across top to add water, stand bag up to let soak, then slit bag top to bottom to empty dampened pellets.
Tack room with a light on a motion sensor. Open door light goes on. Close door, after a time, light goes off. No fumbling in the dark feeling for a switch and getting a splinter instead 
1 Like
I love my Ryobi lithium battery drill and reciprocating saw.
Just bought one of the battery operated LED lights for the hay shed/tent ShelterLogic thing…love it.
It’s a big one, too many to list, lol
[ATTACH=JSON]{“data-align”:“none”,“data-size”:“full”,“data-attachmentid”:10011641}[/ATTACH]
1 Like
long breaking bar. Pick axe. zip ties. two pipe wrenches. teflon tape (every hose attachment gets it). extra hose accessories - turn offs, splitters, repair kits. pole saw. tow strap for when I get the zero turn stuck… carabiners and screw links for connecting chain. PVC pipe cement and cutter.
A cordless impact wrench. it is has more ummpf than a cordless screwdriver.
In addition to much already listed – staple gun!
I like oxy/acetylene torches. Relatively inexpensive and very portable compared to MIG/TIG.
Tractor with various lengths of heavy chains (grab hooks).
All tools should be industrial, battery operated. I use Milwaukee. Ran my ryobi ones into the ground.
Every fencing tool known to man.
