Every house in America has one. You know the drawer I'm talking about. It's in the kitchen, it sticks a little when you open it, and it holds the accumulated wisdom of a family. Rubber bands. Takeout menus from restaurants that closed in 2009. A key nobody can identify but nobody dares throw out. Funny thing is, a well-stocked junk drawer is really a dad's secret toolbox, and that's half the reason this shop is called Dad Drawer. Here's what I reckon belongs in every proper one.
1. A Real Multitool
Pliers, a blade, a screwdriver, a pry bar: a good multitool is a hardware store that fits in your hand. Something like the Gerber Lockdown Pry multitool handles nine out of ten little jobs before you even get up off the couch.
2. A Flashlight That Actually Works
Every junk drawer has a flashlight. Most of them have dead batteries and a flicker like a haunted house. Upgrade to a rechargeable one like the Castor 4-in-1 EDC Flashlight, and the next time the power goes out you'll be the hero instead of the fella fumbling for a match.
3. A Bottle Opener With Some Character
A man shouldn't have to use the edge of the counter. Keep a sturdy opener in there, maybe the "Pickoff" Bottle Opener or the heavy-duty Halligan Bottle Opener. Either one'll outlast the fridge.
4. A Pocketknife
My granddaddy said a man without a pocketknife is a man waiting to borrow one. Opening boxes, cutting twine, peeling an apple on the porch. If you want one handsome enough to hand down, look at our Damascus steel pocket knife.
5. A Carabiner (or Three)
Keys, tools, a water bottle, the dog leash. A Carabiner Pro keeps it all together and keeps you from patting every pocket at the front door.
6. Something to Keep It All Organized
Here's the irony: a good junk drawer needs a little order. An EDC Pocket Caddy corrals the small stuff so you can find the tape measure without excavating.
7. A Square for Small Projects
Hanging a picture straight is a matter of family harmony. A 3D multi-angle woodworking square helps you mark a true 45 or 90 and saves you from your spouse saying, "It's crooked," for the next decade.
8. A Money Clip
Every dad keeps a little emergency cash tucked away. Keep it neat in a money clip wallet, and it doubles as a gift for when he finally retires that wallet he's been sitting on since the Carter administration.
9. The Usual Suspects
Don't forget the classics: a roll of duct tape, a tape measure, a pencil, some zip ties, a pack of batteries, and a pad of paper for writing down the phone number of the plumber you'll call after you try to fix it yourself.
10. The Mystery Key
Every drawer has one. Leave it there. It's tradition. The day you throw it out is the day you find the lock.
Hank's Joke From the Drawer
I found a bunch of old batteries in my junk drawer. They were free of charge.
Stock Dad's Drawer
If you're shopping for the handy fella in your life, the Tools & Garage collection is a fine place to start, and you'll find plenty of drawer-worthy stocking stuffers in Gifts Under $25. After all, the perfect gift is in here somewhere.
Keep it handy,
Hank