“Arden the tool man” might be a nice moniker for me because, in addition to all the tools I inherited from my dad, I have amassed a greater collection of my own.

I have favorites; the go-to that first comes to mind is the cordless electric screwdriver. The first ones were by Black and Decker, a cute little novelty that had a built-in battery, reversing switch, and variable speed trigger. Now known as driver/drills, they feature removable batteries and have become larger and more powerful. Lithium ion has replaced nickel metal hydride and give many more minutes of use. My friend Roger said one way he would remember me was because I always showed up to help with my driver/drill.

Next favorite is the superbar. A variation of the crowbar, it is just the right size for many jobs: prying, scraping, or pulling nails.

No toolbox is complete without one. Another indispensable is the vice-grip plier. They lock on to projects with the grip of a snapping turtle, but more easily released. They can take the place of standard pliers in most situations.

The weed eater is another favorite. I remember the days before its invention. The corded model was first, followed by gas power, now cordless and pollution-free.

The smartphone has upstaged all of my tools. It is lightweight, always at hand, rechargeable, and features a built-in flashlight, calculator, and access to YouTube videos to help with home repairs. Most importantly, I use it to call contractors. Priceless.