FROM AWLS TO WRENCHES ... : EXPERT ADVICE ON BASIC TOOLS YOU REALLY NEED.

Byline: Elizabeth M. Cosin Daily News Staff Writer

It always happens. You're home one rainy Saturday, with a breath's headroom between you and the bottom of the kitchen sink you've been meaning to fix, well, forever. On the floor beside you is your dusty old toolbox, the one you haven't taken out since the last time you decided to play Mr. or Ms. Fix-it.

You open the latch and reach in. Will that tool you need be there?

For most of us, the answer is a definite maybe.

``It really helps if you have the right tools,'' says Russell Spoerl, the tool guy at Franklin's Hardware in Woodland Hills. ``It's a good idea to have the basics on hand. Sooner or later, you'll need one of them.''

And as it turns out, that's a very likely scenario these days for most of us. A majority of Americans will be reaching for a basic tool sometime this year, according to the Home Improvement Research Institute. The industry-sponsored research group has tracked a 20-year trend in the rise of American homeowners who are doing repair work themselves.

In 1970, roughly one-third of Americans called themselves ``do-it-yourselfers'' - people who have done at least one repair or home-improvement job in their house over a 12-month period. In 1996, that figure had risen to nearly 90 percent.

Contrary to stereotypes, not all of those do-it-yourselfers are men. According to the studies, as many as 15 million female homeowners are picking up hammer and nails.

``By the year 2000, virtually all Americans will be doing some kind of home-improvement work, whether it be painting or fixing the sink,'' says Scott Bannell, vice president for marketing and advertising for Stanley Works, the New Britain, Conn., tool company. ``More people will try projects in the future than ever before. They'll obviously need the tools.''

There are a number of reasons for the trend. Professionals are expensive and, in some cases, harder to accommodate for busy, dual-income households, Bannell said. Studies have also measured a general tendency toward self-help, as evidenced by the plethora of home-improvement books and television programs.

So, in the interest of making sure that adjustable wrench is on hand next time you have to tighten a kitchen-sink bolt, the Daily News talked to some Valley tool gurus to get expert advice on what a well-stocked toolbox should have in its shiny red depths.

We asked them to name the 15 tools the average person absolutely could not do without, and they came up with a list (see related story) they estimated would run between $100 and $150, depending on the quality of tools purchased.

Beyond the few basics that our experts agreed are necessary - a good hammer, a couple of standard screwdrivers, tape measure, pliers and a utility knife - their opinions varied on what else should go in the box.

Steve Nelson, manager of Rudy's Ace Hardware in Woodland Hills, likes to have an awl - a tool with a long, sharp point - around for a variety of uses.

``It's something I use all the time,'' he says. ``It's good for starting holes for screws or punching holes through other things.''

Terry Graham, the hardware manager at Sears in Northridge, says a flashlight may not be your typical tool, but it can be pretty handy when you're crawling around in dark places.

And Wendy Allen, a hardware sales representative at Home Depot's Santa Clarita store, says the tool she most uses is her socket set. But she doesn't recommend it for everyone.

``I do a lot of automotive work and I keep a 75-piece set around,'' she says. ``That's probably too much for most people. When people come in and want a basic kit, I always ask them what they need it for. Is it for something like a regular hobby or is just a one-time thing?''

What you're going to do with your tools is an important question our experts said you should ask yourself. Do you spend your weekends refinishing furniture or are you always under the hood of your 1970 Volkswagen? It makes a difference in terms of what tools you might want to include; tailor it to your needs.

When buying any tool, our experts recommended trying it out first by holding it in the store and seeing how it fits in your hand. A hammer should feel right to you; it shouldn't be too heavy or unwieldy, otherwise the only pounding you might be doing is on your fingers.

``You want tools to be comfortable to use,'' says Allen. ``Something like a drill shouldn't be too heavy and should be well-balanced. There's no standard. Whatever feels right to you is what you should get.''

All our experts advised buyers to invest in quality tools, another aspect you can usually test while in the store. Well-made tools are nicely finished, have a fairly uniform feel and probably a lifetime warranty.

No matter what you decide to keep in your toolbox, our experts agreed the single most important tool you have is your head. Using common sense and basic smarts when using any tool is the best way to avoid breakage or injury.

``It's probably a good idea to use protective goggles or gloves on certain jobs, but there's nothing like common sense,'' says Nelson, who also recommended a weight belt for heavy lifting.

That means also using tools to do the jobs for which they are intended.

``It's very easy to use what's next to you,'' says Sears' Graham. ``For example, using a screwdriver as a pry bar. There are common uses where they might do the job, but if a tool is not used for its specific purpose, you could break it or injure yourself.''

CAPTION(S):

4 Photos

Photo: (1--Cover--Color) If I had a hammer

15 fundamentals for everyday fix-ups

(2) Russell Spoerl can help you find the right tool for the job at Franklin's Hardware in Woodland Hills.

(3) no caption (There's 1,209 cubic inches of tool-storage capacity in the Craftsman Handbox from Sears)

(4) no caption (Craftsman tape measure)

David R. Crane/Daily News