(Photo: Levi Brown)

Whether you’re faced with crumbly, uneven plaster walls that refuse to hold nails, a dripping showerhead, or an all-day Ikea assembly project, the frustration level will be significantly reduced with the right equipment at hand. We polled six local hardware stores to determine the essential components of the New York City toolbox, asking them to outfit us from scratch. Total cost of our kit: $119.31. While you’re at it, be sure to pick up the box that stores it all; this small metal version ($29.99 at Academy Hardware, 2869 Broadway, nr. 111th St.; 212-222-3060) holds everything nicely and fits under the bed.