MY answer would be:


Basic essentials:

An Iron. It can be anything from a clothes iron, to a travel iron , to a covering iron, and scissors.


Recommended basics:

Covering iron, Heat Gun, Razor blades (Lots) a good straight edge. The heat gun can be the type used for paint stripping, but be careful - they can get too hot and you can easily melt a hole in the covering and a Hair Dryer doesn't get hot enough.