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Quick Tips
In the Workshop / Tool Box |
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Have you ever noticed that you never have the right tool when you need to fix some small thing around the house? Well, you're not alone. Too often that simple project becomes a major undertaking by the time you round up all the tools you need.
Why not make up a basic tool box ahead of time. It will eliminate many exasperating moments in the future. Since we are so often asked for suggestions on what to put in a basic tool box, we have compiled the following list to help make up a Homeowner fix-it tool box. By having all these basic tools in one place, your projects will become much easier and will be quickly accomplished. This same type of basic assortment can also be given to college students when they go off to school. |
- Hammer - a 16 oz., curved claw hammer is best
- Screwdrivers - It's a good idea to have two screwdrivers: a standard slotted and a #2 Phillips.
- Handsaw - An 8 or 10 point handsaw makes a good all-purpose saw.
- Hacksaw
- Pliers - Any kind of pliers will do. Linemans pliers are especially good because they have the capability to cut wire.
- Vise Grips
- Tape measure - A 12 or 16 foot tape is long enough for most jobs. Get one that is at least 3/4 inch wide, so it won't bend easily.
- Level - An 18 or 24 inch level is a good size to have around the house.
- Utility knife - a knife with a retractable blade is the safest and doesn't get dull as quickly.
- Crescent wrench
- Apron - A canvas apron will hold your tools, leaving your hands free.
- An assortment of nails and screws of various size and type. Choose a prepackaged assortment or pick out a selection of the most used sizes and types.
- Tape - Both electrical and duct tape have numerous uses and are essential for minor fix-it jobs.
- Square
- Nail punch
- File
- Putty knife
- Pry bar
- Wood glue
- WD-40
- Flashlight
- Safety glasses
- Gloves
You might also include:
- Circuit tester - A circuit tester is essential for electrical repairs. It tests whether the current is off or on.
- Stud finder - This useful gadget locates the studs behind the walls and is very handy when hanging heavy pictures or shelving.
- Circular saw - Make sure you know how to operate it safely!
Outside of the toolbox you should also have handy:
- Electric drill (cordless is handy for many situations)
- Assorted drill bits
- Assorted screw bits
- Pipe wrench (A 14 inch pipe wrench is useful for plumbing repairs.)
- Assorted clamps
- Level
- Caulk gun
- Sandpaper
- Stepladder
- Chisel handles tend to be uncomfortable. To make chiseling easier on your hands, push a PVC pipe cap over the end of each chisel handle. If the cap doesn't fit snugly, wrap friction tape around the handle to increase its diameter or glue the cap in place.
- To sharpen a pair of scissors, use it to slice up several pieces of sandpaper.
- Have you ever wished for another hand to hold small items that you're putting together or soldering? Make a convenient holder by wrapping a rubber band around the handles of a pair of long nose pliers. It will pull the handles together, which will keep the jaws closed on the item you need held.
- A piece of slit garden hose is a handy protective cover for the teeth of a hand saw between projects.
- Fill the upper part of your hammer handles with snug rubber bands. Whenever you have a nailing job that requires a limited number of nails, insert them under the band of the hammer you are using. That way, each nail is right at hand whenever you are ready for it.
- To clean hand tools without leaving soap deposits or scratching cutting edges, apply toothpaste with a damp rag. For tough deposits such as pastes and jells, try spray-on cleaner. Be sure to wear gloves.
- When does a knife blade, a chisel edge or saw teeth need sharpening? When it looks bright. A really sharp edge doesn't look bright because it is so thin. A dull edge is wider and thus more reflective.
- You can prolong the effectiveness of a workshop vacuum cleaner filter and keep it cleaner for a longer period of time with a discarded pair of pantyhose, cut off one leg of the pantyhose a bit long, tie one end, stretch the open end over the filter, and hold it in place with a large rubber band around the top. The resulting filter guard will have little effect on the vacuum's suction power. Save the other leg of the pantyhose for later use.
- To keep unvarnished or unpainted wooden handles on tools looking like new, wipe them down frequently with linseed oil. If a handle is a bit loose, try soaking it in the oil for a while. This will swell the wood and make it a tighter fit.
- To transform a hammer into a soft-headed mallet, cover the head with the sort of rubber tip used to prevent furniture legs from scratching the floor.
- A bar style can and bottle opener can easily be turned into a tool for giving your screwdriver more leverage. Simply cut a slit in the rounded end that is the right size to slide snugly around the tip of your screwdriver blade. Then cover the rest of the opener with tape to make it more comfortable for your hands. The result is a slotted wrench that can help you turn the tip of your screwdriver blade.
- Over time, the indented measurement lines in metal framing squares and yardsticks can become difficult to read. To do a quick fix, rub a piece of chalk or white soap over the lines to increase their visibility. To heighten the contrast between the surface and the indented lines permanently: First clean the surface with fine-grade steel wool and clean dirt out of the lines with the point of a very slim brush. Then brush on a white oil-base paint, taking care to fill all the measurement marks. Lightly wipe the excess paint off the surface, leaving paint to dry in the indentations.
- Invest a few minutes of time to make sure you always have a reasonably accurate measuring device around. Simply measure different spans on your body and memorize those calculations. Among the most useful measurements are:
- The distance between different finger or thumb joints (experiment and you can probably establish a 1 inch length)
- The spread of your sprayed hand, from the tip of your longest finger to your armpit.
- The length of your foot.
- When you want to measure something at home or in the store and you don't have a measuring tape, try using a dollar bill. It's 6-1/8 inches long, 3-1/16 inches when folded in half, and almost exactly 1-1/2 inches when folded in quarters. Its full width is 2-5/8 inches or a fraction more than 1-1/4 inches when folded in half lengthwise. Ignoring minor fractions, this gives you a ruler of 6, 3, 2 1/2, 1-1/2 and 1-1/4 inches always in your pocket.
- A metal level tends to slip when it's held against a smooth wall. Give it some gripping power by gluing small strips of sandpaper along the sides. If you use rubber cement, the sections can be easily removed.
- To keep wooden ladders from drying out and becoming dangerously brittle or splintery, paint them with linseed oil or varnish them on a routine basis. Give two (2) coats to the rungs, which receive the most abuse.
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