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News Flash!
News Flash!
Now is the time, over the long winter months or during the day while the kids are in school, to get some of those small projects you've been thinking about doing.
A great place to start with home project is to make sure you have some of the basic tools you will need around the house. My late father, who could build or fix just about anything always said to me, "Lisa, with the right tools you can do anything". I think that's true about all kinds of "tools" in life, but for now we are talking about old fashioned tool basics.
All homeowners' tool kits should contain a few basics:
Measuring tools
Cutting tools
A hammer(s)
Pliers
Set of screwdrivers
A drill and basic bit set
Some simple painting items
A few wrenches of varying sizes
I'm sure you heard the phrase "Measure twice, cut once", boy is that ever true. My late father practiced this theory and made few mistakes because of it. Heeding his advice, I too, practice this most of the time. In haste a few times I didn't ...and regretted it later. A lesson my impatient husband has yet to learn, even after several costly mistakes.
Make sure you have:
Retractable steel tape that measures up to 16 feet. If you have anything smaller than the length of the average room you run into the possibility of making a mistake in your calculations when piecing lengths together from several measurements.
A small level that can fit into a pocket is handy. You can always get a larger one later if you get into bigger projects.
For checking right angles you need to have a square.
Don't forget a soft pencil for marking measurements on the wooden surfaces and a waterproof pen for glossy surfaces.
If we are just talking some basics here, you don't need much. As you get into more serious projects you can assess your needs for those jobs and pick your tools accordingly like an electric circular saw...one of my favorite power tools. For now you can start with:
A must have is a good utility or snap-blade knife.
Keep a small all-purpose knife on hand, a good pocketknife will do.
Purchase a handsaw, preferably a medium sized backsaw. You'll recognize one by the extra steel strip that runs along the top of the blade from the handle down to the end of the blade to keep it straight and more rigid. This will help you make cuts in large and small pieces of wood.
For gripping you need several things:
A small assortment of pliers, like a pair of combination pliers and a long-nose plier for those hard to reach areas.
An adjustable wrench and/or several wrenches of various sizes would be prudent to have in your basic tool kit.
Let's face it, if there is one simple home improvement project that can easily and inexpensively change the look of a piece of furniture, room or whole house...its painting. Everyone does it at one time or another so it's best to keep the basics on hand.
A scraper
A putty or stripping knife, several sizes.
A selection of different size paint brushes.
A roller, roller brushes of different thicknesses, and a paint tray.
Having a basic screwdriver set is a must. Make sure it contains both flat and Phillips heads in various sizes. If space in your toolbox is limited, then a pump screwdriver with interchangeable bits is an option for you.
As far as I'm concerned, a cordless drill is another must and also another one of my favorite power tools. It doesn't have to be big, just make sure it's a good one and you have a basic bit set to go with it. Have several bits in different sizes.
Who could forget the basic HAMMER!!!! No toolbox would be complete without at least one. Make sure one of your hammers in a curved claw hammer so you can remove nails.
Well, this is a matter of preference. Any home center or hardware store will have a variety of tool kits to consider. Choose the one that best fits your organizational style and home needs.
Points to Remember...
BUY GOOD TOOLS. I can't stress that enough. If you buy cheap tools they'll let you down when you need them most. Many tools are made in third world countries these days out of cheap white steel. They tend to bend and break easily. Good tools are something that you'll have a long time and old hand tools have become valuable.
It's always good at the end of seasons, to look around for some garage sales for some old had tools. The old hand tools, (I like Craftsmen & Stanley), were still made of good old US steel and have been around in someone's garage for 50 years or so and could be in yours and put to use for another 50 years.
With all these tools in your arsenal, you should be ready to tackle some basic projects in your house this fall and all winter long. Having a complete basic tool kit on hand will help make your life and home better.
By: Lisa Alexander
Certified Eco Broker®
