Tools, Tools and More Tools

Arguably, the old adage that only ‘bad workmen blame their tools for poor craftsmanship’ is not strictly true as it’s quite difficult to produce good quality work with inferior tools; especially if they are blunt! Fortunately, good quality hand tools are more affordable today because of mass production and modern manufacturing techniques.

Putting Together a Tool Kit

If you’re starting from scratch I recommend you start by looking at tools in the store to get an idea of what they look like, what they’re called and how much they cost. Here is a list of tools you could put together over time. You might already have a few tools of your own but it’s likely you’ll need more, so now’s the time to start looking at look at what’s available locally. Remember this is tools we’re talking about, you can never have too many!

At the risk of sounding weird, I get a great deal of enjoyment out of some of my tools, notably the good quality ones, because they make producing good workmanship much easier. Enjoying tools and what they can do for you is one of the cornerstones of being handy, as long as you can keep the ‘addiction’ reasonable…

Lets start with a word or two about…

Quality Issues

As a professional, I need my tools to be tough and reliable; but even if you don’t use yours quite so often, you should still buy good quality tools. Because cheap tools don’t just have a shorter lifespan, they perform poorly as well, making achieving a great finish difficult.

Look for reputable manufacturers on the biggest displays in the most visible sections of the store; especially for tools with a blade (and that includes screwdrivers etc.). If funds are low, consider looking for good ones second hand; but check carefully to make sure they’re not worn out though.

Realistically, I understand your tool kit might be a little basic right now, and that’s OK, they’ll get you started. You’ll soon learn which ones need replacing with something a bit better (once you have broken one or two…)

Hand Tools

These are the ones you’ll use the most, your everyday tools if you like. You’ll need a selection of different screwdrivers, a claw hammer, a club or hammer, chisels (timber and masonry), a sharp saw for timber, a hacksaw, a pair of pliers, a craft knife, a small nail punch and a carpenters square plus a bunch of pencils to get you started. Oh, and something sturdy to store them all in.

One tip to keep your best tools in good condition is to use them only for fine work. If you’re doing rough work like trying to get paint out of an old slotted screw head, don’t use your best Stanley screwdriver; use the cheap old one instead. Cutting out an old window frame or ripping out an unwanted door set? Then use an old saw, then when you catch a nail or some masonry it won’t matter so much. I call these tools my No. 2’s (because they’re crappy!) and watch out anyone I catch using my No.1 handsaw for rough work! So save your old screwdriver, an old stiff scraper, an old handsaw plus a couple of old chisels to be your ‘rough tools’. Use these No.2 tools when you want to ‘abuse’ them, (hitting them with a hammer) during demolition.

If you use your best timber chisel to chop out an old window, you’d better allow plenty of time to re-sharpen it, because you’re bound to hit a nail or screw etc. Re-sharpening a blunt chisel can take quite a few minutes to do well, but it can take much longer to grind back a chipped edge because you hit a nail with it. Chisels with chipped edges are useless for nice work because the chips leave grooves in your work.

Tool storage tip: get something with some spare space for future tool purchases and big enough so you’re not struggling to find a particular tool because the toolbox is crammed full to the top.  You should also consider getting a few of those flexible plastic/rubber buckets which make cheap, effective ‘day tool caddies’. I have one handy so I don’t need to take everything with me on smaller jobs around a big house and a second one to use for rubbish, packaging, offcuts etc. They are also tough enough for mixing plasters and mortars in and are very easy to clean out afterwards, even if you ‘forget’ to do it on the day.

Power Tools

Some sort of electric drill is fairly essential, but if the budget runs to it, I would recommend you get two. A mains powered SDS drill which will drill holes in anything (wood, brick, blocks and concrete) Then you need a mid-sized (9v to 14v) cordless drill driver for smaller holes in timber and plastic etc and for using as a drill driver (driving in screws etc.) Your cordless drill driver is likely to be your most useful tool, so take note of the above issues with quality. I definitely recommend getting a professional quality one, or you’ll struggle for enough power and be charging the battery up every ten minutes.

Be wary of falling for the bigger is better trap (typically a ‘man’ thing) when it comes to cordless drills, because the weight of the bigger voltage drill can be difficult to handle, especially for finer work or long periods. Especially since battery technology improves year on year making even the smaller drills adequately powerful for most needs. I personally have a pair of very old Makita 9.6V drills plus a modern 14.4V one for heavier work (which makes my arm ache!).

Many people are tempted by the ‘shiny’ combination tool chests that hold a dazzling array of different tools powered by universal batteries. However, keep in mind that no cordless tool can match its mains powered counterpart for performance and always-available power.

Hiring ‘Expensive to Buy’ Tools

The big box DIY stores are piled high with impossibly cheap power tools that might be suitable for a single project or very occasional use, but don’t expect high performance or longevity. Instead of buying a cheap ‘throwaway tool’, consider hiring a professional quality tool. They’re more powerful, quicker, more effective and you’ll find it easier to achieve a high quality finish.

Hiring tools saves capital investment and frees up storage space, plus you’ll always have the latest tools and technology. It also gives you another person to ask for advice, especially since it’s likely to be the first time you’ve needed that particular tool. Don’t forget to ask for the safety literature and any ‘how to’ leaflets they might have related to the tool.

Tool Maintenance

Keeping your tools clean is a good place to start, even if it’s late and you’re tired after a long day working on the project. You’ll only make more work for yourself next time if you’re ‘too tired to clean the concrete out of the wheelbarrow’. Always keep tools with a blade sharp and replace damaged tools before they can ruin your next project or hurt you.

 The Brass Tacks on tools

• Buy the best tools you can afford and replace any cheap tools you wear out with better ones over time.
• You don’t need as many tools as you might think; many jobs (assembly for example) only require a screwdriver or two.
• Store your tools properly, keep any sharp edges keen and protected them against damage in storage.
• Consider hiring or borrowing professional tools rather than buying cheap throwaway ones.
• Learn how tools work and pay attention to alignment, force and speed.
• Excessive force and speed will tire you out and cause mistakes or accidents.
• Work safe, read the Health and Safety advice and information in this book and search online for specific information related to each task you undertake.

Buying your tools online is cheapest, but you don’t get to ask questions or get advice. Do your research first. In the UK you can try Screwfix, TooledUp, Machine Mart or Amazon.co.uk. In the USA and rest of the world, start with Amazon.com  to get an idea about prices etc.

Hope that helps, as always let me know in the comments if you need more help.

Stay well

Ian