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Guide to DIY Tools

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DIY projects seem to be gaining in popularity, with more and more people taking a do-it-yourself approach to home improvement, remodelling, and decorating; hiring contractors can be expensive and money is hard to come by at the moment, so increasing numbers of us are picking up our DIY tools and tackling jobs at home ourselves.

Whether the DIY projects you have in mind are simple things like repainting your skirting boards or bigger tasks such as installing a new patio or deck, you need certain tools in your toolbox. In today’s post I intend to give you a complete guide to the DIY tools you must have.

Basic DIY Tools

Some DIY tasks won’t require many tools at all (for example, replacing a light bulb is fairly self-explanatory and don’t require any tools). However, the bare minimum for most basic DIY jobs is a decent set of screwdrivers and hammers.

Keep these three screwdriver types in your toolbox:

  • 100mm NO.1 PZ Type Screwdriver

  • 100mm 5mm Plain Slot Screwdriver

  • 100mm NO.2 PZ Type Screwdriver

These are perfect for all the different screw sizes you will come across when getting on with the basic DIY jobs around the home. For nailing it is essential that you have a standard claw hammer – this is a good piece of equipment for jobs such as fitting a new garden fence.

Here’s a fairly long checklist of tools you should have on hand for the basic DIY jobs, along with an example of the jobs for which they can be used.

Heavy-duty long-nose pliers – for cutting and bending wires for electrical purposes.

Heavy-duty diagonal side cutters – for cutting copper, brass, iron, etc.

Adjustable wrench set – for any plumbing problems.

Combination spanner set – for plumbing work and tightening nuts.

Spirit level sets – for simple bricklaying and tiling.

Safety equipment (i.e., safety goggles, work gloves, and steel-toe boots) – for all DIY jobs.

Tape measure – all simple jobs, including making purchases.

Extension lead or extension cord – vital for any job involving power tools.

Hand saw – for cutting wood, applicable to most cabinetry and woodworking projects, as well as some yardwork and landscaping.

All of the tools listed above should suffice for most simple DIY tasks, but if you are a bit more of a DIY lover and are thinking of taking on some bigger jobs, you should look into purchasing a few specialized tools. Although these are a little bit more expensive, you will need them at some point:

14.4V/18V Cordless hammer drill – Both of these drills are an essential for the bigger jobs in and around your home; installing a decking area is one of them.

7-Piece chubby ratchet screwdriver and bit set – A screwdriver set such as this is perfect for bigger DIY jobs but handy for little ones, too.

Multi-functional tester – All electricians keep a multi-functional tester available for their services, but DIYers can use it to test mains, etc.

Oscillating multi-tool kit – This kit offers different functions for detailed sanding, cutting, and scraping jobs and is a nice little addition to any basic toolbox.

Power tool saw – You should have a decent mitre saw at your service if you are working on any big woodworking job.

I could go on for hours about hundreds of different tools that you might need at some time; for example, if you are considering an extension to your home, you would need things such as trowels, a mixer, and cement. However, bigger jobs like that are normally undertaken only by those DIYers who have plenty of experience and therefore already have their tools.

This is a guide to DIY tools essential to those less experienced DIYers. It is also worth noting that you can buy 46-piece tools sets, etc., instead of assembling your own. These tool kits are a good way of starting and finding your feet in the DIY world. Over time, you will buy tools necessary for the particular jobs you are doing. I hope this was helpful to all of you.

Ryan Hirst

This article was kindly put together by Ryan Hirst, who writes great content for the U.K.-based kitchen fittings specialists Eurofit Direct.

Website: eurofitdirect.co.uk
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