In some bit more medieval parts of the world, the belief that women have nothing to do around tools is still alive and kicking. However, like any other bias and prejudice, this stems straight from ignorance. In 2016, everyone should be aware that women are as capable to handle tools as any man is. The only reason why this isn’t so is the fact that, usually, no one takes the time to explain the difference between an adjustable wrench and an Allen wrench to them. In order to fix this ancient injustice, here is a short guide to tools, aimed specifically at the members of the fairer sex.
Table of Contents
1. Wrenches
Seeing how we have already mentioned wrenches in the introduction, it would only be fair to start our guide from there. The first wrench you should be familiar with is the adjustable wrench. This particular type is by far the most adaptable since it has a moveable lower jaw which allows it to adjust its size (hence the name). The next major type is the so-called combination wrench. You will recognize it by its two different ends. One is open and one is closed, but they are usually of the same size.
Finally, you have the Allen wrench (also known the hex key), the one that looks like a 90 degree bent hexagonal pipe. This particular wrench is specifically designed for Allen screws that are usually found in furniture. Of course, there are many other types, but these three are by far the most common.
2. Screwdrivers
As far as small home repair tools go, screwdrivers are practically a poster child. However, there are as many types of them as there are different types of screws but here are some of the most commonly used. Of course, not all of them are unfastened with a screwdriver. Some of them require an Allen wrench, while others might be fastened/unfastened with a closed-end key.
As for screwdrivers, the most commonly used are the slot head (the one for bolts whose heads look like a minus) and the Phillips head screwdriver (the one whose heads look like a cross). Needless to say, every household should have at least several of each (in different sizes if possible).
3. Hammers
Another thing everyone thinks of when talking about household tools is the hammer. Here you have many different types, as well. The most used one is the traditional curved-claw hammer with a wooden handle. This item has many different uses apart from driving and removing nails with ease. For example, if there was a part of your home you wanted to demolish; you could easily use it as a wrecking tool.
Still, for the aforementioned purpose, you would probably do better with a sledgehammer (the large one that looks like it weights two tons). On the other hand, when you need something that will not damage the surface, but only bend it, you might consider getting a soft-face hammer (the one with the rubber extensions at both ends).
4. Hand Saws
Even a concept as old and simple as a hand saw has undergone an evolution throughout history, so now we have many different types of it, as well. Here you have so much choice, like a keyhole saw, a cross cut saw, a panel saw and even a flooring saw. While they all essentially serve the same purpose, each of them is particularly well-suited for specific tasks.
For example, a keyhole saw is specially meant for cutting holes in wood (like keyholes); a panel saw is meant for cutting small pieces of wood and can be quite short; while a flooring saw is meant for cutting floorboards (as its name suggests). According to experts from a hardware store in Sydney, handsaws are the tool where the difference in quality shows the most. Low quality ones break often and, therefore, usually end up costing much more when all things are considered.
5. Power Tools
Finally come power tools like the angle grinder and the drill. The best thing about these items in particular is that even though they may look heavy and difficult to use; they are all but. In fact, they are specifically designed so that you don’t have to put in much effort when doing work. Still, seeing how the effect of these tools may be quite powerful; they are always to be handled with care.
Conclusion
As you can see, there is nothing complicated or confusing about home improvement tools. To make things even simpler, understanding them might even be harder than actually using them. Still, you have to start somewhere. So we hope that this tutorial will have you set off to a good start.