Take Time to Choose Your Tools Carefully

Tag : Needle Nose Pliers
Bill Massey has been a handyman for18 years. He has hung sheetrock, replaced doors, and remodeledkitchens and bathrooms. Sometimes, though, he has beenflabbergasted by the jobs homeowners hire him to do. “I have been out for some really silly things that peopleshould be able to do themselves,” says Massey, who works forHandyman Connection, which has offices in Fresno and Bakersfield,Calif. “I’ve been called out to hang pictures and putup curtain rods. If you’ve got a tape measure, a level and ahammer, you should be able to do that on your own. The price ofthese basic tools could very well pay for a repair guy.”
Tony Johnson of Johnson’s Handyman Service in Fresno, Calif.,says all homeowners should keep a few basic tools close at hand.
“A lot of people today are doing their own repairs or hookingup their own stereos,” he says. “You have to have theright tool to do the job.”
But don’t cut corners when it comes to cost, experts caution.
“When you’re buying tools, quality is somewhat of anissue,” Massey says. “I’m not saying to go outand find a Snap-on truck and buy the most expensive tool you can,but don’t buy something cheap, either.”
Many tools come with limited lifetime warranties and are well worththe few extra bucks, Johnson says.
And although a traditional toolbox is fine, Handyman Connectionowner Nick Dvorak suggests a canvas caddy. These come in varioussizes. Tools are stored vertically to eliminate rummaging around.Prices generally start about $15.
Ready to assemble your own household toolbox? Johnson and Masseyare here to help.
Screwdrivers: Aim for both small and medium Phillips and flat-head.A screwdriver can help remove the cover on a TV remote control tochange the batteries, tighten door hinges and assemble shelves ortoys. A flat-head is perfect for prying the lid from a can ofpaint. Price each: $4-$10.
Pliers: Stock your toolbox with each of these pliers: needlenose,channellock and linesman, Massey says.
Needlenose have pointed ends and are used for small projects, suchas holding wires while repairing a pair of eyeglasses, diggingsomething out of the garbage disposal or removing hair from ashower drain.
Channellocks have adjustable jaw openings with gripping teeth andare perfect for using on round objects, such as loosening the lidof a jar.
Linesman pliers (also called flat-nosed) have serrated jaws forgripping. They often are used for cutting wire.