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Tag : Socket Ratchet Wrenches

Whether spurred by pride or penny-pinching, many homeowners take itupon themselves to fix any number of minor repairs, as well astackle simple home improvement projects. Both can pay dividends— if you have the right tools.
“It’s nice if you can do really simple plumbing things,really basic electric things. You can save a lot of money,”said Jim Mies, who works in commercial sales at Lowe’s, 3101Wabash Ave.
Basic tasks beginners could tackle include replacing a light switchor doorknob, patching dry wall or even calking a bathtub. Thetrick, Tim Wells says, is knowing what you’re doing andhaving the time and initiative to do it properly.
“It just depends on (your) willingness to do the work(yourself),” said Wells, owner of Wells Carpentry inSpringfield. “With things getting tighter, I’m suremore home owners are looking to do more things.”
For the greenest of do-it-yourselfers, there’s only one placeto start: the Mr. or Ms. Fix-It rite of passage, assembling yourfirst toolbox. That in mind, with the help of Mies, Menards stafffrom the store at 3325 S. Veterans Parkway and DIYnetwork.com,here’s a brief list of toolbox essentials.
The basics
Screwdrivers ($2-$11 per tool): Used with screws to bind thingstogether. Toolsets need a mix of varied sizes and heads: Phillipsand slot screwdrivers are the most common, but star bits also comein handy. Look for a package with multiple screwdrivers or anall-in-one ratcheting screwdriver for $10-$20. An assortment of hexkeys, or Allen wrenches, is helpful for screws with hexagonalheads. Potential screwdriver uses include removing a cover from alight switch, installing a car radio, and assembling a desk, tableor shelf. You’ll need a small one for removing that pesky,too-secure-for-its-own-good battery cover.
Hammer ($13-$30): Used primarily for hitting nails and removingthem. They also can be used for simple prying tasks, but becautious — hammers can break if used for purposes other thansimple hammering. You’ll get the most use out of a mid-sizedclaw hammer, but smaller tack hammers are better for finesseprojects. A larger framing hammer is recommended for more extensivecarpentry. Hammers can be used to hang pictures, objects or shelvesor to nail boards together in construction projects.
wrenches cover all tightening and loosening needs. As withscrewdrivers, a healthy variety of sizes is essential. One or twoadjustable crescent wrenches should do the trick for most bolts.Socket wrenches also are a basic need, but a ratcheting set with avariety of socket sizes might be a better investment than anon-ratcheting model. A quality ratchet set can run $15 to $50;replacement or additional sockets are easy to find. Considerpicking up a basic, open-ended wrench, great for hard-to-reachplaces. Project uses include most plumbing and vehicle maintenance,various assembly projects and a variety of other tasks.You’ll need one for pretty much anything with bolt fasteners.
Drill ($40-$200): Don’t let the latter number scare you, adecent 9.6 or 12-volt cordless drill can be found for about $50.Drills are the most basic of power tools — a near-necessityfor a starter toolkit. They are used for driving screws into toughmaterials such as wood but also can be equipped with drill bits forcutting holes. Drill bits sell individually for a few bucks, but aset of 16 or so for about $30 is a better value. Uses includevirtually all assembly projects, such as desks or playpens.
Cutters, pliers, clamps
Cutters ($10 and up): Wire cutters are a must for electrical work,and many double as wire strippers. They come in a variety of shapesand sizes, and it’s up to the consumer how much cutting powerthey think they’ll need. Not everyone will need a $30 pair ofheavy-duty cable cutters. Utility knives, or box cutters, sell fora few bucks to $20.
Pliers ($8 and up): Pliers are used for gripping, pulling andcrimping a variety of things. Needle-nose pliers typically are usedto grip or cut wire, and you usually can find them for about $10.Slip-joint pliers are larger and have an adjustable axis that willgrip objects of different sizes. Channellock brand slip-jointsrange from about $10 to $20.