Working on many of my own projects, I know that the right tool for the job makes all the difference in the world. I have a passion for 12v air compressors, but there are many other tools that you should have around the home. When you were growing up you probably saw your parents doing repairs around the house. The tools they were using for these projects are the tools we still use today, a hammer for example has not changed a great deal. Now you are all grown up and have just purchased your own home. House hunting and moving can be stressful but it can also be fun, with these mixed emotions it is easy to miss the dripping tap or the carpet that has started to lift in the hallway. All these little jobs need to be worked on before they get out of hand. The maintenance and repair work needed around your home is now your responsibility, if you do not do it no one else will. Having the right tools to hand and knowing how to use them is going to make life so much easier for you. Having a list of tools you think you need is a good starting point. Here are a few suggestions to help get you started.
Hammer
One of the tools you will need to ensure you have around your home is a hammer. There are several types of hammer that you can buy for your home, the main and possibly most diverse one is the claw hammer. The claw hammer is a tool that has long wooden or metal handle, a head which is used to hammer nails. The second side of the hammer is divided in to two. The rounded top of the head allows to to use the divided side of the hammer head to pry out old nails. Of all the tools, you will be using for home repairs the claw hammer will see the most use. Anything that you need breaking into smaller parts can be t with your hammer, remember to use safety goggles and other safety equipment if you are going to use a hammer. The number of projects you wish to use your hammer with is almost just limited by your imagination. It is a vital tool for your tool box and one you need to ensure you have.
Electrical tester
An electrical tester is a device that is used for checking whether there is live electricity in a wire or socket. This is especially important if you are doing major renovations on your home and will be working in rooms where you need to change electrical sockets or move wires. Many people have been injured or killed when they accidentally touched a live wire either with their hand or with one of the tools they were using. Is there power to the socket is one of the first things I ask when a piece of electrical equipment fails, it is vital to have an electrical tester so you know. Older style houses may have character and look good but they often have the older style cartridge fuses and if these blow you will find it is handy to have an electrical tester available to check. Electrical testers are great safety devices for when you are changing electrical appliances in your home. Once you have shut off the circuit breaker to the appliance you can use the tester to ensure that the wires are indeed free of live electricity before unhooking them. Keeping safe while working on electricity should be your number 1 priority, use the tester to make sure you are not working with live wires.
Vice grips
Locking pliers are the other name for vice grips, they are used made of 2 jaws that clap or grip by way of a screw or lever that opens and closes them. The main use for them is to hold an object in position. The vice should not be used as a permanent clamp but it does do the job well as a temporary fix, this can be handy for use during repairs. Like so many of the basic tool range they are a sensible addition to the home tool box. Rusted bolts and be a pain, they are almost impossible to remove, if you have a set of vice grips they will increase your chances of getting the blot free so you can replace it. When using the grips to hold in place 2 pieces that are being glued it is possible the grips will leave an impression or mark on one or both of the pieces, to avoid this happening you should ass something between the vice grip and the object, so it can act as a cushion If you have ever tried repairing a garden hose you will know it is not an easy task with just one pair of hands, you often want to run water through the hose to find the leak but then do not want the water there when you are working on the repair, turning off the water is not always an option, with a vice grip to can stop the flow while making the repair.
Whilst there are many more tools you could need for home maintenance tasks these basic tools are a great place to get started when building a set in place of home repair tools.
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