ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, January 21, 1996 TAG: 9601230035
SECTION: HOMES PAGE: D1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: hints for homeowners
SOURCE: STEVE ELDER
Stop right where you are, close your eyes, and inhale deeply. Savor the heavenly scent of machine oil on steel with subtle undertones of cast aluminum and polycarbonate. Where are you? You're as close to Nirvana as you can legally get; you're in the tool department of a major discounter.
As you open your eyes in sheer bliss, rows of gleaming hand and power tools greet you with a siren's song. They want to go home with you and you need them. If you waver in indecision, repeat this mantra: You cannot have too many tools! When naysayers cruelly call you the Imelda Marcos of the tool world, heed them not, and go on saying your mantra.
No, no. Back to reality: Incredible as it usually seems to me, there are many available tools that are not really essential to life. However, there is a core group of tools that every homeowner should have in order to perform simple, routine maintenance and installation. Face it - this is the age of ``some assembly required,'' and if you're a native of this planet you know that some repairs are inevitable. Therefore, here is my basic, pared-down, Core List of The Homeowner's Necessary Tools.
First on the list is a hammer. A wide variety exists, but if you're going to own just one, get a 20-ounce hammer with a curved claw, because you're apt to do more nail pulling than framing. Twenty ounces is light enough for most people to use but heavy enough to drive a good-sized nail. If your wrists are small you may be more comfortable with a 16-ounce model.
Next are screwdrivers, and the selection of these boggles the mind. You need a minimum of four - a small slotted screwdriver with an insulated handle and an 8-inch shaft (an electrician's screwdriver), a larger slotted screwdriver and a No. 2 Phillips screwdriver. Hint: you can save money and space by getting a four-in-one type that has a reversible shaft and bits.
Two saws are recommended, one for general woodcutting and a hacksaw for metals. For wood a standard handsaw will suffice. If you prefer, get the shorter version, which is a little easier to handle for people not accustomed to using one. There are two general types, a rip saw, which cuts with the grain of the wood, and a crosscutting saw. I recommend the crosscut saw: the teeth are finer, it's easier to control, and you can ripcut with it if necessary.
Round out your collection of hand tools with the following: adjustable pliers (a.k.a . Channel Locks, so named after the predominant manufacturer) that can adjust from zero to over three inches - very useful for plumbing repairs; a pair of lineman's pliers, which in addition to gripping can be used to cut wire; and a pair of needlenose pliers for gripping small objects. Add to these a utility knife with a retractable blade, a 16-foot tape measure (long enough to measure most rooms but light enough so that you don't list when carrying it in your pocket), a small T-square and a two-foot level.
Finally, the one power tool that everyone should have is a power drill. You can get an el cheapo quarter-inch drill for under $14, but in the instance of this tool I recommend spending a little more to get a 3/8-inch reversing drill. It is small enough to use easily, but powerful enough to do most jobs. By chucking in a magnetic bit holder, you can also use it to drive or remove screws. Also, you can purchase some more versatility by getting a model with a variable-speed trigger.
Comes now the question: how much will this cost? You can buy the above collection for under $130. If you are the sort who misplaces or looses stuff on a regular basis, or, even worse, lends tools, buy the cheap versions. Otherwise the quality of the tool should be determined by budget and frequency of projected use. If the family budget permits, his-and-her sets contribute enormously to marital harmony.
By adding cans of spray silicon, WD-40, Bondo (an epoxy filler for metal and wood), some duct tape, wood glue, Krazy Glue and, if you will, the old stand-bys of chewing gum, bobby pins and baling wire, you can fix virtually anything! (Warning: tool purchasing can be addictive! Do only in the company of a responsible adult!)
LENGTH: Medium: 73 linesby CNB