Hand Tools
A good assortment of hand tools is a staple of every home. Minor repairs and small projects can be accomplished by the homeowner with hand tools, saving considerable sums of money on professional repairs and purchases of replacements for items that are perfectly repairable. The basic hand tools set is not expensive.
Hammer, screwdrivers of various types, a set of metric and Imperial wrenches, a hand wood saw and hacksaw, and pliers constitute the core of a basic hand tools set. More esoteric hand tools for specific repair jobs are optional; you can pretty much do anything around the house with these hand tools.
Hand garden tools include trowel, rake, spade, pitchfork, pruning shears, a cultivator, and perhaps seed and fertilizer spreaders. Many fancy hand garden tools are sold to make the basic jobs of cultivating, weeding, planting, and pruning more efficient. A good pair of gardening gloves and knee pads are also hand garden tools.
Stanley Works tools are a popular, high-quality brand of hand tools. Craftsman Tools, sold through Sears, are of medium quality and price, as are the SK Tools brand.
Hand power tools useful around the home include Black & Decker, Craftsman, and Dremel brands.
The dedicated home handyman will want more sophisticated hand tools such as socket wrench sets, circular saws, a hand power drill, electric sander, and other woodworking hand tools.
Construction hand tools include things such as rivet guns, mortar trowels, pipe benders and cutters, and table saws. These tools are useful mainly on new construction but are also used in remodeling do-it-yourself projects.
Metal hand tools are the norm, but many hand tools are made of softer plastics and natural materials such as wood and rubber. Mallets used in woodworking shops are generally made of a hard, dense wood such as lignum vitae; the idea is to avoid scratching fine furniture with metal. Static electricity is also a consideration when working around flammable materials such as gasoline, varnish, etc. Metal hand tools can be hazardous in such conditions.
Japanese hand tools are popular among woodworkers, who prize the simplicity and efficiency of pull saws and thin, flexible tools designed for fine working of woods and bamboo. Exploring hand tools of different cultures can lead to elegant solutions to vexing hobby and home repair problems. It is worthwhile to look beyond the shelves of big-box retailers to the world of specialty woodworking and crafting stores, online or on Main Street.