Tools For a Professional Handyman
A handyman is a professional who performs repairs and upgrades on homes. They can be self-employed or work for construction and repair service companies. Nashville Handyman is familiar with the tools needed to perform each job. This will help them to create estimates and quotes that are accurate and fair.
A cordless driver can be a lifesaver when tackling bigger DIY jobs such as installing decking, roof timbers, or even building a shed. They are also excellent at driving screws much more quickly and efficiently than a standard drill/driver.
Essentially they are similar to a regular cordless drill/driver but substitute the normal keyless chuck for one that takes hex-shanked driver bits. They are also typically smaller, lighter and more powerful than a regular cordless drill.
They can also be fitted with a range of accessories such as brushes for heavy-duty cleaning, stirrers for paint, rotary sanders and hole saws to help tackle a wide range of tasks. Some models can even be used in a hammer mode but this should be avoided with fasteners as it will damage both the driver bit and the fastener.
If you’re looking to purchase a new cordless impact driver the key factors to consider are its torque (twisting force), speed settings and battery power. Ideally it should have a variable speed trigger which will allow you to vary the rotational power of the tool. It should also have a rubberized handle to ensure a good grip and reduce vibration between the tool and your hand and arm to minimise fatigue.
- Chalk Line
A chalk line is a handy tool that makes it easy to mark straight lines on surfaces. It consists of a body (also known as a chalk box) that contains colored, powdered chalk and a reel of taut string that you pull out and snap against the surface to mark a straight line.
The line can be used to draw lines on a wide variety of surfaces, and it’s especially useful when marking angles on plywood boards. It’s also great for creating vertically straight (also called plumb) lines. Some models come with a hook at the end that can be attached to nails or protrusions, while others have a ring to attach them to ledges or cracks. The best chalk lines have an aluminum, stainless steel, or heavy-duty plastic case to resist corrosion and drops.
Choose a chalk line with the right amount of chalk capacity and a comfortable handle to grip while working. Some have traditional reels with a hand crank, while others have automatic rewind. Some also have nested hook docks, extra-wide prong hooks, and anti-jam spools. You can find them in a variety of colors, including black, red, yellow, blue, and violet. Some are more durable than others, and black and red last the longest, while neon yellow and violet fade more quickly.
- Claw Hammer
A staple tool in any handyman’s arsenal, the claw hammer is used for pounding and pulling nails. It’s important that you choose a hammer with a head and handle designed to withstand impact, especially since this is one of the hardest-hitting tools in your arsenal. It’s also important that you stand up straight and apply the right amount of force when pounding, so you don’t strain your muscles or cause injury to yourself or others.
Claw hammers have a striking face on one end for driving in fasteners and a curved claw on the other to pull out nails. They come in a variety of weights, materials and head and handle designs.
The standard claw hammer has a smooth face, although many users prefer to roughen it up with an abrasive surface before starting work. A hickory or ash handle can provide extra strength and durability, but you can also find fiberglass or metal handles as well.
A framing claw hammer is designed specifically for timber framing and other heavy construction projects. They’re heavier than a finishing hammer and have a slightly different head design to accommodate the added leverage needed to pull nails. Framing hammers also have flatter claws with less of a curve, which provides more leverage for pulling nails but may not fit as snugly in the gap between wood or other materials.
- Tape Measure
There’s no doubt a tape measure is one of the most important tools a handyman has. It’s used to take accurate measurements and it’s also helpful when marking surfaces.
Most tape measures have imperial measurement markings on the top and metric measurements on the bottom of the blade. The smallest increments on an imperial tape measure are known as sixteenths. This means that the shortest line on the tape measures 1/16 of an inch.
When taking internal measurements with a tape measure, it’s important to use the housing for support rather than bending the end hook over an object. This prevents the tape from bending and gives you an accurate measurement.
The metal tip on the end of most tape measures has a nail slot and scribing tool. This isn’t a manufacturing error: It’s designed to allow you to hook the end of the tape to a nail or screw and then mark your surface if you don’t have any other tools at hand.
Similarly, the end of the hook on many pocket tapes is serrated. This allows you to scribe into a surface with the edge of the hook if you’re using the tape to mark a length of wood.
- Pliers
Pliers are one of the most essential tools that every handyman should own. There are many types of pliers with different functions, and the right pliers will make it easier to perform tasks such as gripping objects, cutting wires, and tightening or loosening nuts.
The basic pliers consist of a pair of handles, a pivot (usually formed by a rivet) and the head section with the gripping jaws or cutting edges. The surface of the jaws may be smooth, serrated, or coated with a plastic material to provide different levels of comfort and grip. Some pliers have sections called cutters, which are used to cut wires and other materials.
A common type of pliers is the slip joint pliers, which have a fixed pivot point and allow their jaws to open wider or narrower depending on the object they are gripping. These pliers can be used for holding, crimping metal, and looping wire and are particularly useful for gripping and tightening bolts.
Another useful type of pliers is the wire-cutting pliers, which have a special pair of blades that can slice through hard or brittle wire. The angled heads on these pliers also help them reach into narrow areas that standard pliers cannot. There are also unique pliers such as the nail puller pliers, which have standard-looking jaws but feature serrated teeth to grip nails and a curved head for reaching into tight spaces.
- Multi-Bit Screwdriver
A handyman needs a tool that can handle various screw head sizes and shapes, but doesn’t require carrying a full set of separate tools. Multi-bit screwdrivers come with multiple bits attached to one driver and allow a single tool to loosen or tighten screws of different sizes. They are commonly used for electronics and household appliances, but can also be found among mechanics fixing vehicles.
Some models feature a rotary tool that allows the user to choose the appropriate bit for the job. Others are equipped with a magnet to ensure the correct bit is in place while driving or unscrewing, and have different securing methods such as a locking system.
These devices often come with spare bits stored in the handle to help prevent loss and ease access for frequent use. Some models also have the additional feature of an insulated shaft, which can be placed in the handle to provide protection from static electricity build up that can damage delicate electronic components.
Another option is a foldable multi-bit screwdriver that has two different size tips that are able to be flipped out from the body. When not in use, these tools fold back into the handle and can be easily stored in a pants pocket or tool pouch.
- Chisels
Chisels are hand-held tools that have sharpened, shaped edges that cut into wood, metal or stone. They are categorized by the type of material they are used for and there are many different sizes and blade shapes designed for specific cutting and sculpting tasks. Some chisels are meant to be struck with a mallet or hammer while others are only used for hand pressure.
There are several types of chisels for each job but most are made from hardened and tempered tool steel. They are divided into three classes: wood, metal and stone based on the type of work they are used for. Within each class, there are a number of different sizes and blade shapes for specific jobs.
Wood chisels have handles made of wood or plastic and a parallel sided steel blade that tapers to a very sharp edge. They can be carved into wood to create a variety of textures and designs. They can also be used to cut grooves or mortise and tenon joints in wood pieces that join adjacent materials. Wood chisels should be periodically dressed to avoid mushrooming of the head. If a chisel starts to mushroom, it should be replaced as soon as possible to prevent injuries to fingers or other parts of the body.
