Choosing the Right Tool & Storage

The next time you go shopping for hand or power tools, buy well-known brands with warrantees.Should a hand tool break under normal use, you want to be able to walk into the store with a defective tool and walk out with a new one. If a new power tool fails to perform, you want to know, you can get it repaired or, in some cases, replaced.

• Don't expect a light-duty tool to do a heavy-duty job. If you suspect that a tool you are considering is not sturdy enough for the jobs you have in mind, discuss it with a hardware associate. He or she can advise you on what is the right tool for the right job.
• Save the original package, receipt and all packing materials, should you need to return the tool.
• When removing a tool from its package or carton, don't lose the owner's manual, instructions or any other printed material. You've already lost them? If you do not have the original instructions or an owner or user's manual, you may be able to obtain the needed information from the manufacturer of the tool.
• If a packing list or parts list is enclosed with a tool, check it against what you actually received.
• Before you undertake your first project, read the owner's manual, instructions or other literature from beginning to end.
• Do not, under any circumstances, remove the grounding prong from a power tool's plug. If you don't have grounded receptacles buy a three-prong adapter.
• You can help preserve the appearance of some metal tools, by giving them two coats of a good quality auto polish. However, don't polish the handle grip area, as this may cause dangerous slipping.
• Tools should be stored in a dry area, because dampness can damage most tools. Power or hand tools, that don't come with a carrying case, should be stored in a toolbox or tool cabinet. To help control moisture, ask your pharmacist to save you some silica gel packets, that are packed with many bulk drugs, to absorb moisture, or buy silica gel, such as in Dri-Z Air Products units, which you will find in the Housewares department at OSH.

Here are a few suggestions of the basic tools, you should have:

But first, buy safety products, such as break-resistant safety goggles or eyeglasses with side protection; disposable or replaceable-filter dust mask(s); and soft earplugs, also known as acoustic-abatement devices. (Look for the NRR -- Noise Reduction Rating -- on packages. I buy the highest rating I can get.) Well-fitting work gloves can improve grip and save hands from scratches, scrapes, splinters, etc., but gloves, that don't fit well can be a hazard, as they don't allow good grip, finger movement and could get caught in a power tool (never wear gloves when operating a table, miter or radial arm saw). Last, but not least, don't forget a small first-aid kit.

Screwdrivers: Buy ones with comfortable, slip-resistant handles and tips. Consider buying an assortment of standard (slotted) and Phillips tips. For starters, buy one No. 2 Phillips head and one each of standard-tip screwdrivers with a 1/8-inch wide tip and that match No. 6, 8 and 10 slotted screws. In addition, "Stubby" (short-handled) screwdrivers are also worth considering, because they are handy for working in tight places.

Pliers: Consider buying three pair: Slip-joint, long nose and diagonal-cutting pliers. Locking grip pliers would also be a useful addition to a tool collection, but watch out for cheap, off-brands.

Wrenches: One 8-inch and one 10-inch adjustable wrench should serve most needs.

Saws: An eight- or 10-point (eight or 10 teeth to the inch) crosscut saw, 24 to 26 inches long. If toolbox or cabinet length or space is a problem, buy a crosscut saw with a shorter blade. A hacksaw will also come in handy. Carefully coat the sharp teeth of a saw with car wax. It not only offers some corrosion protection to the blade, but you'll find that sawing will be a bit easier.

Combination Square: Essential for measuring and drawing lines. One with a bubble level in the handle is handy.

Measuring Tape: 16 to 25 feet long. Shorter than 16-feet won't be long enough to measure some room sizes. Yellow blades with large numerals are the easiest to read. Locking, easily retractable blade and a belt clip on the case are necessities. Coating the blade with car wax (and wiping away the residue) adds a bit more protection against corrosion, plus blades seem to be easier to wipe clean and retract better.

Carpenter's Level: 24-inch. Choose from a bubble type or electronic, depending on how much you want to spend. If you choose a bubble level, check its accuracy, before you buy it by placing it on a level or near-level horizontal surface. Note where the bubble is. Rotate the level 180 degrees, so that you are looking through the opposite window. The bubble should be in the same location. Turn the level over and repeat the process. Do the same test on a vertical surface. If the bubble is always in the same spot as you rotate the level, it's accurate. If not, test another.

Parts Picker: When you depress a button at one end of a flexible rod, small fingers extend from the other end to aid in retrieving parts from hard-to-reach locations. A parts picker makes a great gift, because it's handy to have, when the need arises.

Utility Knife: My favorite is one with a comfortable, non-slip grip, a retractable blade and easy-access blade storage.

Claw Hammer: Hammers fit an individual like a shoe. A hammer should have a slip-resistant handle, that feels comfortable to swing. 16-ounce is the most common.

Power Tools: A knowledgeable hardware person can be quite helpful in making a selection. In addition, the quality and performance of some tools has been rated by consumer magazines.

Miscellaneous: Flashlight, carpenter's pencil, small wire-bound notepad, shop rag, inexpensive paintbrush for dusting, disposable rubber or latex gloves, duct tape, electrical tape, carpenter's wood glue, an assortment of sandpaper, an emery (fingernail) board (works well for small sanding jobs) and a permanent felt pen. For temporary repairs (or, in some instances, permanent), buy a small coil or roll of flexible 18-gauge wire. I find toothbrush-size nylon-, brass- and stainless steel bristle- brushes handy, as well as a few cotton or fiber-tipped applicators (Q-Tips). Don't forget a small container of an all-purpose lubricant (a spray can with a durable cap will be least likely to leak, or place a small dispenser can of oil inside a plastic medicine or similar break-resistant container).

And where do you store the tools?: In a Toolbox or Tool cabinet. Select a box or cabinet, that's long enough to hold saws and a level, as well as large enough to hold twice the number of tools, that you will likely store. This allows for future additions. Personally, in tote toolboxes I prefer a strong, impact-resistant plastic case, because they are lighter than metal and resist denting, paint chipping and rusting.

Place a piece of heavy-duty rubber mat in the bottom of a toolbox or the bottom of each cabinet drawer, which helps to absorb noise. If you do buy a metal cabinet, give it a couple of coats of car wax (jnside the drawers as well as the exterior) before filling it.

The PLUMBING tools you may need will vary from location to location and from job to job. A good book on home plumbing can not only aid you in completing a plumbing project, but also list the tools, you will need.

Basic electrical tools aren't as site specific as plumbing tools. Here are a few to consider:

Neon Voltage Tester: This device tests for voltage. One probe is placed on a live wire or terminal and the other probe to ground or neutral. If the neon lamp lights, you know you have voltage. If the light doesn't light, you probably don't have voltage present. (Be aware that, although unlikely, you could be using a defective tester.)

Continuity Tester: This battery-powered tool helps locate breaks in wires. If a wire isn't broken, a light in the tester will light.

Multi-Tester or Volt-OHM-Milliammeter (VOM): This checks for both voltage and continuity, and could be used in place of a neon voltage and a continuity tester.

Circuit or Receptacle Analyzer: A basic one should do the job. It plugs into a receptacle and will indicate, if there is power, if the wiring is correct and if the receptacle is properly grounded.

Screwdrivers: A 3/8-inch wide slotted screwdriver and one each of #1 and #2 Phillips heads should meet the needs for most home wiring jobs.

Lineman's Pliers: A basic tool of electricians, which is used to bend or twist wires together and cut both wires and nonmetallic sheathed (NM) cable.

Needle-Nose Pliers: These are used to bend wires, when connecting to terminals.

Diagonal Wire Cutters: Buy quality and choose a pair, that will cut up to #6 wire. Inexpensive wire cutters may have blades, that wear out prematurely.

Wire Strippers: Professionals often strip wires using a knife blade, because they know what they're doing. When do-it-yourselfers use a knife, they often nick a wire, which weakens it. A pliers-type wire stripper allows you to choose a size-marked hole for stripping. Adjustable wire strippers adjust to strip a particular gauge of wire.

Cable Ripper: You will need one, if you will be working with nonmetallic sheathed (NM) cable (commonly known by the brand name Romex) used in most home wiring.

Consider only using screwdrivers, pliers and cutters with insulated handles, that are rated for working with electricity. DON'T assume, that a plastic-coated handle offers shock protection. Insulated tools will be labeled such.

Buy a large heavy-duty plastic toolbox, to hold your wiring tools and supplies. I bought two adhesive-backed letter E's, stuck them on each end of my toolbox, so that I grab the right toolbox, when I want my electrical tools and supplies and not a collection of plumbing tools. (I also have a similar box with a P on each end for plumbing tools, and another box with T's, which is about as clever as I get in naming a box full of tools for general home maintenance.)

You will also need an assortment of supplies for your electrical toolbox, such as electrical tape, different sizes of wire connectors - wire nuts (always use the correct size for the wires you are connecting), one or more books on home wiring, rubber gloves for additional shock protection, and my consistent recommendation, when working with tools, protective eyeglasses or goggles.

Regardless of the tools you buy, remember that good tools will help to produce good work.