Repsol YPF
Ruta
A complete tool box
Every home should have a series of tools for tackling common building, carpentry, plumbing, electrical, decorating and general DIY tasks.
It is not essential for a consumer to kit himself out with the latest tool set or to add a DIY kit with departments, drawers and small sections containing all of the tools required to perform some domestic tasks to his shelf. Content is more important than the container, and as such it does not matter whether the tools are kept in wooden, plastic or cardboard boxes from the supermarket. It is fundamentally important that the consumer has the basic tools to resolve unexpected issues, repair simple faults and perform simple decorating tasks. It is also important to have good quality tools. In this case the maxim is clear: quality takes precedence over quantity.
Scissors, carpenter’s pencils, a Stanley knife, adhesive and insulation tapes, tape measures, several types of glue, fixing elements (Rawl plugs, screws, nuts, spikes, nails, hooks, staples…) cables, and some basic tools –detailed below- are essential for hanging things up, cutting wires, unscrewing nuts and screws, removing nails, making holes, repairing a dripping tap… and other unexpected issues which can arise in the home.
Basics
The essential tools are: a hammer, pliers, a set of screwdrivers, some pincers and a metallic tape measure. The first can be used to hammer in all kinds of securing elements and at the same time, if it has claws, it makes it easier to remove tacks, nails and other accessories. Pliers are used to cut cables and unscrew nuts. They are sold in many shapes and sizes, but what are known as universal pliers, which are medium-sized, are the most highly recommended. Screwdrivers are fundamental for removing and tightening screws. It is advisable to have a full set containing different sized flat and Phillips screwdrivers. Pincers are used to cut wire and to remove tacks and nails. Finally, the metal tape measure allows you to measure accurately on any surface. Ideally it should not be less than five metres in length.
Recommended items
Recommended items are the next step up in the DIY scale. Without them, you cannot hang up objects on the wall, complete wood work or assemble shelves and furniture. This level includes: a carpenter’s square, electric drill and bits, accessories for sanding and polishing, saws and a spirit level.
The carpenter’s square enables you to check whether a piece of furniture is squared, and can also be used for measuring and tracing angles. The electric drill is essential for making holes in surfaces (walls, metal, wood…), and it is also used for cleaning, polishing and screwdriving. Nowadays, a good electric drill can replace other traditional tools that were previously used to tackle the abovementioned tasks. However, a certain amount of skill is required to achieve a good result. Otherwise, it is preferable to use the manual tools. There are many kinds of drill available on the market, with all sorts of elements and specific accessories to complete and optimise the job, but which also increase the price. For domestic use, it is sufficient o buy a reversible drill that incorporates percussion, speed control and has a minimum power of 500 watts. Where the drill bits are concerned, it is advisable to have those that are most frequently used, such as those which are used on building materials and wood.
Sanding and polishing accessories include sandpaper, steel wool, files and rasps. With these four elements you can achieve a perfect polish which will then make the task of applying a finish (varnish, paint, waxes…) much easier. It is highly advisable to have a range of grit sizes, so that you can start the work with the thickest and continue with the intermediate and finish with the finest.
Saws are essential tools for cutting rails, frames, plastic, metal and wood. It is sensible to have a backsaw, a traditional carpentry tool which offers a high level of accuracy when cutting planks, rails and frames, and a metal saw for cutting metal and plastic.
The spirit level is used to assess the horizontal or vertical nature of an item. Consequently, it is highly useful when assembling shelves and pieces of furniture, as well as for correctly hanging structures on walls.
Related articles:
Most read
