Quality hand tools do have a much higher price tag, but take it from me — if you buy well the first time, you will save a lot of money, trouble and frustration in the long run. Once you own a few quality tools, there are all kinds of tips and tricks to use them efficiently and successfully. For example, you don’t need to have every single size of screwdriver or wrench ever made. If you have three or four sizes, you can do most of the tasks in house around the tools you have. Take care of your tools Good tools can be quite an investment, but if you take good care of them, they’ll return the favor. Keeping your tools properly stored, cleaned, and maintained will save you time and money and make your DIY endeavors that much more rewarding. We’re mostly talking about hand tools, power tools, and garden tools in this article, but much of the same advice applies whether your tools of choice are kitchen knives, crafting tools, or whatever else. Store them well, keep them clean and well-maintained, and you won’t be sorry. 3. Store Your Tools Properly You have to work with the space you have. Maybe you hang them on pegboards, maybe you store them in boxes, bags, or chests, or maybe you keep them in drawers or on shelves in your shop. Whatever works for you is best. Toolboxes probably are the best solution for tool storage, offering the primary advantage of portability. While some people opt to store all their tools in toolboxes, for most, the toolbox is a way of carrying around your most-used tools while leaving the bulk safely stored on pegboards, shelves, or drawers. No matter what you’re doing, though, you can build a well-equipped toolbox for every level of DIY needs.
Keep your tools in a dry place. It seems obvious, but garages and basements and other enclosed spaces can have humidity issues, especially if they are not heated or air-conditioned. If you keep your tools in a location like this, especially if you keep them out on shelves or pegboards, consider investing in a dehumidifier to keep the dampness down. They’re not terribly expensive, especially compared to your investment in your tools, and most let you set a humidity level so the dehumidifier turns on only when it needs to. Store power tools in their original cases. Unless you have a climate-controlled workshop, your best bet for storing power tools in the hard plastic cases they usually come with. Not only are they better-protected from humidity, they’re just better-protected in general.
Clean Your Tools After Every Use
Cleaning your tools may be the last thing you want to do after a day of work, but it’s essential for keeping your tools in good shape. And it really only takes a few seconds per tool unless you’ve got something really nasty on your hands. It’s well-worth the time spent doing a little cleaning to save the time spent repairing a tool (or the money spent replacing it) later. Hand tools: You can clean most hand tools by simply wiping them down with a rag. If they’re dirty, don’t be afraid to give them a good wash with soap and water. Just dry them well afterward. Spritz metal with a light coat of WD-40 and wipe with a clean rag (you really just want to leave a light film on them to help keep the rust away). Wipe wooden handles with a rag dampened with a little linseed oil. Power tools: Power tools are a little trickier to clean. First, make sure the tool is unplugged before you clean it. Next, you’ll want to get all the dust off. An air compressor can be really useful for that. Wipe down the surface of the tool and then lubricate any moving parts. Machine oil is a fine choice for this, but you should also check the manual that came with the tool to see if they have better recommendations. While you’re at it, don’t forget that your toolboxes, belts, and bags will need some care as well. Clean out your toolboxes every once in a while by emptying them and wiping them down. If you’ve got leather belts and bags, you’ll want to condition the leather once in a while.
Inspect Your Tools Every Time You Use Them
We’re going to assume you use your tools safely. You wear goggles and gloves when you should and you follow the safety protocols recommended for your power tools. But taking the time to inspect your tools every time you use them is one of the most important things you can do to ensure not only your safety while using them, but the longevity of your tools as well. If a wooden handle is damaged, it is prone to breaking during use, which can cause injury to you or others. If a handle is not spintered too badly, you can probably sand it down just fine. Sand against the grain first if the handle is really rough and then sand with the grain until it’s smooth enough you can run your hand along it without feeling any chips or splinters. Finish off with a coating of linseed oil. However, if the handle is cracked or heavily splintered, you’ll need to replace it. Depending on the level of corrosion or rust, the tool may be unsafe to use.
Try removing the rust yourself or just replacing the tool. Removing rust from tools is actually pretty easy if the damage isn’t too great. If a power tool has anything more than a simple hairline crack on the housing, don’t use it. Unless you have the expertise to repair it, you’ll need to get it repaired by a professional. Taking care of your tools does require a bit of a commitment, but you ask so much of them it seems a small price to pay. Especially when a well-cared-for tool can reward you with so much DIY goodness.
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