How to Put Together a Basic Handyman Workshop
The problem facing the do it your selfer is choosing . Not only is there a wide choice between different brands, but also a choice between buying and hiring tools which may be required only occasionally.
For the majority of straightforward DIY jobs you do not need a vast array of tools. The way to build up a comprehensive tool kit is to buy the very basics at the outset, and then obtain other tools as and when they are required. The most important rule is only to buy tools of the quality you need. Some very cheap tools are a false economy as they tend to wear quickly and are unlikely to give really good results.
One of the most useful and important tools in carpentry is a workbench. Having somewhere to do your joinery without having to clear the kitchen table makes life much easier…..and if you have a proper bench you can store your tools in it tidily and conveniently.
You can, if you like, construct your own workbench and then adapt it to your own special needs, but a proprietary foldaway workbench with integral vices and cramps, such as the Black and Decker Workmate, is very useful especially if you are short of space. Whatever type of bench you buy or make ensure that it is absolutely rigid and secure and that it can be adjusted to a comfortable working height.
A solid and secure vice is indispensable for securing timber and other items on which you are working, and G -cramps will help to secure longer lengths of work in addition to their normal duties.
Accuracy in measuring and cutting is reflected in the quality of your finished work so you should always buy the best and most robust measuring tools that are available in your price range.
Two types of rule are useful. A steel rule is the most accurate and can also be used as a straightedge and a cutting guide. A folding boxwood rule for general measuring in joinery work is also handy.
Buy a good quality and preferably long spirit level for checking levels and verticals. If you can afford it choose one with an adjustable glass which you can use for checking angles as well.
Accurate cutting is an essential requirement of almost every DIY job so a variety of reliable cutting tools is essential. The saws – a panel saw about 550mm long and a tenon saw about 250mm to 300mm long – are enough, though to separate rip and cross cut saws are better than a general purpose panel saw.
When buying a saw find out how many teeth (or points) the blade has per 25mm. The more teeth per 25mm the saw has, the harder the timber you can cut with it.
A hacksaw always comes in handy, and a junior hacksaw will cope with simple tasks such as cutting through rusty bolts and screws. A larger adjustable frame unit with a choice of different blades is far more versatile and can be used for heavier work.
Carpenters chisels are almost indispensable, but they must be looked after properly if they are to give the best results. A selection of three or four bevel edged chisels is the best choice for a basic tool kit.
Bench planes are available in a wide variety of types and sizes but an excellent basic choice is a unit about 250mm in length and about 50mm in width.
A block plane which can be used for finer cabinet work and for planing endgrain is a useful early addition to your kit, as is a handyman’s knife with inter changeable and replaceable blades.
Files and rasps for shaping and smoothing metals and timbers are a necessary part of any tool kit but because they are fairly expensive you should buy them only when you need them. From the wide variety of shapes and styles available a half round file is probably the best choice as it can be used for both flat work and concave work such as smoothing the inside of holes. Buy a rasp or dreadnought file for rough work and a finer bladed file which can be used with abrasive paper for finishing work.
A good selection of abrasive paper together with a rubber or timber sanding block is essential both for finishing timber and for preparing surfaces for painting and papering.
Glass paper is fine for most timber finishing while wet and dry paper is better suited to metal and glass fiber.
The most useful and versatile drilling tool that you can buy is a power drill. It is worth spending a little extra on a unit made by one of the more reputable manufacturers for which a full range of accessories is available. You can buy them as the need arises but it is worth buying a multi-speed drill at the outset so that you can use all accessories properly on both metal and masonry.
Drill bits can be bought as and when you need them although you can buy sets of drills quite cheaply.
The choice of hammers and screwdrivers is vast and you can spend a great deal of money buying tools that rarely, if ever, get used. For general work you can get by with three hammers, a claw hammer of around 680g, a 225g cross pein hammers and an engineer’s or ball pein hammer.
For joinery work and chiseling you will need a carpenter’s or joiner’s mallet. Choose one that is made of beech with a head about 150mm deep.
Screwdrivers must be correctly matched to the screwhead they are turning or you will end up damaging both. A comprehensive screwdriver kit which includes cross-head screwdrivers and both long and stubby flathead examples does not cost a great deal and can be used almost anywhere.
No quality tool is cheap but with proper care and maintenance your tool kit will probably outlive you. Be sure to store your tools neatly. A specially designed tool chest or rack will protect them from accidental damage as well as making them more accessible. Before putting tools away after use clean any dirt or grease off them and make sure they are dry, To protect them from rust apply a little light oil with a lint-free rag to the cutting edges and all other exposed metal surfaces.
Keep all machinery properly lubricated.
Check your hammer heads carefully before use. If the heads or faces are cracked or chipped replace them immediately as they could shatter and cause serious injury.
Check your screwdriver tips regularly to make sure that they are not burred or rounded over. If they show any signs of damage file them back into shape.
The tools most likely to need attention are the cutting tools. However well you look after them they will all need sharpening at some point.
Correct use of your tools cannot be over emphasized. Do not abuse them, look after them properly, resist the temptation to bodge a job with the incorrect tool and your tool kit will repay its purchase price many times over.
