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| Eden Clark and Heidi Baker, whose mission is to inspire women to tackle home improvement and overcome any obstacle in their homes, courtesy of www.Be-Jane.com. |
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What's
In Your Toolbox?
by Heidi Baker & Eden Clark
used by permission of www.Be-Jane.com
Every woman needs a good tool box - and smart women know
that having a few well-stocked core items such as the right
hammer, screwdriver, and drill can make all the difference
when it comes to simple "do it yourself" needs around
the house.
Following is a list of the seven essential tools needed for
a basic tool box:
- Tape measure - Select a tape measure
that is a minimum of 35 feet in length and that features
a wider blade so that you can extend the tape measure out
to more than 10 feet, without it loosing rigidity. This
enables the user to do more measuring work, on their own,
without the assistance of a partner. It's also important
to find a model that offers a blade with a protective coating
on, at least, the first 12 inches. The reason
why this is
so important is that this is the section of the tape measure
that receives the most use, and if you lose the ability
to see the exact measurement within that distance, you'll
need to purchase a new one. We recommend the 35' Fat Max
Blade Armor made by Stanley Tools.
- Hammer - Select a model that weighs a
minimum of 16 oz. to allow for extra force when using it.
Also, we suggest using a hammer with a fiberglass handle,
rather than a wood handle, due to the fact that typically
fiberglass handles tend to have a rubber grip that will
allow for better comfort and greater shock absorption. If
you can find all of these qualities, along with a curved
claw feature, you've found the ideal hammer. (The curved
claw helps to remove previously set nails easiest.) Stanley
Tools manufactures and sells a number of suitable hammers
using this design.
- Multipurpose Screwdriver - This type
of design allows for all styles of screwdrivers in one. Typically,
there are many different types of heads you can add on to
the shaft of the screwdriver to make it function as a Phillips
head, flathead, or even, sometimes, as an Allen wrench.
We recommend the Multi-bit Ratchet Screwdriver from Tomboy
Tools. It comes with 10 different bits and a magnetic extension,
which allows for easy placement.
- Adjustable wrench - The key to getting
the most leverage out of a wrench is the length of the handle.
We recommend a wrench with a handle of a minimum of nine
inches. With regard to the size of the wrench opening (which
is also an important feature), you'll want something that
will be able to grab on to a piece of paper as well as a
2½" piece of plywood. Knowing this we suggest
you consider the Sears RoboGrip pliers with a V notch that
adjusts itself around any item and offers easy "one-handed"
use.
- Level - A level can be used for numerous
home improvement and maintenance projects of varying degrees
of difficulty. The laser level is the newest invention -
it has made the art of drawing a straight line on any wall
a breeze. Our favorite model is the Ryobi MultiTaskit which
comes with many other attachments besides the laser itself.
It adheres to the wall with a vacuum seal that won't create
any permanent marks or holes (most models need to be hammered
or thumb tacked in). It makes it easy for the user to accurately
line up any number of different projects.
- Stud Finder - A stud finder enables the
user to know exactly where to drill a hole or where to place
a nail so that it will end up squarely into the stud and
offer the most stability and strength. What's wonderful
about some of the new advancements in this technology is
that the latest stud finder models alert the user if they
are over a water line or electrical wiring. These products
provide a sneak peak into what is behind the walls, without
ever having to make an unsightly hole. Our preferred stud
finder is the Zircon Multiscanner Onestep - it allows the
user to locate studs, metal pipes and even hot wires and
plastic conduit.
- Cordless Drill - One of the most important
things to remember when purchasing a cordless drill is that
it comes with two batteries so that you'll never run out
of power in the middle of a critical job. Two other criteria:
Select a drill that is lightweight, but one that also offers
enough power to deliver results for easy, as well as more
difficult, jobs. For this reason, we recommend selecting
a cordless drill that provides a minimum of 12 volts. (The
reason to not select a yet higher voltage is that the greater
the voltage, the heavier the unit - a factor which becomes
prohibitive for women using the drill for longer periods
of time. Working over-head with a heavy drill is extremely
tiring.) We suggest that users chose the Ryobi 12V Cordless
Drill / Driver Kit. This package offers all the above mentioned
features, as well as a magnetized area on the base of the
drill that helps users to keep track of screws.
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