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Tools you'll need to be a do-it-yourselfer

OK, you didn't take shop in high school. But there's no reason you can’t become a confident do-it-yourselfer, tackling repair and improvement projects around the house. 

These days, more and more women are taking classes sponsored by hardware stores and continuing education centers, reading do-it-yourself manuals, checking out home-improvement Web sites and working apprentice-style with neighbors and friends who are in the know.
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"There is nothing worse than waiting for somebody else to fix your problem," maintains Lyn Herrick, a handywoman and author of The Woman’s Hands-On Home Repair Guide (Storey Books, 1997). "Why take a day off from work to wait around for someone who isn’t going to show up to fix your problem? Prices can be out of sight. You can save yourself time and money by undertaking the project yourself. There’s no reason to be intimidated. A lot of projects are actually easy to do and so satisfying to complete."

Of course, before you take on any household project, you must have the necessary tools on hand. Following is a list of basic items every do-it-yourself woman needs in her toolbox.

Fastening tools

Hammer: Whether you're hanging or building something, chances are you’ll need a hammer, and the most useful and versatile is the curved-claw hammer. You bang nails in with the flat side and pull them out with the curved-claw side. "Handles and weights come in a variety of sizes, but the 16–ounce hammer usually works well for most women," says Leslie Carlson, a spokesperson for The Home Depot.

Straight-slot and Phillips screwdriver sets: You won’t get very far tightening doorknobs, removing light-switch covers or inserting batteries in electronic gadgets without both types of screwdrivers in at least a few sizes. Straight-slot screwdrivers have a single, linear edge. Phillips screwdrivers are pointed at the tip with four curved notches that form an "x".

Portable electric drill with screwdriver attachment: Let’s face it: if you have 25 windows in your house and 25 shades to hang, you’ll do the job with more precision and less frustration if you have a power drill to make the necessary holes and a screwdriver attachment to work the screws in nice and tight. "It definitely gets the job done quicker, with less sweat and no carpal tunnel syndrome," says Herrick.

Costs: 
Hammer (curve claw, 16 oz.) $12–$15
Screwdriver set (six-piece, including two Phillips and four straight-slot screwdrivers) $4
Portable drill/driver $35–$45+

Gripping tools

Vise grips: "Vise grips are like pliers but handier," says Herrick. "You use them to loosen and tighten bolts. The difference is that vise grips squeeze shut without your having to hold them in place."

Pliers: Although vise grips reduce the need for pliers considerably, it’s a good idea to have a set of pliers available. "Pliers are a basic plumbing tool," says Carlson of The Home Depot. "They are helpful in tightening and loosening very small nuts and washers in faucets. And just try to put together a kid’s bike without one."

Wrenches: An adjustable wrench with an eight- or 10-inch handle is the most practical type. It can loosen and tighten nuts and bolts of a variety of sizes. However, adjustable wrenches can be bulky if you’re working in a tight space — so it’s helpful to have few open-end and socket wrenches in your toolbox, too.

Costs:
Vise grips $10–$15
Pliers (4-piece set) $10
Wrench (8- or 10-inch) $8

Cutting tools

Crosscut saw: "You never know when you’re going to have to saw the bottom off Christmas trees or prune a bush in the back yard," says Carlson.

Utility knife: The blades are retractable and replaceable. "You need it for cutting garden hoses, carpet, vinyl flooring and wallpaper projects," notes Carlson.

Costs:
Saw (15-inch crosscut with comfort handle) $19
Utility knife $4–$5

Miscellaneous items
Electrical and duct tape, measuring tape, putty knife, level, assortment of screws and nails.

Costs:
Toolbox (19-inch metal) $12
Measuring tape (25-ft., power tape) $10
Level (9-inch) $5–$10
Putty knife $3
Electrical tape (60 ft.) $1
Masking tape (60 ft.) $2

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