It might be a lingering lockdown effect, but official data shows that DIY sales are still buoyant in the UK. After all, lots of us are now spending more time at home thanks to remote working. So, it’s no surprise that we want to create spaces that we can work, relax, or socialise in. The important thing, however, is making sure you have the tools you’ll need for your next project. And you may be glad to know that some of the ‘cheapest’ tools can prove be the most useful.
Hammer
Ah, the trusty hammer. There are no airs and graces about this bit of kit. It is designed for a broader range of tasks than it may be given credit for. Sure, hitting nails into walls and other materials is the ‘famous’ one. But a hammer – particularly those with longer handles – are an important tool to own if you need to break or demolish something. At their most basic, it isn’t hard to find hammers and mallets that give you change from a five-pound note either.
Crocodile Clips
Not the first tool that springs to mind, but crocodile clips have several uses for DIY projects – and not just the home improvement kind. A key role for this specific tool is to create electrical connections. You might, for example, need to test or repair one of your domestic devices. But other uses include craftwork – not least if you need to clamp materials together while they are being measured or glued together. You can even use them as homemade lanyard clips.
Screwdriver
Like a hammer, there’s no mystery with a screwdriver. You can now get a variety of powered screwdrivers, but manual ones are often cheaper – and just as effective. As long as you have one that matches your screw head (e.g., flat or cross-head), it’s a quick and effective way for anyone to join two surfaces together. If you happen to make a mistake, no worries – you can just as easily bring the screw back out in much the same way it went in.
Stanley Knife
A Stanley knife is one example of how a specific brand can dominate the marketplace for one product – similar to, say, Tannoy and public address systems. Otherwise known as utility and pocket knives, these tools can make light work of any cutting job that you’re taking on. Need your carpet to fit a particular space? Got thin plywood that you’d like to cut? Or maybe you’re looking for an effective option for lightweight craft materials? If so, this is a must-have tool.
Cordless Drill The rise of cordless power tools is making it even easier to get started with DIY projects. The growth of this market also means that you can find cheap options – such as a cordless drill – that’ll serve you well for many years. They typically have three functions, depending on what model you choose: drilling to create holes, driving screws for when a screwdriver won’t quite do, and ‘hammering’ – a mode of drilling involving harder materials like stone or concrete.
