Keeping Work Flowing with Toolbox Essentials
When you run a design web site a lot of the topics tend to be about fonts, posters, WordPress, templates and plugins and so forth. It is easy to forget that design is an all encompassing term that refers to so many real world instances and needs. Not so long ago we produced a feature on strange buildings for example. The real world has just as many design needs, as this feature on toolbox essentials articulates.
Design influences are found everywhere in the real world, from the way a painter refreshes the color on a living room to a gardener designing a rockery or outdoor seating area. All the way up in fact to top tier architects designing the next airport terminal or city bridge.
Most of us needing to carry out ordinary real world design activities won’t need to buy tools for anything near as complex as those kind of architectural design tasks. Our design needs and tool box essentials will be much more modest.
A lot of design tasks however are relatively simple by comparison. Every day design tasks such as those you might apply to DIY in the home or office. All of these activities need a collection of essential tools that it is so easy to forget about. These are they. As always a good tools and DIY guide will assist in choosing more specialist and costly tools.
Keeping Work Flowing with Toolbox Essentials
Having a toolbox full of essential kit for any and all jobs around the home everything from hanging a picture to putting your Ikea furniture up in double-time. Below we’ll list a few of the toolbox essentials everyone should have to hand:
The Dependable Electric Screwdriver
You may have a mini-screwdriver set hanging around from the Christmas Crackers, but it’s time to invest in the real deal for serious DIY jobs. An electric screwdriver will come complete with replaceable heads in various sizes ensuring that any job. From putting furniture together to removing screws, will be quick and easy. It is worth spending decent money on a good electric screwdriver.
Bang on with the Claw Hammer
Every toolbox needs a solid hammer and it helps to have one with a use other than driving nails in. The claw is perfect for pulling bent nails and screws out and a solid rubber grip to reduce shock absorption will come in handy.
Your Trusty Pliers
Needle-nose pliers, tongue-and-grove, and slip-joint pliers are all vital for the essential jobs you’ll be doing around the home. On top of using them for their intended purpose they can also be used as a clamp or wire cutter if you need them.
The Reliable Adjustable Wrench
Rather than having a set of ratchet wrenches, investing in an adjustable wrench will do all the jobs you’ll need it to – from loosening plumbing to tightening bolts.
The Essential Tape Measure
The humble tape measure will probably end up being your most used piece of kit. For everything from ensuring that furniture will fit in a room to measuring for new curtains, the tape measure will be your go to kit. Never go to a furniture store without the tape measure sitting safely in your back pocket.
The Retractable Knife
Just like the tape measure the retractable knife is one of those essential tools that cater to a multitude of useful tasks. When a sharp knife is needed, they don’t come sharper than a retractable knife. From cutting carpet to size to opening and dismantling boxes, the retractable knife is indispensable.
Using a Hacksaw
Last but not least is the reliable hacksaw. Unless you’ve got a lot of woodwork on your to-do list, a hacksaw is the only saw you’ll need. Small and handy, a hacksaw can cut through wood, plastic and metal and broken blades can be easily replaced making it indispensable.
You can find all of these tools and more in our dedicated Tools and PPE section of the site. Have we missed a piece of kit you can’t live without in your toolbox? Let us know in the comments below.
