4 Must-Have Tools You Should Own To Create DIY Projects

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Are you itching to start a Do-it-yourself (DIY) project at home? If so, then you might need to know the basic, must-have tools that you should be on hand for absolutely any kind of DIY project. These are so basic that you might not be able to complete any of your DIY projects without these in your hands: a biscuit joiner, a hammer, screwdrivers, and a swiss army knife. Read on!  

  • Biscuit Joiner

Despite its name, you can’t join biscuits (the food) for a bigger snack with this tool. Also called a plate joiner, this woodworking tool is used to join two pieces of wood together. The advantage is that you only use glue and clamp to join the pieces of wood, and the joints are practically invisible.

Biscuit joinery is a method for joining boards along the edges (like the tongue and groove joint). Basically, slots are cut and beechwood wafers (or biscuits) are inserted to keep the boards together. This is very useful particularly when you want to create wide surfaces such as tabletops. The glue and the swelling of the beechwood biscuit will hold the boards in place.  

The biscuit joiner can benefit you in several ways:

  • Save time when lining up the centerline on your gauge. 
  • Trap bevel cuts. 
  • Reinforce narrow joints. 
  • Create perfect flushes to fit joints. 
  • Cut biscuits at the appropriate size. 

There are different types of biscuit joiners. For instance, there are variants that can remove panels while other models can connect metals. Remember to use appropriate keywords such as “biscuit joiner reviews” when looking for the right biscuit joiner for your DIY needs. 

  • Hammer

Hammers are used in a range of different DIY tasks. With a hammer in hand, you can do more than crack nuts or drive nails, brads, or fasteners into place. You can remove nails, fix uneven alignments of different pieces, dislodge parts, and fix small dents.

There are wood, metal, and plastic hammers available on the market. Each hammer has a unique trait that separates them from the rest. Some of the hammers you may need in your toolbox include:

  • Ball Peen Hammer – Used for rounding the edges of fasteners. Also, you can use this hammer for “peening,” which is a process to encourage strain on the surfaces of metals. 
  • Claw Hammer – A hammer with a claw at the back. Used for levering floorboards or other surfaces. 
  • Club Hammer – A hammer with a double-faced head. This model is ideal for domestic DIY tasks or for light demolition works. The hammer versions with wooden or rubber heads are called mallets.
  • Cross and Straight Pein – This variant is ideal for shaping metals. 
  • Tack Hammer – A hammer with two lengthy, claw-like heads. One of the heads should have a magnet that is excellent for driving and holding tacks.

Choose the right hammer for the appropriate job. One hammer might not be an excellent choice for all DIY operations. Select your hammers wisely, so you don’t have to make costly mistakes. 

  • Screwdrivers

A screwdriver is a handheld tool that is used to drive screws into wood or metal surfaces. This tool is common in many DIY workspaces. The sharp end of each type of screwdriver is shaped to match the grooves in each type of screw head. In short, if you’re not using the right screwdriver, then you can’t drive a specific screw. 

Because using this tool requires manual force, using the wrong screwdriver can cause damage to the screw head, to the work surface, or injury to your hand. Thus, you might need different types of screwdrivers at the ready in your DIY toolbox. Some of the screwdrivers you’ll need are:

    • Slotted Screwdriver – This tool can drive screws with a flat head or “minus” screws. You can also use this tool to open paint tins. 
    • Flared screwdriver – A screwdriver with a flattened tip and a wider-than-average shaft. 
    • Parallel screwdriver – This tool is similar to the design of flared screwdrivers, but its head has the same width as its shaft. 
    • Philips screwdriver – Also called the “star” screwdriver, this tool can drive screws sporting a star head. This DIY tool allows for excellent control and torque when used. 
    • Swiss Army Knife

Swiss army knives combine several user-friendly tools in one device. You can use this multi-tool device for several DIY projects such as table art, coasters, or necklaces. This pocket-friendly device has different tools, including:

  • Small and large blades
  • Nail file
  • Scissors
  • Magnifying lens
  • Can opener
  • LED light

Some Swiss Army knives even have a USB pen drive to help keep your computer files and media. 

Despite its flexibility and versatility, the tools in the Swiss Army knife are medium-sized at best. For example, you can use its built-in scissors to cut wallpaper but not to cut thick materials. 

These four tools should be part of your DIY toolbox. Use your biscuit joiner, hammer, screwdriver, and swiss army knife to complete various DIY projects. Remember to choose the right type of your chosen tool. For example, a cross-head screwdriver can’t drive a flathead screw. Let this post remind you of the different devices you need for specific DIY tasks so you won’t make costly or painful mistakes.