Excerpts

Introduction An enormous range of tools has developed over the ages. Some are complex and specialized, while others are exquisitely simple. A bartender, a brain surgeon, an ironworker each uses tools to serve their trade. Although this book does not encompass olive pitters, hemostats or drift pins, it does comprehensively cover a range of tools that you will need to build, improve, maintain and repair your home and belongings, as well as use for your hobbies or pastimes. In today's information era, people's interaction with their surroundings is more abstract and less hands-on than it was just a few decades ago. Even shopping for groceries and produce can be done from a computer. The desire to reconnect with the physical by making or fixing something, no matter how small, has fueled many to join the do-it-yourself revolution. Everyone, though, can benefit from understanding how hand and power tools are used, even if their tool kit amounts to only a screwdriver and a hammer in the kitchen drawer. It's the first step towards the ability to tackle a maintenance or improvement job yourself, rather than pay a professional or depend on someone else to do it for you. Sadly, many people do start at a disadvantage because they have not been taught how to use even the most basic of tools correctly. Those who were fortunate enough to have some instruction on the basics of household tools generally had the knowledge passed down to them by a relative or friend, or learned at school or through trial and error. It's a great way to learn, but Dad or your high school shop teacher might not be an authority on every tool. And even the most grizzled veterans have a few gaps in their knowledge. So whether you are a beginner or you just want to feel less intimidated by the choices and differences in tools when visiting the hardware store, this book provides a solid reference of information from which to start to understand what tool does what task best and why. With the huge rise in popularity of DIY work, it's increasingly common for private individuals to pick up where the pros leave off and undertake small-scale construction and renovation projects on their own. If you already have a firm base of skills to work from, Tools will help you pick up subtleties, tips and trivia to flesh out your knowledge, and you'll find plenty of information to refer to when it's time to expand your collection of tools. The resources found in this book can be used by everyone from architects and builders to Jane and Joe DIYer to get cutting-edge information on tools, equipment, materials, cost estimating, market trends and project planning. Lastly, a few words about the illustrations. The goal is to provide an image that accurately represents a tool or process, not to endorse or recommend any particular brand or specific product. Careful consideration will need to go into choosing the right tool for you, as you'll soon learn. Multinational brands, where possible, are included, but be aware that an individual company's product lines may vary from market to market, and from year to year. Excerpted from Tools: A Tool-by-Tool Guide to Choosing and Using 150 Home Essentials by Steve Dodds All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.