Tools For the Handyman
Handypersons are skilled individuals who perform a wide range of tasks. They may work independently or for construction and repair service companies. Handyman Naperville IL also works in commercial and residential settings.
There is no education requirement to become a handyman. However, vocational schools or community colleges may offer courses that teach a specific craft.
Circular Saw
A circular saw is a versatile power tool that can make straight cuts on pieces of lumber. It can also be used to cut curved and long pieces. While this tool may seem intimidating, it is easy to use when you know the basic steps. Using this power tool safely can ensure that you get accurate and efficient cuts each time.
Before starting to work with a circular saw, learn about all of the features and functions that it offers. This can help you to determine if it is the right tool for the job at hand. Read through the unit’s entire owner’s manual and pay particular attention to any safety recommendations that it makes. You should also become familiar with the placement of the trigger and trigger lock switch, as well as the shoe, depth and bevel adjustment knobs and other important aspects of your unit.
Once you have mastered the general operation of your circular saw, it is time to start working on more complicated cuts. First, clamp down the workpiece so that it is secure and can’t move around while you are cutting. Then, make sure that the blade guard is in the locked position and is positioned over the workpiece when you are not using it. Some units have a lever that needs to be depressed to retract the blade guard; others simply need you to pull the trigger and hold your thumb over it to activate the feature.
Next, set the blade depth to no more than 1/4 inch below the thickness of the material you are cutting. Then, check the bevel angle to make sure that it is correct for the type of work you are doing. It is often best to set the blade at a bevel angle of about 15 degrees, which will allow the saw to easily cut into softer materials such as wood and plywood.
After completing the cut, take care to remove any sawdust and debris from the area and keep the workspace clean. This will help to prevent the buildup of dust, which can cause problems with the precision of your cuts. Also, make a point of lubricating the blade before every use to improve its performance and extend its lifespan.
Miter Saw
A miter saw is a tool that allows you to cut boards into specific lengths and angles. This is especially useful for fence builders, as they need to make hundreds of straight or angled cuts fairly quickly. This tool is also ideal for anyone who does a lot of woodworking or remodeling. This is because it can help you save time and energy by cutting multiple pieces of wood at the same time.
A good miter saw should be lightweight but durable. It should also have a comfortable handle and be easy to operate. It should also have a dust collection bag to minimize the amount of sawdust that is produced during use. Some models come with a stand that helps you keep the saw steady while you work on it. This makes it easier to cut long boards, and you won’t have to worry about the saw moving as you work.
Before using a miter saw, it’s important to read the user manual and get familiar with the different features. This includes the bevel adjustments, angle release trigger, and safety trigger. It’s also a good idea to practice on some scrap pieces of wood to see how the saw operates. Once you’re comfortable with the miter saw, it’s ready to be used on your actual projects.
There are a number of different types of miter saws on the market, so it’s important to pick one that is appropriate for your project. For example, if you’re working on a deck, a sliding compound miter saw is a great choice since it can cut both vertical base and crown molding. If you’re working on a smaller project, a miter box saw might be more suitable.
The DEWALT DCM590 is an excellent miter saw that’s designed to tackle a variety of projects. It has a powerful 15 amp motor and an innovative slide system that eliminates the need for rear clearance. It also has a laser mark system for cutting accuracy and can adjust the miter anger to zero up to 57 degrees. It also comes with a saw blade, dust bag, vice assembly and a box wrench.
Electrical Hand Sander
Power sanders make quick work of abrading surfaces for various woodworking and repair projects. They can strip paint or varnish in minutes, prepare a deck for staining, smooth out rough boards and a host of other tasks that would take much longer to do by hand with a block of sandpaper. These electric or battery-powered tools are also indispensable for sanding surfaces that are too steep or uneven to be smoothed by hand — such as stairs.
There are many different types of hand sanders, each designed to do a particular job. The sanding pads on some are round and fit snugly around the base of the tool, while others are rectangular or square and clip to the top of the unit. One type, called a palm sander, fits into the palm of the user’s hand and is easier to control on vertical or overhead surfaces than larger models.
Another type of hand sander has a random-orbital pad that moves in tiny circles or ‘obits’ and creates a very smooth finish. These are easy to control but are less effective than a belt sander, which is designed for heavy stock removal over large areas.
Some hand sanders have built-in dust collection bags to minimize the amount of dust that is produced, while others attach to shop vacuums or other external sanding systems. They are also available in variable speed settings to allow the operator to select a slower setting for cautious preliminary sanding or a faster setting to remove material more quickly.
A disk sander is another popular type of hand sander that attaches to a standard electric drill. It can be used on flat or concave surfaces but isn’t effective in tight corners. It has the added benefit of being able to use sanding discs that are held on with either hook-and-loop or peel-and-stick methods, making them less cumbersome to replace than a sheet sander.
A final handheld sander type is the oscillating multitool, made famous by Dremel and other brands. It can sand, grind and polish with attachments that are shaped like a small drum, a circular disk or burs. This is best suited for detail work and for getting into spaces that other types of sanders can’t reach.
Tape Measure
A tape measure is a standard tool that every Handyman needs in order to do his job. It’s a flat strip of metal or ribbon with linear-measurement markings that is typically made from either steel, nylon or fiberglass. It can be used for taking measurements of objects, spaces and distances, such as the length of a room or the outside of a deck. It can also be used to mark out dimensions on walls or surfaces for painting, framing or construction projects. Tape measures come in a variety of lengths, with the longest being about 25 feet long. Shorter tapes are more suitable for small-scale interior jobs like hanging artwork or measuring cabinets, while longer ones are better for large-scale tasks like framing rooms and building decks.
To use a tape measure, start at the beginning of the measuring area and move the hook along the edge of the tape until it hits the object or space you want to measure. Then, pull the tape out until it’s at the appropriate length and read the measurement. Most tape measures have both standard inches as well as metric (cm) units, and the numbers are easy to read. The biggest black numbers are the inch markings, and the small lines that appear between them indicate fractions of an inch. For example, 1/2 is equal to the space between two of the largest markings; 1/4 is half of 1/2; and 1/8 is half of 1/4.
When the tape measure isn’t labeled, you can still determine the measurement by finding the closest whole number and adding the remaining indicator lines together. For example, if the space between two inch marks is equal to one and a quarter inches, add that amount to the other number to get the measurement.
Be careful not to bend the blade of the tape measure when you’re using it. It may be tempting to do this when you’re measuring the inside of a space, but it will give an inaccurate reading and it damages the tape measure over time. If you have a retractable tape measure, never leave it extended and retracted at the same time because that will cause it to wear out prematurely.
