The Necessary Tools of the Handyman
With all the single women and even married women who see little of their husbands with today's busy life style, let's put a little different spin on this and refer to the tools of the "Handywoman." I found the following to be most useful in my personal journey from "Ditzy Chick" to "Handywoman".

The three items that I find to be absolutely essential are:

1. A Cordless drill with a battery charger and a variety of drill bits and screwdriver bits. Plus, a two to three inch metal cylinder, that extends the length of the drill bit for hard to get at places. Also it makes it easier to change bits. They can be popped in and out of the thingamabob without having to unscrew it from the drill. I've also found a drill to be useful as an electric mixer in an emergency situation. Just insert one of the beaters in the drill. I discovered this use just after I had moved and couldn't find my electric mixer. My granddaughter, who was staying the night remembered at the last minute, that she was supposed to make a cheese cake as a school assignment and take a picture of it for class. The picture of the cake and her holding the drill turned out great. Worked almost as well as the regular mixer.

2. Duct tape. The uses of duct tape are legend. Use your imagination and creativity when you need something fixed quickly and no doubt you will find a way duct tape can save the day. You don't have to buy the boring gray. It comes in decorator colors, red, yellow, purple and even hot pink.

3. WD40. In explanation for those of you who perhaps might not know what WD40 is - it's lubricating oil with many other useful purposes. In fact, I received an email with two pages of unusual uses of WD40 including it being able to relieve arthritis pain. Rubbed on the area not taken internally.

The next level of necessary tools is:

4. A claw hammer, two turn-it-yourself-screwdrivers; a Phillips head and flat head, along with a variety of screws, bolts, nuts and nails. You can buy an assortment already packaged at home improvement stores or in the hardware department of other stores. Also, picture hangers and wire, which also come assorted and prepackaged are good to have on hand.

5. Other useful necessities are an adjustable crescent wrench, in addition to regular pliers and needle nose pliers and of course a utility knife.

6. Finally, a cordless circular saw or a reciprocal saw. You probably won't use the saws much but they are good to have on hand. Cordless saws and drills are more expensive than the plug in type but more convenient. You can use them anywhere. After a divorce I decided I needed shelves in a basement closet, that's when I bought a circular saw, a level and a square. His majesty left me a cordless drill but took most of his tools with him in his mad dash through a midlife crisis. My "first do-it-yourself shelves." were awesome and reasonably level considering they were my own design. I documented my efforts with snapshots. I was so proud of myself!

I have since added other tools to my repertoire but those listed above are the very basic and most useful. You'll surprise yourself with what you can do as a "Handywoman". Not to slight the "Handymen", these items will all work for you too. Hmmm, maybe it should be a more generic "Handyperson."

Learn more about this author, Darlene J. Coomes.
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