Guest Post: When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.

I have been super busy these past few days, putting some projects aside until life makes more room, literally, for them (hopefully tomorrow!). So when I opened my inbox tonight after a very long day and saw an email titled "My guest post" I was very excited. At first, I couldn't help but think it was a joke....because it was from this boy that I know...and this boy likes to joke with me. And do silly things like send me pretend guest posts because he knows how my heart leaps when I have one waiting to be blogged about. And, well, what boy reads Pearls Poppies Pinkies Up anyways? (Apparently, one at least). I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did, it made my day and then some.

In his words:

*Disclaimer – I am an engineer, not a writer. Keep a pillow or coffee close in the event this article makes you drowsy. The choice is yours.*

I am sure that by now many of you have at least thought one of the following questions while reading this blog: Why does she us the word “our” when talking about her abode? How crazy of a sleeper is she to need a bed that big for one person? How does she manage to take care of a dog all on her own? Who is this odd guy?

As it turns out, she has a husband. That husband is me. Just me, not Channing Tatum, not Bob Vila, and not Greg Stiemsma (getting closer). I'm the tool man in this humble duo of home improvement and DIY, think Al and Heidi, not Tim and Lisa. While Lauren constantly thinks, dreams, and conjures up ideas of “shelf here, paint there, and just a screw or two (or fifteen) to hold this up” I, as an engineer, wait and contemplate ways to tell her why it won't work. Once past the initial shock of this unwillingness to cooperate we work together to find ways to make her dreams into reality. As a reader, I hope some of this process gets conveyed to you. It is a tough process at times!

So with any DIY blog there comes some inspiration to, well, do a project on something of your own!

“But wait!”, you say, “I don't have all those fancy tools to do all these things you make here. I wouldn't even know where to start.” WRONG! To complete most simple to moderately involved DIY projects you only need a few basic tools. Having the right tool for any job keeps the project from being frustrating (“Yes, that wrench did hit the fence”), taking more time than it should (“No shower for two weeks?”), and possibly ending up with something ruined (“Sorry, they don't make that type of light fixture any more”). (All things I've said or heard).

Here is a short list of the “must have” basic tools:

1. You Spin Me Right Round:

Screwdrivers: Many types and various sizes. A good alternative to getting a full set of different screwdrivers is a ratcheting style screwdriver along with a set of interchangeable bits. I got this set at Harbor Freight. You may need to get a set of very small screwdrivers separately for smaller screws.

Hex Keys: Not as common and many times come with “build-it-yourself” furniture, eh-em Ikea. Buy something already built off Craigslist and now its loose and falling over? Tighten it up with these. Many bit sets mentioned above come with these included with them, make sure yours does.

2. Straight up!

Level: What more can I say? The name says it all. They come in many different sizes but a 6”-12” works for almost everything.

Tape measure: A 10'-30' will suit most projects. Make sure its in inches and not meters (unless your into that). I like the LeverLock version I have made by Stanely.

Square: Sometimes in life things just don't make sense. Calling something that is a triangle shape a square is one of those things. These are cheap and are invaluable for making straight and square lines (oh, now I get it).

Hang & Level: A pretty awesome tool that Lauren bought. I know nothing about it (other than that its awesome) so I will leave the explanation to her!

3. Hammer Time

Hammer: Everybody has to have one. Go with a 12” curved claw nail hammer and you should be good to go. Whatever you do, don't buy a ball pein hammer, you heard me. You can go rustic with a wood handle or you can go new school with a metal handled hammer as shown, either are great choices.

Pliers: My dad grew up on a farm before moving to the city and as a young boy I asked him, “Why didn't you stay on the farm and be a farmer?” I'll never forget his response, “Matt, every good farmer can fix anything with bailing wire and a pliers. I couldn't.” That statement couldn't be more true. For a lot of wood working projects pliers won't be used much but having a standard and needle-nose pliers will get you places in life. I have a Craftsman set of both types from Sears that have worked great for me.

Adjustable wrench: Another very handy tool. Get a 10” and never look back. Its got a really cool spinny-thing so it fits nearly any size nut or bolt.

4. Hair Trigger

Cordless Drill: So out of all the things on this list, this is the probably the most expensive. The one shown is bigger than what most jobs require. A 9V or 12V will drill through most materials and work great for driving screws as well. This tool is worth its weight, skimp on this one and you may regret it. I have a DeWalt but there are a lot of great manufacturers. Read reviews and pick one that feels good in the hand and isn't so heavy you get big weird biceps if you use it a lot.

Drill bits and drivers: A simple set of eight to ten bits ranging from 1/16^th inch to 3/8^th inch is a great start. Add a simple set of screwdriver bits and no project will stand a chance.

5. The Kitchen Sink

Safety Glasses: Two things make these a no brainer. First, sight is one of you top five most important senses and your eyes are the probably most important organ. Second, people look awesome in them. Wear them.

Mask: Humans are smart, we figured out how to make some crazy coatings that seem to last forever and even crazier chemicals to get them off quickly (both very unnatural). Too bad these things can make you really sick if you breathe them.

Pencil: You can get a standard #2 as shown or you can get one of those wide flat ones and sharpen it slowly with a pocketknife while you talk to someone. He or she will think very highly of you.

Last point. Where to get these things? In no particular order:

1. Home Depot/Lowes/OSH/Menards/Ace Hardware – Typical hardware stores. Great place to find quality tools. Look for coupons and deals especially during holidays.
2. Harbor Freight: Cheap tool outsourced all over the world using typically low quality metals and construction. I have a lot of tools from here and have had good experiences. Good place for some stuff (cheap screwdrivers), bad place for other things (cordless drills).
3. Sears: Sell Craftsman tools and nearly all come with a lifetime warranty. Something breaks, bring it in and you get a new one. I have broken some tools and the exchange process was painless. A majority of my tools are Craftsman.
4. Amazon: Don't forget to pay your use tax...the IRS is watching you!
5. Snap-on: Very high quality, if not the highest. If you know about these then you probably own all of the tools listed.
6. Garage sales: This blog is about reusing the old and making it new. Give some old tools new life in your tool box!

Is this an exhaustive list of tools? Not hardly. Don't have anything on this list? No problem, go buy a hammer. Have a few of these? Good start, grab a new tool next time you need it. You will have it forever. Have everything on this list? Great to hear. Now go build something and let us know about it!

(...and he said he wasn't a writer    -Lauren)