Handyman Naperville IL is skilled in various general repair and maintenance projects. They often offer lower rates than trade-specific professionals like plumbers or electricians.
Handymen may work independently or for repair service companies, home warranty companies, or property management companies. They can also be full-time employees. Regardless of their employer, handymen must have certain tools to succeed.
A circular saw is a versatile power tool that many homeowners and handymen use. It cuts wood, metals, plastics, fiberglass, cement block, and slate. Its flexibility makes it an alternative to a miter or table saw in many situations. It can also be a convenient way to cut pipes or other materials with a smooth, straight edge. Several types of circular saws are available, including corded and cordless designs, and it’s important to choose the right one based on your needs.
While a circular saw is a powerful tool that can do a lot of work, it’s also very dangerous to use. Always wear proper eye and hearing protection when operating a power tool, and never allow anyone else to handle it. Also, make sure to follow all safety guidelines for the particular type of saw you’re using.
To keep your circular saw working properly, it’s important to regularly check the blade and guards for damage or wear. If you notice that your blade isn’t cutting smoothly or the edges are worn down, it may be time to replace it. It’s also a good idea to regularly clean your tool and remove sawdust.
To get a cleaner cut, always support the material you’re cutting on two strong sawhorses or bench supports that are overhanging enough to allow the off-cut piece to fall off of them. It’s important to avoid propping up this off-cut piece as it can cause kickback and splintering. Also, if you’re cutting something that will show both sides, put it down on the good side and score the top with a utility knife before you cut. Using this trick can help reduce splinters and create a better-looking finished product.
Cordless Driver
A cordless driver provides a handyman with a drill-like tool that operates using battery power. It can be used for a wide range of projects, including installing drapery brackets, drilling holes for drywall anchors, and driving screws. This type of driver also offers the flexibility to attach other accessories for specialized tasks like rotary scrubbing brushes for heavy-duty cleaning, stirrers for paint, and abrasive discs for auto repair. The most important thing about a cordless impact driver is its torque (twisting force) which is far higher than that of a regular drill or screwdriver. This allows it to drive large screws into lumber with ease.
Chalk Line
A chalk line, also known as a chalk reel or chalk box, is a hand tool that stores a coil of string coated in powdered chalk. The end of the coil is tied to a hook, and it can be used to impart straight lines on surfaces. When you need to measure up from the floor or down from the ceiling, a chalk line helps you do so with greater precision and accuracy than a tape measure.
You can find a variety of chalk lines in different sizes, colors and capacities. The material the line is made of influences its performance, and a thick cord generally performs better than a thin one. The casing can also make a difference; aluminum, stainless steel, and heavy-duty plastic are among the strongest options available. The end hook is another crucial component of a chalk line, as it must be able to fasten onto various objects and ledges. Look for a wide-end clasp that can be used with gloves and provides plenty of tension when snapping the chalk line.
Once the chalk line is ready to use, you need to identify two endpoints on a surface and tie the chalk line to one of them. Then, you can stretch the line taut over the other endpoint and snap it. The resulting mark should be clearly visible and will stand for a while, so you can continue your work without having to worry about it washing away or becoming obscured by other materials.
For a permanent line, consider red or yellow chalk. These high-visibility colors contrast well with a range of different materials and will not wash away easily in wet environments.
Claw Hammer
The claw hammer is the main tool in any handyman’s arsenal, and there are a lot of variations on this simple hand tool. They range from the basic household hammer to the large demolition-oriented rip hammers. These tools can perform a number of tasks, from pounding nails to prying boards apart in demolition work.
The basic hammer is a moderate-sized cylinder with a striking surface on one side and a curved claw on the other. Its handle can be made from steel, wood such as hickory or ash or fiberglass, and is usually covered with rubber for comfort. A handyman should know how to use the hammer properly, as an incorrect stance can lead to wrist injury and mis-hits.
Most hammers have a smooth face for driving nails into wood and a textured or milled face to grip fasteners. There are also special hammers called “dead blow hammers” that can reduce damage to surfaces where there is a high risk of damaging wood or metal.
There are a variety of claw hammers that have curved, pointed or straight claws. Straight claws are best for pulling small nails and brads, while curved claws are better for demolition or removing loose nails in wood. There are also hammers with a single nail claw that is perfect for ripping nails out in tight spaces.
Hammers come in a variety of head and neck designs, but they all have one thing in common: they must be strong enough to withstand repeated strikes against the wooden surface. The best hammers are drop-forged and heat treated for strength, and they are available in a wide range of sizes. Choosing the right size depends on the types of tasks the hammer will be used for, and there are a few other factors that a handyman should keep in mind as well.
Tape Measure
Whether it’s used to find the length of a window blind or to make a mark on a door frame, the tape measure is one of the most indispensable tools for any handyman. However, did you know that your trusty tape measure has a few tricks up its sleeve? To celebrate National Tape Measure Day (July 14), we’ve put together a list of 7 surprisingly awesome features hidden on your everyday tape measure.
The housing (also known as the case) holds the coiled tape and is made of plastic or metal. At the end of the housing is a small hook that’s sometimes called a tab, tang, latch or lip and serves several purposes. The hook can be hooked onto a nail or screw to hold the tape in place, it can help you grip something solid for marking or scribing, and it’s also used to pull the tape out of the case and recoil it back into its housing.
When measuring a surface, make sure to keep the hook against the edge of the object you’re using it on and press the housing firmly against the wall or other surface. This helps ensure an accurate measurement and prevents the tape from bending. Bending the tape can give you a false reading, and it also damages the tape over time.
Most tape measures display both imperial and metric measurements, with inches being on the top and centimeters on the bottom. To read a metric tape, count the white arrows (also called increments) on the blade. Each inch has sixteen white arrows, which are the shortest lines on the tape measure. The white arrows indicate that there are four equal parts or sixteenths in an inch.
