So you buy a nice two shelf bookcase but it’s wobbly and you know it won’t hold much. I’ve recently gotten one and my solution was to put L-brackets on it. After installing about 8 of these brackets at the cojoining parts of the shelving, it is now completely stable and ready for use.

  • IninewCrow@lemmy.ca
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    1 month ago

    Get a small tool box and start collecting tools inside it.

    Basics to start with are:

    • hammer
    • screwdrivers (get the three major ones - flat, Philips (cross) and Robertson (square))
    • screwdriver with multiple replaceable heads (get one with as many heads as you can)
    • pliers (buy a set of at least three types) (also make sure at least one of these has a wire cutter)
    • vice grips
    • Allen key set (metric and imperial)
    • adjustable wrench
    • exacto knife (with replaceable blade)
    • crow bar (at least 12" long but bigger is better) (don’t get smaller because you can use the flat screwdriver for anything smaller … a good size piece of iron is good for lots of uses)

    To me this would be a good start. This is basically what I started with about 30 years ago and now I have a garage full of tools to literally build a house.

    Every time you have something to fix or repair, use your kit and make sure to put everything back. And often you may need a special tool to get your job done, if you can afford it buy it and add it to your kit. The cost of the new tool will repay itself as you use it again later.

    And if you are not mechanically inclined than don’t feel a need to grow the kit either. These basics will help with most situations.

      • IninewCrow@lemmy.ca
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        1 month ago

        The list I thought of is a list of the most common things I use in any kit for just a homeowner doing things around the house.

        If the person isn’t interested in doing things around the house any more than they have to … then the kit is enough to do the most basic things.

        If the person is interested in doing things around the house … then the toolbox can be filled with more and more things.

        I like building/repairing/renovating/tinkering/mechanics and anything like that and after 30 years I have a ton of stuff and the main kit I carry around in my truck basically would allow me to do just about anything. Not a professional but capable enough to do about 80 to 90 percent of most things that is in, on, around, over or under a house.

    • cRazi_man@lemm.ee
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      1 month ago

      An electric screwdriver is essential. Don’t even try to start assembling IKEA furniture without one, it will literally take twice as long.