Times reporter Rebecca Gardiner is in the “wannabe DIYer” camp. She has “no experience when something goes wrong” and “it would be good to know what to do rather than shell out money [for a trades person] needlessly”.
She needs “something for the completely uninitiated, the sort of advice that would be given to a flat full of girls – for that matter, a lot of guys in flats are not au fait either”.
Attend a woodwork community night class, advises Tony the builder. “They are designed to put people like you at ease. There you can get used to using saws, drills and other tools. Tools are not toys.”
Also, be aware of the kind of class you want to attend. Some tutors reckon “this is what you are going to make” while others say “what would you like to make and I’ll help you get there”.
“Even watching someone else helps you learn,” Tony says and the DIY field is enormous. Do you want to make a picture frame or paint the roof?
To get Rebecca started, we took her on a tour of a hardware store armed with this key piece of advice, “find something that feels comfortable for you to handle, rather than being influenced by the price”.
• Something to hit with
A hammer must be the right weight for you, Tony says. “A 20oz hammer may be expensive, but will last a builder a lifetime. You can buy cheaper. Your main priority is to find a hammer that’s comfortable for you to handle.”
But will a small hammer limit the jobs you can do, wonders Rebecca.
“You would be struggling to hammer in four-inch nails, but that’s builder’s work,” Tony says. “DIY work is different, so a 7oz hammer may suit you nicely. The most important thing is to get something that’s comfortable for you to handle. You don’t need to pay a fortune.”
Some rulers and tapes still come with metric and imperial measurements, and tapes range from five metres to 100m.
“You won’t need the 100m unless you are measuring a tennis court or a playground,” Tony says.
“All you want is a folding rule rather than a tape. It’s compact, goes into your pocket and is good for small accurate jobs, such as measuring a door or a drawer.
“Because it’s solid, you can hold it with one hand and mark off the measurements with the other.
“They come in different colours, so find one that’s the easiest for you to read rather than going by the price. Also, a sloping surface on the edge of the rule allows you to get closer to the item you’re measuring.”
Steel rulers are even more accurate because they are thinner – you can mark off measurements even more accurately and they will last forever.
• Something to square off with
Is it important to have a spirit level, asks Rebecca. No, is Tony’s response. A variety of squares are available, including a sliding square which includes a 45-degree angle. Some squares have a spirit level built in. “You need a square if you want to cut a piece of material, or to check if the front of a drawer is square.”
A carpenter’s pencil is not necessary, Tony says. An ordinary lead pencil is fine. Ensure it’s sharp, or use a fine-tipped ballpoint pen for accuracy.
• Something to drive screws in with
The four main types of screwdrivers used these days are the flat, square, Pozi drive or Phillips, which are star-shaped.
“Square-headed screws are the easiest to get in and out of timber, so are the best choice if starting a job from scratch,” Tony explains. However, it’s likely that old-style flat screws will need to be dealt with. Therefore, Rebecca’s shopping list should include a flat, a Phillips and two of the smallest size square screwdrivers.
• Something to drill with
His warning is to check the weight of the drill once the battery is in and get one with two batteries so that one’s being charged while the other’s being used. And check that the batteries are replaceable.
But, says Rebecca, from a woman’s perspective – and taking into account that a battery drill is heavy – is it better to buy electric? “The advantage of electric,” Tony enlightens her, “is that it does not come with the extra weight of a battery, you just plug it in and it goes.”
• Something to saw with
For a beginner, a Tenon saw that has fine teeth and a back that keeps the blade straight is the best choice.
“Once you have a bigger job to do, you may need a more complex saw,” says Tony. “But I would not recommend starting out with a Skil saw.
“It’s dangerous work if you don’t know what you are doing. You would be safer with an electric saw mounted on a bench with a safety guard over the blade.”
It runs on Tuesdays from 6.30-8.30pm. The term-three course starts on August 23. For more information, phone (09) 279-0671 or log on to www.aorere.ac.nz.
