12 Types of Tools That We Use at Home

We all have a bunch of tools sitting in a corner at our house, that vary in different forms and shapes. When trouble occurs it’s important to know which tool can be used to fix the issue, because improperly used tools can make more damage than they solve.

Because they often have different uses, 5-Minute Crafts has prepared a quick guide that will explain their function, and help you remember whether they are safe to be used if we aren’t professionals.

1. Wrenches

Wrenches can be made in various sizes and are used for working from both sides of the tool. The open end is used for tightening, and the box end of it is used for loosening fasteners. They can be used for gripping, fastening, turning, tightening, and loosening things like pipes, pipe fittings, nuts, and bolts.

2. Pliers

Pliers consist of a pair of metal levers joined at a fulcrum positioned closer to one end of the levers. The shorter jaws are on one side of the fulcrum and the longer handles on the other side. They are used to manipulate objects that are too small or unwieldy to be worked with using our fingers, like bending and compressing a wide range of materials and holding objects firmly.

3. Screwdriver

A screwdriver is a tool used for driving screws. It consists of a handle and a shaft, ending in a tip that is put into the screw head before turning the handle. They can vary in size and can be used for different types of screws.

• Slotted drives have a single horizontal indentation slot in the fastener head.
• Cross drives have two slots, oriented perpendicular to each other, in the fastener head. The slotted screwdriver can be used to drive two slotted screws by driving just one of the slots.
• Square drives have a square-shaped socket in the screw head. These types of screwdrivers are used in woodworking and in general construction.

4. Drill

The drill is a powered hand tool that is used for making holes or driving screws and fasteners. Some of them have special functions and can be corded or battery powered. It contains the following components: power source, chuck, trigger, reverse switch, the drill shaft, and the drill bit. This tool is easy to handle.

5. Saw

Saws are generally used to cut solid materials like wood and most of them are made from a thin piece of metal, usually stainless steel. The teeth on the saw are bent to form a curve to allow it to cut. There are two main types of saw teeth: the crosscut saw teeth and the rip saw teeth. The force to run a saw can be applied by hand, or powered by steam, water, and electricity.

6. Wire strippers

Wire strippers are made to strip the insulation off of the end of the wires. They consist of a tip/nose, a wire cutter, small bolt shear, crimpers for crimp connectors, a loophole to create a hook or loop in a wire for screw terminals, and a handle. Some wire strippers are adjusted to strip one size of wire all the time, and some are self-adjusting which means they can cut any size without extra adjustments

7. Caulk gun

A caulk gun is a handy tool used to dispense sealants. It consists of a frame, handle, trigger, plunger, puncture tool, and hook. Caulking guns are mostly used by siding installers, framers, and plumbers. They find great usage in homes as well for example when we fix sinks, glue a glass, protect something from water. If you need to use a caulking gun first cut the tip off the tube of the caulk. Puncture the seal inside the tip. Pull the plunger back and insert the tube into the frame tray. Pull the trigger to dispense the sealant.

8. Utility knife

Utility knives are designed as multi-purpose cutting tools. They are easy to carry and use. Its basic parts are a handle, a button to extend and retract the blade, and a blade. You need to use them safely because the blade is easily breakable. The blades can be replaced easily. Utility knives are commonly used to mark cut lines, trim plastic or wood materials, or cut tape, cord, strapping, cardboard, or other packaging material.

9. Axe

The axe is a tool that consists of an axe head with a handle. It is used for shaping, splitting, and cutting wood. It splits the wood into two parts by the pressure concentration at the blade.

10. Lawnmower

A lawnmower is a yard tool used for cutting grass surfaces to an even height. The height is adjustable by the operator or can be fixed by the moderator. Larger lawn mowers are usually “walk-behind” types or more often “ride-on” mowers, equipped so the operator can ride on the mower and control it.

11. String trimmer

A string trimmer is a handy tool for cutting grass and weeds growing in places the mower can’t reach. A good string trimmer allows you to remain agile around such lawn care obstacles as fences, bushes, and trees.

12. Hammer

Hammers are hand tools used for pounding things. An interesting fact about them is that they don’t all pound the same things. Hammers can vary in obvious and subtle ways and each one of them has a handle, head, face, throat, neck, eye, cheeks, and claws.