Handyman Guide > Hand Drill - Brad Awl

Forstner bits are used in boring holes in thin wood or in end-grain wood. They have no twist and make a very accurate cut.

To avoid any possibility of the wood's splitting, it is a good practice to start the hole with an auger bit and finish with a forstner bit.

Twist drills of the type used for drilling metal are made with a square shank to fit a wood brace.

They are very useful for making small holes in wood, such as are requircd for wood screws.

Screwdriver bits are also made to fit the brace. When used in a ratchet brace the same advantages are gained as with a ratchet screwdriver. However, driving down a screw so that it is straight is somewhat more difficult with a brace than with a ratchet screwdriver.

Keep all bits that have cutting edges free of contact with other tools. The moving parts of the brace should be oiled from time to time to keep them operating properly.

Hand Drill. This tool can be used for making holes in either wood or metal, depending upon the kind of drill used. The tool made to fit a hand drill has a round shank instead of the square one used with a brace. The hand drill is excellent for making small and numerous holes in wood, as it can be operated a great deal faster than a wood brace. Both the wood and metal drills are of relatively small diameter, and they can be bent or broken easily by running the drill too fast or moving the drill once it has penetrated the wood or metal. A hand drill and complete set of metal drills are a necessity for anyone wishing to do any extensive work with metals.

Brad Awl. This small, wood-boring tool can be had in several sizes. It is used for drilling holes for screws and nais. In making a hole, the edge of the blade should be placed across the grain and then pressed into the wood and rotated slightly. As the efficiency of this tool depends upon a good cutting edge, it should receive the same care as the chisels and the wood bits.

PLANES

Planes are obtainable in many sizes and shapes, depending on the type of work to be done. For general purposes the jack plane is adequate. This plane is about 14 inches long and 2 inches wide. It is suitable for rough work but cannot produce a very smooth surface because its length will cause the blade to slip over the low spots.

When a greater degree of smoothness is required a smoothing plane, somewhat shorter than the jack, is used. For small work and for end-grain planing, the block plane is needed.

The blade, or plane iron, can be adjusted for depth by moving the knurled knob located at the back of the blade. The lateral adjustment of the blade is made with a lever that fits into a slot on the upper portion of the blade.

The blade has a cap which fits over it to provide additional strength. On hard-grain wood, or for cross-planing, this cap should be set as close to the edge of the blade as possible. This will prevent the wood from splintering. A block plane does not have this cap, as it is designed for end-grain planing.

Planing continued, then Files - Measuring Tools



Tools and Materials
Hammers - Handsaws - Screwdrivers - Chisels - Brace and Bit - Hand Drill - Brad Awl - Planes - Files - Measuring Tools - Rules - Squares - Marking Gauge - Levels - Pincers - Nail Set - Drawknife - Cabinet Scraper - Small Tool Kit - Putty Knife - Pliers - Wrenches - Paint Scraper - Sharpening Tools - Nails - Wood Screws - Corrugated Fasteners - Mending Plates - Bolts - Abrasives - Woodworking Glue - Splices and Joints.

The Workshop
Equipping the Workshop - Heating - Fire Precautions - The Workbench - Saw Bucks - Tool Rack.

Home Construction
Elements of the House - Building Materials - Lumber - Molding - Kinds of Wood and their Characteristics - Plywood Wallboard - Roofing Materials - Concrete - Mixing Concrete - Cement Mortar - Concrete Forms - Concrete Blocks - Cinder Blocks - Bricklaying - Fieldstone - Anchoring in Masonry - Soldering.

Furniture
Upholstered Furniture - Furniture Upkeep - Removing Stains - Removing Dents - Leather Upholstery - Cane Seats - Furniture Repairs - How to Repair Breaks - Levelling furniture - Remodeling Furniture - Polishes and Polishing - French Polishing - Painting Furniture - Sticking Drawers - Metal Furniture.

Painting
Paint Brushes - Storing Brushes - Varnish - Water Paint and Plastic Paint - Types of Paint - Paint Thinners - Mixing Paints - Preparing the Surface - Painting Flaws - Removing Paint - Exterior Painting - Painting New Wood - Repainting - Metal - Interior Painting - Calcimine - Painting Woodwork - Old Wood Trim - Staining - Fillers - Varnishing - Bleaching - Enameling - Painting Radiators - Painting Concrete - Shingles - Stoves and Stove Pipes - Whitewash.

Heating
Home Heating Systems - Chimneys - Coal Furnaces - Fuels - Burning Wood - Furnace Dampers - Starting a Coal Fire - Removal of Ashes - Coal Stokers - Oil Burners - Kerosene Heaters - Thermostats - Boiler Dampers - Fuel Economy - Warm Air System - Steam System - Vacuum System - Hot Water System - Radiators - Boilers - Maintaining the System - Insulating the System - Home Insulation - Storm Windows - Weather Stripping - Insulating Your Home - Blanket and Rigid Insulation - Unfinished Attic and Exterior Walls - Winterizing a Cabin - Preparing the foundation - Winterproofing a Cottage - Fireplaces - Reducing Condensation - Humidity.

Plumbing
The Plumbing System - Fresh water supply - Low Water Pressure - Hot Water System - Hot Water Heaters - Hot Water Tanks - Dirty Hot Water - The Sewage System - Sewage Disposal - Cesspools - Septic Tanks - Clearing Sewer Pipes - Clearing Drains - Plumbing Traps - Toilet Traps - Noisy Plumbing - Leaks in Water Tanks - Frozen Pipes - Clogged Water Pipes - Hard Water - Faucets - Shower Mixing Valves - Leaky Flush Tanks - Flush Valves - Removing Toilet Bowl - Leaky Pipes - Draining the Plumbing - Sealing Traps - Draining the Heating System - Types of Pipe - Insulating Pipes - Water Corrosion - Cleaning Fixtures.

Electricity
Definition of Terms - Ohm's Law - Alternating and Direct Current - Sources of Electrical Power - The Electrical System - Overloading the Circuit - Rewiring - Reading a Meter - Precautions - Fuses - Types of Cord - Splicing Wires - Replacing Plugs and Switches - Home Lighting - Electric Motors - Signaling System - Transformers - Burglar Alarms - Repairing the System - How to Install a Bell System.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter about how to start a handyman business. Get tips for finding clients, managing work and more.

More articles about starting a handyman business:

How to Start a Handyman Business

Handyman Business Cards

Handyman Clients: How to Find the Best Ones

Are You Cut Out to Be a Handyman?

Tools for a Handyman Business

Payment Options for Handymen

How To Advertise a Handyman Business

Customer Service Tips for Handymen

Choosing a Name for a Handyman Business

Record Keeping Basics for Handymen

Being a Handyman Versus Having a Handyman Business or a Franchise

Getting a Website for Your Handyman Business

Getting Paid Upfront: Deposit Policies for Handymen

How Much To Charge Per Hour

Should You Charge by the Hour, or by the Job?

Insurance for Handymen

Handyman Business Book Reviews

The Handyman Guide: How to Fix and Build 1000s of Things Around the House