Handyman Guide > Screwdrivers

A good tool kit should contain screwdrivers of various sizes. Do not try to remove heavy screws with a screwdriver that is obviously too small. The screwdriver will slip out of the notch in the screw and damage the screw head, and there is considerable chance of twisting the handle loose from the blade. A screwdriver eight inches long is about right for most heavy work found in the home. A three-inch screwdriver :will be needed for small work, and a long, thin one for electrical and other work in which the screws are relatively small and inaccessible.

Do not use a screwdriver for any purpose other than turning screws. Screwdrivers used as cold chisels, pry bars, and the like, cannot be expected to last long. Keep the blade of a screwdriver sharp. Use a :file for this purpose rather than a grindstone. Grinding' the blade of a screwdriver may overheat the metal and cause it to lose temper.

A ratchet screwdriver with interchangeable blades, is an excellent timcsaver on jobs that require a great many screws. This screwdriver does away with lifting the blade from the screw after every half-turn.

Change the blades according to the size of screws to be turned. A ratchet screwdriver requires a little light oil now and then on all moving parts.

Special Screwdrivers. Occasionally, you will run up against a screw which calls for a special screwdriver. These screws are mostly automobile and machine screws. Do not attempt to use a common screwdriver on them. A special screwdriver, made to fit the heads of these screws, should be used.

CHISELS

There are many different kinds of wood chisels and gouges; but for general purposes the firmer chisel is the best suited, as it can be used for both light and heavy work. There are two classes of ehisels, the tang chisel and the socket chisel. The names refer to the manner in which the blade is attached to the handle.

The tang chisel has a sharply-pointed tang driven into the wood handle, while the handle of the socket chisel is driven into a socket at the end of the blade. Wood chisels are from 1/8th to 2 inches wide, but a 1/4 inch, 1/2-inch, and 3/4 inch chisel will be sufficient for most home repair jobs.

Use a wood- or leather-head mallet for striking a chisel; never a hammer with a metal face. To preserve a good cutting edge on the chisels, the blades should not be allowed to come in contact with other tools or metal. Do not overstrain a chisel by trying to make too big a cut. Small cuts will give you more accuracy in your work, and the job will be done just as quickly in the long run.



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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.

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