Tools for Your Home

One thing you have found as a home owner is that there is usually something to do around the house and garden… a window latch needs replacing, or the garden shed’s door keeps jamming. That is par for the course…

Wherever you live, you are going to have to do a certain amount of upkeep and maintenance and while you will most likely call in a contractor for the bigger job, you soon realise that with some basic but essential tools, you can do much of the work yourself – and save yourself a fortune in the process.

The thing about tools is this: You might need a particular tool only once or twice a year… but when you have to do the work, make the repair or whatever, that tool is the only one that will suffice.

Having the right tool handy not only enables you to do what has to be done quickly, efficiently, properly and without any tears, it also gives you the confidence to attempt even bigger jobs… provided you have the right tools for those jobs as well.
You can spend a lot of time in hardware stores looking for the perfect power tool with little success but that is where it pays to visit your local Mica. Staff are on hand to help and advise, and if they do not by some chance happen to have the answers for you, they will find out what you need to know.

So what does it do?

One of the first things you need to do to ensure you are choosing the right tool is find out what each tool does. If you have a clear understanding of what the tool does and how it can be used, you are much more likely to select the right tool for the job.

Try to find out about the brands by talking to people who own them… there are some brands that are excellent across their range while others have particular items that might not be exactly what you want. The other consideration is price: a low price does not necessarily mean the tool is rubbish, but also does not mean that it is as good as the more expensive equivalent. It is a case ensuring that you get what you pay for.

Also look at the power… it’s no good buying a cheap, low-power tool to handle a massive job. You will simply damage the tool or burn it out. The quality and durability of a tool will vary from brand to brand. Mica is home to large range of brands and can guide customers through the benefits of each.

Lastly, how often do you expect to use the tool? If you are going to use it frequently then choose a tool that offers a longer warranty over a tool that may not last as long. On the contrary, if it is something that you expect to use only occasionally, then you might select a different model and brand.

Bear in mind that a tool that is easy to use will provide satisfaction every time.

Bottom line… if you are not sure what to buy, speak to the specialists at Mica. They know their products and will be able to advise you, but to reiterate: Do not buy a low-power tool and expect it to do heavy work.

The power drill – every home should have one
The basic tool you need is a good quality power drill that will enable you to drill any surface … wood, plaster, concrete and brick. We suggest go for a drill that is on the powerful side, with a hammer/impact action and also electronic – which means you can vary the speed and use even for driving in screws or removing them. Given that we live in a country that can be prone to power outages, it is wise to also invest in a good cordless drill/driver with an impact function. Go for an 18V model, or at least a 14.4V one. Having this handy – and charged (lithium-ion batteries hold their charge for ages and don’t build up a memory) – will ensure that should you need to drill a hole or drive in screws and the power goes out, you should still be able to complete the job.

The jigsaw
The jigsaw is another must-have. You can use it to make straight or curved cuts, even if you are a novice. Select an electronic one – as in the case of the drill, you can select the jigsaw’s speed of operation, and with a pendulum action option as well – in certain applications it cuts more efficiently than one without this function.

The circular saw
The circular saw is a good companion to the jigsaw because while it is designed to cut in a straight line, it does so with great efficiency and is great for cutting wide sheets of wood, planks and what-have-you.

You can set the cutting depth from virtually zero to whatever the maximum the tool allows and after some practice, you will discover how useful it can be.

An Orbital Sander
Sanding must be one of the more onerous chores – particularly when sanding by hand, but an orbital sander makes sanding very quick and easy and with sanding pads of different grit ratings, you can sand just about anything. Some use Velcro pads, others have clips that allow you to use sandpaper cuts from sheets that you can buy at Mica and yet others have both options.
The random orbital sander uses disks that are held in place using the Velcro system. As one disk wears out, you simply peel it off and replace it with a new one, and carry on sanding.

With both these sanders, there is no need to follow the grain of the wood – as you do when sanding by hand – as the rotational movement of the pad or disk sands in a random motion to reduce sanding marks. Sanders can be used on wood as well as plaster, which is great when repairing holes in drywalls and other surfaces.

All of these power tools are handy additions to every household and available from Mica and you can use them whether you are a novice or an experienced do-it-yourselfer.

Practice and enjoy!