DIY Resolutions for 2018
'Tis the season to be making resolutions for changes we want to make in our lives and we look at how becoming more involved in DIY can bring about many positive changes.
03/01/2018
Couples enjoy the experience of learning new skills together.
From being able to fix things in and around the home to making your own decor accessories and furniture, and even doing your own home improvements, acquiring the knowledge and skills to do-it-yourself will not only save you money, but the sense of empowerment of knowing 'how to' and the satisfaction of a job well done is a feeling that's hard to beat.
BASIC TOOLS
For novice DIY enthusiasts there are now a vast array of tools, products and materials that are designed to make DIY easy. At DIY Divas workshops around the country, beginners and more experienced DIYers are introduced to a wide selection of tools that not only make it easy to do-it-yourself, but are also affordable and readily available. Here are just a few new tools that you may want to look at adding to your tool collection:
Drill / Driver
A basic drill / driver is a 2-in-1 tool that allows you to assemble decor and furniture products, drill holes, and be creative in so many ways.
Forget about bulky, cumbersome and noisy drills. Today’s drill / drivers are not only lightweight, they are easy to use and their cordless design means that you can use them anywhere - whether you're assembling a bench in the garden, or putting up a curtain rail, or putting together cabinets for a kitchen renovation. You'll find drill / drivers priced from R1000 upwards depending on the model, but always keep your eyes open for special offers throughout the year.
If you're in the market for an entry-level drill / driver, the Bosch EasyDrill 12 retails at around R1300 and is powerful enough for basic DIY in and around the home.
To begin using your drill / driver, select a set of quality wood and HSS drill bits, a standard holder, countersink bit, and perhaps even a set of spade bits. These add-on accessories are handy to have in your toolbox and workshop.
Jigsaw
While you can have all your timber and board cut to size at Builders or your local timber merchant or hardware store, keep in mind that they don't cut curved or other shapes. When you need to cut corners, curved shapes or circles, or even cut-outs, you will need to use a jigsaw.
You can use a jigsaw for a variety of home DIY tasks and projects and it's a great tool that comes in handy when you keep offcuts from previous projects. Use your jigsaw to cut offcuts to size so that you can make full use of all your scrap pieces.
Now all you need is a pack each of clean-cut and speed-cut jigsaw blades.
Sanders
Sanding is probably the most disliked aspect of making stuff. Few people like to have to spend time sanding, so it makes sense to invest in a sander that cuts down on the amount of time you spend on sanding.
You'll also want a sander that has minimum vibration and maximum control. At all our workshops we demo the Bosch PSS 200 AC Orbital Sander, and Bosch PEX 220 Random Orbit Sander.
Both models are value for money and will make any sanding easier. Click here for article on difference between orbital and random orbit sander.
Whether you invest in an orbital sander or random orbit sander, stock up on a selection of sanding paper or pads so that you have everything you need on hand when you want to start a project.
Toolbox
Now all you need is a basic toolbox with a few essentials and you're ready to go! On your shopping list you'll need a quality, steel tape measure, couple of quick clamps, a carpenter's square, bottle of wood glue and some wood filler, and a fold-up work bench if you need somewhere to set up.
With these tools you can take on a wide range of DIY tasks, and can always add to your collection as you become more involved and gain confidence.