Mayukh Saha

Mayukh Saha

December 1, 2024

8 Classic Tools Homeowners Are Desperate to Rediscover

DIY is more than just a hobby; it’s a way to connect with nature, improve your outdoor space, and cultivate a sense of accomplishment. The right tools make all the difference, turning hard work into a more enjoyable experience. Here are eight essential “lost” DIY tools every homeowner should consider adding to their collection.

The Timeless Manual Weed Wacker

Weed Wacker
Image Credits: Facebook

A manual edger, often called a step or half-moon weed wacker, is a classic tool for creating crisp, defined borders. With its semi-circular blade and sturdy wooden handle, it allows you to slice through grass and soil with precision. It’s ideal for homeowners who value sustainability, as it requires no fuel or electricity, just human effort and skill.

Spud Wrench

A spud wrench
Image Credits: Family Handyman

A spud wrench is a type of wrench that has a tapered spike on one end and an adjustable or regular box wrench on the other. When installing pipe fittings, doing car maintenance, or, for iron workers, aligning bolt holes in girders and beams, the spike can be employed. For improved leverage or access to parts, some include offset handles.

Electrician Scissors

Electrician Scissors
Image Credits: Family Handyman

Here is an introduction to electrician scissors for those who are unfamiliar with them: The blades of Klein’s new Electrician Scissors can cut through materials, just like any other pair of scissors, but they also feature a cable cutting notch that allows you to tear through wire up to 14 AWG. They have a notch in the tip for de-burring electrical boxes, and they will strip 19 and 23 AWG wire all day. Additionally, both blades have a scraper for easy wire cleaning.

Cartridge Puller

A cartridge puller
Image Credits: Family Handyman

Do you know that to fix a leaky tap, you have to take out the cartridge? You can use a tool for that! It’s one of those tools that do-it-yourself plumbers don’t know they need until they do. This small, lightweight tool fits in your hand and is very useful.

Plumb Bob

A plumb bob
Image Credits: Family Handyman

A plumb bob is a string-connected weighted item that can be used to make a straight line. That heavy thing can be something as simple as a rock or as complicated as the metal plumb bob shown. Some are made like bullets or cones, but in the world of do-it-yourself projects, they usually look like chalk boxes or lines. Plumb bobs have been around for a very long time. They were used by the Egyptians to build the pyramids, and builders have used them for hundreds of years to find out if walls are “plumb,” or straight up and down. For example, you can use them to center lights over a kitchen table, figure out how far apart recessed lights should be, or frame basement walls.

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Adze

An adze
Image Credits: Shutterstock

An adze is a very simple tool. It is a sharp piece of metal with a wooden handle that is used to cut and shape wood. It has been used for a very long time to do many things, from hollowing out bowls to making beams out of tree stumps. These days, people use adzes for more than just cutting wood. They also use them for gardening. After the good old axe, firefighters’ favorite tool is the Halligan bar, which has the head of an adze on it.

Stanley #1 Odd Jobs

Stanley #1 Odd Jobs tool
Image Credits: Morgan Hill Publishing

FamilyHandyman says Stanley Tools made the first Odd Jobs in 1888 as a “Convenient Tool.” It was later sold as “Ten Tools In One.” Carpenters used the metal tool for 47 years as a tri-square, spirit level, miter square, scratch awl, rule, marking gauge, mortise gauge, depth gauge, and beam compass. It stopped being made in 1935, but some companies, like Garrett Wade and Woodpeckers, still sell new copies of it.

Shingle Froe

Image Credits: Shutterstock

This simple tool looks like it was put together by cavemen, but it’s still being made today and is easy to find. Colonial farmers brought the shingle froe to America. They used it to cut shingles and other types of wood when they built the first homes in the country. It can now be used for any job that needs strong wood panels and boards with a straight grain. To drive the froe’s blade into the wood, you’ll need to use a hammer.

With these eight essential garden tools, you’ll be well-equipped to handle any task your garden throws at you. Each tool plays a unique role in maintaining a beautiful and productive outdoor space, ensuring your efforts are both enjoyable and rewarding.

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