Handyman Naperville IL is skilled in performing general repair and maintenance work that electricians, plumbers, and similar professionals do not cover. They also take on jobs that are too big for a single contractor, like painting and drywall repair.
A fish tape is a tool that helps route new wiring through walls and conduit. It consists of a narrow band of spring steel that can be guided through confined spaces like wall cavities by careful manipulation. Unlike wire cutters, it is designed to only pull through guide strings, not directly pull on cables or wires. Fish tapes are available in a variety of lengths at hardware and electrical stores. They are also available in stainless steel, fiberglass, or nylon versions.
Running wires and cables can be a tricky task for the average person, especially when there are roadblocks in the way. The good news is that there are plenty of tools and accessories that can make the process much easier. One of the most common tools handymen have in their arsenal is fish tape. These tools are typically used by electricians to run wire through out-of-the-way areas on job sites.
While the basic design of fish tapes hasn’t changed since their first rudimentary form more than 50 years ago, they have continued to evolve to improve performance and ease of use for professionals. For instance, some manufacturers now offer battery-powered fish tapes that allow users to run longer runs with less strain on their hands. Others have low-friction case designs that enable tapes to pay out and retract smoothly without kinking, while ergonomically friendly handle designs reduce wrist fatigue.
Electrical Tape
Whether you’re wrapping wires or repairing leaks, electrical tape is essential for most jobs. Unlike regular tape, it has the ability to stretch and is highly durable. It also helps insulate materials that conduct electricity and prevents fire hazards. This handy tool can be found at most hardware stores and is available in four different varieties: rubber, vinyl, mastic, and varnished cambric.
The main function of electrical tape is to protect wires and cables from moisture, abrasion, and corrosion. It can also be used to make minor repairs to damaged items. However, it is important to know how to properly use this tool to avoid potential hazards.
In most cases, you should always wear gloves when working with electrical tape. It is also a good idea to check the product label before using it. It should be UL-listed or CSA-approved to ensure that it meets industry standards and is safe for everyday use.
It is also a good idea to choose a specialized variety that can withstand high temperatures and other environmental factors. You can find these types of tapes in a range of colors to help you identify different wiring in your home. You should also make sure that the tape is thicker than the insulation that it is covering. If you’re not careful, the tape could degrade and lead to a short circuit or even an electric shock.
Miter Saw
A miter saw is one of the most useful tools for a handyman. It cuts wood at a precise angle to create intricate trim pieces for doors and windows or other kinds of custom carpentry projects. It’s also a great tool for making crosscuts, which are straight cuts across the grain of wood.
A basic miter saw has a sliding rail that helps you adjust the blade’s cutting angle to different levels. It works well for simple projects like trimming or installing base molding around a door or window. Some models have a miter gauge that helps you lock in the desired cutting angle, which makes it easy to make multiple identical cuts.
If you want to do more advanced carpentry, look for a compound miter saw. This type of saw has a miter table and sliding rails, but it also allows you to bevel both left and right. This eliminates the need to flip your workpiece around to make opposite compound bevel cuts, which can save you time and energy on longer projects.
Whatever kind of miter saw you choose, it’s important to follow safety rules. Always wear eye and ear protection, and consider using a dust extractor to keep sawdust out of the air. Also, never reach under the blade while it’s plugged in, and always be sure to activate the blade only when you’re ready to cut.
Hammer
We often take the hammer for granted—it’s one of the most widely used tools, and it’s been around for millions of years. But it’s amazing how much human ingenuity has made it better over time.
Today’s hammers feature steel that has been heat treated for hardness and handles made of wood like hickory or even shock-absorbing materials to help reduce vibration and fatigue. The hammer head is the business end of the tool, and it comes in several different shapes and sizes, with the most common being a standard claw hammer for nailing things to a wall or piece of wood.
Other popular types of hammers include dead-blow hammers, which control the amount of energy that gets transferred to the item they’re striking to prevent denting or damage. They are typically used in maintenance and machinery applications.
Framing hammers have a heavy head with a flat prybar-like claw and a long handle for labor-efficient driving of nails or splitting apart boards in large construction projects.
Sledge hammers, which are larger than framing hammers, can be used for demolition and can also be equipped with a chisel for more precision work. Other specialty hammers can be used for working with certain metals, such as ball-peen hammers. The claw and face are the main striking surfaces, but there are also other areas of the hammer that can be useful, such as the cheeks, neck, and eye.
Pliers
Pliers are one of the most basic tools that every handyman has in their arsenal. These versatile gadgets can grip, turn, tighten, or loosen a wide variety of items, from nails and wire to nuts and bolts and more. They come in a range of sizes, but they all share the same basic construction: two lengths of steel riveted together with a hinge at their midpoint to form clamps on one side and handles on the other. The jaws may be long and narrow for compact spaces or broad and ridged to apply more force. The surfaces of the jaws are typically textured to minimize slipping.
Some styles of pliers are multifunctional and can both hold and cut objects. The most common multipurpose pliers are linesman and bent-nose pliers, as well as groove-joint pliers (also known as water pump pliers). Other types of pliers include crimping pliers (for crimping terminals and connectors), seamers (used for bending sheet metal), and nail puller pliers.
When using pliers, always be sure to choose the right size for the job. Using a pair that’s too small can result in bruised knuckles, while a pair that’s too large could cause the user to apply too much pressure and damage the item being held. Similarly, if a plier’s cutting edges are dulled or damaged, it should be replaced with a new set of pliers.
Chisels
The chisel is one of the most important tools that a handyman can use, and there are many different types to choose from. These tools are used to cut, scrape, sculpt, and shape metal, wood, and stone. They have a sharpened edge that penetrates the material as the tool is struck with a mallet, hammer, or electric or pneumatic ram. The specialized shape and design of the blade edge generate a variety of cuts and grooves in the affected material.
Most chisels have wood handles, although some have plastic or metallic ones. Wood handles allow for a good grip and provide resistance to the blows of a hammer. Better-quality chisels have sockets at the end of the blade to accept handles and spread the force of blows across a larger surface area. This prevents the blade from splitting or cracking.
There are several different types of chisels, each used for a specific purpose. A cold chisel is the most common type, used to cut bars and rods to reduce surfaces and create grooves. A bevel-edge chisel is used to cut dovetail joints. A mortise chisel has a narrow blade that works well for making shallow mortises like those found in the muntins or mullions of windows.
A bolster chisel is similar to the mortise chisel, but it has a wider blade for cutting straight lines into brick walls. This is useful for allowing cables or conduit into buildings.