There is nothing more soul destroying and taxing than having to hang around waiting for people to turn up and do the work you’re reluctantly paying them to do, and with the addition of the credit crunch, the wallet and purse zip might be stuck a little tighter than usual. We all have better things to do than wait around for some cowboy to overcharge us for a job we could probably employ a monkey to do in half the time at a third of the price.

DIY might conjure up the wrong kind of images for you; terrible workmanship, wonky shelves and mismatched paint. However, if you have the right kind of tools to get the job done, you shouldn’t face any problems at all! There are tools out there to suit every need and every job, so as long as you know what they are and exactly how to use them, there is no way you can go wrong.

The simplest of DIY must-haves are known as ‘hand tools’. Falling under this category is the screwdriver, spirit level, hammer, spanner, chisel, tape measure, pliers and a Stanley knife. You can pick up a decent kit that will contain all of these and it probably won’t set you back too much, either. If you’re the clumsy sort, it might be best to leave the DIY to someone with a little bit more dexterity and skill, unless you want to lose toes, fingers and thumbs. These tools are the basics, handy for fixing the car, putting furniture together, putting up shelves and hanging pictures.

Don’t be fooled. Just buying the tools isn’t enough to make you into a DIY expert. If you haven’t even considered your safety yet, then you have a long way to go. Googles, masks and gloves are imperative additions to your DIY gear, helping to prevent unnecessary injuries and inhalation of dust or chemical fumes. Safety should be priority at all times.

When you’ve gotten to grips with the hand tools, it’s probably safe to assume you’re capable of handling the power tools. Don’t make any silly attempts to look like some kind of action hero using these tools, because all that’s going to happen is, you will lose something vital to your body. Make absolutely certain that you know precisely what you’re doing before you ever get a power tool out of the box. And we can’t stress how important it is that you read the instructions.

Most power tools are, of course, electric. This offers an additional element of danger and whereas that might sound very John McClane, when you’re accidentally slicing off a body part when you lean on the power button, you’re suddenly more Captain Barbossa than Captain Solo. Electric screwdrivers, drills, jigsaws and electric planes will, however, prove useful bits of kit if you have any heavy-duty DIY. Just like any other DIY tool, safety gear is necessary and not just gloves, masks and goggles, this time! This includes vices, clamps, guards, visors and maybe even some tough work boots in case anything lands on your delicate feet.

Finally we have the advanced tools. These are the pieces of equipment you definitely should not use if you don’t know exactly what you’re doing. If you’re interested in purchasing any of these, you have probably been working with them for a while, or have used them previously. Don’t attempt to just ‘wing it’ because you’re probably going to end up getting hurt. At least find a professional to show you what to do, first. Routers, sanders and chopsaws fall into this category and unless you’re planning on doing any complicated construction, you probably aren’t going to need any of these.

Check-lists are excellent tools on their own for helping you get starting DIYing. If you have a nice, friendly list of everything you need to perform a job, then you know there is nothing you’re going to forget. Saves you the headache from forgetting something vital, doesn’t it?

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