Photo by Jim Ruen Now is a great time of year to make sure your toolbox is stocked and all your tools work correctly. |
With Christmas only a few days away, it’s not too late to “tool up”! No, I don’t mean buying yourself and your loved ones a lot of tools. Hopefully, you’ve already taken care of that task. No, “tooling up” for Christmas means being ready for possible set-up, assembly or installation that gifts may require. Why watch the joy of a gift recipient turn to frustration and finally disinterest as they wait for someone to find the right tools (or time) to put the gift together?
Tooling up includes making sure that any blades needed are sharp and any battery packs are charged up. Both are simple procedures, but they make the entire process go more smoothly and safely.
After you run through the tools you may need—as well as supplies like adhesives, extra screws or bolts—pull them together. If you don’t have a toolbox for the house, take a few minutes to assemble one. Mine includes adjustable wrenches, faucet valve cartridge puller, combination square with level, circuit tester and stud finder, as well as a light hammer, box cutter, tape measure and screw drivers, both manual and battery powered.
My toolbox is only 8 x 8 x 15, yet it holds most tools needed for daily maintenance. The top tray holds a few nails, screws and various bits of hardware needed for hanging pictures, light assembly and maintenance.
Taking a few minutes now will give you and your loved ones an extra gift when the presents are opened over the holidays and later. That’s the great thing about having the right tools and being comfortable using them: It makes it easy to show you care about the needs of others … and not just at the holidays.
