Tools. Please read through the useful hints, tips and how to guides below.

soap

Rub damp soap along the edge of an axe or tomahawk before using it.

To prevent rusting

oil

Add a few drops to jars of screws or nails to prevent them rusting An old unwashed petroleum-jelly jar is also useful.

To store

screw-top jars
Screw lids to the underside of shelves, then twist jars of screws or nails up into the lids so they hang beneath the shelf.

To hold fiddly nails

card or comb or plasticine or Blu tack

Push a nail through a strip of card, or hold it in position with a comb or a twist of plasticine when nailing in awkward or tight places.

Easier nailing

Hold the hammer near the end of the handle, not up near the head; it will save your energy.

unsalted fat or oil

Rub the points of nails or screws in fat or oil before using. If this is unavailable, simply rub the nail or screw through your hair to pick up a little natural oil. It will be easier to drive the nail home.

Nail a thinner piece of wood to a thicker, and choose a nail three times as thick as the thinner piece of wood.

To prevent nail splits

Hammer the point of the nail before nailing into wood that is thin or likely
to split.

Stagger a line of nails to prevent the wood splitting.

To prevent nails bending

soap

Push nails through a cake of soap before trying to hammer them into hard wood.

To hide a nail

chisel

Raise a sliver of wood in the place where you intend to nail. Insert the nail under the sliver and drive home, then replace the sliver and glue it in place.

To remove old nails

block of wood

Place a block of wood under the hammer head; it will increase leverage.

Tight nails

paraffin oil
Apply a few drops to a nail that has rusted into the wood then leave for a while before attempting to remove it.

To prevent sticking

candle

Rub a candle over a saw to prevent it sticking.

To saw plywood and board

adhesive tape

Apply a strip of tape to the saw line and saw through it to prevent wood splintering.

Rusty bolts

ammonia or paraffin
Dribble a few drops of either over a rusty bolt before undoing.

Spanner too large?

screwdriver

Insert an upright screwdriver between spanner and nut to begin undoing it.

Rusty bolts

ammonia or paraffin
Dribble a few drops of either over a rusty bolt before undoing.

Spanner too large?

screwdriver

Insert an upright screwdriver between spanner and nut to begin undoing it.

Screws unscrew anti-clockwise.

Loose screws in wood

strong thread | glue or gloss paint

Wrap strong cotton or linen thread around the shank of a screw, dip it in glue or gloss paint, and screw it into the hole - it should grip.

matchsticks | wood | glue

Insert matchsticks and glue into the hole before inserting the screw.

Loose screws in walls

damp steel wool

Pack hole with this for a good grip.

pencil

Use a length of pencil as an emergency wall plug.

Tight screws

Try to screw an extra half turn clockwise first to loosen the screw.

red-hot poker

Touch this to the head of a recalcitrant screw then try to unscrew it as it cools.

screwdriver | hammer

Insert this into the head of the screw and give it a good tap with a hammer.

oil

Apply a few drops to a screw that has rusted into the wood then leave for a while before attempting to remove it.

Missing screws?

When undoing something with a number of screws, nuts or bolts, lay them
on a length of unravelled adhesive tape so they can not be misplaced.