Five jobs you can do with one tool set

Many people call someone for jobs they could easily do themselves. With a good basic tool set and a little patience, most small repairs take less than an hour. Here are five common jobs and the tools from the Hoogmaat toolbox, 89 pieces, that do them.

1. Hang a picture or a mirror

Measure where you want it with the tape measure, and mark the spot with a pencil. For a light frame, a nail and the hammer are enough. For a heavier mirror, like the round wall mirror 60 cm, drill a hole, push in a wall plug, and drive a screw. Use the spirit level to check that a row of frames hangs straight. The wall plugs and screws assortment of 400 pieces has the right size for every weight.

2. Fix a dripping tap

A dripping tap often needs nothing more than a new washer. Turn off the water under the sink first. Use the water pump pliers to loosen the nut, with a cloth around it to protect the chrome. Replace the washer, tighten the nut, and turn the water back on. Ten minutes, and a lot less water on your bill.

3. Tighten a wobbly chair or table

Furniture loosens over time. Turn the chair upside down and check every screw and bolt. Tighten them with a screwdriver or the hex keys that came with the furniture. If a screw keeps turning, the hole is worn. Fill it with a few wooden toothpicks and some wood glue, let it dry, and drive the screw again.

4. Adjust a sticking door

When a door rubs against the frame, the hinges are often loose. Open the door and tighten the screws in the hinges. If that doesn’t help, replace one screw in the top hinge with a longer one that reaches into the wall behind the frame. It pulls the door back into place.

5. Assemble flat-pack furniture

Lay out all the parts and count the screws before you start. Sort them in a cup or a tray. Follow the steps in order, and don’t tighten everything until the whole piece stands. A ratcheting screwdriver with 30 bits saves your wrist, because you don’t need to let go of the handle.

Keep it safe and tidy

• Wear the clear safety glasses when you drill, saw or hammer.
• Switch off the power before you touch anything electrical.
• Put every tool back in its own compartment. An empty spot shows what you left behind.

Once you have done one of these jobs, the next one is easier. And the toolbox pays for itself the first time you don’t need to call someone.