Building A Better Toolbox For Do-It-Yourselfers (NAPSA)—If you’re looking for great gifts for do-it-yourselfers, experts suggest helping them build a better toolbox. “Tools are always needed around the house,” said Matt Gandee, project manager and builder with Schumacher Homes. “Anyone looking to help a friend or relative start, update or complete a toolbox can’t go wrong with a few basic tools of the trade.” So, what specific tools do you need to create the perfect holiday gift set? Gandeeoffers this list of five must-haves: Tongue-and-Groove Pliers Tongue-and-groove pliers are especially good for gripping and applying torque. Gandee suggests adding Channellock’s #420 (9%”) to the gift set, the most popular model of the tongue-and-groove plier set. Along with its little brother, the #426 (61%”), these pliers can be used to tighten or loosen nuts and bolts around the house. Long-Nose Cutting Pliers Gandee prefers the company’s #317 (8”) long-nose cutting pliers advantageously equipped with a side-cutter. Also referred to as needle-nose pliers, these feature a long, pointed nose for working in tight places. Needle-nose pliers are great for retrieving items in tight areas, cutting wire, holding items in place and tightening nuts in close confines. Diagonal Cutting Pliers Cutting pliers include end-cutting nippers and side-cutters used to make clean cuts flush with a working surface. The company’s #337 (7”) is the most common Tooling Up—Handtools can make great gifts for handy people. piece used in householdsfor light electrical jobs, such as installing ceiling fans or replacing outlets and breaker boxes. Slip-Joint Pliers With two different jaw positions, slip-joint pliers can be used in a number of varied gripping and turning operations. The company makes its #526 (6”) model with specially designed recesses in the jaws for a more secure grip to help avoid slippage. Wide Adjustable Wrench Adjustable wrenches come in a variety of sizes and utilize a jawadjustment mechanism to accommodate different sizes of bolts, nuts or other items. The company offers the 8” WideAzz with greater jaw capacity for larger nuts and bolts, measurement scales for siz- ing, longer jaws to better avoid slippage and a small head width to improve performance in confined spaces. All of Gandee’s tool choices are available with Channellock Blue comfort grips. For more information, visit www.channellock.com.
