hi GG
here's my advice:

don't buy cheap tools. buy the best you can afford. otherwise you
will
end up getting frustrated and not have fun with your projects. you
can buy
tools as you need them and gradually add to your collection. they
will last
longer and you will enjoy using them.

don't buy tools from stores/salespeople who make you feel intimidated.
there
are plenty of places out there to choose from. lots of people who
will be
willing to help & not make a female feel uncomfortable.

i would suggest a good cordless (rechargeable) drill, makita is a good
brand
and they come in different sizes. pick one that feels comfortable to
you. you say you are an apartment dweller so you may not have alot of
room for a whole lot of tools, but i use a heavy duty plug-in type
drill (milwaukee, though
just about any good brand will do) as well as the cordless. lots of
times it is handy to have 2 drills, one to pre-drill a hole and the
other with a phillips
head bit to screw. you should be able to find pre-selected drill bit
sets
at any home supply store with about a dozen or so bits. this should
serve you
well for most jobs.

--linda


"Denise" wrote in message ...
Hello there!

Well, it's finally happened. I broke down and got myself a new tool-box,
along with some cheap tools, among various other things, as I am tired of
asking for help fixing things around the house, and I want to learn how to
do home repairs. My dad will really appreciate me not innundating him with
phone calls with repeated pleas for help (Pardon my droning on here, folks,
but I am so out of the loop when it comes to tools, drills, measurements,
etc...but I'm sure that I'll prove to be endless fodder for entertainment in
the process) ;Þ

My questions, I'm sure, will either make the pro's out there laugh their
butts off, or think...geez, this woman really doesn't have a clue, does she?
But then again, if I want to learn, I have to ask...and I am a babe in the
woods when it comes to this stuff. Hopefully you can bear with me with even
the most inane of questions.

Now here is my initial dilemma: I am in the process of buying new drapes
for my living room windows, and I went out to Canadian Tire and bought
myself an inexpensive drill. When I asked the guy in tools about drill bits
and other things, he looked at me as if I had ten heads, and I want to avoid
further embarrasment. (Needless to say, I didn't ask what other kinds of
tools a female new to home repairs would need) I just wanted to get the
hell outta there.

How do I know what size drill bits to buy, and how much of an assortment
will I need? Not just for the drapes, but just so that I have enough on hand
in case I decide to tackle another project. (I am an apartment dweller, so
of course, I have cement walls to deal with) I'VE NEVER USED A DRILL
BEFORE!!! Can you guys and gals offer a beginner like me any newbie advice?
Also, I'd like to purchase some home repair books (just the basics...nothing
too advanced), and was wondering if anyone out there could recommend some
titles to me? For example, "Drills for Dummies", or "Tools for Dummies", you
know...something along those lines.

Thanks so much in advance for your help, gang...and I look forward to
lurking and learning from you all....

GG