"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


Over the years I've found having many different tools is the key to getting
things done. You never know what problems you might run into. Quality is
nice, but quantity counts more in my opinion. Get as many different cheap
tools as you can find over time. I'm talking as a do-it-yourselfer here, not
as a pro. Pro tools are a whole different game.

Cheap drill bits will cut through concrete generally. So, you might burn one
from time to time. If you're not a pro, who cares. You don't need something
to last through hundreds of jobs. You just need to hang a few pictures.

A corded drill is a good idea too. If you buy a cordless you'll likely lose
the batteries before you've used it much. Buy a corded one and you can use
it occasionally for a lifetime.