How to: Take Care of Your Tools

The older I get, the more I’m convinced by the “but the right thing once, use it for the rest of your life” approach to supplies. Yes, it might mean waiting a little longer and saving up to get the best option, but it’s a better investment of not only your money, but your storage space and your time. This rings especially true for tools: woodworking and DIY tools, kitchen tools, art supplies, etc. Getting the right one first guarantees you won’t outgrow it later, unless your needs change.   Of course, once you get the best option for you, you need to make sure you take care of it, particularly tools with movable parts, sharp edges, rustable surfaces, etc. 

This article at Lifehacker explores the basics. They say, “Good tools can be quite an investment, but if you take good care of them, they’ll return the favor. Keeping your tools properly stored, cleaned, and maintained will save you time and money and make your DIY endeavors that much more rewarding. We’re mostly talking about hand tools, power tools, and garden tools in this article, but much of the same advice applies whether your tools of choice are kitchen knives, crafting tools, or whatever else. Store them well, keep them clean and well-maintained, and you won’t be sorry.”

It covers the basics of storage, cleaning, repairing, and maintaining, and though you’ll certainly want to look up specifics for each kind of tool, it’s a great place to start.

Check it out: How To Take Care of Your Tools

Happy Weekend!