It's a man's world - or is it!

As a result of our DIY Diva courses, I see a lot of women who want to get involved in DIY, do their own home repairs, or even make their own furniture and they haven't taken the next step because of three things:

- Have a fear of using power tools

- Don't feel that they have enough knowledge

- Simply don't know where to start

All of the above are understandable, after all, DIY has always been considered a man's job. And quite rightly so - about twenty years ago when power tools where heavy, cumbersome and difficult to use. Now, however, we have portable drills that double up as screwdrivers, we have cordless sanders, and we even have jigsaws that are easy to use. In fact, more and more women are realising that power tools are now very easy to use - once you get over that initial fear.

My advice is simple, once you've bought your first power tool take the time to read the instruction manual. May sound stupid but, you would be amazed at how many people buy power tools only to be so excited to get the tool out of the box that the instruction manual gets tossed into the bin as well. I know, I've done it myself!

Those little books are packed with important information - once you get past the German, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, Dutch, and so on. Although a lot of the information may initially be over your head and hard to understand, once you have practised a bit and played around with the tool, it will start to make more sense. Another important reason for keeping the instruction manual in a safe place is that, there may come a time when a part needs to be replaced, and rather than having to send the power tool in, or have to replace it, you may find that the instruction manual will show to how to solve the problem. If you've tossed out the manual, you will never know.

I have a drawer full of instruction manuals, some that I will probably never use. But then again, I won't know until I need it!

Janice - www.DIY-Divas.co.za

08/02/2009 | comments (7) |

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You know Janice, you are so right! I often used to buy things and throw the manual away. I have learnt my lesson over the years and now have a special file where I keep all my important manuals - just in case.

Pat Maynard on 08/02/2009

I agree, I was single for a long time and I had to repair a lot of things myself, and learn't to do a lot, then I met my other half and I still feel as though I have to remember how to do most things which I don't mind at all

Roof Repairs on 11/02/2009

I've also started to do simple DIY things around the house - not because I enjoy doing it but because I'm tired of waiting for my DH (Dear Husband) to do it.

Most of the women will know that if we wait for our husbands to get around to doing tasks and projects given to them, it very rarely gets done when you ask for it.

(I think men are born procrastinators but thats just by 5 million ZIMBABWEAN dollars worth).

So I took it upon myself recently to re-silicone around my bath as it was starting to look grubby and my husband kept finding more urgent and interesting projects to complete (like playing XBOX)

Anyway, I dug in the tool shed to see what I could use to remove the old silicone. I got hold of a stanley knife and started scratching away at the old silicone. This is the worst job under the sun (no jokes) and hard on the delicate hands too.

My mind started ticking over...surely there must be an easier way to do this?

Has no one invented a product that can dissolve silicone so that I can just rub it away and apply the new silicone?

Surely....surely...

Help?

They most definitely have invented something - acetone, or common nail polish remover - and a damp cloth. It eats away at the silicone and you can simply wipe it away! - Janice - www.DIY-Divas.co.za

Gill on 17/02/2009

Thank you for this helpful hint, no more broken nails and scratched hands..

Dawn on 23/02/2009

Thanks Janice..Guess what I'm doing this weekend? Well it won't involve doing my nails thats for sure...

Gill on 23/02/2009

I agree with your idea.You look like very talented.It is very happy to meet you. Thank you!

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