ESL Podcast 907 - Buying Tools at a Hardware Store

DIY - do it yourself; a project done by an individual without any special experience or training, and without hiring specialists or professionals

If you have to cut a hole in the roof to install the skylight, it probably isn't a DIY project.

power tool - a tool that plugs into the wall and is operated with electricity

You have to complete the training and earn certification before the company will allow you to use any of the power tools.

hand tool - a tool that is held in one's hand and operated by one's physical movements, without the use of electricity.

There isn't much space to work in here, so I'll need to use my smallest hand tools.

hammer - a tool with a wooden handle and a heavy metal end, used to hit nails so that they are pushed into a piece of wood or a wall

Don't use a stapler to try to pound those nails! Use a hammer instead.

wrench - a metal tool with a metal handle and an open u-shaped piece of metal at the top, used to hold onto nuts or a pipe and make them turn

This is too tight for me to unscrew with my hand, but I bet I could do it with a wrench.

chisel - a tool with a wooden handle and a long, flat piece of metal at the other end, used to shape a piece of wood, separate tile from a wall, and to perform other tasks that need a fine edge

We used a chisel and a hammer to chip away the rock wall.

pliers - a tool shaped like scissors, with metal or plastic handles and a metal tip that can open and close, used to grab small items, possibly to turn or cut them

Use these pliers to hold the wires in place while I pull at them from the other side.

screwdriver - a tool with a metal or wooden handle and a pointed piece of metal at the other end that fits into a screw and can be used to turn it as it pushes into a piece of wood or metal

The directions say to use a screwdriver to attach the shelf to the back of this bookcase.

nail gun - a tool that pushes nails into wood with a lot of force and a loud, popping sound, eliminating the need for a hammer

Professional roofers use nail guns instead of hammers, because they can install the roofing material much more quickly that way.

power drill - a machine that uses electricity to create a narrow, deep hole in or through a piece of wood

Use a power drill to make a small hole first, and then it will be easier to put the screw in.

sander - a machine that uses electricity to make a rough wooden surface smoother by rubbing it with "sandpaper"

Yesterday they finished installing the boards on the back deck. Today they're sanding it with a sander, and tomorrow they'll paint it.

table saw - a large machine that uses electricity to cut boards of wood, with a person guiding them over a table that has a large cutting blade that spins very quickly in the middle of the table

For safety, always wear eye protection and gloves when using a table saw, and be careful not to touch the blade while it is spinning.

repair - a fix; a correction or modification to make something work again after it has broken

The bike store charged me $50 for the seat repair.

to remodel - to change the structure or layout of something, especially a home, often removing or adding walls or rooms

We'd love to remodel our home so that it has two bathrooms.

to count (one's) lucky stars - to be very grateful for something that has happened, but that one has little or no control over

Every day we thank out lucky stars for our good health.