Your old tools can do more than you may think, you just have to be creative! Let's look at some novel ways you can put your gear to work.
Can Your Tools Do This? Probably.
Humans (and critters of many kinds) have a long history of using tools to make the impossible…possible. (Or, like…to do the most, while trying the least.)
Whether you’re a crow named Tumulte attempting to extract a treat from a transparent puzzle box or a teenager using your heaviest shoe to hammer nails through your new Taking Back Sunday poster (No? Just us? Excellent.) …tools are a vital part of our everyday life.
Ideally, you’d have a single-object tool for every job. While there are many ways to acquire those (ahem), it’s not always in the cards. Lucky for you, there are plenty of tools that can pull double-duty, if you put your mind to it.
Without further ado, allow us to blow ya mind.
Mixing Spoon Drill
For our first trick, we’ll make like our cunning corvid friend, Tumulte, and get to stacking. If you’ve got a humble electric drill and an affinity for tasty baked goods, you’re gonna love this culinary play on a toolbox staple.
Not really into the baking game? Want to get a little more metal 🤘with your drill-based kitchen appliances? Maybe a turbo-powered cheese grater or suspiciously aggressive electric can opener is more your speed. All this — and more — here.
Garden Hose Saw Sheath
If you’ve got a thing for saws but not a thing for losing appendages — or for your tool space looking like a serial killer’s lair — a bit of excess garden hose can help keep you safe (and your vibes wholesome).
Cut a piece of hose the length of your saw, use a sturdy knife to split one side down the middle, and slide the saw’s teeth into the slit. This simple hack will make your resting saws far less dangerous and…murder-y.
*For a whimsical twist on this DIY, try using pool noodles instead of bits of hose! We’ve never done this and can’t guarantee positive results, but we can’t stop giggling at the thought of a host of saws, blunted with brightly colored pool toys.
Air Compressor Snow Gun (And Caulker, Too)
The coldest months may be behind us, but you never know when you’ll need some winter wonderland magic. If you aren’t about Christmas in July, it never hurts to get a head start on the holiday season. Bookmark this page and thank us later. 😉
Bring your landscaping to life with this very thorough guide on turning an air compressor into a DIY snow gun! It’s giving It’s a Wonderful Life.
Bonus points: have some caulking to do?
Campbell Hausfield — and your air compressor — just may be your new best friends.
Pliers Flashlight Stand
Calling all nocturnal DIYers (and nighttime campers)! Get your MacGyver* on with this quick hack from FamilyHandyMan. Construct a steady lightsource with nothing more than a flashlight, pliers, and a rubber band.
(*This reference is still relevant right? Shhh. Correct answer: yes. If The Fonz reboots a show over 30 years after the original airs, and gets five seasons…it’s a thing.)
Pry Bar Door Lift
Hanging doors is an exact science — too low, they’ll scrape against the floor; slightly crooked in either direction, they won’t fit properly into the jamb. Since doors can’t be hung sitting on the floor (because…scraping), you’ll need a tool to lift the door before you can affix it to the frame.
(Please, do not try to use your limbs for this. Yes, you are very strong and very good with balance, but this will result in pinched and smashed fingers and we hate that for you.)
There are tools especially for this job, but we’re all about getting scrappy and resourceful with our projects. (We’re also all about not spending $25 – 35 on a tool that really only does one thing.) That being the case, we were delighted to find this clever hack that leverages (heh) a pry bar and wood scraps to elevate doors for hanging.
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If you’ve spent any time with us at all, you know we love multifunctional…everything. And the great thing about doing-it-yourself consistently is — the more you do it, the more you learn, the more creative you can get. These versatile tools are just one way to add spice to your DIY life. What else can we create if we think outside the box?
Just want to find a single tool that’ll do the thing it’s meant to do? We’ve got you there, too. Sparetoolz lets you rent tools from other DIYers in your neighborhood — and rent tools to folks nearby who may need them! Cut down on excess purchases and waste while connecting with people in your community, and keep your local economy buzzing. Win, win, win.
