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[Fair Use: For Educational/Research Purposes Only] WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1999

By Michael Hyatt

It's all about the hand tools

Frequently, regarding Y2K prep, I am asked what kinds of hand tools I recommend.

Short answer: It depends.

For working with wood, you'll want a variety of saws, hand-operated drills, chisels, rasps, planes, hammers, and screwdrivers.

For all-around maintenance, you will also need a good hacksaw, wrenches, pipe-cutters, pliers, and a crowbar.

Don't forget basic gardening supplies. Shovels, weed-diggers, hoes, clippers, shears, and perhaps even an old push mower could prove helpful. Some basic sewing supplies are also a good idea.

Don't forget a supply of nails, screws, bolts, and staples. Duct tape, rope, string, wire, and adhesives are also important.

You will also want to make sure that you have recently sharpened all blades, including saws, hatchets, shovels, and axes. If you're using wood to heat your house, you'll need these nice and sharp. If your stockpile runs low, dull tools are no good for cutting wood.

URL: http://www.worldnetdaily.com/bluesky_hyatt/19991215_xcmhy_its_all_ab.shtml

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-- snooze button (alarmclock_2000@yahoo.com), December 15, 1999

Answers

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/bluesky_hyatt/19991215_xcmhy_its_all_ab.s html

-- Stan Faryna (faryna@groupmail.com), December 15, 1999.

Great advice if you have experience with saws and chisels and axes. Terrible advice if you've never used one recently. Experience with handtools is generally gained at the expense of injuries to hands and feet. If you have handtools you've hardly if ever used, the time to get your feet wet is now while you can get quick medical help. Heard and read stories of folks getting injured after hurricane Floyd. People were using various items like generators and such with little or actual experience. Been using handtools for years. Took off 1/2 my thumbnail 2 weeks ago. (accident). No bigger bummer during an emergency when tensions running high to try and use a tool you are unfamiliar with. Once injured, it adds that much more to the overall drain upon you. Weigh the cost/ price before embarking on physical activities that are not essential to survival. Always remember that an injury can quickly place you or a family member in an awkward position. Although this may sound strange, a great amount of respect can be gained for tools when you simply ask yourself when was the last time you hurt/cut yourself badly. If you haven't burned, cut, scraped, bruised or pulled a muscle, in recent memory, realize your perspective changes drasticly when this happens. Great cautionary note on generators with moving parts: If anyone wears their hair long, or wears a necklace, etc., a common and preventable injury is to be certain nothing that dangles can get caught in generator. Safety issues will be lifesavers for us. If an injury occurs requiring medical personnel to enter your home, and the "anti-hoarding" measures are in effect, then you could face a bundle of tricky decisions in a heartbeat. I realize lots of folks know what they are doing. I am more concerned about folks who have always hired help most of their lives, and now think they can become "The Tool Man" in a week or two.

Regards,

(he Who) Rolls with punches

-- (He who)Rolls with Punches (JoeZi@aol.com), December 15, 1999.

Great advice for those with more Dollars than Sense!

-- Sceptic (BeCarefullOut@There.com), December 15, 1999.

I used to think my pop was nuts when he would tell me to sharpen the shovels, but it did make the job easier. Preparation seems to do that.

-- Someone (ChimingIn@twocents.com), December 15, 1999.