How to learn to use tools safely?

[Kath1]

I want to renovate my house. It is an unfinished time capsule from 2016 when my husband left. I know no one. I can only afford to do the work myself. Why aren't Bunnings running workshops anymore?

I've tried joining a Men's Shed but can't coz I'm a woman. Please help. Don't want to resort to dating a Builder with Benefits. 

[Noyade]

I think it was somewhere around 1998 and I bought a small (300 watt) electric drill from Repco.

Loved it - small and versatile.

The specifications on the box told me it could drill metal to a maximum of 10mm diameter.

So I tried it on plate steel wedged at a comfortable angle on the ground.

And away I went.

Then at some point the drill bit 'grabbed' the metal and in a microsecond, the whole drill case shattered and disintegrated. The drill bit remained in the plate, still with the chuck attached.

I was left holding the handle, no longer connected to the chuck. The body was in pieces on the ground - and I kid you not, there were cogs rolling down the driveway. 😁

The circuit breaker had tripped.

I learnt a lot from that experience.

[Dave-1]

Afternoon @Noyade 

Know that feeling too well! Tho I never broke the drill in such a spectacular fashion I did have incredibly sore lower leg bones from drilling gun metal casons? (service boxes for the side of the dock to ship) for the dockyard... It would grab no matter how I tried and I think I had around a dozen to install. I did them but had bruises for weeks. 

I can see your face just standing there holding the handle lol man that would have been a great shot!

Dave

[zubairsultan]

Hello everyone,

I am new to the community, and I am enjoying learning about DIY skills. I want to get some hands-on skills like using power tools like I have never used drill before. How can I get these practical skills and get hands on experience? I am working full time so can attend workshops/small training sessions but will not be able to attend full time course.

Any recommendations will be really appreciated. Thanks!

Kind Regards,

Zubair

[EricL]

Hello @zubairsultan 

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us, and thanks for sharing your question about learning D,I.Y. skills.

Welcome to the beginning of your do-it-yourself journey! I encourage you to explore our How To section, where you'll discover fantastic projects with step-by-step instructions to guide you. Additionally, check out the Essential hand tools for D.I.Y. beginners, which will equip you with the basic tools needed to start building.

Familiarizing yourself with the basic tools first will give you a much better foundation on how to use power tools.

A great way to gain hands-on experience is to embark on a DIY project yourself. Consider starting with something as simple as a D.I.Y. plant stand. This project is beginner-friendly, requiring no power tools and minimal materials. By completing this basic project, you'll familiarize yourself with fundamental concepts and skills essential for larger undertakings.

Above all, don't hesitate to seek assistance. If you have any questions about your project, feel free to post them here. Our members are eager to provide advice and information. And once your project is finished, remember to share it!

For additional guidance, you can find our best advice on learning woodworking in this link: How do you learn woodworking?

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

[zubairsultan]

Hi @EricL ,

Thank you so much for your detailed response. It is the exact sort of thing that I wanted to do. I will start with understanding basic tools and then will complete DIY plant stand. I have seen that are other small projects that I can take to enhance my DIY skills. Bunnings workshop seems a great place to me to start learning DIY. Thanks heaps.

Kind regards,

Zubair

[EricL]

Hi @zubairsultan 

We look forward to seeing your first project. If you have any questions we can help with, please don't hesitate to post them.

Eric

[MimiLaurent]

Hi, I have a project and need to know how to use a palm sander. Is there somewhere that has demos or lessons for people that have never used power tools before?

Thanks.

[MitchellMc]

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @MimiLaurent. It's sensational to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about learning to use a palm sander.

You're welcome to have a chat with the Tool Shop team member, D.I.Y. presenter or Activities organiser at your local store. They'll be able to let you know if there are any upcoming in-store workshops that might cover using a palm sander. 

You might also like to have a read through the following guides:

• How to use power sanders

• How to use sandpaper correctly

• How to restore wooden furniture.

My biggest tip for learning how to use a palm sander would be just to have a go on some scrap material. The general rule is the coarser the sandpaper, the more likely you'll sand too much or damage the surface, so start with finer sandpaper like 240-grit and practice. If you are not cutting through the material fast enough, decrease the grit to 180. You want to use the least aggressive grit possible to get the job done in a reasonable amount of time. Once you've smoothed the surface or removed the layer you wish to, you then move back up in stages, increasing the grit until you reach your desired finish. Remember to remove the coarse scratch marks from the previous grit entirely before stepping up to the next grit count.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell
 

[SkyeRoxanne]

Hi, My dad says I can't build a garden shed and is worried I will chop off a finger if I do!! 

Does anyone know where I can go and learn basic carpentry skills - at present I am limited to high school woodwork from 20 years ago.

All I really want to learn is how to use tools safely.  My end goal is to build a stud frame garden shed with a skillion roof.  I will be pulling up decking and building the shed on top so I know my joists are level and I have something already squared off to work from.  I have checked with my brother (a carpenter) and he has confirmed they meet the requirements for strength and I am good to build straight on top.  It's just a square shed and nothing special, but I want to do it myself.

Any help knowing where to go for some basic hands on training would be gold!

[EricL]

Hello @SkyeRoxanne 

Have you considered conducting a Google search to explore available resources? This could serve as a helpful starting point. Alternatively, our supportive community members are likely to offer insights if they're aware of any options.

We pride ourselves on fostering an encouraging environment, and I'm confident our members will be delighted to propose projects you might enjoy pursuing. I also recommend perusing our How-To section, which features numerous user-friendly, step-by-step guides categorized by difficulty level. Additionally, the article on Essential hand tools for D.I.Y. beginners by @Peggers is an invaluable source of information.

I propose learning your basics first in order to get a good foundation. Building a timber shed is very involved. 

Here is a link to our best advice: How do you learn woodworking?

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric