Basic hand tools have been around since before civilization, helping to make life easier and enabling the development of culture. Over the years, they have evolved, and items designed specifically as woodworking tools and garden tools have been invented. Power tools are an electric/mechanical version of devices that can be operated manually. While not all hand contraptions used must have a power source, all power tools are a sub-genre of the hand-held variety.

The first instruments used were sticks and rocks, used to dig, hunt, and fight by the early humans. To make these items more effective, people began to alter them, sharpening stones to use in food preparation or for hunting, and smoothing sticks for better grip and to make it easier to throw them a farther distance. Animal horns are another medium that became popular-sharpening them into weapons for future hunts was particularly beneficial.

In the modern era, these items are not seen as food preparation utensils. Instead, they are used primarily for building shelter and repairing dwellings. Saws, axes, drills and hammers are all very popular.

When using or operating any variety of these, it is important to remember general safety information. Make sure that the work area is clean, well-lit and uncluttered. Also, make sure to know where all the cords are. It can be extremely dangerous to trip over a power cord when operating a high-powered band saw. Cordless tools are a great solution to this.

It is also very important to read the instruction manual that comes with the item. They contain safety information that may be specific to that purchase. Keeping everything in good, working order is a must as well. If equipment is damaged or broken, it can be hazardous to a persons health. Safety protection, in the form of goggles, hearing protection, gloves, dust masks, and hair ties for long hair are also highly recommended.

Before starting any project, make sure to know exactly what items will be needed to carry out the task. Using the wrong instruments can result in frustration, wasted time, and injuries. Many projects come with the listed tools in the blue prints, but if not, asking a professional or reading books or webpages on the subject can be helpful.

When working in the garden, different items are needed than when in the work shop. Hand trowels, or small shovels that are operated by hand are used for planting seeds and flowers when the hole does not need to be very large, or when it needs to be more precise. Rakes are used to clear debris from the planting area, while hoes break up tough ground.

Hammers are used in a wide variety of applications, but always to force an object into another. They can be used to force wooden spikes into the ground to create a fence around the garden, to put a nail into a piece of wood, or to help make sure two pieces of wood are firmly secured together. Screwdrivers are used specifically with screws, to wind them in and out. They can tighten a joint between two pieces of wood. There is a wide variety of screws, and an equally wide variety of screwdrivers used to maintain them. It is important to use the right screwdriver, or the screw could become damaged.

There is a wide variety of different hand tools, power tools and gardening tools that can be used to work on home improvement projects. They are fun, exciting, and also dangerous, so it is important to know the safety information and exactly what tool is needed for the job before getting started.