No matter if you are an established artist or just beginning, having the proper tools for crafting can make all of the difference in how your art turns out. Here, we explore The Artisan’s Arsenal–an essential collection of supplies designed to take your craft to the next level.
Arsenal cards can be an effective way of delaying power for future turns – just be careful not to stack too many!
Adhesives
Woodworking is an art that requires both precision and skill; having access to quality carpentry adhesives will help ensure that your DIY project comes together correctly and is finished beautifully.
Adhesives are organic substances used to keep materials together by adhering to surfaces, resisting separation. Examples of adhesives are cements, mucilages and glues – terms often used interchangeably when talking about any organic substance that creates an adhesive bond between two materials.
Hot adhesives – thermoplastic thermoplastics applied in a liquid state that harden once hardened – have become popular choices for crafts due to the wide array of materials they can connect. Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) hot adhesives are frequently utilized; glue guns provide easy application.
Fasteners
As a beginning DIYer, you may not yet need an arsenal of power tools, but every DIYer should own certain essential ones. These include a cordless drill with various screw bits for making holes of various sizes; hammers are necessary for nailing and stapling tasks; staple guns can also come in handy in various projects from upholstery to art projects as they provide secure fabric or wire attachment to wood or metal surfaces and more!
Though you might get by with just using a basic screwdriver for most of your crafting needs, an electric drill will make faster and more accurate holes in wood than with conventional methods, particularly when dealing with heavier materials such as solid-core hardwoods. A versatile addition to your tool arsenal.
There are an infinite number of fastener types in existence today, but most can generally be divided into permanent and non-permanent categories. Permanent fasteners like nails or rivets cannot be removed without damaging them while non-permanent fasteners such as screws, bolts, and nuts are designed for removable use.
Threaded fasteners such as screws and bolts are the most frequently used form of fastener, often used to join components that cannot accept jointing made through other methods, such as welding or soldering. Screws tend to be standalone fasteners with sharp points designed to cut female threads into components’ surfaces while bolts typically use blunted tips similar to screws but used together with nut assemblies.
Hex nuts, with their six-sided shape and hexagonal head, are among the most commonly used fasteners to hold fasteners together. Their hexagonal shape enables hand or wrench tightening for easier installation onto screws and bolts; and come in multiple sizes to fit different screws and bolts. Other common fasteners include washers that act as spacers, load distributors, locking devices or vibration dampeners.
Tools
Possessing the appropriate tools can make all of the difference when undertaking any project. From furniture assembly to hanging a picture frame, having an arsenal of essential tools at your fingertips can save both time and frustration when tackling projects of any kind. Quality tools should last you longer as an investment worthy of consideration.
A tape measure is one of the least intimidating tools and an essential must-have for any beginner. Ideal for taking measurements accurately and making layout work more precise, look for one with clearly marked measurements such as this one (this one does). A set of screwdrivers featuring both flathead and Phillips bits in various lengths would also be an invaluable addition to your toolbox.
Must-have tools include a hand saw for cutting wood and plastic materials, as well as a power drill – the latter allows carpenters to drive screws into wood more easily than by hand – as well as various drill bits with different hole sizes for use when driving screws into wood by hand.
Ear protection in the form of earmuffs or earplugs is absolutely necessary in any workshop, to protect hearing from noisy tools and reduce hearing damage. A dust mask should also be an indispensable addition for woodworkers as it protects noses and eyes from fine wood shavings that pose health risks to them; while vacuum cleaners come in handy after projects have been completed to help clean up afterward.