01 · FastenFasteners & anchors
DIY tool know-how · Answer first
Know what works on what.
Stuck mid-project? Get a straight answer on the right bit, blade, glue or fastener for the material in front of you. Then the steps, and what to try if it still won't work.
Find the fix in two picks
Pick a job and a material. We'll send you to the guide, or to that material's page while the guide is being written.
Start with the job
Pick a hub. Every guide lives in one.
Ten hubs, sorted by the job you're doing or the gear you're using.
Tools & charts
Let the calculator do the math
Free to use, no sign-up. Each tool shows how it gets its answer.
Calculator
Inverter size
Pick your tools and see the running watts, starting watts and inverter size to look for.
Calculator
Generator wattage
Add up home loads and jobsite tools, with starting watts included.
Selector
Pressure washer nozzles
Pick the surface and get the nozzle color to start with.
Converter
Fraction ↔ decimal ↔ mm
Type .625 and get 5/8 inch and 15.875 mm, shown on a tape.
Most-needed fixes
The fixes people look for most
Picked from what people search for on this site. We update the list as that changes.
Does Gorilla Glue work on silicone?
Short answer: no. Why it peels off, and what to use instead.
Screw won't go into the wall? Find the cause and fix it
Back it out and look at the dust. Drywall, stud, brick and metal each need a different fix.
How to remove a snap ring without pliers
Check the ring type first, then use screwdrivers, picks or needle-nose pliers.
What is .625 on a tape measure?
It's 5/8 inch. How to find it fast, plus a converter.
How to remove the nozzle from a Sun Joe pressure washer
Let out the pressure, pull back the collar, and swap the tip.
Can you use mulching blades with side discharge?
Yes, with limits. When clippings clump, and when to close the chute.
How we work
Straight answers you can check
ToolsLiving answers one kind of question: what works on what. Which bit drills porcelain tile, which glue holds on silicone, which screw or anchor bites in your wall. Each guide starts with the answer, then gives the steps and the sources behind them.
Answer first
Every guide opens with the short answer. The steps, the why and the edge cases come after.
Sources you can check
Facts come from manuals, data sheets, standards and safety agencies. Each guide lists them at the end.
Checked by a person
A person edits every guide and checks each number and safety step against its source before it goes live.
No test claims we can't back
Bench tests are planned. Until a page shows the method, numbers and photos, it doesn't say a test was done.
Materials
Twelve materials. One page each.
How to drill, cut, glue, fasten and sand each one, with links to the full guides.
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