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Topic: Hand Tools for Women Design Project - Need Suggestions!
 Thank you Judeherr lucyZ writes: Fri, 07/13/2007 - 4:53pm
I think you reply makes sense. I would think that a lot of women, especially those who are very good at using tools, like you, would focus on the functions for the most part. There's another comment I read on this forum saying that it would be an insult to simply make tools pink for women. I agree with you! However, I also think that the average female consumers, in hand tool market or any others, do have some different and unique preference when they choose which product to buy. "Safety" is the most common word I heard in my small and quick research calling around female friends and relatives, while "power" among males. Being more safety conscious is part of female nature, and there might be other things that female consumers pay more attention to. For example, I'm a small and under weight woman - 5'4'' and 100lb. Most of my husband's tools, especially power tools feel like they are driving me in my hand. Almost nothing in the hand tool section in hardware stores appeal to me - they all look too rough and dangerous with very limited design efforts put into them. I don't want Barbie tools but I would like them to appear friendly. However I really don't want to narrow myself with my own point of view. Your comment is appreciated! I will keep my mind on the fact that many tool using females are very confident and compedent and they want to feel that way and won't hide it. Please, give me more suggestions if you can. It would help a lot!
 Redbugsullivan As a very redbugsullivan writes: Mon, 07/23/2007 - 8:37pm
Redbugsullivan
As a very petite woman, getting used to power tools took a while. It took stripping countless screws, poorly assembling shelves and hours of wishing I were a muscular man to convince me to move beyond my comfort zone. I finally got a book and discovered correct tool size and training were completely tied to safety. Tools my burly ex-husband used were not as safe because they didn't fit me. When I started using borrowed tools, like a small rechargable Makita drill/driver, I quickly fell in love! One of my favorite tools is a 12 volt Black & Decker FireStorm with a quick connect feature. It is light enough to use without tiring easily and powerful enough to drill 3/8" holes and sink 3" screws. The quick disconnect feature allows me to rapidly switch between drilling and driving without a lot of hassle. I had owned, used and thrown away too many frustrating little cordless screwdrivers. I also love my tool belt. I made it suit me by cutting the belt down to size and decorating it with my favorite "I Can Do It" sayings. Wearing it also keeps me safer because it reduces my trips up and down ladders and through the maze of assembled items. Instead of making due with the tools nearest me, I load up on the correct tools for the project and always have them on hand! Yes, it does have a spot my for my drill/driver and my 16 oz hammer. As far as hand tools are concerned, physics is a woman's friend. A good sharp saw blade means less stress on arms and hands. A longer lever, like a ratchet or crescent wrench increases torque without strain. Correct screwdriver size and shape is critical. If they don't feel good in your hand, you won't like using them. Buy good quality tools, not only do they look better, last longer, and get the job done quicker, they are GREAT for your ego when the job is done right! Tools = thinking smarter, not harder. Hopefully, this helps!
 functional tools for small hands SkullonFire writes: Mon, 08/27/2007 - 6:02pm
On any first project, my skull feels like its on fire but I'm good.
First off, the woman specific designs that are scaled down but not scaled for an adult hand are not functional but they sure look pretty. However, I won't waste money on them. Barbara found a workaround to portable drills. I've looked at various port. drills but no matter the battery size, they are simply too heavy to hold. Barbara tools supposedly takes the power pack out of the equation and separates it to the tool belt. So wt is transferred to the waist and now the drill is a manageable wt. I have not seen these avail in stores yet. Exceptions to the size issue: Dremel tools. There's enough brands out there to experiment for size and fit. Power tools: I started with Black and Decker's and built up a collection by scouring the end cap clearances at Target. e.g. 4 tools for $25 (normally $100). Anything I wear out I will upgrade to a DeWalt or Mik. I don't care as much about color as much as functional design and something that I can hold for up to 15 minutes without exhaustion. It has to be something I can hold comfortably and sometimes, the lower house versions will do the trick because they don't go driving off in hands that can't hold them as one poster pointed out.
Still somethings can't beat muscle power and for that, I will call in a guy to do the work, eg. Sawzall. Stanley and Irwin have great ergonomic designs and I can always find something of a size I can use comfortably, especially their Anti-vibe handles and Irwin's new style clamps have been great for mitering (gets in where traditional clamps don't). Their mini versions are very useful for soldering and small work.
 Just saw your post about urdajac writes: Mon, 09/17/2007 - 7:04pm
Just saw your post about Irwin having tools that work for you. Wanted to let you know that one of their lead industrial designers is a woman! She actually helped me on my thesis and has worked in the tool industry for about 10 years.
Hi Lucyz, I would like to SHEBUILDS writes: Mon, 09/03/2007 - 11:47am
Hi Lucyz,
I would like to introduce Tomboy Tools to you. Based on the information on your post I assume you haven't heard about them. Tomboy Tools have been around for a while and it market itself to "do it yourself" women. Tomboy Tools sells ergonomically designed tools and educates women on home improvement techniques. The best part is that it demonstrates the tools on party/demo gatherings of women, and makes them totally comfortable while experimenting the tools and their applications. Hard to beat that!!!! If you want to talk about it, reply to this post and I'll send you my e-mail. Good luck!!!
You can Do It!!
SHEBUILDS
Hey Lucy, I actually just urdajac writes: Mon, 09/17/2007 - 7:01pm
Hey Lucy,
I actually just completed my Master's in Industrial Design and did my thesis work on the very subject you are writing about. My thesis is titled
Empowering Women: A Guide for the Design of Hand and Power Tools that Accommodate Women's Needs.
If you would like to view my thesis and my final solution, it is available at http://graduate.auburn.edu/auetd/
Search by Author and type my name, Jacqueline Urda. A photograph of the drill that I developed is on the last page of the last appendix.
It's great to hear from other female designers out there who have an interest in creating better products for women! Please let us know how your work turns out!
Best of luck,
Jacqueline
Never used power tools get_her_done writes: Wed, 03/19/2008 - 5:56pm
Ok, I am an older woman trying to remodel her house.
I had a friend lay laminate flooring in my living area and it buckled. So, today I called a "handyman" out. He did pull up a few pieces of the laminate and chiseled off a few of the boards where they were tight. But he said that it would be necessary to pull up all the boards in the room and cut them back 1/4". He also said that the boards that stick up would most likely have to be replaced because they had been in the position too long. (Not a problem, I have plenty of flooring).
He didnt' charge me anything, but offered to have his company give me a quote for the work. I declined and said I would do it myself. (They are too expensive.)
I have a new, borrowed circular saw in the garage, but I am concerned about how to use it. I did read the instructions, but still have doubts and think I might hurt myself. The saw has a blade made for laminate flooring, but the guard keeps the saw too far away from the walls. My son said to place a 2 x 4 or telephonebooks under the saw to make it higher than the baseboards, making the saw closer to the wall. The ends need to be cut about 1/4 of an inch.
I have been pulling up the boards in that room. However, I'm not sure it is necessary. There are only a few boards actually buckled, because the fit is too tight.
It is a floating floor. It there some other tool, chisel, etc that I can use in the tight places, so I can just push the flooring over without taking it up and sawing it?
Never used power tools continued* get_her_done writes: Thu, 03/20/2008 - 4:54am
I went ahead and pulled up the flooring in the room. The buckeled boards are just fine. However, the boards I pulled up still need to be cut 1/4".
About the saw, I do know you are suppose to start it before touching the boards and let it stop before pulling it out of the boards.
I don't understand about all the adjustments, guides etc.
What is the bets way to learn this stuff? Just jump in and do it?
Tomboy Tools tomboy writes: Wed, 08/20/2008 - 12:59am
Hi lucyZ,
Go to my website www.tomboytools.info/ashbaugh and take a look at the tools available. These tools are ergonomically designed and not only for women, but for someone with smaller hands!
If you see something you're interested in email me @ pegstoolbox@yahoo.com. I've got some specials that would save you some money!
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I don't think that tools are
judeherr writes:
Fri, 07/13/2007 - 3:08pm
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