Hammers, Screwdrivers, and Work Around the House

Maybe there’s a picture you want to hang. Furniture that needs to be assembled. Or a screw in a chair that needs to be tightened. There’s no need to let vision loss stand in the way of taking care of these household tasks. But you may need a few tips to do so. So let’s get at it.

When you have low vision, keeping your work area well-lit is always a top priority. A headband light, a battery-operated lantern, or rope lights can be used to provide more light and keep your hands free. You can also use an adjustable lamp that clamps onto your workbench. Or get a floor lamp that has an adjustable head you can use in your workshop. And when you work near natural light from a window, it can help you prevent glare or shadows.

To make the tools you need easier to find, wrap handles in brightly colored tape. And always store them in the same place. Putting the nails and screws you need in a small container or the pocket of a carpenter’s apron makes them easier to find.

And any parts you remove, like screws, knobs or handles, should also be put into a container or on a tray to avoid knocking them over or dropping them.

One tool that’s used quite a bit is a screwdriver. There are different types and sizes of screws, of course, so you’ll want to match the screwdriver to the screw in front of you. To do that, use your fingernail to tell if the head of the screw has a slot or a cross pattern on it. This is particularly helpful when the screw is in a place where it’s hard to get close enough to see it.

Now, painting the tip of the screwdriver a bright color will create contrast between the screw head and screwdriver so you can line up the screwdriver with the head of the screw. It’s also helpful to use the fingers of your opposite hand to touch the screw and guide the tip of the screwdriver into place.

Also, using magnetic screwdrivers will help hold screws in place after aligning them or to pick up dropped screws. You can buy them online, in hardware stores or check out our handout in the resources section below on how to magnetize standard screwdrivers on your own.

Keep in mind that getting too close, trying to see the screw as you work, can become dangerous if the screwdriver slips. So try to keep a safe distance between your head and the screwhead when you’re working on it.

Now, let’s say you need to hammer a nail. You’ll want to hold the nail between your index finger and thumb. Put your index finger on the head of the nail and your thumb against the underside of the head. Make sure you hold the nail straight up and down against the surface you’re driving it into.

Start with the face of the hammer on the head of the nail. The thumb and index finger that are holding the nail can also be used to help center the face of the hammer onto the nail head. Then slide your fingers and thumb partway down the nail and remove them once the nail is set.

If you’re worried about hitting your fingers, try using a clothes pin or needle nose pliers to make a notch in a scrap piece of wood. To better see the hammer and follow its movement, wrap the head in contrasting colored tape.

Holding the hammer closer to the head is a good starting point when setting the nail in place. It gives you better control. Then, when the nail is well set, moving your hand closer to the handle, will work better. The motion and weight of the hammer will do the work of driving the nail in further instead of your arm or shoulder.

Tap once to be sure the hammer is aligned with the nail. Then, raise the hammer about six inches in an arc and follow the same arc back down to the nail for a more forceful strike. Let muscle memory help you find the nail again and repeat your movements until the nail is driven in. Once again, don’t get your head too close to see what you are doing as you are driving the nail. That can be dangerous.

Stop after the first two strikes to see and feel the nail to make sure it’s being driven in straight. You should also listen to the sound because the pitch changes the further in the nail goes. You’ll also hear if the hammer is not striking the nail flatly on the head or if the nail is being bent.

As always, contact a learning expert if you have questions or your own tips to share. Of course, as with anything new, give yourself time, patience, and practice and you’ll get there.