Tool Lingo
Do You Know All of These Common Tools?
Do you ever find yourself in the middle of a DIY task asking someone – “Can you pass me the thingamajiggy…?”
Most people have some tools knocking about the home for when the need for DIY strikes. But how many people can name the tools we might need to get the job done? Beyond this, do they know what they’re used for?
We took it upon ourselves to find the answer and put the British public’s knowledge to the test. We surveyed 2,000 UK respondents, showing pictures of 13 common tools to see just how many they could correctly name.
Do You Know Your Tool Lingo?
There were some tools where as little as 20% of the British public knew what they were called. Think you can beat that?
Tool 1 (20% guessed this correctly)
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s an impact driver - obviously. Though it seems the answer wasn’t obvious after all, as only 1 in 5 members of the UK public were able to name this tool correctly. In case you weren’t sure yourself, an impact driver is a type of drill driver used to drive bolts, screws and other fasteners into the toughest of surfaces.
Tool 2 (42% guessed this correctly)
Do you know what this is? Well unfortunately 58% of the UK public aren’t too sure. This is a mitre saw, designed to make accurate cuts at many different angles. Interestingly, 63% of respondents from Northern Ireland correctly named this tool, whilst only 27% of Greater London were able to get it right.
Tool 3 (50% guessed this correctly)
This tool had the public split down the middle as half of the UK were able to correctly guess that this is in fact, a jigsaw. However, only 16% of 16-24-year-olds were able to identify this tool, compared to 67% of 55+ year olds. Intended for cutting wood, jigsaws are perfect for carving shapes and curves due to their thin blades.
Tool 4 (53% guessed this correctly)
Just under half of the UK public couldn’t identify this tool as an angle grinder, with only 53% guessing the answer correctly. This handheld tool runs at high speed, and is mainly used for grinding and polishing metal.
Tool 5 (57% guessed this correctly)
Turns out that just over half of the UK knows what a paint sprayer looks like. Breaking it down by age, we can see that less than a quarter of 16-24-year-olds and under half of 25-34-year-olds were able to correctly identify it. In comparison, 70% of those aged 55+ and 65% of 45-54-year-olds guessed correctly.
Tool 6 (58% guessed this correctly)
A jack of all trades, this tool can be used for several tasks, such as cutting, grinding, or sanding. If you guessed ‘rotary multi tool’, you join the 58% of the UK public who were able to identify it correctly. Only a quarter of 16-24-year-olds got this one right, whilst almost three quarters of 55+ were able to identify this tool.
Tool 7 (71% guessed this correctly)
Did the shape give this tool away? It didn’t for 43% of 16-24s. Armed with an easy-squeeze trigger, this tool is a nail gun, also known as a staple gun. It can be used to fix heavy fabrics, screens, and upholstery to wood and other materials.
Tool 8 (77% guessed this correctly)
A simple yet effective tool, this is used to test how parallel a surface is in relation to the earth. This is a spirit level, essential for ensuring that surfaces are level throughout a construction project. Less than half of 16-24-year-olds could identify this tool.
Tool 9 (82% guessed this correctly)
You know you recognise it, but what is it called? Known interchangeably as a hex key or allen key, this tool can be found in most toolboxes. A whopping 95% of 55+ year olds got this one correct, did you?
Tool 10 (83% guessed this correctly)
Though it may look a little like an impact driver, this is actually a cordless drill. Again, a large 35% of 16-24s got this one wrong, whilst only 7% of the 55+ group were incorrect.
Tool 11 (86% guessed this correctly)
A handy instrument for any tool kit, this is a stanley knife. 90% of 35-44s, 92% of 45-54s and 95% of 55+’s were able to correctly guess this tool. However, 37% of 16-24s got it wrong.
Tool 12 (86% guessed this correctly)
98% of 55+ year-olds got this one correct, did you? These are pliers. Primarily used for gripping, pliers are used for many tasks, such as twisting or cutting wires, loosening or tightening, or stabilising objects.
Tool 13 (91% guessed this correctly)
Did you join the 91% in guessing this common tool correctly? The most identifiable tool of all is of course, the claw hammer.
How Did You Do?
Data showed that the average person named nine out of 13 tools correctly. How did you compare in your age group?
|
Percentage that answered correctly |
|||||
|
Age group |
16-24 |
25-34 |
35-44 |
45-54 |
55+ |
|
Spirit Level |
47% |
67% |
77% |
82% |
92% |
|
Pliers |
66% |
76% |
87% |
91% |
98% |
|
Cordless Drill |
65% |
74% |
86% |
86% |
92% |
|
Claw Hammer |
78% |
82% |
92% |
95% |
97% |
|
Staple Gun |
57% |
65% |
74% |
74% |
77% |
|
Stanley Knife |
63% |
78% |
90% |
92% |
95% |
|
Hex key / Allen key |
56% |
73% |
82% |
88% |
95% |
|
Rotary multi tool |
25% |
48% |
60% |
65% |
72% |
|
Jigsaw |
16% |
33% |
49% |
60% |
67% |
|
Mitre saw |
20% |
33% |
40% |
45% |
54% |
|
Angle Grinder |
29% |
42% |
54% |
61% |
66% |
|
Impact driver |
11% |
15% |
23% |
23% |
24% |
|
Paint sprayer |
24% |
46% |
61% |
64% |
70% |
Whether you’re a seasoned tradesperson or you’re new to DIY in the home, Toolstation has you covered – stocking everything from your garden tools right through to your simple screwdriver.
Data and Methodology
We surveyed 2,000 general population respondents, showing them images of 13 tools, and asking them to name the tool correctly from a multiple choice of 15 different options. This data was then split by age, gender, and regional location.