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Tools for DIY and Home Repairs - M

This page of our A to Z of tools for DIY and home repairs is for tools with names beginning with the letter 'M'.

• Mallet - Wood or rubber-headed implement for driving sharp instruments that would be damaged by metal hammers.
• Marking gauge - Sliding device fitted with a pin for scratching lines parallel to edge of the workpiece.

• Masking tape - A low-tack sticky tape for sticking items temporarily in place. It masks off small areas to allow painting.

• Masonry drill - This drill has tungsten carbide cutters brazed into the tip and it is used on a slow speed in a hammer drill to penetrate brick, masonry and concrete. Sizes start from 4 mm (1/16 in) up to 10 mm (3/8 in). Larger sizes of masonry drills are available, but these usually require a very powerful slow speed percussion drill to drive them.
• Mesh tile trimmer - An open mesh abrasive which is used for smoothing the broken edges of ceramic tiles.
• Mitre box - A mitre joint one of the most difficult joints to make accurately. Using a mitre box will make it easier to get the correct angles when cutting the wood. The slots in the box guide the saw at the correct angle.
• Mitre cramp - This cramp will adjust to the width of most mouldings. A mitre cramp is usually used the corners in the correct position when gluing up picture frames.
• Mouse - A small weight used to help pass a line through a narrow vertical space.