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Tools & Materials

It is true that a good carpenter can perform near miracles with poorly made, poorly maintained tools. But things go so much better when chisels and saw blades are sharp, batteries topped off, and the tool has been well designed for the job at hand. And possibly for that reason, people in the building trades spend a fair amount of time and money on their tools.

And there’s so much to choose from. There are pneumatic, electric, and hand-driven varieties. A carpenter, for example, can choose a hammer, an air-driven nail gun, a battery-operated fastener, or even one that shoots nails with tiny bursts of ignited gas. The development of the lithium-ion battery has been a huge step forward for tool manufacturers and tradespeople alike. These ever more powerful, long-running batteries now run even miter saws and reciprocating saws, giving builders more flexibility on the job than they’ve ever had.

As important as these developments have been, nothing symbolizes craftsmanship better than a hand tool. We live in a mechanized, battery-powered age, yet there’s still something magical about a sharp plane taking off a gossamer-thin shaving along the edge of a board, or a honed chisel making a neat corner in a mortise for a hinge. That kind of result never goes out style.

Finding the right tools, using them imaginatively, and knowing how to keep them in top shape all are topics of endless conversations among builders, amateur and professional.  If you’re in the trades, you’re into tools. And if that’s the case, you’ll find Fine Homebuilding’s library of tips, articles and videos an invaluable resource.

  • Tool Test: Compact Cordless Routers

    These seven popular models all have great power, but balance and bit visibility make a winning tool.

  • Understanding Toilet Design and Efficiency

    Today's best toilets do their job well while using half the water of older models.

  • Leveled Up Plate Level

    This level adjusts to wall heights up to 12 ft. 5-1/4 in. and has the Stabila Tech module already installed.

  • Use a Press Tool for Plumbing Connections

    The Milwaukee M12 press tool has become a popular alternative to soldering copper for plumbing connections.

  • What to Consider When Choosing Insulation

    With the material's implications for the building envelope, the environment, and installer and homeowner health, R-value is just the beginning

  • Sponsored Content
    A Safer Compact Tablesaw

    Portable and Adjustable: SawStop's new Compact Table Saw brings their revolutionary skin sensing technology to the Jobsite

  • From Waste to Aesthetic Tile

    These tile collections from Kohler WasteLab are made up of materials diverted from landfills.

  • Sponsored Content
    Prep, Priming and Painting Interior and Exterior Spaces

    Joe and Travis review their favorite Benjamin Moore products to achieve a high-quality paint finish.

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    Drywall Details for a Modern Finish

    If you're not using traditional wood trim, these products from Trim-Tex result in a modern look that requires less drywall material.

  • A Pair of Precision Protractors

    The features and quality of these smaller protractors from Starrett match those of the 12-in. version.

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Fine Homebuilding

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