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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.

  • wood post sleeves

    Longer-Lasting Wood Posts

    These plastic resin sleeves encase a buried portion of a post or pole to protect the wood from decay.

  • water-resistive barrier

    Peel-and-Stick Drainable Housewrap

    Benjamin Obdyke’s new self-adhered HydroGap SA is easy to apply solo and sits tight over every surface and around every corner.

  • Better Hammer Tacker

    When that old slap stapler just isn't making the cut, this tacker is worth the additional cost in exchange for durability.

  • Tough, Basic Work Pants

    Tough, Basic Work Pants

    These Dickies pants have a useful sacrificial double knee and no unecessary bells and whistles.

  • fine chalk line

    Clever Dry Line

    Lightweight, compact, and a cinch to position, this stringline may be an essential if precision is your goal.

  • Straight-Hole Jig

    Straight-Hole Jig

    Ideal for cabinetwork, these drill guides have a V-groove that centers the guide on 90-degree corners and curved edges.

  • The Slow Evolution of Paint

    The Slow Evolution of Paint

    As manufacturers tinker with chemistry to improve durability, ease of application, and hide, the distinction between water- and oil-based paints is blurred­—for the better

  • Site-built sawhorses

    Readers’ Letters: 9 Ways To Build Sawhorses

    From simple, site-built work surfaces to carefully fabricated shop furniture, homemade sawhorses are popular with our audience of builders, remodelers, and homeowners.

  • how to build sawhorse

    All About Sawhorses

    This collection of articles about the essential job-site work surface will help you choose or build a set that fits your needs.

  • airtight drywall gasket foam
    Sponsored Content

    Create Airtight Drywall With Great Stuff Flexible Drywall Gasket

    This water-based foam gasket offers a clean and simple way to get a consistent, reliable air-seal between your framing and drywall.

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Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 297 - Feb/Mar 2021

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  • Issue 296 - Dec 2020/Jan 2021

    • Insulating Glass Keeps Getting Better
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    • Condo Kitchen Reimagined
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  • Issue 294 - Oct/Nov 2020

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    • Tool Test: Folding Sawhorses
    • A Better Way to Build Tall Walls
  • Issue 293 - Aug/Sept 2020

    • A Practical Guide to Fall Protection
    • Installing Frameless Cabinets
    • Make Any Tablesaw Safer

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