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Tools & Materials - Page 286 of 299

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.

  • Substitute nail set

    I've found that a 3-in. powder-actuated fastener makes a good substitute for a nail set. These nails are made to withstand the shock of being driven by a gunpowder charge…

  • Padded work pants

    As a general contractor, my clothes take a lot of abuse over the course of a day. To get more use out of a new pair of pants, my wife stitches large…

  • Mud-bucket helpers

    Recently I came up shorthanded on a job site where we had planned to lay a 3/4-in. T&G plywood deck. Knowing this can be a frustrating job even with help,…

  • Sharpening Roundover Bits

    I found a quick and easy method for sharpening high-speed steel router bits when I was doing some 1/4-in. radius roundovers. I didn't have the appropriate stone or file to…

  • Sawhorse jig

    There's a guy in my neighborhood who builds wooden mason's trestles similar to the sawhorses featured in Tom Law's article Sawhorse. To speed up the cutting of the gains that…

  • Mixmaster

    If you are about a week away from using a can of paint that's been sitting around long enough for the solids to settle, put it in the back of…

  • Remodeler’s Shim-Box

    As I do remodeling work, I often need small pieces of wood of varying thickness to fill gaps. I need them around door and window frames, or when I have…

  • Nail Pails

    The boxes in which nails come from the lumber yard just don't hold up as I travel from job to job. Even if they don't break, they are awkward to…

  • Electrician’s Carryall

    An electrician has to carry a bewildering array of fasteners and other tiny components, and keeping them organized and close at hand can be frustrating. For me, the perfect way…

  • Easy-peel masking tape

    Rub well the edges of your masking-tape roll with paraffin, crayons or candle wax and you lessen the chance of paint being pulled up when the masking tape is removed.…

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Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 331 - June 2025
    • A More Resilient Roof
    • Tool Test: You Need a Drywall Sander
    • Ducted vs. Ductless Heat Pumps
  • Issue 330 - April/May 2025
    • Deck Details for Durability
    • FAQs on HPWHs
    • 10 Tips for a Long-Lasting Paint Job
  • Issue 329 - Feb/Mar 2025
    • Smart Foundation for a Small Addition
    • A Kominka Comes West
    • Making Small Kitchens Work
  • Issue 328 - Dec/Jan 2024
    • How a Pro Replaces Columns
    • Passive House 3.0
    • Tool Test: Compact Line Lasers
  • Issue 327 - November 2024
    • Repairing Damaged Walls and Ceilings
    • Plumbing Protection
    • Talking Shop

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