Daily Tip for Home Builder – More Tool Suggestions

Read some tool reviews from sources like Consumer Reports. Power tool brands that rate high are: Ryobi, Milwaukee, Makita, Craftsman, Porter Cable. Carbide tip blades are best for sawing wood. If your circular saw does not have a blade break, buy a new one. A reciprocating saw (Sawzall) is a must-have and next most valuable after circular saw. You’ll need a 16 oz curved claw hammer (remember to use wood block as a shim when extracting nails with claw.) and a 20 oz framing hammer (Estwing is best) with checkered head (and keep head roughed up to prevent misses). Use a speed square, not a combination square which will only add clutter to your tool box. You will need a framing square and short and long levels. Buy stair gauges (2 small pieces). They attach to bottom plate of circular saw and act as a guide for ripping wood. Add  a prybar and wrecking bar to your tool list. Wonder Bar nail puller is the best. Also, you’ll need a sledge hammer. Invest in a Screw gun (electric screwdriver i.e. for drywall) with adjustable speed, reversible, adjustable nose for depth of countersinking screw head. Duraspin drywall screwgun with reel of screws is a good idea for DIY.
For concrete work, buy a tool for bending or cutting re-bar; you bolt it to a board, insert rebar rod and move lever. Cool! Stanley brand tape measure ‘‘Fat Man’’ 30FT by 1.5” stays rigid up to 12 ft extension, Long tape by Lufkin 100 FT fiberglass (not steel).Twist the rebar ties with Rat Tail or Yo Yo tools. Always need Hammer-Tackers for attaching Tyvek, tar paper, insulation batts, plastic sheets, etc.