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Home Site Map - Techniques - Tools -

General Tools

Star Tools and tips to help you build your house.

 

Wood working

Measuring tape 

Drawing square 

Chop saw / mitre saw

Miter Chop Saw    Chop saw

Tablesaw

TableSaw Ryobi    Tablesaw

Jigsaw

This is my cutting instrument of choice even for intricate cuts.

Jigsaw 

Circular saw

Unlike most builders, I don't use a hand held circular saw for cutting.  What I use it for is cutting grooves to a particular depth.  Ideal for routing PEX piping in the surface of 2x4s.  I make a series of cuts about 1/4" apart and then break off the bits between with a chisel.

Circular saw 

A circular saw is also useful for demolition type applications, eg cutting away bracing timber and window bracing.

Diamond Saw 7in Blade    Diamond blade

Scroll saw

Scroll Saw Wen    Scroll saw

 

Pillar drill

Wherever possible (ie the lumber is not too long or wide) it is best to use a pillar drill rather than a hand held drill because it makes holes that are exactly 90 degrees to the timber face.  This means the hole is in the same location on the back side as the front side.

Pillar drill 

 

Drill block

Drill block    Drill block

 

Pocket hole jig

Kreg mini jig    Pocket hole jig

 

Biscuit joiner

Buscuit joiner Chicago    Buscuit joiner

 

Glue gun (28oz)

Glue Gun 28oz Yellow    Glue gun

 

Belt sander

Belt sander 4"x24"Belt sander

Spreader Clamp

Spreader Clamp    Spreader clamp

 

Measuring

Self leveling laser

Self leveling laser    Self leveling laser

 

Laser distance measurer

Laser Measurer    Laser distance measurer

 

Plumb bob

Plumb Bob    Plumb bob

Long spirit level

Long Spirit Level 6 Feet    Long spirit level

Short spirit level

Spirit level 16in    Short spirit level

Tape measure

Tape Measure    Tape measure

100' tape measure

Tape measure 100 feet    100' tape measure 

String

String Orange    String

 

Right angle laser square

Laser 90 Degrees     Right angle laser square

Angle finder

Angle Finder    Angle finder 

 

Polystyrene

Craft knife

Craft Knife 9mm    Craft knife

 

Foam gun

Foam Gun Great Stuff   Foam gun

 

Flat sanding rasp

Sheet Sanding Rasp    Flat sanding rasp

 

Footing spreader

Tool Footing SpreaderThis home made tool that I call a Footing spreader is used when fitting and gluing the EPS to the sides of the foundation footings.

 

Hotwire cutter bench

Hotwire Cutter Outside Bench side    Hotwire cutter bench

 

Digging

Jackhammer

JackHammer    Jackhammer

 

Digging bar

Digging bar    Digging bar

 

Large hoe

Field Hoe 8in    Large hoe

Soil filter trommel

Trommel Drawing End    Soil filter trommel

 

Adjustment

Club hammer

Club hammer    Club hammer

 

 

Elevation

It is worth having a range of ladders of different lengths.  It is best to use a ladder that is not overly big for the application because moving a big heavy ladder is a real pain.

Long ladder

Ladder End Protectors

Ladder End Protectors    Ladder End Protectors

Work platform

Work Platform On Slab    Work platform

Concrete

Concrete placer

Concrete Placer With Wood Handle   Concrete placer

 

Concrete vibrator

Concrete vibrator    Concrete vibrator

 

Magnesium float

Magnesium hand float for concrete    Magnesium float

 

Slump cone

Concrete Slump Cone    Slump cone

 

Concrete nailer

Concrete nailer    Concrete nailer

 

Rebar

Cable tie cutters

End Wire Cutters    Cable tie cutters

 

Remote grabber

Remote grabber tool    Remote grabber

 

Stucco

Concrete mixer

Concrete Mixer Harbor Freight     Concrete mixer

 

Flat trowel

Flat Stucco Trowel    Flat trowel

 

Plastic float

Plastic Stucco Float    Plastic float

 

Electrical

Wire strippers

Wire strippers    Wire strippers

 

Screwdriver extension

Screw Driver Extension    Screwdriver extension

 

Data electrical

Punchdown Cat6

Punchdown tool    Punchdown Cat6

 

Cable jacket stripper

Cable jacket stripper   Cable jacket stripper

 

Cat 5/6 tester

Cat 5/6 Tester    Cat 5/6 tester

 

Plumbing

PEX crimp

PEX Crimp Tool    PEX crimp

 

Tiling

Ridgid LevelMax Lippage Reduction System

Ridgid Tile Leveler 

 

 

Safety

Hard hat

Head Protection Helmet    Hard hat

 

Dust mask

Dust Mask 3M Full    Dust mask

Face and breathing protection 

 

Fall harness

Guardian Fall Harness    Fall harness

 

Gloves

Gloves Construction Blue    Gloves

 

Knee protectors

Knee Pads    Knee protectors

 

Soft shoes

Slipon Soft Shoes    Soft shoes

 

Headlight

Head light    Headlight

Sun hat

Sun Hat    Sun hat

Waterproof socks

Waterproof Socks    Waterproof socks

Forest

ChainSaw Chain

ChainSaw Blade S56    ChainSaw chain

Tree wedges

Tree Wedges    Tree wedges

Other

Torque wrench

Torque wrench    Torque wrench

Welder

Mig Welder 170 Harbor Freight    Welder

Wet and dry vac

Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner Lowes    Wet and dry vac

 

Tips

Measure allowing for jigsaw cut width 

Markings on reverse side 

 

Organization

Tool cart

Radio Flyer tool cart   Tool cart

 

Vehicle

Car lift

Car Lift Dannmar 7000X   Car lift

 

My Building Creed

Do a CAD drawing for everything

 

Cut to CAD, not to measure

 

Design from Building Science

 

Stick to commodity products

By that I mean try to avoid using proprietary building products.  Proprietary products are much more expensive because they are single sourced, typically have a design royalty, have the cost of middle men and or a sales network, and have a high shipping cost from their single manufacturing location.

 

 

 

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