Here are some of the awesome tools that you will find handy if you are either a professional or a do-it-yourselfer. The only difference is how much you want to spend and how often you estimate you will use the tool. Professionals are looking for quality that will last and make each job faster to complete. The everyday man or woman is looking for something to make the job more professional looking, but may only use the tool for one or two projects. The decision for him/her is will the lesser quality be adequate for the two projects he/she has in mind?
1. The first tool I highly recommend is the Contour Gauge that will form to the shape of the trim you are trying to match,
This will be useful also while putting that last piece of trim in the corner or cutting carpet squares in a doorway. I really like using this tool! To describe the tool, it is made of many small finger-like sections that slide in and out to form the outline of the corner or trim style you are cutting to meet. I used it to tile my basement that was abutting a floor a couple of inches higher than the tiled floor. The corners would have been a guess or several guesses without the gauge. The tool saved time and material because the contour gauge outline matched the corner exactly. When tiling, mistakes are costly and time consuming as well,
2. The second tool I recommend is the folding Level.
The level comes in different sizes to fit your needs, (from 18″ to 48″ long), but folds up for storage like the old fashioned folding ruler the carpenters used before tape measurers came along. “Say What?”. Yes, tape measures were not always around. That too was an invention that made the folding ruler obsolete.
For a few dollars more consider the folding level with a 30′ laser level line. Great for hanging wainscoting trim, pictures and wall decor.
3. There are now extension cord wraps that use Velcro to loop around the rolled up extension cord and has either a handle for carrying or a grommet close to the end for hanging the cord on a peg board.
The straps come in different lengths. There is also a product you can buy by the roll and make your own straps similar to the metal banding used by lumber companies.
4. Extension cords I highly recommend are the extension cords with a light built in the cord at the plug for your tool.
This lets you know immediately that the extension cord is hot and active. There is nothing more frustrating than to string together 2 – 3 cords, finally you have the length you need to have electricity where you need it and find that you turn on the light or tool and nothing happens. It is even more frustrating when the battery charger that you thought was charging, was not getting any juice. Somewhere along the line one cord is bad, or not plugged in correctly, or the prongs slipped out of the prior cord’s plug end or the cord pulled out of the outlet and you have to search to find the problem. The light-up plugs tell you there is electricity and you are ready to do your task. Battery chargers are one tool they have not converted to battery operation. That is why the industry is building battery charging stations across this country for the electric vehicle.
5. Everyone is familiar with the multifunction tool. This tool is similar to the Swiss knife, with pliers, screwdriver bits, scissors; an all-in-one-tool. Now there is a multifunction tool with a hammer included.
All the tools fit inside the hammer handle. How many times did you need a hammer out in the middle of nowhere and ended up using a rock or wrench that slipped off and injured your fingers instead? This tool is handy enough to throw in the trunk of every car or glove compartment of any pickup.
6. An exciting one for me is the magnetic wrist band that slides on your wrist and fastens with Velcro.
There is also one that has a strap that fastens around the thumb to keep the band from slipping around your wrist. I think of the number of times while up on a ladder, the screw I so carefully laid on the ladder, as you reach for it, the ladder shifts just enough the screw rolls off and lands on the floor. This magnetic wrist band allows you to attach screws, bits, nails, bolts, nuts and holds the items close and handy until you are ready to use them. No more nails that slip out of your fingers, or screws that roll away, just as you reach for them.
Add any one or all of these tools to your tool box for cutting down lost time, organizing your work area and making your next project have a look of a professional