A Broad Range of Carpentry Hand Tools

Hand Tools-Fastening

Get yourself a tool belt to start with. A good leather tool box is the foundation of every carpentry tool kit. A good framing hammer, 20-24 oz., is best. Also get a lighter one for general nailing. Fiberglass or wood shafted ones are easiest on your joints. You'll need a cat's paw. The best have a nail digger on both ends. If you do any finish work, you'll need a punch and an assortment of chisels. Finally, you'll need a cat's paw for pulling misstruck nails. The best is have a nail digger on both ends, one that's curved and a straight one.

You'll need an assortment of tools for measuring and preparing your work for cutting, nailing and assembly. Your first tool for prep work is the venerable carpenter's pencil. The kind on the retractable cord is recommended and be sure to carry a spare sharpened one. A framing square is essential. Get a good one made of stainless steel or aluminum that will last. Also get a speed square. This is a triangular shaped metal tool and really comes in handy. Buy a stud finder for doing repairs and installing baseboards. It's really worth the money. Get a good tape measure at least 1 inch wide and at least 25 feet long and a chalk line. Get two chalk lines, one red and one blue. Finally, spend some money and buy 3 levels, a 4 foot long one, a 2 footer and a torpedo level. Get levels with their own cases. They are expensive, but last a long time if you protect them with a case. Old fashioned levels feature a small liquid filled glass tube with a line on it. These work great, but you can also get digital levels that are easier to use and read.

You'll need an assortment of hand tools for cutting. A retractable utility knife is indispensable, too. Don't forget to get yourself a set of chisels of various widths. You'll need a miter box and miter saw for making angle cuts in baseboards, finish trim and detail work. Also, get yourself a good hand saw and pair of 7-inch end cutters. These can be a little expensive, but a good pair is really useful for clipping off or pulling up nails. This neat little tool will become a really important multi-use tool in your belt.

Powers tools you'll need include an air compresser, a framing nail gun, 7 ¼ inch circular saw, ½ inch drill and large bit set, reciprocating saw, power sander and an electric drop cord at least 14 gauge and 50 to 100 feet long. It's a good idea if you're doing jobs of medium to large size to buy power tools with cords. If you do a lot of small stuff, a cordless drill and saw can be very handy.

Finally you'll need at least two 6-foot ladders, an 8-foot heavy duty step ladder and a couple of 24 foot extension ladders if you're doing larger carpentry jobs. If you're a home carpenter or small jobber, an 8 foot step ladder and a 24 foot extension ladder should work. If you're doing big jobs, you might want to own a generator for jobs where no electricity is available. It's a good value if you use it a lot because renting one is expensive.