An Expert’s Guide To Buying Tools
Perhaps the most important thing to keep in mind when purchasing tools is to buy high quality products. This often means paying more, but not always. The variation in price for similar items is a reflection of the cost of manufacture, from the grade of metal alloy used to improvements in design.
Sometimes it is worth your while to pay that extra few bucks for things like screwdrivers with hardened tips (they’ll last longer) or hammers with cushioned handles (to reduce shock and fatigue of the wrist). Other times — especially with power tools — you’ll need to consider how often you’ll use the tools in order to best weigh your options.
For instance, drills come in several styles with many different features. You pay for the quality of the motor and materials, as well as for special options like variable speed or reversible motors, corded or cordless power source, keyed or keyless chuck, metal or plastic housing, carrying case, etc. If you’ll only occasionally hang a picture or assemble a piece of IKEA furniture, you would do well to buy a basic corded drill with a keyed chuck. SKiL, Black & Decker or DeWalt make good ones for $70 to $120.
However, if you picture yourself involved in renovating a kitchen, hanging acres of Sheetrock or building a deck, you’d be wise to purchase an 18-volt cordless drill with a keyless chuck and extra battery pack. DeWalt, Porter Cable and Bosch make some of the better models for $180 to $250.
You can apply the same line of thought to choosing a power saw, sander or any other power tool. Special features, like keyless or wrenchless chucks and collets are extremely convenient and well worth the additional cost, but only if you’ll be using the tool a lot. If not, spare yourself the expense and get a simpler tool of comparable quality.
Often you’ll run across tool “kits,” such as little battery-powered screwdrivers with 100-plus bits of every conceivable design. Unless you’re assembling esoteric electronic components, these things are a waste of time. The battery packs rarely have much torque and only three or four of the bits would get used in typical household applications.
Hand tools have their glamorous cousins, too. You’ll usually see them at the checkout — 10-in-1 utility knives or screwdrivers with spongy grips and ratcheting handles with a dozen bits neatly stored inside. If you’re an electrician performing a task repeatedly, these things are great. Otherwise, standard tools of high quality are your best bet.
Finally, there’s no substitute for experience. If you know someone who’s a contractor, hobbyist or even a clerk at a hardware store, ask his or her advice. These people are generally eager to share knowledge about what to use and what to steer clear of. But more importantly, as you become involved in projects, you’ll naturally develop preferences for certain types of tools, along with an understanding of why a handle is curved just so or why there’s a geegaw on one saw but not another. So as you become more experienced, your tool kit may grow!
Remember, buying tools will not be an overwhelming task if you adhere to this simple maxim: Start with high quality tools suited to your purpose and you won’t go wrong.
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