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General Tools
Tools and tips to help you build your house.
Wood working
Chop saw / mitre saw
Tablesaw
Jigsaw
This is my cutting instrument of choice even for intricate cuts.
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.
A circular saw is also useful for demolition type applications, eg cutting away bracing timber and window bracing.
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.
Drill block
Pocket hole jig
Biscuit joiner
Glue gun (28oz)
Belt sander
Belt sander
Spreader Clamp
Measuring
Self leveling laser
Laser distance measurer
Plumb bob
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Long spirit level
Short spirit level
Tape measure
100' tape measure
String
Right angle laser square
Angle finder
Polystyrene
Craft knife
Foam gun
Flat sanding rasp
Footing spreader
This
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
Digging
Jackhammer
Digging bar
Large hoe
Soil filter trommel
Adjustment
Club hammer
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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
Work platform
Concrete
Concrete placer
Concrete vibrator
Magnesium float
Slump cone
Concrete nailer
Rebar
Cable tie cutters
Remote grabber
Stucco
Concrete mixer
Flat trowel
Plastic float
Electrical
Wire strippers
Screwdriver extension
Data electrical
Punchdown Cat6
Cable jacket stripper
Cat 5/6 tester
Plumbing
PEX crimp
Tiling
Ridgid LevelMax Lippage Reduction System
Safety
Hard hat
Dust mask
Fall harness
Gloves
Knee protectors
Soft shoes
Headlight
Sun hat
Waterproof socks
Forest
ChainSaw Chain
Tree wedges
Other
Torque wrench
Welder
Wet and dry vac
Tips
Organization
Tool cart
Vehicle
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.