Buying Your Dream Tools
Can you remember back to when you first started to accumulate tools? It is a neat feeling to buy a tool that you want. When they are new they make you feel good.
Tools are also very personal. My best friend, Richard Anderson, is a heating and cooling contractor. He uses a special geologist's hammer with a very square head to form duct work. This hammer is so special to him that he guards it like the crown jewels. All of us on the jobsite know not to touch it. If you are in a bind and need a hammer, forget about asking to borrow it - you better just go outside and look for a rock.
Quality - The Only Way
I have purchased hundreds and hundreds of different tools. As you can imagine, they are exposed to all sorts of tough and extreme conditions when you are building and remodeling homes. It didn't take me long to figure out that quality tools can take abuse. The extra money you spend on quality tools pays for itself many times over.
For example, I have a Marshalltown bricklaying trowel that is so well balanced and so strong that after 25 years it still is in very good shape. I realize that I don't use it everyday or every week, but the many times I have used it, it has gotten a workout. Simple things like my Stanley razor knives. Carpenters use these heavily for any number of tasks. I have operated the blade thousands of times and it still works perfectly. Sure, I need to oil it occasionally, but this is routine maintenance. When I buy quality I also buy reliability. Reliability in a tool is so important in my opinion. You want to be able to count on the tool to work when you need it.
Must Have vs. Want It
Most people can't afford to go out and buy every tool they would like to have. You should think about how often you will really need a tool before you go out and buy one. For example, I do not own a band saw. They come in very handy for certain cuts, but I just don't have the need that often. If I started to do more furniture building or craft work, then I might need a band saw. Instead, I just walk down to my father-in-law's house and use his. Perhaps you have a friend or relative who will let you borrow a tool for 5 minutes in similar circumstances. Be forewarned though, do NOT get in the habit of borrowing tools. It is a fast way to ruin a relationship. Just keep in mind Richard's duct work hammer.
Warranty
Warranties seem to be getting stronger and better all of the time. Pay attention to the length of a tool warranty when you buy one. Years ago it was very hard, if not impossible, to find a power tool with a lifetime warranty. Well, last year the Ridgid Tool Company began producing a line of power tools with a full lifetime warranty. I have one of their power miter boxes and it seems to be very well made and works very well. I can see why they offer the warranty!
Little Things
I remember the first drywall tools I purchased. They were gorgeous blue steel. The blue steel turned rusty brown after the first week! The next set of drywall knives I bought were my last ones - rust-free ones I still use all the time. What is the difference? I bought stainless steel knives and a stainless mud pan. They cost a little more, but they are worth it.
Check for balance and feel when you buy a tool. I realize you can't use it in the store, but in certain instances you can. In certain markets, Sears has a new Tool Center where you can actually try before you buy. Check return policies in case the tool doesn't work.
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