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Top 5 Essential Tools for Your Toolbox
A first toolbox does not need much. Here are five general-purpose hand tools worth owning first, why each earns its place, and what to look for when buying.
Drills, Hand Tools and Air Tools
Hand Tool Top Fives
Which hand tools matter most for each kind of work.
Top 5 Hand Tools for Automotive Repair
Five hand tools that cover many common vehicle repairs: ratchet and sockets, wrenches, pliers, pry tools and a torque wrench, with what to look for in each.
Top 5 Hand Tools for Carpentry
Five hand tools that carry much of the work in framing and finish carpentry: a hammer, a square, a level, a tape measure and a saw, and what to check in each.
Top 5 Hand Tools for Metalworking
Five hand tools for shaping and cutting metal by hand: files, a hacksaw, punches, measuring and marking tools, and a vise, with safety notes and buying tips.
Top 5 Hand Tools for Woodworking
Five hand tools for traditional woodworking: marking tools, a saw, chisels, a bench plane and sharpening gear, with what to look for and how to stay safe.
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