Tools help do-it-yourselfers get jobs finished in a snap. Most household projects can be finished with hand tools, yet there are still many jobs for which you would rather grab a cordless drill or nail gun.
There are so many tools out there that choosing the right tools can become confusing. This tools buying guide from Overstock.com should help clear up some confusion.
There are several different types of tools and even more tools with different functions, and the term "tools" covers all of these types and functions. The three types are power tools, air tools and hand tools.
Power tools are either corded or cordless (using a battery). They are great for getting jobs done quickly. Power tools can also include gas-powered tools, such as a lawn mower or weed whacker. Air tools do fall under power tools; for clarity, we will look at them separately.
The first rule for buying power tools is to buy quality tools. Don't skimp and buy cheap power tools. The basic power tools that any home workshop needs will get most jobs done quickly. Larger tools such as table saws are recommended if you plan to work with a great deal of wood. Finding discount power tools on Overstock.com will help you complete your collection, or if you're just beginning to collect, we can help you get started. Here are the power tools that are most common in a workshop:
Drills: Used for drilling holes in various materials; commonly used in woodworking and metal working: Includes pistol grip, t-handle and right angle drills.
Saws: Used for cutting wood or other materials and can be hand-held or table-mounted saws: Includes jigsaws, table saws, band saws, reciprocating saws, circular saws, steel cut-off saws, chain saws, concrete saws and radial arm saws.
Routers: Uses a variety of bits and attachments for cutting, carving, sanding, polishing and grinding. Router and bit sets are the best deals.
Sanders: Used to smooth wood and automotive or wood finishes. Wood working sanders are usually electrical power tools while auto body sanders work with compressed air: Includes belt sanders, disc sanders, oscillating spindle sanders, random orbital sanders, orbital sanders, stroke sanders and drum sanders.
Lathes: A machine tool which spins a block of material to perform a variety of operations such as cutting, sanding, knurling (diamond-shaped, criss-cross pattern is cut or rolled into metal), drilling or deformation. Uses tools that are applied to the work piece: Used in woodturning, metalworking, metal spinning, glassworking and pottery (potter's wheel).
Heat Guns: Emits a stream of hot air, 200-1400?F, used to dry and strip paint, heat shrink tubing, drying damp wood, bending and welding plastic, soften adhesives and thaw frozen pipes.
Yard Power Tools: These tools are mainly gas powered tools for yard care: Includes yard trimmers, lawn mowers and cultivators.
To find the power tools you'll use most at the best prices, shop for power tool sets in the home store.
Power tool accessories
Look for accessories for your power tools, such as lights, and keep working on your projects in a lighted area after the sun goes down. To get that professional polished look on your metal projects find polishing kits in our power tool accessories.
Air tools, also known as pneumatic tools, allow you to perform a wide variety of tasks. Pneumatic air tools can complete many difficult jobs, even with limited access to power. Most auto tools work with compressed air as well.
Air tools have several advantages over electric power tools. The air compressor draws air into its tank, compressing it. Then the air compressor sends the compressed air through the hose to power the tool. The compressed air gives the air tools more torque and power than conventional power tools. They are generally more durable than electric power tools because they have fewer moving parts. They are also incredibly easy to use: just plug in your air tool's hose to your air compressor and off you go.
These air tools are the most common ones you will need for most home improvement projects:
Air Compressor: Powers the individual air tools; match the PSI (pressure per square inch) rating on your air compressor with that of your air tools. This allows air tools to perform at maximum efficiency.
Air Hoses: Connects your tools to your air compressor.
Blow Gun/Air Duster: Provides a short burst of air for cleaning hard to reach places quickly.
Cut-Off Saw: For cutting sheet metal and fiberglass.
Drill: Drilling with reliable and constant power.
Grease Gun: For applying lubricants.
Hammer/Chisel: Allows you to shape metal and remove materials like metal and masonry quickly with less physical strain.
Inflator Gauge: For inflating tires.
Air Paint Sprayer: For painting large areas or areas that are difficult to reach with a paintbrush; provides quick coverage.
Power Nailer and Stapler: For fastening different types of materials quickly and securely.
Ratchets and Wrenches: For accurate tightening and loosening with steady torque.
Reciprocating Saw: For making plunging cuts.
Sander, Grinder and Buffer: For automotive and woodworking applications.
Shears: For cutting all types of materials; very efficient on metals and plastics.
Air tool sets are wonderful money savers, and with Overstock.com's $2.95 shipping on your entire order, you'll be saving enough to pick up hand tools and tool boxes.
Air tool accessories
Pick up extra hoses so you'll always be prepared because you never know when you may need an extra air hose or other air tool accessories.
Hand tools include those tools which are operated manually; yes, with elbow grease. Hand tools are perfect for most home projects. Remember, you won't always need a lot of power for everyday tasks.
Hand tools, mostly wrenches and screwdrivers, make great starter tool sets for teenagers, new homeowners and beginning do-it-yourselfers. Here are the tools you'll need for most basic jobs around the house:
Hammers: Meant for driving nails, fitting parts or breaking up objects. Hammers are often designed for a specific purpose and vary widely in their shape and structure. Includes carpenter's hammers (framing hammers and claw hammers), upholstery hammers, construction hammers (sledgehammers), ball-peen hammers (mechanic's hammer), cross-peen hammers and mallets.
Screwdrivers: Screwdrivers are designed to insert and tighten or to loosen and remove screws. Most common screwdriver heads are flathead, cross-point and hex.
Pliers: Pliers are designed mostly for gripping objects. Also used to grip, turn, pull or crimp: Includes flat nosed pliers, needle-nosed, round nosed, locking pliers, wire cutting or stripping pliers and crimping pliers.
Wrenches and Sockets: Wrenches and sockets are tools used to apply torque to turn bolts, nuts or other hard-to-turn items. Sockets may have either a six-point or twelve-point recess and be shallow or deep: Includes spanners, mole grips, monkey wrenches, pipe wrenches and open-end wrenches.
Chisels: Chisels have a cutting edge or blade on one end used for carving and/or cutting hard materials, such as wood, stone or metal: Includes woodworking (carving) chisels, lathe chisels, metal working chisels, stone and masonry chisels.
Cutting Tools: Used to remove metal or wood from work pieces by means of shear deformation. Cutting tools need to be made from harder material than that which they are cutting. Includes adze, axes, bolt cutters, ceramic tile cutters, hand-held manual saws, knives, broach, endmills, reamers, countersinks, milling cutters, razor blades, scissors, blades and water jet cutters.
Paintbrushes and Rollers: Used in the application of paints, varnishes, sealants or stains to small or large surfaces. Includes many different sizes of paintbrushes, as well as rollers. Rollers can be attached to arm extenders for tall areas.
Other hand tools that you'll need are clamps, ties, electrical tools, measures and levels.
Hand tool accessories
Look for accessories to complete tool sets and make your work more efficient. Hand tool accessories include all of the tables, stands, brooms, hoists, belts, straps and cables (towing and power) you'll need to complete your projects.Overstock.com carries an assortment of auto tools to aid you with working on your cars and trucks. Unless you're using your own strength on a tool, all auto tools use compressed air. Manual tools, such as jacks, tire irons and wrenches, are available at discounted prices. All of our auto tools and accessories are discounted, helping your dollar go further. (Which means you'll have more money to restore or fix your automobile!)
Garage and shop tools
These tools are indispensable if you perform a lot of auto work:
Keeping car batteries charged can be difficult sometimes. During the winter months when weather is tough on your car, having jumper cables and battery chargers can make a big difference between driving somewhere and getting stranded.
Your car should last, and you can help it last with the right auto tools at discounted prices from Overstock.com, your online outlet.
Which tools would be better for me: power tools, air tools or hand tools?
Hand tools are great for most DIY home improvement projects; however, when your project includes time consuming and difficult tasks, such as shingling a roof, it might be time to switch to more powerful tools. Air tools or electrical power tools will help you power through many large projects and thick materials where your physical strength may be insufficient. Air tools will be the most powerful tools and shouldn't be used in place of hand tools when only a little strength is required. Try to match the tool power to the job's difficulty.
Do the tools have warranties?
When looking at the tools you're interested in, take a moment to read their product pages. If the tool has a warranty, it will be listed on the page. After you've received the tool, read all of the manufacturer's information on safety and warranties.
Do I really need different drill bits for different materials?
Yes. If you have the wrong drill bit, you could ruin the project or ruin the drill bit. When working with wood, select a drill bit that is designed for wood, including ones meant for soft or hard woods. When working with metal, your drill bit needs to be stronger than the metal you are drilling into. We don't recommend using a drill bit different than a masonry drill bit when trying to drill into bricks. That would be very dangerous.
Gift time
Tool sets make great gifts. Men love getting tools, even those who don't yet know how to use them. Discounted hand tool sets are an affordable option for the student in auto shop, woodworking or metal shop. You will have peace of mind knowing that your student will enjoy using his or her tools without the worry of expensive tools being destroyed.
Keep it clean and organized
Keep your garage or workshop in perfect running order with tool organizers. Leaving tools around can be dangerous, as well as frustrating when they end up missing. Pick up a tool box or workstation to keep your tools safely where you need them.
Do-it-yourself know-how
There is a world of difference between a professional and a beginner. You want to use your new tools, but you're unsure of what you want to do. Solution: do-it-yourself home improvement books from Overstock.com. Browse our selection of home improvement books and DVDs and find instructions and ideas for projects. Gain the experience and enjoy the sense of accomplishment from building or fixing something yourself.
