Whether it is building houses, apartment buildings, hospitals, schools, or any other type of structure, the construction industry needs skilled workers. Not only does this include engineers and architects, but also carpenters and masons. There are often tasks that carpenters and masons can complete that do not require a great deal of skill or experience, making it possible for beginners to work at all manner of job sites. Although they need not be long-time professionals to handle certain construction responsibilities, beginners do need to have the right tools.
Choosing essential construction tools for beginners depends largely on what kind of materials with which they are planning to work. Many tools are designed for either wood, drywall, stone, or concrete, among other materials. There are a few tools that have broad application in construction and beginners need to at least have these. For other construction tools, beginners need to consider a few factors in order to select the tools that they need.
Construction Tool Considerations for Beginners
Choosing the proper beginner construction tools requires careful consideration. Tools can be a big investment, even for those who are just starting out, so it is important that beginners choose the tools that they really need. By thinking about which medium they are going to work with and the usefulness and portability of a tool, beginners can put themselves on the path to selecting only essential tools for their skill level and needs.
Medium
One of the most important factors dictating the tool selection process is the medium with which a consumer plans to work. Two of the most common trades in construction are carpentry and masonry. Carpenters work with wood and masons with stone and concrete. There are numerous tools that are designed for each of these mediums, so carpenters should stick to wood tools and masons to stone and concrete tools. There are also a few general tools that beginners should own no matter the medium with which they are planning to work.
Usefulness
The usefulness of a particular tool is another important factor that beginners should consider. There are numerous tasks that construction beginners find themselves repeatedly performing. The tools for these tasks should therefore be at the top of their lists. Tools for specialized tasks should be lower priorities, with beginners considering these only as their skills grow. There are a few tools that beginners are likely to find themselves employing in diverse situations, making such tools more useful.
Portability
The portability of tools is also important towards determining whether they should be in a beginner’s collection. Portability tends to correlate with usefulness, as highly portable tools tend to be very useful. A beginner in construction likely does not have the capability to transport large machinery to a job site. In this case, it is important that beginners choose tools that they can carry in a light truck. Since big tools require greater transportation capability, there may be an added investment in vehicles that can carry such tools. Beginners are better served saving that money to buy other tools to expand the range of services that they can offer, saving larger expenses for when their business is established.
Categories of Beginner Construction Tools
Essential construction tools for beginners fall under three categories: general tools, wood tools, and masonry/concrete tools. All beginners should have general tools, no matter which medium they are planning to work with. Those planning to work with wood should purchase wood tools and those planning to work with stone and concrete should purchase masonry/concrete tools. All of the tools in each category are highly useful and most are very portable.
General Tools
General tools are useful no matter which trade a beginner is practicing. Beginners should therefore start building a collection with these tools since they are likely to find them in their hands frequently.
1. Measuring Tool
Measuring tools include tape measures and laser meters. The former are heavy duty, retractable rulers made of thin metal that are capable of measuring objects and distances of 100 feet in length. Beginners may not need quite that much tape, so there are many different options as far as maximum length goes. Tape measures also feature a long notch on one end of the tape to hold the tape to an object. Most also lock in place so that the tape does not retract while the user records a measurement.
Laser meters are even more convenient to use because they employ a laser beam to calculate lengths. They tend to be more expensive than tape measures are, but they can still be reasonably priced. Their added convenience can make the extra expense worthwhile.
2. Clamps
Clamps are relatively simple tools, but they are very versatile and useful. Beginners can use them to hold glued pieces of wood together while the glue dries or holding a piece of concrete or stone in place. Clamps are extra hands and extra hands are always useful on a construction job. Moreover, they are very strong hands, capable of holding objects where human hands would fail.
3. Knives and Cutters
All beginners should have some kind of knife or cutter.. Utility knives are strong, sharp, and useful in situations that call for a heavy-duty blade. Swiss Army knives are more versatile, housing numerous small tools in a single handle. However, the tools tend to not be as strong as the blade of a utility knife is. Choosing one or the other depends on what the project calls for. Swiss Army knives are better suited towards highly detailed work and utility knives for situations that call for a strong, sharp blade.
4. Air Compressor
An air compressor is necessary for any beginner who plans to use a pneumatic tool, and beginners should have at least one such tool in their collection. Air compressors compress air and deliver it as a power source for pneumatic tools. Compressed air is a more powerful source of energy than humans can generate on their own. Pneumatic tools can help construction workers complete jobs more quickly than they would be able to with manually operated tools. There are some cases where a construction worker cannot complete a task without the power of compressed air.
5. Hammer
Hammers serve many purposes that make them suitable for various kinds of construction work. Carpenter hammers are designed to drive nails into wood and remove them. They have one heavy, flat end for hitting nail heads and a double-pronged claw on the other end for pulling nails. Mason hammers are designed to break up bricks and stonework, with a blunt end for greater force and a sharp end for chipping.
Wood Tools
Those planning to work with wood should buy tools that are designed for use with wood. Beginners should find that they use these tools quite frequently, though they may have to consider other tools if they plan to intricately shape wood.
6. Screwdriver
Screwdrivers give construction workers the torque that they need to place screws into wood and to remove them as well. They provide good control over the screwdriving process, though they do not reduce the time that it takes to complete a task. It is possible to buy sets of screwdrivers that work with different screw sizes. Another option is to buy a handle with interchangeable heads that work with different screw sizes and different form factors, such as Phillips head and flat head screws.
7. Drill
A drill is a versatile tool because the user can change bits to perform different tasks. The primary job of a drill is to create holes and different bit sizes drill holes of different sizes. With the correct attachment, a drill can also drive and remove screws. It uses an electric-powered motor, so it completes these tasks more quickly than a screwdriver can. However, it can also strip the socket in the head of the screw if the drill bit is not securely in the socket. This renders the screw unusable and may make it difficult to remove the screw from a piece of wood.
8. Circular Saw
A circular saw may not be the smallest tool, but it is still easily portable. It is a powerful device, able to cut through very thick pieces of wood. A circular saw can also be hazardous if the operator is unsure of how to use it, so beginners should make sure that they are familiar with circular saws before going out to purchase one. Those considering purchasing used circular saws should also be sure that the blade is still sharp if they do not plan to replace it.
9. Sander
Anyone planning to work with wood should also own a sander.. Carpentry often requires smooth surfaces and edges and power sanders work quickly to achieve these. Palm sanders are ideal for working with pieces of wood and there are floor sanders to smooth hardwood floors. Those working with drywall should consider purchasing a drywall sander.
10. Air Nailer
If a hammer cannot finish a job quickly enough, an air nailer should be handy for more efficient completion of the task. This tool uses compressed air to drive nails, saving both time and energy that is necessary to use a hammer to do the same job manually. Air nailers generally cost more than hammers, but the added expense is worth the time that they save.
Masonry/Concrete Tools
Wood tools have some application outside of working with wood, but masonry/concrete tools tend to be more specialized. Those that plan to work with stone and/or concrete may find that these tools have limited application if they decide to switch trades, but they do need these tools for this kind of work.
11. Trowels
Trowels enable masons to work with mortar and wet concrete without putting their hands on it. They can use trowels to distribute, shape, and level wet mortar and concrete so that it has a finished look when it dries. There are different trowel shapes, so beginning masons should have a few in their arsenals. It is possible to buy trowel sets for one-stop shopping to satisfy trowel needs.
12. Mixers
Mixers are large tools, but they are still portable if a mason has a flatbed truck. They are important for anyone working with stone or concrete because they quickly and automatically mix concrete and mortar, saving time and energy over doing these tasks manually. Mixers run off electricity or gasoline.
13. Masonry Saw
A masonry saw is useful for cutting ceramic pieces. It features a diamond blade that users can operate at waist-level and a shelf for working with bricks and tiles. Masonry saws are powerful devices, so users should be sure that they know how to operate them before purchasing one.
14. Concrete Cut-Off Saws
Concrete cut-off saws also have a diamond blade, but it is relatively far away from the operator compared to the blade on a masonry saw. Operators use a concrete saw to cut concrete at ground level or concrete walls. The blade can also be a hazard if a user does not know how to properly operate it.
15. Impact Wrench
An impact wrench usually uses compressed air to generate the power that is necessary to drill concrete and sink concrete screws into it. It uses the same mechanics as a hammer, but with a great deal more torque. The compressed air generates this torque, which is powerful enough to drill and place screws into concrete where hand tools would fail. This may be the most specialized of concrete/masonry tools, but beginners may quickly discover that is handy to have one available.
Conclusion
Beginners may find that they are able to find work in the diverse construction industry with little experience. What they do need, however, are the right tools for the job. Selecting construction tools can be a challenge for beginners, but with careful consideration they can come away with useful tools without spending a fortune. Beginners should know what kind of medium, such as wood, stone, or concrete, with which they plan to work, how useful tools are for the jobs that they plan to work, and how portable tools are. Taking these factors into account, beginners will find a group of tools that will allow them perform many necessary tasks on a job site. There are a few general tools that all beginners should have no matter what kind of work they plan to do and tools that are specific to certain trades. eBay is a good source for all kinds of construction tools and with a good idea of the tools they are looking for, beginners should be able to use the site to equip themselves for productive work in the construction industry.
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