• Quality construction requires quality tools.Hard working construction worker at a construction scene. image by Andy Dean from Fotolia.com
  
  Quality construction depends on two factors: the skills of the craftspeople who are doing the work, and the quality of the tools that they are using. If either of these elements are substandard, the work will suffer. Although a huge variety of construction tools are available, a fairly small number comprise the central and necessary tool kit of a construction worker.
  
  

Circular Saw

• A circular saw is to a construction worker what a table saw is to a cabinetmaker. A circular saw is a hand-held, electrically powered saw that is used for all manner of wood cutting in construction, including ripping and cross cutting boards and plywood, cutting out window and door holes, and trimming rafters, joists and other elements. Circular saws can also be outfitted with different blades and used to cut metal, ceramic and brick. Circular saws are sometimes referred to as Skil saws, because Skil was the first company to manufacture them. Quality circular saws are now manufactured by many tool companies, including Milwaukee, Makita and DeWalt.
  
  

Cordless Drill

• Cordless drills allow workers to quickly and efficiently drill holes and drive in screws. Because they run on batteries, they can be used in any location without the hassle of dragging an extension cord around. Cordless drills are usually sold as a kit containing the drill, two batteries, a battery charger and a case. This allows the worker to use one battery in the drill while the other battery is charging. Most professional quality cordless drills are 14 volt or 18 volt. Cordless drills can also be fitted with different attachments and used for incidentals such as sanding with a disc.
  
  

Measuring Tape

• No carpenter or construction worker could last long without a measuring tape. Most measuring tapes designed for on-site work have a 25-foot capacity, and are made to retract into a small metal or plastic box that is kept in the tool belt. Measuring tapes are made in both imperial and metric scales, and some have both scales on the same tape. Measuring tapes have a small hook on the end so they can be clipped over the edge of things and then pulled out in order to measure it. Measuring tapes are also made in larger sizes up to several hundred feet. These are used for measuring lots and entire buildings.
  
  

Hammer

• A hammer is the most basic and possible the oldest tool in existence. Hammers consist of a steel head and a steel or wooden handle. A hammer is swung by the handle and is used to drive in nails, loosen boards or break through things. Hammers exist in many sizes, from tiny finish nail hammers up to heavy sledge hammers that are used for demolition.