Tools

Unimaginable designs, many of them works of art, were created with simple hand tools. Now it's possible that you won't find a single carpenter working with a hand saw at a construction site. Just a few tools are needed to build an average house, but which tools you really need? There’s a specialty tool for every task, but you don’t need every tool in the store to begin launching projects. A smart strategy is to match the tool to the job at hand and fill your toolbox over time.

For any given tool, you’re likely to find a broad price range that usually equates with quality. So it’s better to look in the middle of a range, buying tools that will let you do good work without breaking the bank. Plus, consider how often you’re likely to use a particular tool. It’s worth buying a better version of something you’ll use every week than the one you break out only occasionally. And keep in mind that you can rent many expensive or specialty tools.