The Secret World of Tools
DAVID MINK GateHouse Plus

If you're considering a do-it-yourself home improvement project, whether on a small scale or in the vein of a complete renovation, the first purchases you should consider are the tools it will take to get the job done. In this day and age that doesn't mean a hammer and screwdriver - it means power tools, and the more the merrier.

With an entire industry devoted to the manufacture of such tools, however, you're going to have a large selection to pick from. Even after you decide what kind of power tools you need you're going to have to decide which company to buy from. Not all power tools are made in the same image.

• Brand name - There's no one company that should be regarded as the final say on quality power tools. Each company has its own patented features that it brings to its power tools, and before making a decision you should do some research. Visit the sites of all the major contenders - Bosch, Black & Decker, Craftsman, DeWalt, Hitachi, Makita, Milwaukee, Skil and Porter Cable, to name a few - and find out what makes each company unique.

• Size of job - The size of your job and the type of use you plan on getting out of your power tool should affect your decision. If you only plan on doing light work around the house, then a low-voltage power tool set is probably in your best interest. The cordless sets don't require as much time to charge, and they're not going to give you more power than you need.

If you're only doing light work, Black & Decker is an inexpensive yet quality brand. Although they won't stand up under extended heavy use, they're great for the homeowner who wants to get occasional light work from his tools.

If you're doing a total renovation and need some real power, brands like DeWalt, Bosch and Makita are among your best choices. These tools cost more, but they're also hardier and stronger, they

last longer and they get the job done faster.

• Cords or no cords? - With advancements in technology, cordless tools are becoming stronger and more powerful. They're also infinitely more versatile. Portability is often a requirement with many tool buyers. They do have drawbacks, however. Although power tools and tool sets usually come with a battery (or even a backup), replacements are often very expensive. The charges don't last forever, either, unlike with a corded tool. You may end up spending more time charging than you do actually getting work done.

A corded tool, on the other hand, will never run out of charge; it may run out of cord, though. Extension cords can solve this problem easily, but for every extra foot of cord you increase the possibility of having an accident. While a malfunctioning high-voltage (36-volt) power tool can cause significant pain, burns and possible ventricular interference in a case of electrical shock, a malfunctioning corded power tool can kill.

• More power - The voltage output on any power tool is directly related to how strong of a tool it is. Power tools intended for serious, heavyduty use generally run on anything from 20 to 36 volts. For lightweight, around-the-house use, however, a 9.6-volt tool is probably enough.

• Type of battery - Like power tools, not all batteries are made in the same image. Rechargeable cordless tools usually come with one of three types of battery - nickel-cadmium (NiCd), nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) and lithiumion (Li-ion). While all of these batteries will get the job done, Li-ions are generally considered the best to work with, due to their energy-to-weight ratios, absence of typical battery problems and slow loss of charge. If taken care of properly, Liion batteries can last for years.