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Professionals' Favorite Tools

House Doctor | Gary Dymski

April 6, 2000

IF YOU want the job to look professional, then use the tools of a professional.

That means big-name tools, RPMs and high-tech. Power, power, power, right? You can almost hear that huff-huff from Tim Allen's "Home Improvement" character.

Not really.

Home improvement professionals do use special tools to tackle large jobs. But they routinely use the same tools you'd find in a hardware, building or painting supply store or at a home center. In many cases, that's where they buy them, too.

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In this random sampling, we asked the pros to select their favorite tool or gadget. In most cases, we got a tool that saves time and money and makes the job easier.

Some picked power tools, of course. But others went for the surprisingly simple. Like the paper a painter uses to protect household items from drips and splatters. Or the favorite diamond saw blade a mason uses for cutting small bricks and stones. Or a simply designed slate ripper, which looks as if it might have been used to repair a castle roof in medieval times.

Some homeowners might find they could use these tools on their own castle. Others will find such tasks and the skills needed to use these tools out of their league. We urge caution when using any tool for a home improvement project. Remember that a professional job isn't just the tool; it's the knowledge and experience behind it.

Major Sales,

The Major MD,

Laurelton

Occupation: Artist (Sales cringes at the term painting contractor; "I'm not a painting contractor; anybody can paint a wall.")

Experience: 32 years.

Must-have tool: Rosin paper, also known as builder's paper; 3 feet by 150 feet rolls are $10 to $15.

Why: It's used to protect floors, cabinets and other large items from paint spills and the mist from rollers.

Comment: "The key to a painting job is preparation. When you cover the floors and countertops, you protect them from paint spills -and everybody who paints, spills."

What about a dropcloth? "A dropcloth moves and slips... When I finish a job, I want all the paint spills and dirt to be on the paper; that's the catch."

Hank Brinkworth Jr.,

Michael Herman Siding,

Hicksville

Occupation: Carpenter.