Tools
Illustrated guides to 3258 tools across 39 categories, what each one does and when it beats the alternative. Plus free calculators for the jobs our guides cover, all running in your browser with nothing to sign up for.
Tool guides
Garden toolsEvery garden tool worth owning, with a picture of each one and what it does. Grouped by the job, from digging and planting through pruning, lawns, watering and tidying up.
Workshop toolsEvery workshop tool worth having, with a picture of each one and what it does. Grouped by job, from the bench and holding through cutting, drilling, fixing and finishing.
Metalworking toolsEvery metalworking tool, with a picture of each one and what it does. Grouped by job, from measuring and marking out through cutting, drilling, turning, milling and finishing.
Sewing toolsEvery sewing tool worth owning, with a picture of each one and what it does. Grouped by the stage of the job, from measuring and cutting through machine work, pressing and finishing.
Construction toolsThe tools that build a building, from setting out and mixing concrete to access, lifting and demolition. A picture of each one, its name and the job it does on site.
Welding toolsEvery welding tool and piece of equipment, with a picture of each one and what it does. Grouped by job, from the machine and its safety kit through preparation, clamping and finishing.
Baking toolsEvery baking tool worth having, with a picture of each one and what it actually does. Grouped by the stage of the bake, from weighing through mixing, shaping, tins and decorating.
Laboratory toolsEvery laboratory tool and piece of apparatus, with a picture of each one and what it is used for. Grouped by job, from measuring and heating through holding, separating and observing.
Blacksmithing toolsEvery blacksmithing tool, with a picture of each one and what it does. Grouped by job, from the forge and anvil through hammers, tongs, swages and heat treatment.
Kitchen toolsEvery kitchen tool and piece of equipment, with names, pictures and what each one is used for. Grouped by job, with the essentials marked so you can see the short list first.
Safety toolsEvery piece of safety equipment, with a picture of each one and what it protects against. Grouped by the hazard, from eyes and lungs through hearing, hands, falls and fire.
Landscaping toolsEvery landscaping tool, with a picture of each one and what it does. Grouped by job, from groundwork and paving through walls, decking, turf and drainage.
Jewellery toolsEvery jewellery making tool, with a picture of each one and what it does. Grouped by job, from sawing and filing through soldering, stone setting, polishing and measuring.
Locksmithing toolsEvery locksmith tool, with a picture of each one and what it does. Grouped by job, from fitting and repairing locks through key cutting, door hardware and access control.
Woodworking toolsThe workshop side of working wood: planes, chisels, saws, joinery machines and the clamps that hold it all while glue sets. Grouped by what the tool does to the timber.
Tool Storage toolsEvery kind of tool storage, with a picture of each one and what it is for. Grouped by job, from boxes and bags through chests, wall systems, parts organisers and van racking.
Pottery toolsEvery pottery tool, with a picture of each one and what it does. Grouped by job, from wedging and throwing through trimming, hand building, glazing and firing.
Leatherwork toolsEvery leatherworking tool, with a picture of each one and what it does. Grouped by job, from cutting and skiving through stitching, edge finishing, dyeing and hardware.
Masonry toolsEvery masonry and bricklaying tool, with a picture of each one and what it does. Grouped by job, from mixing and laying through jointing, cutting stone and rendering.
Roofing toolsEvery roofing tool, with a picture of each one and what it does. Grouped by job, from access and stripping through tiling, slating, flat roofs, flashing and gutters.
Flooring toolsEvery flooring tool, with a picture of each one and what it does. Grouped by job, from lifting the old floor through levelling, laying laminate, wood, vinyl and carpet.
Auto Body toolsEvery auto body tool, with a picture of each one and what it does. Grouped by job, from dent removal and panel beating through filling, sanding, masking and spraying.
Glasswork toolsEvery glassworking tool, with a picture of each one and what it does. Grouped by job, from cutting and grinding through stained glass leading, soldering, fusing and safety.
HVAC toolsEvery HVAC tool, with a picture of each one and what it does. Grouped by job, from refrigerant work and brazing through ductwork, electrical testing and airflow measurement.
Upholstery toolsEvery upholstery tool, with a picture of each one and what it does. Grouped by job, from stripping a frame through webbing, springs, stuffing, covering and finishing.
Concrete toolsEvery concrete tool, with a picture of each one and what it does. Grouped by job, from formwork and mixing through placing, compacting, finishing, cutting and curing.
Mechanic toolsEvery mechanic tool worth owning, with a picture of each one, what it does and where it saves a garage bill. Grouped by the job, from turning fasteners to diagnosing faults.
Carpentry toolsThe site side of working wood: framing, fixing, levelling and fitting out. Grouped by the stage of the job, with the kit that lives in a van marked.
Farming toolsEvery farm tool worth knowing, with a picture of each one, what it does and where it still beats a machine. Grouped by job, with the core kit marked.
Drywall toolsEvery drywall and plasterboard tool, with a picture of each one and what it does. Grouped by job, from framing and hanging boards through taping, jointing and sanding.
Hand toolsEvery hand tool worth owning, with a picture of each one, what it does and when it is the right choice. Grouped by job, with the core set marked.
Outdoor toolsEvery outdoor tool worth owning, with a picture of each one and what it does. Grouped by job, from clearing and cutting through fencing, snow, water and camp work.
Tiling toolsEvery tiling tool, with a picture of each one and what it does. Grouped by job, from preparing the surface through cutting, fixing, grouting and sealing.
Electrical toolsEvery electrical tool, with a picture of each one, what it does and where it keeps you safe. Grouped by job, from testing and isolation through to termination.
Finishing toolsEvery finishing tool, with a picture of each one and what it does. Grouped by job, from filling and sanding through staining, brushing, spraying and polishing.
Power toolsEvery type of power tool, with a picture of each one, what it does and when it beats the alternative. Grouped by job, with the ones worth owning first marked.
Painting toolsEvery painting and decorating tool, with a picture of each one, what it does and where it saves you a coat. Grouped by the stage of the job.
Plumbing toolsEvery plumbing tool, with a picture of each one, what it does and where it stops a small leak becoming a ceiling. Grouped by the job, from cutting pipe to clearing drains.
Measuring toolsEvery measuring tool worth owning, with a picture of each one, what it measures and how accurate it actually is. Grouped by what you are trying to find out.
Calculators
Alongside the guides there are 3 free calculators for the jobs they cover, working out battery runtime, drill clutch settings and shelf span. All run in your browser.