How to Patch Cracked Asphalt

I still have a wooden stool I made in shop class as a teenager, with turned legs and a woven seat. It s a nice piece, and what it taught me at a tender age is that the things we make with our hands are valuable to us. It also taught me how much fun tools can be Some items, such as hammers, planes, and saws, are great basics to have on hand for minor repair jobs, but with the addition of some (carefully used) power tools, a whole world of wood- and metalworking opens up. 

You don t have to complete your woodworking tool kit all at once. Although you can easily spend 1,000 or more on tools, a few hundred dollars is enough to get you started with a handful of essentials. Build from there as your budget, needs, and interests evolve. 

Most tool manufacturers offer three or more quality levels, and even as an amateur or hobbyist, you don t want the lowest level. (You ll likely spend more money replacing cheap tools than you will investing in quality ones.) Consider buying a few good tools, rather than a bunch of cheap tools you ll end up replacing after your first project. 

Screwdrivers and screws. You ll want to use wood screws for projects specific to woodworking—they re thicker than drywall screws and less likely to snap in half While you may be drilling screws most often, a screwdriver is also handy. 

Keeping your projects aligned during construction can make the difference between a wobbly step-stool and one you can actually use. As in your domestic repair tool kit (see page 216), choose between a bubble and a laser level. 

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