The Favorite Tools of Pro Tradespeople

We talked to a collection of professionals across the trades to learn which tools they rely on most on the job.

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Chisel and Plane Sharpener

Pro: Dave Munkittrick, Woodworker

Like most woodworkers, Dave Munkittrick relies on sharp chisels and planes for his livelihood. He has a large collection of sharpening tools, but his favorite sharpening device is the WorkSharp system, which sharpens chisels and plane blades quickly with no mess. The best part is that you don’t need any practice to get a razor-sharp edge.

“I used to put off sharpening because it was such a hassle,” said Dave. “With this machine, sharpening is a quick task, not a project.”

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Costas’s Mini-Cutter

Pro: Costas Stavrou, Appliance Repair

Costas has a ton of cool specialty tools for appliance repairs, but his Dremel tool is the one that often gets him out of binds. Costas fits his Dremel with an abrasive cutoff wheel to remove the heads from stuck sheet metal screws, cut through rusted-on laundry hoses and remove corroded appliance parts.

“This little tool has gotten me out of some bad jams,” said Costas.

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Time-Saving Triangle

Pro: Jeff Tim, Landscaper

When Jeff Timm installs paver patios and driveways, he focuses on top-quality workmanship in the most efficient way possible. This giant triangle is perfect because it allows him to quickly and accurately chalk square layout lines. He could do the same thing using the 3-4-5 triangle method, but this is faster. Just align the chalk line with the edge of the triangle and snap the line. The triangle folds to take up less room in the truck.

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Do-Everything Electrical Tester

Pro: Al Hildenbrand, Master Electrician

Al Hildenbrand has several favorite tools, but the one dearest to his heart and the workhorse of his stable is the Greenlee GT-95 electrical tester. It’s durable and easy to use. The feature that sold Al was the ability to test for a hot wire without the need for a known ground. You simply hold the tester in your hand and touch one probe to the wire you want to test. Push the test button to see if the wire is hot. The GT-95 also features a GFCI tester, a non-contact voltage tester and a continuity tester in addition to a digital and LED display for reading voltage.

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No-Scratch Duster

Pro: Bill Nunn, Painter

Bill vacuums everything before he paints it. He thinks the brushes that come with shop vacuums are too stiff, though. “They can scratch the surface and don’t pick up fine dust.” That’s why he replaced the dusting brush on his shop vacuum with a horsehair brush, which he got for $8 at a vacuum cleaner shop.

“Tack rags are good, but you need to vacuum to get a really smooth finish,” said Bill.

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Kirk’s Helping Hand

Pro: Kirk Erickson, Woodworker

When you use a router table or shaper to produce a decorative edge, it’s critical to simultaneously press the board down and into the fence while you’re pushing it forward. Kirk discovered that Board Buddies are perfect for this task. The rollers are shaped to push in and down, and are available in three versions: clockwise, counterclockwise and freewheeling. If you want to provide anti-kickback safety as well, choose a one-way roller.

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Les’s Quick Cutter

Pro: Les Zell, Master Plumber

Plumbers spend a lot of time cutting copper pipe, so it’s not surprising that one of Les’s favorite tools is a tubing cutter— but not just any tubing cutter. The one Les likes the most doesn’t require any adjusting—you just slip it over the copper tube and spin it to cut.

“I’ve tried other tubing cutters, but they just don’t last,” said Les.

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Diamond Hole Saw

Pro: Dean Sorem, Tile Setter

Diamond hole saws are no secret to tile setters like Dean Sorem. But what’s surprising is that you can buy one for around $20. Diamond grits embedded in the perimeter of the hole saw cut through tough materials like stone and porcelain tile, making short work of what used to be a difficult task. The 1/4-in. hole saw is really handy if you need to drill mounting holes in tile for grab bars or other fixtures. The bit we purchased included a guide and a bottom seal that allows you to contain a pool of water around the bit to keep it cool and eliminate dust.

Harrison Kral
After spending his college summers pouring concrete and building decks, Harrison Kral decided to find a way to put his insider knowledge of construction to use…. just in an air-conditioned setting. He’s an established writer and editor in the DIY space who has written extensively on the home building industry, the housing market, and general DIY trends.