Construction Tools

Road graders, rock hauling trucks, cement mixers, bulldozers, and other heavy equipment are construction tools. And these days, before something is constructed, something else often must be demolished. Even if an older building doesn't have to be taken down, land must be cleared of forest and boulders, and leveled, before foundations are dug. Large construction tools such as graders and backhoes are used for this sort of digging.

Tools for construction include construction power tools. These power tools are often fueled by gasoline or diesel because much construction is done outdoors where toxic exhaust emissions can blow away in the wind. Gasoline-powered generators and air compressors are tools for construction. Gas-powered concrete saws are more powerful than their electric counterparts and can be used where electric power is not yet available. They're also safer since there are not cables trailing over the ground for people to trip over. Of course, there's always the chance that gasoline will leak and catch fire, but experienced construction workers take precautions against this hazard.

Construction hand tools may be power tools, or simple tools such as pliers and screwdrivers. The power tools category includes the usual assortment: drills, circular and reciprocal saws, nut and bolt drivers, etc. But on a construction site you may also see exotic power tools such as jackhammers, welding torches and electric arc welders, portable concrete mixers, rivet guns, and so on.

A few brand names are favored among users of construction tools. Bosch Tools is famous for the rugged, powerful durability of its black-and-yellow construction tools. Hilti Tools include power nailers and riveters driven by the explosions of .22 and .32 caliber blank ammunition. Ingersoll Tools is a brand famous for high-quality saws, drills, jackhammers, and other heavy-duty hand tools. Makita Tools is a Japanese brand that includes power saws, drills, air tools, and so on.

Construction tools are a worker's wealth. Professional construction workers must provide their own basic tools, which may cost several thousand dollars and weigh hundreds of pounds. When you see a pickup truck with a large, silvery steel locked chest in its bed, it is probably owned by a construction worker. Inside are the tools of his trade which he cares for, gloats over, and guards as jealously as any dragon guards its hoard. It is very unwise to mess with a man's construction tools.