Submitted by BilllB on no date available

Tools

I held off getting a reciprocating saw for years and now that I finaly broke down I don't know how I got along without it.
Another thing I held off getting was a tool belt. At first I felt stupid "playing" carpenter but I sure saved a lot of time knowing where my hammer was. I wear it without hesitation now.
I also try not to be lazy about sharpening my chisels and planes. Buy good blades for your table and chop saws. I was burning as much as sawing through my crown moulding before I changed the blade. What a difference and what a pleasure to make easy, accurate cuts.
Rent a panel lifter for putting drywall on a ceiling. I did all my drywall alone, being 6' 6" helps, and I can put a 12 by 4 footer on a wall myself but never on a ceiling. I used some 8 by 4 sheets in smaller rooms and built a jig shaped like the mathmatical symbol for Pi, about 1/2" shorter than the distance from the floor to the ceiling joists, to hold one end of the drywall.

BillB