Steve Veroneau's top 10 tools

Tools of the Trade, July-August, 2004 by Steve Veroneau

1 Bosch 10-inch sliding compound miter saw: The huge cut capacity made it at home on my framing and trim sites.

2 Bosch 14-pound combination hammer: This thing has done some real bulldog work on my sites, I've used it to chip up tile, knock out masonry, and drill/chip in concrete.

3 Shark pry bar/pull saw combo: The wide-ended bar is great for positioning molding, especially crown. And the razor-sharp saw lives up to its namesake.

4 LaserJamb laser level: Layout is a smoke show since lasers beamed onto the site. From framing decks through the trim package and into the kitchen, I've never moved through my sites faster.

5 McRose leather tool pouches: While no tool pouch is perfect, this one comes as close as any I've ever strapped on. It's got just the right number of pockets and pouches for the tools and nails I carry.

6 Hitachi 12-volt cordless impact driver: There's not much to say about this tool, except that I use it everywhere. It's small, powerful, and easy to use--you can't beat it.

7 Bulldog rolling scaffold: It's perfect for a hundred things like, of course, rolling around a house. I also use it as a trim rack. The work platform keeps my tools handy.

8 TracRac T-Rat ladder rack: It's tough, has sliding brackets to stabilize the load, and makes carrying long loads much safer, I forget--at least I want to--how I got along without it.

9 No-name red-palmed cotton work gloves: I purchase them by the 10-pack at my supply house. They're cheap, close to bulletproof, fit snugly, and if I lose them, so what, there's a lot more where they came from.

10 Roofmates Shingle Saw:. The Shingle Saw increases my output by truckloads because it makes cutting thick architectural shingles a breeze, even stacks of them along the rake or for starter strips.

Steve Veroneau has done it all-remodeling, speed-framing, and high-end trim, and has worked as a GC, sub, and builder. He's a powerful voice in our magazine, and a lot of the jobsite you see pictured on our pages are his.