TOOLS & MATERIALS

Useful items for building, cutting, sanding, or repairing.

For working wood.

1. SANDING PRO

Ideal on flat surfaces, the variable-speed belt sander comes with a dust bag that swivels 360 degrees to keep it out of the way. It measures 21" long x 3" wide. The motor is located over the platen for perfect balance; $169 and up. Porter-Cable, (888) 848-5175, portercable.com

2. PULL SAW

The Japanese-made Z saw cuts on the pull stroke for precise, straight cuts that make it easy to follow a cutting line. The 300millimeter hand saw offers superb control and has a removable blade; $43.50. Hardwick & Sons, (866) 369-6525, hardwickandsons.com

3. ARCHITECTURAL FLOURISH

Add extra support to porch columns with solid Western red cedar knee braces. Available in smooth or rough finishes, the paint- or stain-ready 18" x 18" knee brace comes in a range of widths. The 5 ½ "-wide smooth brace is $104.40. ProWood Market, (800) 915-5110, prowoodmarket.com

4. CUT AND CARVE

Azek to Mill is a ready-to-cut, maintenancefree building material made from cellular polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Ideal for exterior trim elements, it’s suitable for ground contact and comes in planks and sheets. A 1 ½ "x3 ½ " x 18" plank is $63.39. Azek Exteriors, (877) 275-2935, azekexteriors.com

5. INJECTION FIX

Six10 thickened epoxy adhesive combines the strength and reliability of a two-part epoxy with point-and-shoot convenience. The self-metering coaxial cartridge dispenses a gap-filling structural epoxy that bonds to wood and other materials, especially in tight places; $27.99. West System, (866) 937-8797, westsystem.com