Buying guides

Plain-language guides to choosing fasteners, cutting tools, safety gear and shop supplies.

• Choosing work gloves: cut levels, coatings and sizes · How to choose work gloves by ANSI cut level (A1 to A9), coating (nitrile, polyurethane, latex, leather), and when to use disposable nitrile gloves.
• Drill bits by material: HSS, cobalt, carbide and coatings · How to choose a drill bit: high-speed steel, cobalt (M35, M42), carbide and masonry bits, black oxide and titanium nitride coatings, 118° vs 135° split points, jobber vs stubby lengths.
• Hex bolt grades explained: Grade 2, 5, 8 and stainless · What bolt grades mean, how to identify Grade 2, 5 and 8 by head markings, metric classes 8.8, 10.9 and 12.9, and which finish to choose.
• How to read thread sizes (inch and metric) · What 3/8"-16 x 1-1/2" and M8 x 1.25 x 30 mean, coarse vs fine thread (UNC and UNF), numbered screw sizes, and how bolt length is measured.