Buying guides

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

• Abrasive grit guide: choosing grinding wheels, flap discs and sandpaper · What grit numbers mean, which grit to start and finish with, flap disc Type 27 vs Type 29, abrasive grains compared, and cut-off wheel safety.
• 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.
• NPT pipe threads explained: sizes, threads per inch and sealing · How NPT tapered pipe threads work, why a 1/2 in. pipe isn't 1/2 in. across, threads per inch by size, NPT vs NPS and BSP, and how to seal threaded joints.
• Choosing safety glasses: ANSI Z87.1 markings and lens tints · What Z87 and Z87+ mean, the other markings on safety eyewear, which lens tint to use indoors and outdoors, and when you need goggles or a face shield.
• 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.