Tools

Tools are the hand tools that crafting recipes need. The group holds saws, drills, pliers, needles, tongs, anvils, the Welding Torch and the Whetstone. Most tools are kept when a recipe runs, so one tool serves many jobs. Each tool is matched to a skill such as Carpentry, Tailoring, Welding or Blacksmithing. Hammers, screwdrivers and crowbars double as weapons and sit in the weapon groups. The Carpenter is the best occupation for tools. It starts with the most Carpentry skill. The Construction Worker and the DIY Expert also start with some Carpentry skill.

All Tools and Equipment Categories

Best Tools

The top pick for each role, by the game's own figures.

For	Name	Image	Stats	Spawn ID
Lightest	Needle		0.01 weight	/additem Base.Needle
Heaviest	Assembled Blacksmith Anvil	-	40 weight	/additem Base.BlacksmithAnvilAssembled

Mechanics

Recipes ask for tools by type, not by exact name. A recipe that needs a saw accepts the Wood Saw, the Hacksaw or the Simple Wood Saw. A recipe that needs a drill accepts the Hand Drill.

Tools are kept, but they can lose condition. Many tools show a condition bar, such as the Hacksaw, the Small File Set and the Whetstone. Replace Hacksaw Blade restores a worn Hacksaw. Replace Small Hacksaw Blade does the same for the Small Hacksaw.

Woodwork and Metal Tools

Saws cut wood and metal. The Wood Saw and the Simple Wood Saw count as saws. The Hacksaw counts as both a saw and a metal saw. The Small Hacksaw counts as a small saw. Saw Circular Sawblade cuts a sawblade in half with a metal saw.

Drills make holes. The Hand Drill works on both wood and metal. The Auger Drill and the Stone Drill work only as poor wood drills. Many weapon recipes need a metal drill to fit bolts.

Pliers grip and cut. Pliers also remove bullets and glass from wounds. Metalworking Pliers and Vise Grips work as metalworking pliers at a forge. Gather Gunpowder takes rounds apart with pliers or vise grips.

Fine metal tools finish the work. The Small File Set counts as a file and sharpens blades poorly. The Small Punch and Chisel Set is used in many armour recipes. Calipers are needed to forge a Wrench.

Smithing and Welding

Anvils are the heart of a forge. The Blacksmith Anvil is used to build a Simple or Advanced Forge. The Stone Anvil is used to build a Primitive Forge. Both weigh 40, and neither works on its own. Make Stone Anvil needs Masonry 2. Cast Blacksmith Anvil pours one at a furnace.

Forge tools hold and heat metal. Tongs grip hot metal in most forge recipes. Simple Wooden Tongs work too but break when used for blacksmithing. Bellows can be used on a stone furnace to increase heat.

Welding needs a torch and a mask. The Welding Torch is used up bit by bit in every welding recipe. Every welding recipe also needs a Welder Mask. Make Scrap Metal Sword uses 10 units of a Welding Torch, so a full torch matters.

Tailoring and Leather Tools

Needles sew cloth. The Needle, the Bone Needle, the Brass Needle and the Forged Needle all count as sewing needles. A needle is needed to patch clothes and to remove patches. Knitting Needles knit wool into hats, scarves and socks.

Other tools work leather. The Awl stands in for a needle in simple sewing, such as Sew Rag Bandana. The Fleshing Tool and the Bone Fleshing Tool remove flesh and fur from leather.

Animal tools come in two kinds. Shears and Shears - Electric shear sheep for wool. The electric pair runs on batteries.

Building and Craft Tools

Masonry and plaster need trowels. The Mason's Trowel and the Wooden Trowel count as masonry trowels. Masonry recipes such as the Cooking Pit and the Simple Forge need one. The Plastering Trowel is used in a building recipe at Carpentry 6.

Pottery uses its own tools. The Clay Sculpting Tool and the Wood Clay Sculpting Tool shape clay at a Pottery Bench. Sculpt Smoking Pipe needs one and Pottery 3.

Knapping needs a striking tool. The Knapping Tool works for Knap Stone Blade, Knap Sharp Flint Flake and Knap Stone Awl. A hammerstone or a mallet works too. The Heading Tool is needed to forge nails and some metal armour. Forge 10 Nails uses it at Blacksmithing 1.

Leather needs a Softening Beam. Remove Flesh and Remove Fur both use a Fleshing Tool at that workstation. The Paintbrush and the Crafted Paintbrush paint signs, such as Paint Sign - Skull.

Crafting

Stone tools come first in a wild start. Knap Stone Awl needs no skill. Knap Stone Chisel needs Knapping 1. Knapp Flint Saw makes a Flint Saw at Knapping 3. Knap Stone Drill needs Knapping 5.

Bone and wood tools follow. Carve Bone Awl needs Carving 1. Carve Fleshing Tool needs Carving 2. Carve Knitting Needles needs Carving 3. Carve Bone Sewing Needle needs Carving 4. Make Improvised Whetstone needs Maintenance 1.

The forge makes the rest. Forge Tongs needs only Blacksmithing 1. Forge Saw, Forge File and Forge Metalworking Pliers each need Blacksmithing 4. Forge Drill needs Blacksmithing 5. Forge Needle needs Blacksmithing 6. All of these must be learned, and the Blacksmith occupation knows them.

Locations

Garages, tool stores and carpenter workshops hold saws, drills and pliers. Metal shops and welding workshops hold the Welding Torch, the Welder Mask and the Small Hacksaw. Car supply stores and army hangars hold Pliers and the Rubber Hose.

Sewing stores and clothing stores hold Needles and Knitting Needles. Gun store knife cases and butcher shops hold Whetstones. Barns and farm crates hold Shears. A Blacksmith Anvil is very rare and turns up only in blacksmithing crates.

Notes

• The Rubber Hose siphons gas.
• A Whetstone is worth carrying for every sharpenable weapon.

All Tools