Questions and Answers
Get all of your (Q and A)questions answered about Must Own Tools and the tools you need for your next do-it-yourself home improvement project.
What - Who is Must Own Tools?
Must Own Tools© is a passion project for a team of Do It Yourself fix-it fans who were looking for help on what tools were right for the job at hand and where to purchase them. We didn’t find a reliable source that focused on real-world DYI solutions, so we decided to build one!
Does the viewer pay to use Must Own Toosl?
No. Must Own Tools is an affiliate for Amazon, other online retailers, and many of the manufacturers on the website. We may earn a small commission, that is paid by the manufacturer or retailer. NOTE: We do not earn a commission on all of the tools we suggest. Our goal is to recommend the right solution to solve the needs of our viewer.
Why does Must Own Tools need to earn a commission?
The commissions we earn help support the ongoing mission of Must Own Tools, including operating the website, conducting research and reviews and staff earnings.
Does Must Own Tools own any of the brands you recommend?
No. Must Own Tools, and its staff are not owners or investors, nor do we have any relationship – other than affiliate agreements – with any of the tools, solutions, or retailers we recommend.
Do you research and suggest all types of tools?
At the time of this writing, we are just getting started, so we are focusing on hand tools at the moment. Our goal is to start reviewing and suggesting power tools shortly.
Do you personally review every tool and brand you suggest?
Unfortunately no. Unlike most affiliate websites – which are owned by large corporations, with big budgets – we simply cannot afford to purchase every tool we suggest.
How do you research and suggest products?
We research our products in three ways:
1) We own and use a majority of the TYPES of tools we suggest (hammers, screwdrivers, saws, etc.). We are not able to review every brand and option available on the market.
2) Inline store visits. We visit our local big box (such as Lowes or Home Depot) and hardware stores (Ace or True Value) to find tools we are reviewing, we may purchase and return some of these tools.
3) Online research. We rely on other online reviews, videos, and rating systems for information. For example, if a product listed on Amazon is not consistently receiving four stars we do not suggest it.
Do you research products sent to you by manufacturers?
If a manufacturer sends us products to review, we will consider reviewing them, under this criteria:
1) Is the product relevant to our mission and DIY audience?
2) Is it affordable for our DIY audience, i.e. we are not going to review and recommend a $2,000 hammer – the Government has that covered!
3) Is the manufacturer a reliable ongoing business?
4) If we do review and recommend products by manufacturers or retailers we will always share this information with our website visitors.
What Type of Safety Gloves Do You Recommend for DIY Projects?
The type of safety gloves you buy should be dependent on the type of DIY job you are working on. If you will be using sharp objects, (knives, chisels, cutting tools) you should consider cut resistant gloves. Will you be using solvent such as paint remover? Consider getting gloves rated to protect from harsh chemicals. Using blow torches? Definitely buy a pair of heat resistant gloves. Basic DIY? A good pair of utility gloves should work.