Tools and equipment - The Hempcrete Topic: Designing and Building with Hemp-lime - page 153

get any use out of these tools after the project is finished. Not only can a slide mitre saw
and a table saw, especially the former, speed up the work considerably, but in the hands of
someone who knows what they are doing they greatly improve accuracy. If you are going
to buy these, there is certainly no point in buying cheap ones, as the low price is always
reflected in the level of accuracy that can be achieved with the tool.
Buying a professional-quality model will probably mean that there is some resale value if
you don't need the saw for another job, but don't forget to check this out in classified ads
before buying, and weigh up what you're likely to lose against the cost of hiring from your
local tool hire company, as this option might be more economical for the amount of time
you actually need the saw. Buying these tools second-hand yourself is also an option, of
course, but if you decide to go down this route make sure you know exactly what you are
buying. Always check the saw over carefully (including testing it in use) before buying,
as you don't know what kind of life it has had; buying somebody else's damaged saw will
do nothing for the accuracy of your framing, and will probably cost you more than you've
saved in the long run.
In addition to the levelling and measuring tools already mentioned, a laser level can be ex-
tremely useful when setting out the frame. Again, quality models are expensive, and cheap
ones are rarely worth buying. Quality laser levels can be hired quite cheaply, so this is
probably the most sensible choice for a one-off project.