Most things you build, fix or cook in Knox Country need a tool in your hands or inventory. This page lists 102 of them by job, with what each is for and where they usually spawn, taken from our item database. Click a tool for its full page. Updated for Build 42.21 Stable and 42.22 Pre-Release, November 2026.
Garages, sheds and hardware stores hold most of these. Where to look in each town: loot locations.
| Tool | What it is for | Where to find it | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Crowbar | Very durable and hits hard. One of the best early finds. | Garages, warehouses, hardware stores. |
 | Sledgehammer | Two-handed and brutal, and it can knock down walls. | Construction sites, hardware stores, garages. |
 | Hammer | A weak weapon but an essential carpentry tool. | Toolboxes, garages, hardware stores. |
 | Claw Hammer | A short blunt weapon: 0.5–1 damage, one-handed. | Tool stores, carpentry |
 | Saw | Cuts logs into planks, the core of every build. | Garages, sheds, hardware stores. |
 | Screwdriver | Takes apart electronics and furniture, and fixes cars. | Toolboxes, garages, kitchens. |
 | Wrench | Removes and installs car parts. | Garages, mechanics shops. |
 | Jack and Lug Wrench | Lifts cars and swaps wheels. | Car trunks, mechanics shops. |
 | Duct Tape | Fixes and builds many things. | Garages, hardware stores and offices. |
 | Whetstone | Restores the edge on blades. | Hardware stores and sheds. |
 | Propane Torch | A torch for welding and metalwork. | Garages, warehouses and hardware stores. |
 | Welding Mask | Protects your eyes while welding. | Garages and hardware stores. |
 | Pump | Inflates and deflates tyres. | Garages. |
 | Hand Saw (garden) | A small saw for branches. | Sheds and garden centres. |
 | Lug Wrench | Removes wheel nuts. | Garages and car trunks. |
 | Smithing Hammer | The main hammer for shaping metal at an anvil. | Assembled from a forged Smithing Hammer Head and a handle. |
 | File | Metal file used in metalworking and finishing recipes. | Garages, tool sheds, hardware stores. |
 | Stone Hammer | Primitive hammer used for knapping and early crafts. | Crafted from a stone, a branch or handle, and binding. |
 | Flint Saw | Primitive saw with a flint blade. | Knapping 3: a handle, a flake, and twine or leather strips. |
 | Tire - Regular | Standard vehicle tire; old and performance tiers exist. | Removed from vehicles, auto shops. |
 | Spare Engine Parts | Parts for repairing engines. | Dismantle wrecked engines, auto shops. |
 | Propane Tank | Refillable propane tank. | Gas stations, BBQs, garages. |
 | Hacksaw | Cuts metal; replaceable blade. | Carpenters, janitors, tool caches |
 | Pliers | Removes bullets and glass; metalwork. | Janitor toolboxes, tool caches |
 | Propane Lantern | Propane light, refillable. | Camping stores |
 | Wood Saw | Saws logs into planks. | Carpentry crates, cabinet makers |
| Tool | What it is for | Where to find it | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Axe | Heavy damage and the tool for chopping trees and doors. | Sheds, garages, fire stations, farms. |
 | Hand Axe | A lighter one-handed axe that still chops wood. | Sheds, garages, hardware stores. |
 | Shovel | Digging, farming and graves, and a decent weapon in a pinch. | Sheds, garages, farms, hardware stores. |
 | Pickaxe | A heavy swing that also breaks stone and digs. | Hardware stores, farms and sheds. |
 | Wood Axe | A two-handed axe with the best durability of the axes. | Sheds, farms and hardware stores. |
 | Can Opener | Opens canned food without wasting it. | Kitchen drawers. |
 | Trowel | Digs small holes and helps with farming. | Garden sheds, hardware stores. |
 | Fishing Rod | Catches fish from rivers and lakes. | Fishing stores, sheds, lake houses. |
 | Lighter and Matches | Lights campfires, stoves and cigarettes. | Kitchens, gas stations, smokers' pockets. |
 | Flashlight | Lights your way at night. | Kitchens, garages, police. |
 | Butcher Hook | Hangs large animals for butchering. Gives more meat since 42.20. | Butchers, farms, ranches. |
 | Rope | Strong cord for climbing, towing and building. | Garages, hardware stores and sheds. |
 | Candle | A small, quiet light that burns down. | Houses and shops. |
 | Hurricane Lantern | A portable fuel lamp. | Sheds, farms and camping stores. |
 | Fishing Net | A net for catching fish. | Fishing shops and sheds. |
 | Battery | Powers flashlights, radios and more. | Houses, stores and garages. |
 | Car Battery | Needed for a car to start. | Garages and abandoned cars. |
 | Wooden Trowel | Carved trowel that counts as a mason’s trowel. | Carved from wood. |
 | Animal Feed Bag | Bagged livestock feed. | Farms and farm-supply stores. |
 | Shears | Hand shears for shearing sheep. | Farms and ranches; forged and electric versions exist. |
 | Feeding Bottle | Bottle for hand-feeding young animals. | Farm and household loot. |
 | Fleshing Tool | Scraper for preparing hides for tanning. | Looted; a bone version can be crafted. |
 | Snare Trap | Simple snare for small game. | Crafted from twine and scrap wood (Trapping). |
 | Cage Trap | Wire cage trap, the best for rabbits and squirrels. | Crafted from wire. |
 | Stick Trap | Trap for birds. | Crafted from twine and scrap wood. |
 | Mouse Trap | Small trap for rats and mice. | Crafted from scrap wood, or looted. |
 | Makeshift Fishing Rod | Improvised rod. | A stick or branch with fishing line or twine. |
 | Fishing Line | Line for rods; a premium version exists. | Fishing and sporting goods stores. |
 | Bone Fishing Hook | Primitive hook carved from bone. | Carved from bone. |
 | Jig Lure | Artificial lure for rod fishing. | Fishing and tackle loot. |
 | Chum | Groundbait that draws fish to a spot. | Fishing loot and fish-scrap recipes. |
 | Gardening Trowel | Small hand shovel for gardening. | Garden sheds and garden stores. |
 | Compost Bag | Bag of compost to enrich crops. | Garden stores, or from a composter. |
 | Fertilizer | Commercial fertilizer that boosts crops. | Garden stores and farms. |
 | Aphids Spray | Treatment for aphids on crops. | Mixed in an empty gardening spray can, or looted. |
 | Mildew Spray | Treatment for mildew on crops. | Mixed in an empty gardening spray can (milk-based), or looted. |
 | Pest Flies Spray | Treatment for pest flies on crops. | Mixed in an empty gardening spray can (cigarette-based), or looted. |
 | Hand Scythe | Short scythe for grain and grass. | Farms and sheds; can be forged. |
 | Magnesium Firestarter | Reusable fire-starting tool. | Camping and outdoor stores. |
 | Mortar and Pestle | Grinds herbs into poultices. | Medical storage, science rooms |
 | Watering Can | Waters crops; holds 8 units. | Garden stores, farms |
 | Matchbook | Starts fires; about 10 uses. | Gas stations, tobacco counters |
 | Heavy Duty Flashlight | A brighter, longer-range flashlight. | Camping stores |
 | Compass | Navigation. | Army surplus, camping gear, rangers |
 | Scythe | Cuts grass and grain. | Barns, farm stores |
| Tool | What it is for | Where to find it | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Needle and Thread | Repairs clothes and lets you sew patches. | Sewing kits, bedrooms. |
 | Scissors | Cuts cloth and rags. Needed for tailoring. | Houses, offices and sewing shops. |
 | Needle Holder | Makes suturing less painful. | Clinics. |
 | Stone Anvil | Primitive anvil for the Primitive Forge and early bloom working. | Crafted from a Large Stone using a Stone Chisel. |
 | Tongs | Metal tongs for holding hot metal at the forge and furnace. | Forged at a forge (Blacksmithing). |
 | Simple Wooden Tongs | Crude wooden tongs for your first forging and smelting. | Carved from wood (Carving). |
 | Large Bellows | Big bellows that the Advanced Forge needs. | Crafted from planks, nails, handles and tanned leather, with a hammer and saw. |
 | Large Ceramic Crucible | Clay crucible for smelting iron or steel in a furnace. | Shaped on a pottery wheel and fired in a kiln (Pottery). |
 | Small Ceramic Crucible | Small crucible for small metal batches and molten glass. | Clay crucible fired in a kiln (Pottery). |
 | Ceramic Ingot Mold | Fired clay mold for casting ingots. | Shape an unfired clay ingot mold and fire it in a kiln. |
 | Knapping Tool | Purpose-made knapping tool, an upgrade over a plain stone. | Carving 1, from antler with a sharp knife. |
 | Stone Chisel | Primitive chisel for stonework and the Stone Anvil. | Knapping 1 from 2 flakes. |
 | Stone Drill | Primitive drill for boring holes. | Knapping 5. |
 | Clay Sculpting Tool | Tool for shaping clay items. | Kitchens and cabinets, or carve a wooden one. |
 | Glass Blowing Pipe | Ceramic pipe needed for glassblowing. | Make the unfired clay pipe and fire it in a kiln. |
 | Mason’s Chisel | Chisel for cutting stone blocks. | Looted; a knapped Stone Chisel can stand in. |
 | Bone Needle | Primitive needle carved from bone. | Carved from animal bone (Carving). |
 | Sinew Thread | Primitive thread made from animal sinew. | Processed from sinew taken while butchering. |
 | Knitting Needles | Needles for knitting yarn into garments. | Houses and craft stores; wood and bone versions can be made. |
These feed the Build 42 crafts: blacksmithing, pottery, glassmaking, tailoring and carving and knapping.
| Tool | What it is for | Where to find it | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Tweezers | Removes glass shards and bullets from wounds. | Bathrooms, pharmacies. |
 | Generator | Brings electricity back after the shutoff. | Garages, warehouses, construction sites. |
 | Walkie-Talkie | Short-range radio for talking to friends or tuning broadcasts. | Houses, stores and police stations. |
 | Alarm Clock | Wakes you up and tells the time. | Bedrooms and stores. |
 | Radio | Picks up broadcasts. | Houses and stores. |
 | Television | Plays Life and Living and skill VHS tapes. | Houses. |
 | VHS Player | Plays skill tapes on a TV. | Houses and electronics stores. |
 | Grass Bag | Sack of cut grass for livestock. | Cut grass with a scythe and bag it. |
 | Premium Technologies Ham Radio | Civilian ham radio for long-range two-way contact. | Radio enthusiasts’ homes and electronics stores. |
 | US ARMY COMM. Ham Radio | Military ham radio with strong range. | Military and radio installations. |
 | US ARMY COMM. Manpack Radio | Portable military radio. | Military locations. |
 | Bleach | Household bleach for cleaning. | Laundry rooms, kitchens, stores. |
A hammer, saw, screwdriver, can opener, crowbar, and a needle with thread and scissors.
Toolboxes, garages and hardware stores.
Dismantles electronics for Electrical XP, fits some car parts and wires generators.
Yes, from 42.22 a crowbar can force locked doors, windows, garage doors and gates.
Tool descriptions and spawn areas come from our item database, which lists its own sources. Sources: projectzomboid.wiki tools and kits. Your game is the final word: if it disagrees with us, tell us and we will fix the page.