Last week one of my reader’s asked for a list of my must have tools for DIY projects. Since we move every few years (and pay to move most of it) we don’t want to have a lot of extra stuff, so we try to keep our DIY supplies to a minimum (which can be hard!)
Today, I thought I would start with power tools, because 1. they are the key to building most things 2. they typically make projects easier and faster!
So here we go!
1. Cordless Drill/Drill Bit Set – We use this for pretty much every project … for the most part it floats around our home! Cordless is a lot better than corded because it has better mobility. Our drill is a Craftsman from Sears and is still working great after several years … there are a lot of great drills on the market (I think I would prefer something a little smaller, because it can be a little awkward, but David is fine with the size …)
2. Jigsaw with wide straight cut blade (on ground in photo) – This is a great compact, versatile saw. Yes, typically used for cutting curves, but with the straight cut blade it can make fairly accurate cuts (not perfect)
Another tip for getting straight cuts is screwing a 1×3 or similar board to the what you are cutting and run the jigsaw along for a guide line, when done remove the screws and admire your cut! (make sure to screw into the part that won’t be used)
The jigsaw may not be the correct saw for everything, but can get the job done (for most DIY projects) if you don’t have a chop saw or table saw.
3. Dremel tool – has lots of great attachments to cut a variety of things, we mostly use ours to cut small amounts of metal, like the brass tube for the pendant light in the bedroom
That's it! I'm getting a chop saw.
Really helpful list, thank you.
Camille
Ah, power drills… Your power tool collection wouldn’t be complete without them! What’s fascinating about them is that they have been around for such a long time, and yet they continue to evolve. Back in the day, these drills are operated manually. Imagine what you had to go through just to bore a hole! But, thanks to technology, the drills we have today are powerful and compact, making it perfect for any construction project.