My father was in construction for his whole life so I grew up around power tools. Then, I joined the Army National Guard as a carpenter and learned how to use some heavy duty construction equipment. After moving away from home I lost access to all my Dad’s tools. So, these past few months I’ve been doing research on tools/brands and started to accumulate my own tools! At this point, I think you can call me a tool expert. Through research and trial & error, I’ve created a list of essential tools that every DIYer needs in their tool box!
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#1 Cordless Drill
I use this Ryobi cordless drill for pretty much all of my woodworking DIY projects. This cordless drill is lightweight, compact, inexpensive and perfect for your small home projects. I suggest having at lease two batteries, one in the drill and one on the charger so that you can easily switch out batteries when you run out of juice. Check out this drill here: ($79)
#2 Kreg Jig
I was rummaging around my dad’s workshop one day and came across a tool kit I had never seen before, opened it and there it was… a Kreg jig!! After bringing it to my father’s attention, he told me that he never learned how to use it before because it was too confusing. After a quick YouTube tutorial I learned how to use it and let me tell you, it has been a game changer for my DIY woodworking projects!
The kreg jig is used to make pocket holes to hide screws and secure tight joints. Check out this video tutorial here on how to use the kreg jig. I linked the kreg jig set here! ($99)
#3 Measuring Tape
Here is an essential tool that everyone needs to have in their tool belt! There are all sorts of measuring tapes out there with different lengths. You can find the one I use here. ($10)
#4 Paint Brushes
We go through paint brushes pretty fast. At first I bought the super cheapy paint brushes but they would only be good for a few projects. I learned to splurge a little bit on paint brushes because they will last a lot longer and you will notice a difference in your work. My favorite paint brush can be found here. ($10)
#5 Mineral Spirits
I use mineral spirits primarily for cleaning up my paint brushes. After a long DIY project the clean up part is never fun. But if you want to save your paint brushes soak them in mineral spirits and they’ll clean up like new! Click here to find mineral spirits. ($13)
#6 Sander
One of my favorite tools is the random orbit sander. It’s cordless and fits perfectly in the palm of my hand. For those larger sanding projects, make sure to have a few charged batteries on hand because this little sander goes through the batteries pretty quick! Check out the sander that I use here. ($45)
#7 Sand Paper
You can never have enough sand paper. I go through sand paper like crazyy so I always like to have extra on hand. I usually have 5 different grits of sand paper ranging from 20 grit (extra coarse) to 240 grit (very fine). This sand paper works with the orbital sander above. You can find it here! ($20)
#8 Drilling / Driving Bits
Keep all of your drill bits and driving bits in one organized place! These bits can get lost very easily, so it’s nice that they make an organized kit where each bit has a home! Check out this Drilling and Driving Kit here! ($12)
#9 Brad Nailer
I use this cordless brad nailer for a lot of my projects. When you’re working with smaller trim pieces or need to bind lightweight wood this is the tool to use! This nailer only leaves tiny nail holes which you can fill in with wood filler! The link to this Ryobi Nailer can be found here. ($129)
#10 Nails & Screws
It’s always a good idea to have extra nails and screws laying around so that you don’t have to make a last minute trip to Home Depot (guilty..). If you use your kreg jig to drill pocket holes, this starter kit is perfect to have! I also keep an assortment of brad nails on hand. If I’m working with little trim pieces, the brad nailer/brad nails come in handy. The link to the screw starter kit is here ($20) and the link to the brad nails is here ($8).
#11 Stapler
This hand stapler comes in handy for an assortment of projects, especially when I’m working with fabric. Click here for the stapler that I use! ($30)
#12 Miter Saw
I decided to go with the Ryobi 15 Amp 10 Inch sliding miter saw with laser. We have a long work bench in our garage so the miter saw just sits on top of the work bench. If you’re cutting a lot of lumber I suggest getting a miter saw. It’s extremely easy to use and you know that you’ll be getting perfect & straight cuts every-time! You can find this miter saw here! ($219)
#13 Table Saw
The picture of this table saw is a bit deceiving. When I was shopping around for table saws this one was not as expensive as the others but honestly it looked a little cheapy. After reading some good reviews I decided to give it a shot and I have been impressed! The base is very sturdy and this saw is perfect for our smaller DIY projects. You can find this table saw here. ($190)
We use our table saw a lot for ripping long boards or plywood. My dad always told me that the table saw is a 2 man tool! Always make sure to have someone help you when cutting long boards.
#14 Circle Saw
I love my cordless circle saw for when I need to make a quick cut. This one is super light weight and easy to control. I recommend buying a battery with a higher AH (ampere hour) rating. With a stronger battery you won’t need to change it out as often, especially when using a circle saw which draws a lot of power. Find the circle saw that I use here ($120)
#15 Safety Glasses
Anytime you’re using a saw or any power tool in general you need to protect your precious eye balls! I recommend grabbing a few cheap pairs that you can keep around the house. Ear plugs are another essential piece of protective equipment for when you’re using loud tools. Find some cheap safety glasses here! ($3)
