As someone who loves to do projects around the house, your toolbox is likely full of the essentials. Hammers, screwdrivers, wrenches, and hardware probably aren’t too far out of reach for most projects. But sometimes, there’s a project that requires something more powerful, unique, or specialized to a particular task. At these times, it’s nice to have specific tools—including power tools—around the workshop or garage. Whether you’re getting ready to dive into your next home project or want to lower the premium on your home insurance by raising your home’s value, the right tools will help. It doesn’t matter if you’re working on a project right now or wrapping up an existing project. There are always fresh tools that can help you succeed. Here are five essential power tools you should have for any home project.
1 Drill
A drill should be one of the top tools in your workshop. Drills are exceptionally multifaceted and versatile. They can handle various jobs, with plenty of drill bits to suit any purpose. A cordless drill can save lots of time and energy when used on a project. According to This Old House, your drill should match the job you’re doing. For most repairs and renovations, a 9.5V drill will get things going. More significant projects demand higher voltage tools because they’ll need more power to get the job done. A drill with an adjustable clutch is also essential. Ultimately, choosing the right drill bits, power level, and type of drill (or impact driver) can significantly affect your project/renovation.
2 Circular Saw
Saws are helpful for a vast array of projects. For example, a circular saw—a circular blade inside a housing that retracts as you make cuts on a surface—is one tool no workshop should be without. Circular saws are ideal for straight, precision cuts. They also benefit from being very easy to use and can cut everything from wood to plastic. It has many moving parts. There’s the blade, of course. Then there’s the shoe (basically the base), the guard, the handle, and depth and bevel locking knobs. Saws also have a handle and lock switch to help them remain safe. The unit can be powered by rechargeable batteries or a plug for a powered circular saw. Circular saw blades are measured in teeth per inch (or TPI). Lower numbers mean faster cuts, while higher numbers indicate the opposite. Choosing one based on your project needs involves careful consideration and understanding of these figures. Remember always to use safe handling procedures, measure precisely, and never put your fingers near the blades.
3 Reciprocating Saw
Much like a circular saw, a reciprocating saw is helpful for a wide range of different tasks. These saws are convenient, hand-held tools with a reciprocating blade. They’re ideal for small tasks, trimming up smaller branches, and demolishing. They’re invaluable during a remodel! Dewalt power tools are of exceptional value, have incredible power, and have excellent battery life. Better yet, they’re lightweight, so using them is simple. Reciprocating saws (and other tools) made by DeWalt are worthwhile additions to any workshop, garage, or tool shed.
4 Power Sander
Sanding is an integral part of many projects, especially wood is the primary material used. Sanding is a tedious, time-consuming process. Choosing the suitable grain of sandpaper and then whittling away at the surface of the wood until you achieve the desired finish can take a long time. Luckily, power sanders exist to render this process more accessible than ever. Sometimes, sanding by hand is better, but using a power sander for the right jobs is much easier, especially if you’re building furniture or cabinets. Belt, disc, orbital, and finishing sanders each offer a specialized use across various projects, and they’re nice to have when the going gets rough.
5
One of the many perks of using power tools is having a cordless option. Cordless options give you more movement and let you take the tool anywhere you need to go to use it. The downside is that batteries eventually run out of juice and need to be recharged. It’s a good idea to keep a couple of extra batteries on hand, fully charged, so you can swap them as needed. Lithium-ion batteries (Li-on) are best suited to power tools because they charge quickly, last a long time, and handle more power. It’s a good idea to keep a few extra batteries around to swap out as needed. If you have five tools, you should have at least five batteries and maybe two to three extras, just in case. It doesn’t hurt to have an extra charger if there are issues with the original. A little bit of preparation can go a long way, and keeping your batteries juiced up is an integral part of using power tools.
