5 Tools Every DIYer should have in their Shed

Every DIYer has a point when they’re first starting out and wondering which power tools might be a good beginning for their collection. Few homeowners have the budget to go out and splurge on tools – especially if they’re also purchasing materials for their projects – so their initial choices should be all around tools that are handy for most jobs and easy for beginners to learn how to use.

5 Basic Tools for the DIYer

You’ll no doubt get a lot of differing opinions as to what the five most important tools for a beginning DIYer might be and after you have a few years of home improvement projects under your belt; you’ll probably have an opinion yourself. However, quite a few people in the construction industry might consider these to be good power tools to start your collection with:

• Drill – there are quite a few power tools that fall into this category, but for the aspiring DIYer the best choices might be a 3/8 inch electric drill or an 18 volt cordless drill. The cordless drill should have enough power for just about any home improvement project, but it’s only good for as long as the battery has juice. Most 3/8 inch drills are less expensive than large cordless drills and you can use them for as long as you have electricity or until your arm wears out.
• Circular Saw – this is almost a must have for a DIYer unless you enjoy using handsaws to do your cutting. A circular saw can be used for slicing through framing lumber, interior trim, plywood, or trimming interior doors – all you have to do is put in the appropriate blade. There are several types of circular saws that will be discussed in another section, but just a basic saw will handle most home improvement projects. It’s very rare to find a carpenter who doesn’t have at least one circular saw in their truck.
• Random Orbital Sander – just as drills and circular saws, there are many types of sanders to choose from, but a random orbital sander should be able to handle most tasks around the home. These sanders are relatively inexpensive, most have dust bag attachments, and numerous grits of sandpaper are available.
• Jigsaw – these handy little saws are lightweight, easy to use, and can make straight or curved cuts in wood or light gauge metal. Blades are available for various materials and are usually fairly easy to exchange. Jigsaws are very versatile and can even be used to cut out shapes in the center of a surface such as fitting a piece of siding around a light box or baseboard around an electrical outlet.
• Mitre Box – this last choice may depend on the type of projects you have planned during your first year or two as a DIYer. If you foresee a lot of interior trim and minor framing, then a mitre box might be your best bet, but if you’re planning a lot of heavy framing such as a house addition or building a shed, then a portable or full size table saw might be the way to go. A compound mitre box and a nice portable table saw are in about the same price range, so either will affect your budget in much the same fashion and if you continue as a DIYer, you’ll more than likely end up with both – so it’s just a matter of which you buy first.

There are a lot of power tool choices out there when you’re starting out as a DIYer, but these five selections can help you get started in the right direction.