These are four tools that any DIY-er should have, as well as projects to use to justify the purchases. You're welcome.
Things break; it's just a fact of life. What happens next, however, can vary significantly. Either you pay someone to fix it, or you do it yourself. Me? I'm a DIY-er. I'd rather spend money and time learning to fix something myself than pay someone else a one-off to do it for me. Instead of paying a handyman a few hundred dollars to make some repairs or heading to the store to buy a replacement, I almost always elect to try to fix it myself. Sometimes, I am hugely successful and come in way under budget. Other times, well ... let's not tell my wife about the other times.
Whether you are an experienced DIY-er or someone just looking to save a few bucks here and there, here are four must-have tools and easy projects you can use to justify picking them up.
**Note: We are going to assume that you already own a drill. If you don't already own a cordless drill, go and buy one. Literally, any drill. The DeWalt cordless drill will probably last the longest and have the best long-term compatibility with other cordless tools they offer.
Miter Saw
Most times, you can get away with using a $50 circular saw or even a $40 jigsaw to cut boards to length. If you're on a budget or just looking to get in an arm workout, a basic handsaw will set you back only $20. But these cheaper tools are not exactly designed for precise miter cuts. Miter cuts are basically any cut other than a 90° cut. Even perfect right angle cuts can be hard with hand tools. Where miter saws excel is in their ability to make angled cuts.
Think about the moulding in your house. Notice how when the moulding goes around corners, it looks perfect? That is because each piece has a 45° cut that allows them to be joined perfectly. No one wants to replace all of the moulding in their house, but if you have a few problem spots here and there, if you have a miter saw, you can bang this DIY project out in a weekend.
A really good entry-level miter saw is the DEWALT 12-Inch Miter Saw (pictured above). Being a compound miter saw, that means that the blade can cut angles other than just a 90° chop cut and it can also tilt to simultaneously make beveled cuts. For replacing moulding, this is definitely a good starter saw to go with. It costs a little over $200, but it has features that aren't seen in any other models in this price range.
Orbital Sander
If you have wooden furniture in your house, you'll notice that it will begin to get dings and scratches over time. This is perfectly natural. The impulse when a piece of furniture gets scratched is to just replace it. Don't! DIY it! Even deep gouges and scratches can be sanded down and refinished. However, this can be a real pain to do by hand with just simple sandpaper. But with an orbital sander, you can sand away a tabletop's finish in just minutes, with minimal elbow grease.
The orbital sander uses a randomized motion to sand down a surface without leaving noticeable sanding marks. A truly entry-level random orbital sander can be bought for $25. I owned a Black and Decker 5" orbital sander for a while and it worked pretty well out of the gate. But what you will notice from any entry-level tool is that comfort is never a priority. The grip doesn't fit as well into your hand, and the on/off button seems to require just a little extra effort. If you just need something to get a few jobs here and there, then the Black & Decker BDERO100 (pictured above) will probably do everything you need and more.
Router
Eventually, DIY-ers move beyond the desire to repair and want to build something new. Quickly, however, you will realize that most of the lumber you're working with has straight edges with sharp right angles. No one wants to bump up against a tabletop or bench that has sharp edges. Routers are designed to cut into boards. With a simple round-over bit, you can turn any sharp edge round.
But routers aren't just about rounding edges. Take a tongue-and-groove bit as an example. With this, you can reshape the edges of boards to make it easier to join them together. Whether you are in a '70s mood and want to install wood paneling or just need a few boards to fit together to make a headboard, these bits can be lifesavers. The Bosch 2-1/4" Combination Plunge and Fixed Router is one of the most popular routers on the market. There are less expensive options, but not ones that include both router bodies. If you want to round edges, then you can use the fixed router body to drag the bit across the edges of a board.
But suppose you want to cut a recess in the middle of a board. With the plunge body, you can use the router to do everything from adding a channel to a cutting board to plunging holes for a mortise and tenon joint. Then, as you get more proficient and need to increase your routing speed, you can easily upgrade with the Bosch RA1171 Cabinet Router Table. All you have to do is mount your router underneath the table and you can make the same perfect cuts on board after board. The table will set you back another $130, but when you reach the point where you need a router table, it will more than pay for itself. Standard router bits aren't all that expensive, but remember that they do not come standard with routers. So if you need the basic router bits, this basic kit is a pretty good starting point.
Air Compressor
If you're just going to use a compressor here and there and don't mind having to wait for it to recharge during long projects, then a simple pancake air compressor is definitely the way to go. A Bostitch BTFP02012 is a small, six-gallon compressor that will be more than enough to run your pneumatic tools. And since it retails for only $100, it won't destroy your budget either. There are other companies that sell pretty much the same design with a different logo on it, but I have never had any problems with any of my Bostitch tools. But if you also happen to have an in-ground sprinkler system, upgrading to a more expensive compressor can save you a lot as well. Winterizing a sprinkler system isn't fun. You pay a company $50 to $150 to come out and blow all of the air out of your sprinkler lines. Then, the following year, you have to do it all over again.
What do you think we left off the list? Tell us your most-used DIY tool in the comment section below!
