Top 25 best diy tools and ideas 2023 2023 năm 2024
Although Greg and I have been tackling DIY projects for well over a decade now, we’ve never had (nor felt the need to have) a fully stocked “workshop.” Why? Not only have our various rentals never had much extra space, but we’ve been able to assemble a collection of supplies that…while fairly minimal…allows us to do most projects. Today, I’m rounding up what we consider our “DIY essentials” – the tools and supplies we rely on in order to make pretty much everything you see here on the blog (all of which are easy and practical for anyone to own and store!) Show What Kind of DIY Do You Do?I feel the need to preface this roundup with a quick chat about the type of DIY you do (or want to do). Because the type of projects you like to make will surely influence what kind of tools you need to keep on hand. If woodworking, carpentry, furniture refinishing, house flipping, etc are your passion, hobby, or job, then you will likely need to amass a wider range of specialty tools and supplies. But, if you are instead a casual or beginner DIYer (as in, the renter or homeowner who just wants to be able to tackle a wide variety of common household projects…like us!), you can get by with a lot less tools when you choose ones with wider capability and versatility. Must-Have Tools for DIY ProjectsBelow are the tools we own and rely on time-and-time again to accomplish almost all of what you see here on the blog. Being able to cut, drill, and assemble a variety of materials with ease is key to taking on DIY projects and accomplishing them without hassle! Folding Work TableWe can’t say enough about this folding work table by Dewalt. It’s compact, yet delightfully easy to use for all wood cutting projects. If you don’t have space for a larger workbench, this is a perfect solution! ClampsWe use these clamps in conjunction with the folding work table to keep wood in place while cutting. They are also helpful when gluing wood items together for frames, shelves, etc. Circular SawYears ago, I bought Greg a “saw” set that included a reciprocating saw, jig saw, and a few other things. While it’s handy to have the variety, this is the one we pull out for most projects and is probably the only one we really need. Cordless DrillA good cordless drill (with a few extra batteries) will allow you to hang items on walls, assemble projects, disassemble projects, and so much more. Drill Bit SetFrom being able to drill (any size) holes to finding a compatible tip for a wide variety of hardware, an extensive collection of bits will allow you tackle any job. Paddle BitsThese oh-so-handy bits allow you to make larger holes in walls, shelving, and furniture without the need for a saw. Measuring TapeA good-quality measuring tape is essential for any home, whether you do projects or not! It can help with furniture layout, art selection/hanging, and more. Carpenter SquareThere isn’t a wood-related DIY project we don’t tackle without this handy square. It makes it easy to get straight, 90-degree cuts with precision. Random Orbital SanderThis is one of my very first DIY purchases years ago, and I still pull it out for pretty much every wood or furniture project. Sanding Pad Variety PackI like stocking a wide variety of sanding pads with different grits, so that I always have whatever the project calls for. Cordless Shop VacWe don’t own one yet, but I think this might be one of our next purchases. Being able to quickly clean up messes means you’ll be much more willing to make them! Safety GlassesBasic protective equipment is a must, even for the smallest wood working projects. A sleek pair of glasses or goggles will keep your eyes safe from flying debris. Ear ProtectionWhether you’re working with power tools (especially in confined spaces) or lawn care equipment, donning ear protection is a good habit to establish. 9″ LevelOur 9″ level is one our most-used tools of all. From installing shelves and counters to hanging picture frames, this “fit in one hand” size is incredibly useful. 48″ LevelWe like to go really long and really short with our levels. This longer one comes out when we’re doing larger/longer art or shelf installations. Staple GunFrom reupholstering chairs to covering valences and even installing artwork, a staple gun is handy for a wide variety of projects. All-In-One ScrewdriverWe bought a similar tool when we lived in Japan (almost 20 years ago!) and it’s still the one we reach for over and over. Having just one screwdriver set with interchangeable parts is quicker than rooting through a dozen different handles to find what you need for a particular screw! Rolling Tool ChestOur compact tool collection fits nicely inside this single (wheeled) unit that features 6 drawers and a lower (larger) compartment. Must-Have Tools for Painting & WallpaperingPainting rooms and furniture, as well as hanging wallpaper, are very common past-time around here; so I like to keep these supplies on-hand too so that quick projects and touch-ups are always possible. 2″ Angled Paint BrushI now do all my brush panting with these short-handled angled brushes. I like how they fit in my hand and give me nice clean lines no matter what I’m painting. 2″ Foam Roller with TrayI use little foam rollers for so many things around the house, including small furniture projects, staining, and wall repairs. I like keeping extras on hand so I don’t have to bother washing them! 4″ Foam Roller with TrayLike the 2″ rollers, the 4″ versions come in handy for slightly bigger panting projects such as doors, shelves, furniture, and stenciling. 9″ Roller with TraysI like to keep one good tray and one good roller handle at all times. Then I regularly stock liners and roller covers as needed. Bulk Drop ClothsI’m constantly giving something a fresh coat of paint. I stock drop cloths in bulk so I never run out and usually slice off smaller sections as needed. Paint Stir SticksI’m constantly opening up cans of paint we already own for touch-ups or new projects. Sturdy sticks allow you to effectively re-mix paint without a trip back to the store. Handled Paint CupWhen doing any type of brush painting, I much prefer a handled cup (to a tray or large bucket) in order to minimize waste and easily move around a space. Color-Changing SpacklingFilling holes is a frequent part of DIY life. This color-changing product is easy to use and takes the guesswork out of if/when your repairs are ready for paint! ScrapersWhether you need to patch holes in walls or fill holes in furniture, having a putty knife (in different sizes) makes the job quick, easy, and tidy! 3-In-1 Hole Repair KitIf you have small hole patch jobs to tackle, there’s no need to break out a bunch of supplies. This all-in-one tool allows you to quickly and easily fill holes without the mess! Cricut TrueControl KnifeDespite my affection for Cricut products, this is one of the best utility knives I’ve ever used. I love the very sharp and precise quick-change blades, which allow me to get straight clean cuts on wallpaper, foam board, and more. Fiskars Cutting SetEven if you don’t sew, owning a basic rotary cutting set comes in handy for so many paper projects including wallpaper, shelf liner, party banners, and more. Cricut XL ScraperThis is my go-to tool for all peel-and-stick paper installations including wallpaper and shelf liner. The larger paddle won’t puncture your paper but will help smooth out bubbles with ease! 3-Step LadderWe don’t own this stool, but our friend does; and we borrow it every single time we paint or hang wallpaper. The three-step height is ideal for reaching the very top edges of walls and crown moldings and really just makes any wall job so much easier. We’ll be adding this one to our collection eventually! When You Don’t Have Something You NeedEvery now and then, I want to tackle a specific project, but we don’t have the right tool for the job. While it can be tempting to just purchase what we need, we’ve become reluctant to invest in larger (and heavier) specialty tools, since we won’t need them beyond the current project or have the space to store them. In these instances, here’s what we do instead! BorrowAsk around to friends, family, or neighbors to see if anyone has the item you need. Most people are more-than-willing to let you borrow speciality tools and can even give you a quick in-person tutorial on how it works. We borrowed our friend’s nail gun, nails, and air compressor for our recent Board & Batten project.RentIf you can’t find anyone with the tool you need, your next best bet is to rent the item from your local hardware store. We’ve used both Lowes and The Home Depot’s tool rental services; and it’s always been easy, affordable, and hassle-free. Just make sure you have a vehicle to haul the equipment, because the trailer rental can add to the complexity and overall cost of your project. We rented a large deck sander when refinishing our decks last Fall.SubstituteLastly, if you can’t find exactly what you need, think about how you can get the task done using what you have. There have been many times a table saw would have been preferable for some of our projects. But we just weren’t up for the hassle of finding one, so we opted to use our circular saw instead. Greg using a circular saw to cut tongue and groove boards when a table saw would have been more ideal.Tools are expensive and bulky. So we try to keep as minimal-of-a-collection as possible, while still retaining the ability to accomplish most projects with relative ease. If you’re wanting to tackle some more ambitious DIY projects but just don’t know what you need, I hope this list gets you off to a great start! What is the most useful tool in the world?In 2005, Forbes chose the knife as the most useful tool of all time, in terms of impact on human civilization. Considering the intertwined evolutionary history of man and knife, such a choice is completely logical and justified. What should be in a tool box?Screwdrivers. If storage is tight, buy a screwdriver with interchangeable tips. ... . Hammer. A 16-ounce claw-style hammer will handle most jobs around the house. ... . Tape Measure. Buy a 25-foot tape measure with a locking measuring blade. ... . Pliers. ... . Utility Knives and Extra Blades. ... . Adjustable Wrenches. ... . Level. ... . Putty Knife.. What is hand tools and equipment?A hand tool is any tool that is powered by hand rather than a motor. Categories of hand tools include wrenches, pliers, cutters, files, striking tools, struck or hammered tools, screwdrivers, vises, clamps, snips, hacksaws, drills, and knives. |