You’ve spent enough time in the home renovation corner of TikTok to be properly inspired to launch into your own home projects, but there’s just one problem: You don’t have any of the right tools. Before you can complete even some of the more basic home DIY projects, you need a few power tools to make the work faster, easier and better. This list of essential tools should help you get started on whatever projects you’ve seen on social media and complete the home renovations of your dreams.
Power Drill
In the many, many minutes it would take you to drill a hole with a hand tool, you could drill dozens upon dozens of holes with a power drill. Even better, many cordless power drills also function as power screwdrivers, which means you can drill holes and screw screws with the same handy device. Once you have a power drill, you should invest in high-quality drill bit sets, as you don’t want to be stuck on a DIY project without the exact right bit at hand.
Nail Gun
Different projects call for different kinds of fasteners, but many DIY projects around the home benefit from the use of finishing nails, which are thin and easy to hide. While you could pound in finishing nails with a hammer, nail guns are faster and ensure a straighter drive, so you will have fewer mistakes to fix on your DIY. Most nail guns require an air compressor to provide the power, but you can find cordless nail guns that are battery powered if you don’t have the space for an air compressor in your tool shed.
Jigsaw
Not the puzzle, but the tool that gives the puzzle its name, a jigsaw is a power tool with a thin, maneuverable blade that makes it easy to cut curved shapes from pieces of wood. Jigsaws have interchangeable blades that are rated for different uses; thicker blades will be harder to turn, but they are more capable of cutting through thicker lumber than thin blades, which should only be used on thin sheets of wood. In addition to your jigsaw, you should have a set of different cutting blades, so you have the right blade on hand to complete your project.
Oscillating Multitool
An oscillating multitool is a power tool that makes small, rapid, side-to-side motions. These tools are incredibly versatile, with many different attachments that make them useful for a wide range of projects. Saw blades of various shapes are the most popular attachments for oscillating multitools, but you can also acquire grinders, scrapers, sanding pads and more. If there is one single power tool you invest in for your home DIYs, it should be this one.
Orbital Sander
Regardless of the type of DIY projects you hope to complete, you will almost certainly participate in sanding — which means you should have a reliable sander on hand to finish this time-consuming process quickly. An orbital sander rotates the sanding pad back and forth rapidly, allowing you to achieve a smoother finish than is possible with elbow grease alone. Because you will be spending so much time sanding, you probably want to invest in a corded sander, as battery-powered options will lose power frustratingly quickly.
Circular Saw
There is great diversity in power saws, to the extent that beginner DIYers might feel overwhelmed by their options. To start, you should acquire a circular saw, which is affordable, easy to use, easy to store and versatile. You can set up and use a circular saw in a matter of minutes, and you can also quickly swap out blades in your circular saw to make different types of cuts in different materials. As you gain more experience in DIY, you might invest in additional power saws, like a miter saw or a table saw, but for now, a circular saw should be enough to help you get most jobs done.
You don’t need an abundance of talent or skill to accomplish many of the home projects you see on social media — but you do need the right tools. After equipping yourself with these essential power tools, you can begin transforming your house into the home of your dreams.