Guest Picks: Indispensable Tools for DIYers

When it comes to handling things around the house, I’m a hardcore DIYer. I’m willing to try to tackle just about any project. This comes partly from my fearless can-do attitude, and partly from my pinch-a-penny, squeeze-a-dime miserliness. And in the process, I’ve found this old adage to be completely true: Always have the right tool for the job. If you’re not sure where to start and are just now jumping into the DIY realm, here’s a compilation of the tools I have found most indispensable in my arsenal. — Ann Marie from Twice Lovely

Ryobi 4.8-Amp Variable-Speed Jigsaw - $29.97 My jigsaw is my go-to saw for most little projects. You can set up a little jig or stop with a piece of lumber for straight or long cuts. You can chop furniture legs down to size. This one is lightweight, so it’s easy to wield without fear for your fingers.


Ryobi 14-Amp 10-Inch Compound Miter Saw - $119 A compound miter saw makes lots of jobs go much more quickly. I especially love it for trimwork.


Ryobi One Plus 18-Volt 2-Inch 18-Gauge Cordless Brad Nailer - $129 This handy little brad nailer from Ryobi doesn’t use a big air compressor, which makes it supereasy to grab it and go.


Ryobi 5-Inch Random Orbit Sander - $29.97 In my furniture refinishing business, I use my orbital sander practically every day. This Ryobi is superaffordable.


HomeRight Finish Max Fine Finish HVLP Paint Sprayer - $69.97 I would say this is the No. 1 tool in my furniture-flipping arsenal. I was shocked that I could get such a flawless finish so easily from such an inexpensive sprayer, and it’s airless too!


J-B Weld KwikWood Filler - $5.77 Ever get an old piece of furniture that’s missing a bit of molding or a corner, or that has a crack that’s a little too much for your wood filler to handle? I love J-B Weld’s KwikWood for these kinds of applications. You knead the epoxy-based putty until it’s smooth and fully incorporated, then form it into any shape you need and let it set. You can even sand it afterward. Give it some paint, and no one will ever be the wiser.


Purdy XL-Cub Paintbrush - $12.47 I’ve painted many things in my day, and I’ve learned that to achieve a beautiful and professional-looking finish, you can’t skimp on paintbrushes. These Purdy ones are quality and last a really long time when taken care of. I especially love the handle on Purdy’s Cub brushes.


3M Tekk Protection Paint Project Respirator - $31.47 If you do a lot of painting, like I do, please don’t neglect your health. This respirator will protect you from the toxic fumes present in most commercially available paints and solvents, as well as particulates from sanding.


Kreg JigMaster System - $139 This is high on my want list. If you want to build furniture like a pro, you can’t get along without a Kreg jig pocket hole system.


Irwin Quick-Grip Clamps, Set of 8 - $29.97 If you’re building or doing repairs, you can’t ever have too many clamps around.


Blue Hawk Flat Folding Sawhorses, Set of 2 - $34.98 A pair of sawhorses is invaluable for many home projects, including painting lengths of trim or cutting lumber.


Werner 22-Foot Aluminum Telescoping Type IA Multi-Position Ladder - $189 I recently moved into a new home with a two-story living room, so this telescoping ladder is high on my I-need-it-yesterday list of DIY necessities. The multiposition option makes it usable on uneven surfaces (like a staircase), and the fact that it telescopes up to 22 feet makes it useful in both standard-height rooms as well as multistory rooms. I can’t wait for it to be at home in my garage!


Shur-Line Paint Edger - $2.97 I’m always slightly skeptical of little gadgets like this one. They never seem to work like they’re supposed to — but this wonder was a game changer for me for painting rooms. It saves so much taping time and gives a perfect edge right up to the ceiling or junction of two walls. Be careful along baseboards, as it doesn’t do as well there. I still tape there.


Milwaukee 800-Pound Capacity D-Handle Hand Truck - $54.97 Between my furniture refinishing business and working on pieces in my own home, I move around a lot of furniture. And being a dyed-in-the-wool DIYer like I am, I don’t like to wait for help when I need to move things. So my hand truck is my right arm — or maybe my third arm. Anyway, it’s really handy! I can move things to and fro like Wonder Woman. It makes me feel powerful.


Dewalt Screwdrivers, Set of 10 - $19.97 I haven’t always been this way, but time has taught me that having the right tool for the job is a huge time and frustration saver! Invest in a good set of screwdrivers to ensure that you’ll always have a strong, appropriately sized and shaped tool for every job you encounter.


Ryobi ⅜-Inch Corded Drill/Driver - $29.97 I far prefer a corded to a cordless drill, both for power and ease of use. My Ryobi corded drill never fails to give me the necessary power for any job, and it’s always ready (as soon as I plug it in, of course). I never have to worry about batteries being charged up or failing to hold a charge. The drawback is that you’re limited to using it where you have power, so have some extension cords ready.


Black & Decker 4-Volt Max Gyro Motion-Controlled Rechargeable Screwdriver - $39.97 Of course, it’s not always convenient or even possible to use a corded drill. For those jobs I like this little, comfortable handheld gyro screwdriver from Black & Decker. It can go anywhere. Sure, it’s not superpowerful, but it gets most household jobs done.


Black & Decker Bullseye Auto-Leveling Laser Level - $29.99 I am a little embarrassed to say that a laser level is a fairly new addition to my tool arsenal. I don’t know how I did without one for so long! It’s so handy for painting any kind of stripe, hanging a line of pictures, putting up chair rail moulding and lots more.


Zircon Corporation StudSensor e30 Stud Finder - $15.86 A stud finder is an absolute necessity for finding studs (duh) so you can hang heavy objects, shelves, molding and lots more. Once I got one, I didn’t know how I functioned without it for so long. Needless to say, there were many patched nail holes while I inched along looking to hit some wood.


Husky Multi-Purpose Tool Set, 123 Pieces - $59.99 Every DIYer needs a good multipurpose tool set. This one seems to have all the essentials in a handy, ever-ready, grab-and-go box. This would be a great gift or starter kit for the budding DIYer.

Next: 29 Home Projects to Make You a DIY Superstar

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