Must-Have Power Tools for DIYers
Becoming a DIY-er is a rite of passage for anyone that finds themselves on the property ladder. Privileged as it feels to finally get the keys to that first home, so too is it daunting when you realise exactly how much renovation and decoration is set to cost – at least, if you pay someone to do it all for you.
The simple truth is that labour costs are expensive. In some cases, they’re more expensive than any other aspect of a home renovation job. Saving money is paramount these days anyway, let alone in the immediate aftermath of buying a new home. And it doesn’t take a genius mathematician to figure out that buying your own tools and undertaking your own work, DIY-style, could save you thousands. But, for someone at the very start of this DIY journey, it can be hard knowing exactly what to buy. Let this article, then, serves as your guide.
The Power Source: Why Your Battery Platform Matters
Before we start with the tools themselves, let’s get something straight. The vast majority of power tools you’ll want to buy will be cordless, battery-powered affairs. They’re so much more convenient, and actually go toe-to-toe with their corded counterparts nowadays. But buying the wrong brands can get in the way of your DIY productivity, particularly if you buy the cheap,
middle-aisle-of-Aldi fare.
A key part of this is battery life, and battery compatibility. If you buy from the same, storied DIY brand, you can guarantee batteries that last a while, and that can be interchanged between tools easily. As an example, Milwaukee’s FORGE batteries are quick-charging and easily-interchangeable across same-brand cordless tools, and could be the difference between getting something done in one day or three.
The Foundation: The Drill Driver
Knowing that you should keep some level of brand loyalty when buying into power tools, let’s start with the basics. The foundational tool in any toolbox is the cordless drill driver, a chameleon piece of DIY equipment that does everything from drilling holes to driving screws. All the better, then, if you buy a drill driver with a hammer-drill setting, enabling you to do some light masonry drilling without necessarily having to buy a separate SDS.
Cutting with Confidence: The Circular Saw
Drilling isn’t everything, though – unfortunately. Some tasks require cutting, too – particularly framing or studwork. In such instances, you need a decent cordless circular saw, and the jigs necessary to make safe cuts (angled or otherwise). Cordless means you can also use it for sheet goods, as well as timber, making it possible for you to achieve bespoke cuts for unique aspects of your home.
The “Problem Solver”: The Multi-Tool
Last but not least, we have the oscillating multi-tool – a power tool that ‘shakes’ various attachments back and forth to enable all manner of tasks. Oscillating multi-tools are often used for sanding, but are also indispensable for cutting material in awkward places, or flush cuts into timber or plasterboard.
These three tools will get you a decent way to managing your newfound DIY projects with ease. If you look after them, they’ll look after you – and save you thousands in the process.
