Separating us from a majority of the rest of the animal kingdom, tools have allowed us to create the items that make our environment more comfortable and beautiful. While humans have used hand tools for thousands of years, there are some power tools you should also make certain that you have in your home. While there are many different types of power tools, here are four that are essential.
1. Cordless Drill
Among all of the other choices, a cordless drill is the most important power tool to have. When you have a good drill, you will be able to easily handle almost any drilling job, ranging from small pilot to large holes. Cordless drills also allow you to make the holes you need in order to run wiring through and drive your chosen fasteners in.
What you should look for in a cordless drill
While there is an abundance of compact 12-volt cordless drills on the market, you’ll want to instead choose a drill with a little more power to them. Several top tool manufacturers, such as Dewalt, Makita and Bosch, offer 18-volt cordless drills so that you can make certain you’ll be able to complete your drilling job. Since your drill is something you’ll likely need to use frequently, spend a little extra money when you purchase it, and you’ll be glad you did later on. You can expect to pay somewhere between $100 and $200 for a good-quality 18-volt cordless drill.
2. Reciprocating Saw
Reciprocating saws can cut through wood and most metals as if they were made of butter. Whether you are completing electrical, plumbing, remodeling or demolishing work, your reciprocating saw will help you slice through 2x4s, pipes and almost anything else with ease. You’ll want to take care when your work will involve your cutting into a wall. Take time to investigate what is inside of it so you don’t cut into a water or electrical line.
What you should look for in a reciprocating saw
For reciprocating saws, it’s best to choose one that has a cord rather than a cordless version. Reciprocating saws that have cords won’t run out of power, and some have rotating handles. You’ll need to plan on spending about $100 for a good saw. Your blades are also important, so make certain that you get a varied selection so you can handle almost any job.
3. Oscillating Multi-Tool
Oscillating tools have long bodies with heads that can be fitted with a number of different attachments. Depending on the attachment you choose, you can scrape, remove grout, grind, do detail sanding or cut wood. The oscillation is just sufficient enough to make smaller jobs fast while also not creating a large amount of dust. Until a few years ago, the Fein Multi-Master was the only oscillating tool that you could purchase. After the company’s patent expired, the availability of different multi-tools expanded significantly. You can now find multi-tools from nearly every leading tool manufacturer.
What you should look for in an oscillating multi-tool
Unless you intend to use your oscillating multi-tool for jobs that will make a cord annoying, you should choose one that is corded. For longer projects, having to take the time to swap out or charge batteries can be very annoying. Bosch released the oscillating interface system, or OIS, and many manufacturers support it with their own tools. Fein is still the best, and the quick-change mechanism of Fein’s oscillating multi-tool is a great feature. Skil and Fein both have support for dust collection, which is very useful when you are using your multi-tool for sanding. You should plan to spend anywhere from $100 to $200 for a good oscillating multi-tool.
4. Circular Saw
Circular saws allow you to easily cut through boards and sheet goods. If you only need to cut through wood once yearly, a handsaw is good enough. If you need to cut through wood on a more regular basis, you can cut through a wood stack in around 2 minutes as opposed to the 20 or more minutes it would take you with a handsaw. You have to be cautious when you are using a circular saw as it can cut you just as easily as it can wood.
What you should look for in a circular saw
If you plan to cut hardwoods, it is best for you to choose a circular saw that has a cord. Among corded circular saws, there are traditional saws that are smaller as well as larger, heavier-duty ones. If you are planning to purchase a circular saw for do-it-yourself projects, the traditional model is likely sufficient for you. Framers and carpenters prefer the heavier-duty circular saws, which are also called worm-drive saws. They cut through everything very easily, but they are also harder to safely manage using one hand.
Getting the right tools for your home or shop can allow you to complete almost any project you desire. While you’ll want to add to your tool collection, these four power tools will give you a good start. To learn more about tools or about your home renovation project, give us a call today.
