Sooner or later, every homeowner faces things they need to fit or fix. That almost invariably means the need for one or more power tools. On the plus side, there is plenty of choice. The shelves of hardware stores are filled with a bewildering array of devices designed to solve just about every problem. On the other hand, unless you have an unlimited budget (and a lot of space in the garage), you’ll want to pick and choose the essentials. For those with limited experience, deciding how to get the best bang for their buck can be challenging.
The following nine power tools range from the absolute basics for those who simply want to hang a few pictures or put up shelves to those for the more enthusiastic DIYer who is happy to take on bigger challenges. They’re the ones I’d pick first (alongside a good pair of safety glasses), and I’ve picked up a lot of tools. We’ve explained why you want to have each in your toolkit and provided examples from popular brands.
Before we get to the individual power tools, it’s worth spending a few minutes talking about platforms, sometimes called ecosystems. In other words, buying most, if not all, of your tools from the same brand often makes sense. This applies to cordless tools rather than corded ones, but since the former now dominate the market, it’s an important aspect of power tool choice.
The first power tool you choose, let’s say it’s from Ryobi, will probably come complete with a battery and charger. Next time, if you buy another Ryobi, you’ll be able to save money because you already have a compatible power unit and ‘bare’ tools (those without a battery or charger included) are cheaper.
If you buy from a different brand, let’s say DeWalt, your Ryobi battery won’t fit. So, you have to buy DeWalt’s versions. Buying multiple tools from different brands soon adds up. Currently, a Ryobi battery and charger are around $60. A similar combination from DeWalt is $57. If, later…
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