Best tools for DIY projects - House by the Bay Design

Have you been inspired to try your hand at some DIY projects, but not sure what tools you’ll need? For more basic projects I have the same tools I grab almost every time. I’ve put these tools together in an essential tools list here.

If you’re ready to tackle a project that’s a little more complex, you might want to add a few more tools to your arsenal.

The Best Tools for DIY Projects

Here’s my take on the the tools you’ll want to have when you start taking on more advanced DIY projects like installing trim, basic furniture builds, and even building a deck.

Mitre Saw

Hand saws are great if you only need to make a small number of cuts. But if you need to make many, precise cuts you might want to invest in a mitre saw.

Mine: Ryobi 15 Amp Corded 12 in. Sliding Miter Saw with Laser

Circular saw

A circular saw is a must if you will be cutting down sheets of plywood. Sure, you can probably get your local hardwood store to make these cuts for you, but being able to make them at home is really convenient. Right now I’m using an older 7 1/4″ corded model but I’m hoping to upgrade to a smaller, cordless model for convenience.

My pick: Ryobi 18-Volt ONE+ 6-1/2 in. Cordless Circular Saw

JobMax Multi-Tool

The number of times we use this tool is kind of ridiculous although I can never remember what it’s called (I accidentally called it a “hand job” once and that name has kinda stuck). The JobMax is great because it’s so versatile. There are a ton of different heads you can attach and it can get into some pretty tight spaces. I can attach a small saw blade to notch out the back of a bookcase so it will sit flush to the wall, or use the drive head to tighten screws in spaces too small for my cordless drill.

Mine: JobMax 12-Volt Multi-Tool

Sanders

Once you start any projects involving cutting wood you want to make sure you have a sander. Sure, sandpaper works fine, but for anything bigger than a shoebox your arm is going to get tired. These are lots of different shapes and sizes out there and they work best for different types pf projects.

Detail Sander – For Everyday Projects

Personally, this is my favourite sander. I would use it for every project if I could because I love the compact shape and size. This works for smoothing sharp edges and scuffing up surfaces before painting.

Mine: BLACK+DECKER BDEMS600 Mouse Detail Sander

5″ Orbital Sander – For Large Surfaces & Stripping Finishes

If you need to sand a large flat surface (like a large board of sheet of plywood) an orbital sander gives you a larger surface area and gives a nice smooth finish.

Mine: RIDGID 5 in. Random Orbital Sander

A Palm Sander – If you Only Want One

If you’re only going to be sanding occasionally and want a sander that can work for both small and large projects, a palm sander might be your best bet. It uses regular sandpaper sheets cut to size and can take on all sizes of projects.

Mine: Ryobi 2 Amp Corded 1/4 in. Sheet Sander

Anti-Vibration Gloves

I will not use a power sander without wearing these gloves. I find the vibration of the tools causes a lot of problems with my hands and if I’m sanding a lot without them my hands will start to go numb. Anti-vibration gloves help – but remember to switch hands and take breaks if you’re working on a large project.

Mine: Fingerless Anti-Vibration Gloves

Caulking Gun

Not the most glamorous tool in the shed, but the caulking gun is helpful for all sorts of DIY projects. This will be essential if you’re ever installing a sink, finishing the edges of tile, or installing baseboards/trim. I’m also a big fan of using the caulking gun with strong adhesives like I did for my raised stone flowerbed.

Pro Tip: Even if your caulk says it’s “paintable” try a small area first. We have found a lot of them are not as paintable as you might think.

Mine: HDX smooth rod caulk gun 10 oz

Air Compressor

Okay, you may not actually need an air compressor for most DIY projects, but I wanted to put it on this list and not my soon-to-be-published renovation tools list because it kind of straddles the line. We didn’t get our own air compressor until about two years ago and before then either hand nailed things or borrowed one from my brother. Whether or not you need one really depends on the type or projects you will be doing. We have a nice compact model that is very convenient for installing trim or a DIY shiplap wall. They also make doing any sort of upholstering super easy (if you’re into that kind of thing).

Mine seems to have been discontinued, but this one is similar: Rigid 6 Gal. Electric Pancake Air Compressor

Nail Gun

You can’t use an air compressor without tools. We started with a combo nail & staple gun which is a nice multi-purpose tool. The only downside I’ve found with it is that it can leave a larger mark when nailing. When we did our renovation and replaced all our baseboards we purchased a separate nailer which gave us a more finished look.

My Combo Tool: Bostitch 2-in-1 Stapler/Brad Nailer Combo

My Nailer: RIDGID 18-Gauge 2-1/8 in. Brad Nailer

Kreg Jig

If you’re a regular reader of my blog you’ll know I’m a huge Kreg fan. If you’re interested in building any furniture from simple tabletops to bookcases to large wall storage units, pocket holes make it 1000% times easier. The mini kit is an affordable way to try out the system, but for speed and easy set up the K4 jig is worth the extra money.

Mine: Kreg K4 Pocket-Hole System