Nine Useful Power Tools You Probably Didn’t Know Existed
Even if you consider yourself a seasoned DIYer and own a shed full of power tools, chances are you’ve only scratched the surface of what’s out there to help you tackle projects around the house. In fact, if a particular aspect of a DIY project is frustrating, chances are someone has already designed a power tool that solves the problem—provided you know what to look for.
These nine power tools may not be found in every tool cabinet, but they can all make your life as a DIY repairman a lot easier.
Brushless Drywall Sander
If you’re like me, any drywall job is a tedious chore, especially sanding, which is a sweaty, dusty mess (unless you wet your sander , which can actually reduce the dust). If you’re tired of sanding, sanding, and sanding, rejoice, because you can buy yourself an electric drywall sander like this one from Dewalt . Cordless and extendable, it makes sanding drywall a breeze using Velcro sanding discs that you can buy at almost any hardware store. It’s important to note that while the sander has a vacuum hose, you’ll need to hook up a separate vacuum to collect the dust. Dewalt sells a range of dust collectors , but you can use any vacuum with a HEPA filter, but you may need a vacuum connector to make it work. Turn on the vacuum, plug in the battery, and suddenly sanding drywall becomes cleaner and easier. (You can see it in action here .)
Cordless Caulking Gun
Caulking should be easy. Load a cartridge into even the cheapest caulking gun, pull the trigger, and out comes the caulk. But getting a clean, consistent bead of caulk with an old manual gun is a challenge, and if you do a lot of caulking, your future will likely include hand cramps. That’s why an electric caulking gun is the mind-blowingly obvious power tool to add to your kit. Load the caulk, press the trigger, and an absolutely perfect bead of caulk will come out for as long as you need it (or as long as the cartridge lasts). Most models have variable speed, so you can find a sweet spot to work with.
Electric scissors
If you’re cutting something with hand shears, stop, especially if you’re cutting awkward, thick materials like plastic sheets or those deadly plastic clamshells that quickly become dangerous weapons when you try to open them. Cordless electric shears will cut through these materials with ease—a blessing if you’re going to be cutting a lot of stuff and don’t want to end up with ice on your forearm.
Automatic hammer
Still swinging a hammer like a caveman? Still crippling your thumbs and jabbing everything inches away from the intended nail? Once you use an automatic hammer, you’ll never go back. Simply place the nail on the magnetic strike plate, position it, and squeeze the trigger. An automatic hammer will hammer a wide range of nails with little effort, saving you time and sweat—not to mention your thumbs.
Track saw kit
Anyone who regularly does projects around the house probably has a circular saw in their toolbox. But even with careful measurement, a circular saw can let you down when it comes to making straight lines, especially if you have a very long piece to cut. This can be especially frustrating when you’re ripping a piece of wood and need a very straight, clean edge. Not everyone has the space for a table saw or can afford one, but with a saw guide kit, you can make perfectly straight cuts without the bulk of a table saw. The guide can be attached horizontally or vertically, to walls or other surfaces—anywhere you need a perfectly straight cut.
Finger sander
Most DIYers have sandpaper in their toolbox. Some may even have a sander hidden somewhere. But if you need to sand tight or hard-to-reach surfaces, regular sandpaper can be a tedious experience, and most sanders are too big and inflexible. Having a finger sander (also known as a detail sander or file sander) will give you the ability to get into tight spots and sand with control.
Air coil for cleaning sewers
If you’re like me, you’ve come to regard the mechanical snake you bought years ago as a piece of junk: Every time your drain slows down, you insert the cable into the drain, turn the handle, and… nothing happens. You end up having to disassemble your plumbing to find and clear the clog. Unless you have a kite kit like this one . Without removing anything, an air gun uses a blast of high-pressure air to clear traps and pipes, turning an hour of hard work into about three minutes.
Electric wheelbarrow
Tidying up your garden ? Solving landscaping problems? Hauling pebbles to your driveway? Whatever you use a wheelbarrow for, you know it was designed for medieval peasants who never thought they’d live past thirty and make your back feel like a pretzel. That’s why a power wheelbarrow like this is a must-have if you use your wheelbarrow more than… well, ever. The motor adds just enough traction to make pushing it easy, even on slopes.
Drill 4 in 1
Power drills are a standard tool in your toolbox and make both simple and complex projects much easier. There are even specialty drill bits that can make drilling and screwdriving around corners and tight spaces much easier. But none of these solutions compare to a 4-in-1 drill like this one from Milwaukee . The bits stack, so you can find solutions on the go without sacrificing torque — even drilling around pipes or other obstacles that block your drill bits and make even a flexible drill difficult to use.