10 Essential Tools for New Do-It-Yourselfers

Ten Essential Tools for New Do-It-Yourselfers

So you want to get started in DIY… Awesome! It is a fabulous feeling of accomplishment when you can do it yourself and save tons of money in the process! But there is nothing worse than trying to muddle through a project without the right tools. Here is a list of 10 tools essential to any toolbox:

Safety Glasses, Gloves, and Hearing Protection

Owning each of these items should be a no-brainer and there is a wide variety of safety tools on the market. I own a killer pair of noise-cancelling headphones specifically for hearing protection that I can plug my MP3 player into!

Tape Measure

“Measure twice, cut once” would certainly lose its meaning without one! I have two tapes because mine normally likes to hide when I need it most.

Carpenter’s Square

Not really a “square” but a triangle that helps keep everything lined up and, well, “square”! Also great for marking straight lines.

Drill and Screwdrivers

A drill certainly makes things a lot easier and it doesn’t have to me a high-dollar drill, either. Of course, it is always handy to have a few Phillips and standard screwdrivers on hand, also!

Saw

There are different types of saws on the market such as a handsaw, a jigsaw, a compound miter saw, a circular saw, a table saw, a band saw, etc. Those new to DIY can get away with a handsaw or jigsaw if simple projects are being done!

A Good Extension Cord

Definitely a must-have especially if you work with tools outdoors!

Drill Bits

This is one tool where I would recommend buying a good set. Cheap drill bits can easily be broken (ask me how I know). Spending a little more money on a better set is definitely the way to go and will certainly last quite awhile!

Claw Hammer

A hammer is not just for pounding nails but also for prying errant nails or staples out, or for removing drywall during demolition!

Sander

A power sander makes things go a lot smoother, pun intended. They aren’t that expensive, and are really great when there are a ton of pieces to be sanded for a project!

Internet Access

No, I’m not crazy! There are a ton of fabulous resources online (my site included!) for do-it-yourselfers and woodworking. I search for information if I am unsure about a project constantly and there is a lot of great stuff out there!

There is no need to run out and buy the most expensive tools on the market. In fact, less expensive tools will certainly suffice while your skills increase or at least until you decide you’d like to DIY for a living. Now that your toolbox will be stocked with a few basics, go forth and build, my friends!

Hello, there! My name is Cher and I am behind Designs by Studio C where I feature DIY projects, how-to information, and lots of furniture plans! I love being able to create and build furniture, as well as share it with everyone. My goal is to empower as many people as possible to do it themselves and I am here to help you reach your DIY goals! Have any questions about plans or projects? Contact me at cher@designsbystudioc.com.