I watched Kevin in awe as he created Finn’s built in bunk beds! I mean, what can’t he do? My favorite part was when he told me “If I can do this, ANYONE can.” This is SO TRUE! Kevin is smart and hard working, but doesn’t have a building background. The only experience he has is the stuff you see him build– He learns as he goes!! He is confident and problem-solving and those traits (and access to youtube) is really all you need to accomplish almost every DIY home project! You have seen us hang board and batten in this dining room. Kevin learned how to bury our tramp, install tile on our front porch, build our banquette, multiple window seats, custom floating shelves (can also be used as a fireplace mantel) and of course endless painting projects! We sure like to keep him busy! But Kevin always has a happy smile on his face! He’s a keeper!
Building something yourself not only saves you money, but gives you such a sense of satisfaction! So many people have asked what tools Kevin has so before we debut the bunk beds, I thought we’d round up some of his favorite tools that every DIYer should have! We have accumulated tools over time. We aren’t woodworkers or finish carpenters, but we do a fair amount of DIY home projects and these are all of the tools we own! They are great for the beginner-to intermediate DIY-er.
So here is Kevin’s list! He did say that if he were to rebuy tools, he may go a different direction, but these are all moderately-priced and brands that he has grown to trust!
For the Home
- Drill and Driver Kit– must have tool for every home! We love that this one comes with a charger and different drill bits, it has worked well for us.
- Hammer– must have– a 16 oz hammer is the best all-around hammer for a home. Good for everything from dainty taps to heavy-duty projects. New York Times rated this hammer the best.
- Tape Measure– must have– obvious to keep a tape measure handy! We love this one that has double-sided printing and a finger guard to protect you from sharp edges!
- Battery Operated Nailer– this nailer eliminates the need for noisy compressors, bulky hoses, or expensive gas cartridges. (Battery and charger sold separately. We used this battery operated nailer when we did a board and batten wall for my parents bedroom and it worked great. A good ole’ hammer and nail works, too.
- Jig Saw– one of the most versatile tools out there because of the wide range of cuts it’s capable of. Straight cuts to curved and beveled cuts. In fact, the jigsaw is usually the go-to tool for cutting curves. It can even make cuts out of the center of many of the materials you may be working with (Think outlet openings).
- Corded Circular Saw– circular saw can perform straight cuts and cuts on a tilt. We use this for smaller quick cuts. We like the cord on this one because it has a bit more power than a battery-operated.
- Table Saw– a table saw you use for longer cuts, like long sheets of wood or cutting down a door for example. Sometimes you refer to this type of cutting as “ripping.” The table saw we linked can do a 4×8′ piece of plywood.
- 10′ Miter Saw – A miter saw allows you to make cuts at a variety of angles. You can use a miter saw to make cuts for crown molding, picture frames, door frames, window casings and more.
- Laser Level– 20 ft. laser range! Makes leveling quick and hands-free.
- Cordless Palm Sander– we love this sander, it is very strong for its size. It has a dust bag that helps to keep your area neat and tidy while you work!
- StudBuddy– best stud finder! This one actually is a powerful magnet that connects to the screws the builder used to attach your Sheetrock to the wall stud.
- Pocket-Hole Jig– I wouldn’t say this is a must-have but it is really nice to have to hide screws. You basically make a little pocket for the screw to go. We used this recently when building Finn’s bunk bed and also things like a ladder.
- Multi-Oscillating Tool- This is a tool we actually don’t have yet, but we will be getting one! The electrician used this to make small and precise cuts around the woodwork that we had previously installed! There are different attachments and it can be used for small sanding project, cutting baseboards off, etc.
For the Yard:
- Ryobi Blower Attachment
- RYOBI Expand-It System with Edger Attachment
- Pressure Washer
- Presser Washer Attachment
You know that we live in limited space and don’t have a lot of room for storage. I know that we will be asked how we store our tools! Kevin has a tool bag that he carries the smaller items in (makes it easy to grab for a neighbor makeover), but the larger tools like the miter saw, etc, we use the IKEA BROR shelving system like we used in our Home Gym. These shelves are heavy duty and a clean design.
