Regardless of whether you are a seasoned DIY enthusiast, or someone who has only recently started turning their hand to it, there are a number of essential tools and machinery that will make your life easier.
Without them you won’t be able to complete your projects anywhere near as quickly, and possibly effectively either.
You will also be reliant on borrowing from someone else.
Or worse, forking out for a handyman to do the work for you!
If you are bursting with DIY ideas, then it is important to have access to a range of essential DIY tools for your home projects.
These include the 5 showcased below.
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5 Essential DIY Tools
Outlined below in no particular order of importance, are 5 essential DIY tools everyone should have at their disposal.
1. Measuring Tape
A good quality measuring tape is considered by many to be an essential DIY tool, as it is the one thing you will end up using more than anything else.
There are lots of very good brands available which can measure a range of lengths.
This includes anything from 25 and 50 feet up to 500 feet, which typically is used by builders and engineers.
For DIY projects the 50-foot tape is a good option, as this translates to over 15 metres, which should be able to measure most rooms and hallways.
However, if you live in a larger house, a 100-foot tape should suffice.
Most tapes feature both centimetres and inches as units of measurement, so just work with the one you are most comfortable with.
For absolute preciseness, be sure to narrow your readings down to the smallest unit.
Also, be mindful of the old saying ‘measure twice, cut once’, and always write down lengths somewhere so you don’t forget them.
2. Spirit Level
Along with the measuring tape, a spirit level is a tool you will likely use often.
While it is a fairly basic tool, it is very effective in checking the degree to which something is level or straight.
Most typically this tends to be shelving, artwork, mirrors, or furniture.
The operating principle of the spirit level is quite rudimentary and has not really changed since it was invented by Melchisédech Thévenot around 1660.
It involves a small bubble that is held within a liquid substance, which when it sits between two marked lines, signifies that something is level.
The beauty of a spirit level is that it is pre-determined. So, as soon as you take it out of the packaging, you can use it immediately without any set up.
You can use it to check if something is horizontally, diagonally or vertically level.
However, be aware that you will need to find a spirit level that is big enough to span the item you want to measure.
When it comes to using a spirit level, here is a pro tip!
If you find your bubble has broken into a series of smaller bubbles, just give it a shake until it returns to one big bubble again.
3. Combi Drill
The good old Combi Drill is one of those tools everyone should own.
Suitable for most DIY projects the best versions of these drills are battery powered, as they give you lots of flexibility of use.
Most of the leading Combi Drills come with a range of common settings for screwing and making different sized holes in wood, metal or masonry. These include drill torque and hammer.
When drilling holes, be sure to select the right type and size you need.
Should you not have the specific one you are after, they can easily be bought from most good DIY stores like B&Q, Homebase, and Wickes.
Typically, speed settings are controlled using a numbered dial, with the pace of rotation increasing with each number.
If you are trying to remove stiff screws, or finish tightening them, it would be advisable to use lower speeds.
However, if you want to make holes, use the faster drill settings.
You will most likely need the hammer setting for those situations when drilling and screwing is very difficult.
4. Multi-tool
Just like the names suggests, you can use a Multi-tool for lots of different tasks.
Taking the form of a vibrating arm, it has various attachments that can be attached to its end to sand, saw or cut.
Of all its functions, a Multi-tool is especially good for sanding an area very quickly or cutting in otherwise hard to access places.
Most brands of multitools come with a standard set of attachments, that usually include a sanding pad, a round cutting implement that can be used on wood, and a square edged cutter which is great for making incisions into plasterboard.
Like with the Combi Drill, plenty of attachments for your Multi-tool can be bought or replaced at DIY stores.
Should you need to replace the current attachment with something else, the machine has a clip that you will have to open.
Once you have done this you can swap out the attachment before closing the clip.
When closing the clip, just watch your fingers as they could easily catch them on the spring-loaded mechanism.
5. Hammer
Hammers are used for just about any DIY home maintenance project.
Whether it be for general carpentry, assembling furniture, bending or shaping metal, nail pulling, cabinet making, framing or upholstering, the chances are you will need a hammer.
No collection of DIY tool is complete without a set of hammers.
It’s good to have a claw hammer to remove nails or lift floorboards with, as well as a ball peen hammer to shape metal.
Whilst a club hammer is useful for light demolition work, to drive in masonry nails, or cut stone or metal with a steel chisel.
There are many great brands of hammers on the market currently, including the Estwing Hammers from Stonex.
