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My Tools List for DIY Home Improvement!

I mentioned before the importance of tools.  Having the right tool at the right time makes your project easier to accomplish.
A couple of years ago I wasn’t at all interested in tools. I even got disappointed each time my husband got to the tool section at the hardware store to look for tools (like if that wasn’t a guy’s thing!) I bothered him because I didn’t want him buying staff we didn’t need. Besides, I hardly saw him using them!
Well, things have turned around. Ever since I got interested in updating my home my philosophy about tools changed drastically. I began to recognize how important and valuable those “pesky” things were! 
Little I knew, one day, I was going to give myself a Miter Saw as a Christmas present :)  Yes, that happened! Now I am the one asking for tools, and I never ever again bothered Dear Hubby again for coming home with a bag full of screws.  :)
After updating the kitchen and finishing other little projects around the house, I want to let you know which tools I think were vital to do the job. But I do not want to talk about the specifics of each tool, I’m NOT a pro, I just want to give you my point of view while working with them:

My tools

-Tape Measure and Levels
I have several tape measures; they have a tendency to disappear, only to find them hours later hanging from your back pocket! I also carry a small one in my bag wherever I go.  Levels are good to have in different sizes, the ones I used the most are the 2-foot and 4-foot.
-Hammer
Good to have in different sizes too or different weights.  A mallet is important to have; I used it a lot while painting the cabinets to close the cans of paint without damaging the rims.
-Pry Bars
So handy for pulling away baseboards, trim and in the kitchen I used them to pull away the little piece of backsplash the builder had glued to the wall.


-Screwdrivers
Different sets, different sizes. You’ll gonna need them no matter what! It’s good to have a good quality set.
-Vise Grips
Also known as locking pliers, they help you hold almost anything.
-Reversible Drill with Bit set
I have a cordless that now is kind of useless because of the battery. I guess I have to replace it; it’s nice to work without a cable around.  I also have a corded one that I used a lot and it feels more robust than the cordless.
-Pliers
I use needle-nose pliers a lot in electrical work.  Channel-lock pliers used mostly for plumbing.
-Wrenches
A small set from ¼” to ¾” is necessary.
-Handsaw
Even if you have a circular saw there are situations where you are going to need a hand saw and you can make tons of things with this one, it just takes more effort.
-Circular saw

I used it a lot! The long pieces that the home center cuts for me are brought home to be cut even more with this guy.
-Miter saw
If you’re thinking about moldings, this is the way to go. You can go away with a hand saw, but a miter saw will do things faster and easier for you. As I told you, I bought myself this 10” compound.  It needs to be changed ASAP!


-Electronic Stud Finder
When looking for studs to hang shelves or fixtures, nothing’s better to use than a stud finder to do the job for you.
-Electric Sander
Besides having a good stash of different grid sand paper; having the electric sanders was a big help while sanding the kitchen cabinets before painting them.
-Nail Guns & Compressor


For me having a nail gun it’s a need!  I don’t know how to put trim without this tool. I once tried to do it with a hammer & regular nails and it was impossible!
-Clamps
It is a good idea to have several clamps and in different sizes. I used them while installing cabinets, to hold them while they were screwed together; also while building the island shelf and in general to hold mostly pieces of wood together while being cut with the circular saw.
-Utility Knife
Oh, so many uses for this one! It’s a necessity.
-Jigsaw

-Drywall knife
-Carpenter’s Square
-Wire cutter/stripper
-Extension Cords
-Caulk Gun
-Tool Box
-Safety Glasses
-Gloves
Painting Tools:
-Paint Brushes
Very important to buy good quality brushes for your painting needs. A 2½-inch angled brush it’s a basic one.
-Paint Tray
-9” roller frame
-5-in-1 painters tool.
I didn't include in this list the tools for tiling. You can find the ones I used to install the backsplash here.

In my wish list:
-Table saw
-Router
-Electric staple gun
-Dremel
-A better Miter saw

It is a long list, but you can begin buying a tool or two with each project.  Remember, quality matters. Buy tools from reputable manufacturers.  



5 comments :

  1. Great post Christina! It really is funny how quickly the tool section becomes so attractive when you are doing DIY projects. :-) Thanks so much for sharing all of these!
    Vanessa

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  2. I love your tool collection, it certainly makes me want to add to my wishlist once I have a place to make over rooms.

    Thank you so much for all your DIY projects =)

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  3. Hola Cristina,
    Un besote desde España. Me encanta q haya alguien 1.- q se llame como yo, 2.- que sea capaz de hablar en español (muy bien) y 3.- q sea bastante McGyver a la hora de hacer de manitas en la casa. Yo he empezado hace poco con lo del distressing y la chalk paint. Todos los blogs q leo son de USA, aquí no usan la chalk paint y estoy en una fase de transformarlo todo al "shabby chic".
    Te descubrí saltando de un blog a otro y te metí en mi bloglovin, así q estaré al tanto de tus nuevas HERRAMIENTAS jajaja. Personalmente te diré q tengo una pistola de grapas y es genial. Q también pedí de regalo de Navidad un Dremel, pero no lo he usado mucho (todo llegará, aunq fue en el 2001) y de q he descubierto q para quitar barnices muy brillantes, lo mejor es decapante en gel y después quitarlo cn un estropajo de acero (tipo Nanas) Tampoco tenía lijadora eléctrica cuando lo descubrí.
    Sigue bien en Washington, ciudad a la q solía ir (soy azafata de vuelo), pero hace un año q no. Tu casa es muy bonita y tú la estás dejando mejor.

    Bss,
    CRISTINA

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  4. Hello again,
    I don't have a blog, YET. But once I have one...beware world!!
    xoxo,
    Cris

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  5. I am a beginner DIYer and would like to buy a mitre saw. What features are important in a mitre saw? I read your comment above that you want to upgrade your mitre saw. Thanks for the help.

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