What power tools do I need for basic home repairs?
If you only have basic hand tools, knowing which power tools to buy for small fixes and future installations can be confusing. An oscillating multi-tool is a highly recommended starting point because it saves your sanity when you have to cut a weird little notch in a baseboard. Whatever you choose, ensure it has reliable battery life, since running out of juice mid-project is a major pain.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Purchasing a drill that includes a second battery to avoid interruptions.Did this help you?
- 2Skipping the massive all-in-one tool kits where many pieces sit unused.Did this help you?
- 3Buying into one specific brand's 18V or 20V ecosystem to share batteries across multiple bare tools.Did this help you?
- 4Looking for second-hand power tools at garage sales or Facebook Marketplace before buying new.Did this help you?
- 5buying a cordless drill/driver combo kitDid this help you?
- 6purchasing an oscillating multi-tool for random future fixesDid this help you?
- 7renting or buying specific hand tools like a drywall jab saw and t-squareDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I don’t currently have any power tools or like tools in general to do the install besides like hand tools and stuff. I was wondering what people would recommend for tools for a job like this. And maybe tools in general to have in the house for future projects”source ↗
“I want to start getting some tools to be able to make small fixes or start some home projects but unsure where to start.”source ↗