Skip to content
thisoldhouse-logo
  • Log In
  • Join Insider
This Old House main menu
  • Home Improvement A-Z
    • Mega menu container
      • mega menu colum
        • Attics
        • Basements
        • Bathrooms
        • Bedrooms
        • Cabinets
        • Ceilings
        • Cleaning
        • Closets
        • Countertops
        • Curb Appeal
        • Decking
        • Dining Rooms
        • Doors
      • mega menu colum
        • Driveways
        • Electrical
        • Entryways & Mudrooms
        • Fans
        • Fences
        • Fireplaces
        • Flooring
        • Foundations
        • Furniture
        • Garages
        • Gardening
        • Green Home
        • Gutters
      • mega menu colum
        • Heating & Cooling
        • Home Finances
        • Home Offices
        • Home Safety
        • Inspections
        • Insulation
        • Kids’ Rooms
        • Kitchens
        • Landscaping
        • Laundry Rooms
        • Lawns
        • Lighting
      • mega menu colum
        • Living Rooms
        • Masonry
        • Molding & Trim
        • Natural Disasters
        • Painting
        • Pathways & Sidewalks
        • Patios
        • Pest Control
        • Pets
        • Plumbing
        • Porches
        • Roofing
      • mega menu colum
        • Sheds
        • Siding
        • Smart Homes
        • Solar & Alternative Energy
        • Stairs
        • Storage & Organization
        • Tools
        • Walls
        • Windows
        • Woodworking
        • Workshops
        • Yards
  • Watch
    • This Old House
    • Ask This Old House
    • Live Channel
    • TV Listings
    • Ways to Watch
  • Houses
    • Project Houses
    • Idea Houses
  • Reviews
    • Mega menu container
      • mega menu colum
        • Best Gutter Guards
        • Best Home Warranty
        • Best Lawn Care
      • mega menu colum
        • Best Window Brands
        • Best Moving Companies
        • Best Solar Companies
  • Insider
  • App
  • Podcasts
  • Newsletters
  • Seasonal Checklist
  • House One
  • Makers Channel
  • Dime Cómo Hacerlo
  • Team Rubicon
  • Shop
  • Search
Follow This Old House online:
Site search
Tools_0519-Brookline-IMG_2682.0

Tools

   

Navigation
  • Overview
  • How To & DIY
  • Video
  • Tool Lab
  • Tools & Materials
Using an allen screw in a chair

How to Remove a Stripped Allen Screw

Allen screws are secure, discrete, and provide plenty of grip—until they don’t. Once they strip, removing them can feel impossible. It helps to know a few tricks. These six tips will show you how to remove a stripped Allen screw with ease.
Lee Gilliam using a string trimmer to clean up a walkway

All About Attachment Capable String Trimmers

While it may look like an ordinary string trimmer, the unique shaft design allows DIYers to swap in different attachments, turning one machine into a lawn and garden maintenance multitool. Here’s what you need to know about the Swiss Army knife you should stock in your shed.
Close-up on an electrician fixing an electrical outlet and measuring the voltage at a house - home improvement concepts

All About Multimeters

Don’t let the wires, knobs, buttons, and attachments intimidate you. A multimeter is an essential tool for just about any DIYer. Here’s what you need to know about using one.
Milwaukee 2626-20 Orbiting Multi Tool, BOSCH JS120N 12V Max Barrel-Grip Jig Saw, and DEWALT 20V MAX XR Impact Driver isolated on a grid paper background

Our 7 Best Tool Brand Picks (2024 Guide)

This guide to the best power tool brands covers top choices for value, performance, cordless tools, corded tools, warranties and more.
S22 E20: Mauro Henrique shows Tom Silva a 17-in-1 painter's tool
Play

Tool Talk: The Casts’ New Tool Favorites

Host Kevin O’Connor meets most of the crew back at the shop to talk about their new favorite tools that they’ve recently discovered.
Milwaukee 48-22-1502 Fastback Folding Utility Knife, Pacific Handy Cutter S4R Safety Cutter, and Gerber Gear Prybrid Utility Knife isolated on a grid paper background

5 Best Utility Knives (2023 Guide)

You can use a utility knife for various household tasks, from opening boxes to installing carpets. Here are the top utility knives on the market.
Swpeet Assorted 24 Pcs Toggle Bolt, Qualihome Ribbed Plastic Drywall Anchor Kit, and Ansoon Zinc Self-Drilling Drywall Anchors isolated on a grid paper background

Our 5 Best Drywall Anchor Picks (2024)

You can use drywall anchors to hang items from your wall when you can’t find a stud. Here are the best drywall anchors available.
MicroJig

What to Expect at the National Hardware Show (2024)

As hundreds prepare to travel to Las Vegas in preparation for the National Hardware Show, we caught up with a few brands exhibiting to get a sneak peek. Here is a list of items we’re excited about seeing in person.
Nathan Gilbert setting up a Dewalt shop vac

Tool Lab | Shop Vacuums

This Old House master carpenter Nathan Gilbert shares his favorite tips for choosing and using shop vacuums.
DeWalt 20V Max XR Oscillating Multi-Tool, DeWalt 20V MAX Circular Saw, and DeWalt 20V MAX XR Jig Saw isolated on a grid paper background

Our 5 Best DeWalt Cordless Tool Picks (2024)

Check out our roundup of the best DeWalt tools that offer power, performance, and a good value for the price.
Cobalt Alloy Steel Drill Bit Set, IRWIN Step Drill Bit Set, and BOSCH BL21A Black Oxide Metal Drill Bit Set isolated on a grid paper background

Our 5 Best Drill Bits for Metal Picks (2024 Guide)

Metal requires specific drill bits you might not already have in your tool collection. Here are our top picks for the best drill bits for metal.
DEWALT 20V MAX Impact Wrench, PORTER-CABLE Impact Wrench, and RYOBI 18-Volt Impact Wrench isolated on a grid paper background

5 Best Cordless Impact Wrenches (2024 Guide)

Cordless impact wrenches are maneuverable tools used for automotive repairs, construction work, and more. Here are the top cordless impact wrenches available.
SKIL PWR CORE 40 Lightweight Chainsaw, DEWALT 20V MAX XR Chainsaw, and BLACK+DECKER 20V Max Cordless Chainsaw isolated on a green grid paper background

5 Best Battery Chainsaws (2023 Guide)

Battery chainsaws are quieter and lighter than gas-powered models, making them good for small projects. Here are our top battery chainsaw picks.
DEWALT DWE7491RS Table Saw and SKIL Portable Jobsite Table Saw isolated on a grid paper background

5 Best Table Saws (2023 Guide)

Table saws are ideal for cutting large pieces of wood and other materials, such as aluminum, quickly and precisely. Here are our picks for the best table saws.
Two electric screwdrivers against a yellow graph paper background. Lead art for best electric screwdriver

Best Electric Screwdrivers (2024 Guide)

Electric screwdrivers efficiently insert or remove screws from almost any item. Here are the best electric screwdrivers on the market today.
Portrait of Nathan Gilbert with oscillating multitools.

How to Choose and Use Oscillating Multi-Tools

TOH carpenter Nathan Gilbert shares tricks for using and selecting oscillating multi-tools.
Dewalt XR reciprocating saw, WORX 20V reciprocating saw, and Makita reciprocating saw against a grey graph paper background. Lead image for best reciprocating saw guide

5 Best Reciprocating Saws (2024 Guide)

See our guide to the best reciprocating saw for cutting through cut through wood, metal, drywall, or a combination of materials.
S22 E2: Tom Silva teaches Kevin O'Connor about the various types of levels
Play

How To Choose the Right Level for the Job

General contractor Tom Silva shows host Kevin O’Connor everything he needs to know about choosing the right level for the task at hand.

Tool Lab: Compact Table Saws

This Old House carpenter Nathan Gilbert offers advice on choosing and using compact table saws.
S21 E25, Tom Silva demonstrates table saw safety features for Kevin O'Connor
Play

Simple Guide to Table Saw Safety

General contractor Tom Silva shows host Kevin O’Connor the features and techniques required to stay safe when using a table saw.
Screwdriver with multiple attachments

­Our Favorite Products Seen at the National Hardware Show 2024

Each year hundreds of manufacturers from around the world fill the halls of the National Hardware Show with a bevy of new innovations and updated products. Tucked between the gadgets and gizmos, some of which you can never imagine buying, are products aimed at making a DIYer’s life easier and less frustrating. We walked every inch of the Las Vegas Convention Center’s 600,000-square-foot hall to find the best products at the show.
Woman hanging lights with clear duck tape

New Home Products to Help You Tackle Your To-do List

Check out the latest tools and home-improvement products to help you tackle your to-do list.
Dewalt 20V Max impact driver kit and Metabo circular table against a grey graph paper background. Lead image for best tools guide.

30 Best Tools (2024 Guide)

It’s good to keep various tools in your home in case you need to make repairs. Here are the best tools to have on hand.
Nathan Gilbert with laser levels

How Do Laser Levels Work?

This Old House carpenter Nathan Gilbert shares how laser levels work.
Three Dewalt tools on a green background

The 6 Best Pro-Grade Tools at Home Depot

When it comes to tools, contractors look for power, reliability, and helpful details that finish the job faster. Here are a few products that are worth a spot in your truck or workshop.
Olsa Tools Socket Holders and ARES Magnetic Socket Organizer Set isolated on a yellow grid paper background

5 Best Socket Organizers (2024 Guide)

Instead of throwing your sockets into drawers, use an organizer to keep them in one convenient location. In this review, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the five best socket organizers on Amazon.
Best socket set hero image

6 Best Socket Sets (2024 Guide)

A socket set gives you a wide variety of tools to choose from when you’re working on home improvement projects. If you’re a DIYer who fastens a lot of nuts and bolts for home improvement projects, read our guide to the best socket sets.
Main image for the best stud finders buying guide

6 Best Stud Finders (2024 Guide)

The ideal stud finder includes precise detection, quick calibration, and an alert system. In this review, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the best stud finders on the market to help you find the product that’s right for you and your home.
best multimeter lead image

Our 7 Best Multimeter Picks (2024)

Multimeters measure the voltage, resistance, and current of a wiring circuit. In this review, we look at the best multimeters on the market to help you find the one that’s right for you.
Delta Sliding Compound Miter Saw and CRAFTSMAN Sliding Miter Saw Kit isolated on a yellow grid paper background. Lead image for Best Miter Saws guide.

5 Best Miter Saws (2024 Guide)

A miter saw is a woodworking tool that makes precise, angled cuts. In this review, our team looks at the latest and best miter saws to help you find the perfect fit for your workshop.
angle_finder

5 Best Angle Finders (2024 Review)

Angle finders allow users to make accurate angled cuts. In this review, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the five best angle finders on Amazon to help you find the one that’s right for you.
DEWALT Thickness Planer and Bosch Palm Sander isolated on a yellow grid paper background

5 Best Woodworking Tools (2024 Guide)

No matter how experienced or inexperienced a woodworker you are, high-quality tools are a must. In this review, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the five best woodworking tools on Amazon.
Pagination
Page 1 of 11 Next
This Old House Logo
  • About This Old House
  • In the News
  • Our Partners
  • Accessibility
  • Contact Us
  • Cookie Preferences
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • CA Privacy Notice
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • TikTok
  • X
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2024 This Old House Ventures, LLC. All rights reserved.