Your toolbox or tool room should function much like a Swiss army knife: every tool you are likely to need to complete any home redecorating project should be there. And all of your tools should be easily accessible and relatively simple to use.
The first "tool" in your tool kit, of course, should be a vision of a unique design, which will guide you in the selection of materials, manual tools, and power tools. But once you have a clear vision, you need some power in your hand to make that vision become a reality. Here are 5 key tools to help you do that:
1. A Quality Paint Sprayer
Gone are the days when a brush and a bucket were the only means of applying a fresh coat of paint to furniture, bookcases, fencing, interior walls, and more. Compressed air and adjustable controls can make your painting projects much easier.
When you use a paint sprayer you can paint faster, more evenly, without the mess, without leaving drip marks, and without being an expert painter. Be sure to choose light or heavy duty models to match your project's needs, and look for paint sprayers among the tool and power tool brands reviewed on toolnerds.com.
2. Staple Guns
There's almost always something that needs to be stapled when you're remodeling a house. You might need a simple, manual stapler to attach batts insulation to studs. A pneumatic model (with accompanying air compressor) can do as well or better than a nail gun in many situations.
A plug-in electric staple gun can make fast work of tacking down new carpet. For upholstering furniture, consider a battery-powered staple gun.
3. Miter/Table Saws
Cutting wood is about as basic to home renovation and redecorating projects as anything else you can imagine. But you have to have the right kind of saw to quickly and easily make the right cuts.
Miter saws are especially important when cutting trim boards, molding, and a host of other materials. Choose a compound miter saw if you are making only relatively short cuts. A sliding compound miter saw can slide to make longer cuts. Both types cut angles and tilt to angle your seams as well.
Table saws are for ripping boards lengthwise or cutting plywood pieces. That's something you'll probably want to do outside even if the project is inside. A basic portable model works for most small projects, while a cabinet-style table saw is the most heavy-duty (and less portable). Contractor and hybrid models stand "somewhere between" these two extremes.
4. Multimeters
Electric work isn't for everyone, we admit, but anyone can learn to test their home outlets and electrical devices with an easy to use a multimeter. If you don't know much about multimeters, you can read up on it here. But basically, they help you detect and fix electrical problems in your home. There are also models made for HVAC units and automobiles.
5. Power Screwdriver
Small tasks like hanging pictures or putting up curtain rods or blinds (and much more) almost constantly call for the use of a power screwdriver. A home decorator without his/her "screw gun" is like a cowboy without his trusty revolver.
The difficulty here is "an embarrassment of riches." There are so many models to choose from. Yet, there are many poor models that run down on battery power too fast, easily develop a cracked handle, or always have the battery pack slipping loose.
Be sure to check out the reviews online and ask advice from friends and family on which brands/models work best. Balance power and weight, and look for "small things" like notches to hold extra bits and magnetic bars to hold "on-deck" screws.
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