Guides

An impact driver adds a hammering action that drives long screws a drill stalls on, but it has no clutch and cannot take round drill bits. If you do both jobs, the DEWALT DCK240C2 combo is the best buy for most homes.

The best DeWalt drill and impact combo for most people is the brushless DCK277D2 at about $199. The DCK240C2 is the lightest and most proven kit at about $149, and the XR DCK250QQ2 adds a hammer drill and 4.0Ah POWERPACK batteries for $299.

The best impact driver for home use is the DEWALT DCK240C2 combo kit, which pairs an impact driver with a drill, two batteries, and a charger. The BLACK+DECKER BDCI20C is the budget pick for light home projects.

The best drill bit set for metal is the DEWALT DWA1181, a 21-piece black and gold oxide set that runs from 1/16 to 1/2 inch and covers mild steel, sheet metal, and bracket work. Add a MACXCOIP M35 cobalt set for stainless, or the compact DEWALT DWA1184 for a set that lives in the drill bag.

The best cordless drill for home use is the DEWALT DCD771C2, a 20V drill driver with a 1/2-inch chuck and two batteries in the box. Choose the BLACK+DECKER BDC120VA100 if you want the bits included, the DEWALT DCK240C2 combo if you need an impact driver, or the budget Robustrue 21V brushless combo for both tools.

The best band saw for beginners is the WEN BA3959, a 40-pound benchtop saw that cuts 3-1/2 inches deep and rolls into a cabinet between projects. The RIKON 10-3062S is the step up for more power and a better fence, and the WOODSKIL 9-inch is the cheapest way in.

The best scroll saw for beginners is the WEN 3922, a 16-inch variable-speed saw with a side panel that flips open for tool-free blade changes. The DEWALT DW788 is the step up if you want a quiet saw that runs all evening without buzzing your hands.

The best jigsaw for beginners is the Bosch JS470E, a smooth seven-amp saw with tool-free blade changes. The SKIL JS314901 is the value pick, and the BLACK+DECKER BDEJS300C is the cheapest way to start.

The best circular saw for beginners is the DEWALT DWE575SB, a light corded saw with an electric brake that stops the blade fast. The SKIL 5280-01 is the value pick if you want a laser guide and a lower price.

The best table saw for a small shop is the DEWALT DWE7491RS, a 10-inch saw with a geared fence, a 32-1/2 inch rip, and a rolling stand. Pick the SKIL TS6307-00 to save money or the DEWALT DWE7485 when floor space is the hard limit.

The best miter saw for trim work is the SKIL MS6305-00, a 10-inch dual-bevel slider that cuts base and crown in one pass and stays accurate out of the box. Choose the Metabo HPT C10FCG2 if you want a 24 lb saw for baseboard and casing on a budget.

The best table saw for beginners is the SKIL TS6307-00, a 10-inch saw with a rack-and-pinion fence and a folding stand that stores against a garage wall. Choose the DEWALT DWE7485 if your space is tight and you want a smaller saw that still locks square.

The best router for beginners is the Bosch PR20EVS Colt, a 3.3 lb palm router whose depth wheel moves the bit six thousandths of an inch at a time. The AVID POWER kit adds bits and guides in the box, and the TEENO is the budget first router at about $43.

The best drum sander for a small shop is the JET JWDS-1020, a benchtop machine that sands 10 inches in one pass and 20 in two without eating floor space. The JWDS-1632 and JWDS-2244 are the step ups for wider boards.

The best jointer for a small shop is the WEN JT833H, an 8-inch spiral benchtop with a table that extends to 51 inches. The Wahuda 6-inch is the compact pick, and the Cutech 12-inch flattens wide boards.

The best wood lathe for beginners is the WEN 3421, a compact mini lathe with a soft-start motor that turns pens, handles, and small bowls. Step up to the GarveeTech 14x40 or the WEN LA3424 when you want to turn larger pieces.

The best safety glasses for woodworking are the NoCry adjustable wrap-arounds for all-day comfort, with the 3M Virtua CCS as the pair for dusty cuts and the NoCry OverSpecs for anyone wearing prescription frames.

The best router bit set for beginners is the Bosch RBS015MBS 15-piece carbide set, with the KOWOOD 15-piece as the value pick. Both cover the round-over, chamfer, and straight bits you reach for first, and the Bosch set lists every profile it includes.

The best pocket hole jig for beginners is the Kreg 720PRO, a self-clamping jig that sets itself for board thickness so you can focus on drilling. The VEVOR 34-piece kit is the budget pick for a first project around $50.

The best benchtop planer for most small shops is the DEWALT DW735X, a 13-inch three-knife machine with a two-speed gearbox and a chip blower. Choose the WEN PL1326 if you want a spiral cutterhead and a lower price.

The best router for woodworking for most home shops is the Bosch PR20EVS Colt, a light palm router with a precise depth wheel. Choose the Bosch 1617EVS if the router will live in a table, or the AVID POWER compact router if you want bits and guides in the box for less.

The best random orbital sander for most woodworking is the DEWALT DWE6423 for its low profile and low vibration. Choose the BOSCH ROS20VSC if you want to sand without a shop vac, and the SKIL SR211601 for a light, budget finish sander.

The best welder for beginners is the YESWELDER FLUX-135PRO because it leaves you two settings to make instead of three. Choose the BESTMIG kit if you still need a helmet and gloves, the Hpoouo mini for a $69 stick machine you can carry, or the ARCCAPTAIN ARC200 if you want a stick welder that picks the amps from the rod size.

The best air compressor for a garage for most home shops is the Klutch 20-gallon, a 2 HP oil-free vertical that keeps up with impact wrenches and spray guns. Choose the VEVOR 13-gallon if noise is the problem, or the ECOMAX 6-gallon if you mostly inflate tires and run nailers.

The best tape measure for woodworking is the FastCap ProCarpenter Standard Reverse 16 foot tape, a dual-reading blade with a built-in pencil sharpener, with the 25-foot version for sheet goods and the DEWALT Atomic when you need real standout.

The best mechanics tool set for most home garages is the DEWALT 247-piece, a full 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2-inch drive kit in a latched case. Choose the CRAFTSMAN 230-piece VERSASTACK if you want sockets, wrenches, and bits organized in locking drawers for less.

The best shop light for a garage is the hykolity 4FT LED linkable fixture for most two-car spaces, with the BBOUNDER 4-pack as the budget route to a full ceiling and POLARPRA panels for bright light where you only have a bulb socket.

The best bar clamps for woodworking are the Jorgensen 24-inch steel bar clamp set for panel and frame glue-ups, with the IRWIN Quick-Grip mini clamps as the one-handed helpers for small assemblies.

The best tool chest for garage work is the Goplus 5-drawer rolling chest, a compact lockable cart that holds a full set of hand tools and rolls out of the way. Choose the Sormols 13-drawer 2-in-1 if your collection has grown past one cabinet.

The best dust collector for a small shop is the WEN DC3401 rolling collector for machines with a 4-inch port, paired with the Dustopper PRO separator to keep a shop vac filter clean on cleanup and hand tools.

The best workbench for a garage is the CAMMOO 48x24, a 2000-pound bench with a rubberwood top, a pegboard, and a built-in power strip. Choose the Eltean 48 if you want drawers and a locking cabinet, or the Northsky 48 if you want the lowest price and the widest height range.