DIY Product Guide
The ORC Team’s
The following DIY tools and products have been handpicked by the ORC editors.
Each recommendation comes straight from the heart, as these are the very tools and materials we use and love in our own projects.
Whether you're a seasoned craftsman or a budding do-it-yourself enthusiast, we hope that our shared knowledge and enthusiasm can be helpful and informative to you and your creative ventures.
Happy, happy DIYing!
The tools we can’t live without
Here’s what the team recommends as the best place to start. These are the power tools they can’t live without.
DEWALT 20V Cordless 1/2 in. Drill/Driver
The electric drill is unanimously the power tool the ORC editors use the most, and the DEWALT got the most endorsements.
Milwaukee 60-Piece Impact Duty Alloy Steel Screw Driver Bit Set
“I regularly use my drill for random little tasks like swapping out door hardware, and you never know what weird old screwheads you’re going to run into. My drill bit set has never let me down.”
RYOBI 15 Amp 10 in. Corded Sliding Compound Miter Saw
This saw looks intimidating, but the editors agree it’s actually the easiest power saw to operate, and a great first saw. All you do is swing the arm down and back up while pulling the trigger to get a clean and precise cut.
We recommend this 10” RYOBI saw. It’s got a great cut capacity for its price point, and it can do angle and bevel cuts.
RIGID 12 Gallon Wet/Dry Shop Vacuum with Filter Accessories
“I hardly ever see tool guides mention shop vacs and I couldn’t live without mine. DIY projects create mess that normal vacuums can’t handle.”
RYOBI 18V Brushless Cordless 7-1/4 in. Circular Saw
If you’re not sold on the miter saw—which would be fair, they’re an investment and take up a lot of space—a circular saw (& a set of sawhorses-- see below) might be for you. It can make cross cuts and rip cuts at a fraction of the size and price. It does take more elbow grease to operate than a miter saw. This video from This Old House is extremely helpful for anyone wanting to use a circular saw without a woodshop setup.
Other power tool standouts in our collections
These are some tools we’ve picked up along the way that were excellent investments.
DEWALT 20V Cordless Brushless 3-Speed Oscillating Multi Tool
They don’t call these multi-tools for nothing-- it can make drywall cutouts, plunge cuts, sand narrow spots, trim nails and screws that stick out, and about a hundred other things. The DEWALT is our pick because it’s lightweight and easy to swap out attachments.
RYOBI AirStrike 16-Gauge Cordles Finish Nailer & RYOBI AirStrike 18-Gauge Cordless Brad Nailer
A higher gauge means a thinner nail.
If you’re planning to do more decorative DIY projects like beadboard, where the wood is delicate and could split easily, go with an 18 gauge brad nailer. If your projects will be more structural, like building cabinets, go with the 16 gauge finishing nailer.
With either gauge, a nail gun will save you from manually tapping in tons of nails, and the tiny heads are easy to hide with a touch of wood fill.
16ga. finish nailer at Home Depot
16ga. finish nailer at Amazon
18ga. finish nailer at Home Depot
18ga. finish nailer at Amazon
Bosch 2.5 Amp 5 in. Corded Variable Speed Random Orbital Sander/Polisher Kit
“I DIY-ed for three years before I invested in an orbital sander. It was absolutely a game-changer and I can get surfaces perfectly smooth without a massive arm-ache. I went with a corded one because they’re less expensive and I knew I wouldn’t be using it for anything far from an outlet.”
Our favorite safety gear
These are our picks for the equipment you shouldn’t DIY without.
Milwaukee Clear Safety Glasses Anti-Scratch Lenses
Keep that sawdust out of your eyes!
3M P100 Household Respirator
This 3M reusable respirator is a staple amongst DIYers for a reason. The 60921 cartridges are NIOSH approved to protect against most of your typical DIY hazards, like sawdust, paint fumes, and even mold. If you need an even higher protection rating, check out this poster from 3M.
3M Pro-Grade Earmuff
Nobody on the ORC team likes earplugs, but if that’s your thing, more power to you. This 3M earmuff has a very high protection rating AND doesn’t start to hurt after wearing it for a while. Win win!
General supplies we love
These are the general supplies that have never let us down.
Empire 7 in. Laser Etched Aluminum Rafter Square
“Once you’ve used a speed square, you’re a speed square fan for life. I ALWAYS keep mine handy so I can double-check measurements and angles.”
Arrow T50X TacMate Heavy Duty Staple Gun
A heavy duty, manual staple gun is a stalwart, especially for upholstery projects. We love the Arrow T50X for its ergonomic grip.
The three types of glue we always keep on hand:
Wood Glue (Titebond II)
One of the first things I learned DIYing was that the screws are only there to hold your project together until your wood glue dries. Always use true wood glue because it’s formulated to seep into the wood fibers and bond to them.
Get Titebond at Home Depot
Get Titebond at Amazon
E6000
This type of glue is suitable for things like plastic, fabric, and glass. Fun fact: it can go through the washer and dryer!
Get E6000 at Home Depot
Get E6000 at Amazon
Gorilla glue
This glue works on metal, stone, ceramic, and some plastic. As it cures it expands into a foam, which is great if you need to glue two uneven surfaces. Note that the clear Gorilla Glue does not foam or expand and works like super glue.
Get Gorilla Glue at Home Depot
Get Gorilla Glue at Amazon
Check out www.thistothat.com for the very best glue info out there.
DEWALT Medium and Large Trigger Clamps - 4 Pack
There are plenty of great specialty clamps out there, but these are the ones we reach for most often because they’re SO easy to use. It’s like having extra hands, especially for holding boards steady while glue is drying or while they’re being cut.
Stanley 31 in. H Plastic Folding Sawhorse (2 Pack)
A pair of sawhorses will make your life much easier if you’re trying to cut down big sheets of plywood without a big woodshop setup. The lower price point on this pair by Stanley is because they’re plastic, but they’ve easily withstood all my weekend warrior-ing.
