Advanced DIY Tools - Remodel School

When you’re ready to take your home improvement skills to the next step, start looking at these tools.

1. Miter Saw

Budget Cordless 7-1/4″ Miter Saw
Pro Corded 12″ Miter Saw

You can’t get that serious about DIY without a miter saw. The question for most DIYers, “Which miter saw do I need?”

Long story short, I have a corded 10″ and 12″ compound dual bevel miter saw, but the miter saw I use the most is my cordless 7-1/4″ single bevel Craftsman. It’s lightweight and easy to move from my van to the house and back. I use it to cut lumber, flooring, trim, and even metal closet rods. I bought it 4 years ago for $250 including the battery and charger (the same price it is today) and I’d do it again. Although I will say I do miss the luxury of the double bevel at times.

The larger 10″-12″ saws are necessary when installing 4″+ baseboards and casing as well as crown molding. If you’re cutting wide planks or pressure treated lumber the larger 12″ saw comes in handy, but for most intents and purposes most DIYers and contractors would be fully satisfied with a 10″ miter saw.

Should you go cordless? What makes the 7-1/4″ miter saw is I can move it around as needed without a concern for power cords. The larger saw are much heavier and likely to be stationary. That being said, the cleanest place to use your miter saw is outside. The only reason I’d go cordless on the other saws is I if planned on using the a long way from a plug.

2. Table Saw

Pro Portable 8-1/4″ Table Saw
Pro 10″ Table Saw with Stand

As is the case with the miter saw, you can’t get that serious about DIY without a table saw.

The corded 8-1/4″ DeWalt table saw is my go to. It’s light enough to move from room to room without breaking a sweat. I’ve built several sets of cabinets with it and even a murphy bed that’s installed in my camper van. The only thing it can’t do that my larger 10″ Hitachi table saw can is rip 2x4s on the 4″ face.

Well there’s something it can’t do too. It doesn’t have a built in stand with wheels like many of the 10″ table saws at the same price point.

Pick your poison, do you want lightweight and compact, or a built in stand? Either way you’ll be spending around the same amount of money.

3. Track Saw

Entry Price Track Saw
Good Compromise Track Saw
High End Track Saw

You can almost effectively replace a table saw with a track saw (but not quite). You can also replace the cross cut capacity of the largest miter saws with a track saw.

The tool is essential and will change the way you work. You can break down sheets of plywood much more efficiently with a track saw than a table saw. You only need to fit the dimension of the sheet of plywood in a room. And its infinitely easier to choose the precise cuts of wood you want from that sheet.

Buy one as soon as possible. I have the Festool TS 60KEB. I’d do it again. But if you’re looking for good value check out the Makita and Kreg track saws (Don’t forget the track is often not included).

PS Don’t forget about saw horses

Saw Horses

If you don’t have a work table, you can turn your saw horses into one as large as a sheet of plywood. I have built entire sets of cabinets on top of my saw horses. Remember though, if you need one, you need two.

4. Rear Handle Circular Saw

Cordless 36V Professional 7-1/4″ Rear Handle Circular Saw
Corded Professional 7-1/4″ Rear Handle Circular Saw

The cordless circular saws that come in the power tool starter kits don’t make the cut. Rough carpentry for larger projects inside and outside the house requires a little extra power. To make the cordless circular saws effective they combine 2 batteries to double the voltage. You’ll need to buy atleast a couple hundred dollars in batteries to make the saw effective.

For less than you spend on batteries you could buy a rock solid corded 7-1/4″ rear handle Skil saw. I personally have the cordless Makita which I love. But that was an easy choice since I have a ton of their batteries. I’ve been eyeing the corded Skil saw version for years.

5. Angle Grinder

It seems that every old tile guy has a corded angle grinder. I think you can get by without a cordless one. But you need one.

6. Paddle Mixer

Paddle Mixing Arm Drill Attachment
Dedicated Mixer

At some point as a DIYer you’ll task yourself with mudding drywall or mixing concrete. For small batches a drill attachment works fine. But if you’re taking on a big projects like hanging drywall in or self-leveling an entire floor of a house, get a dedicated mixer. You probably don’t own enough battery power to keep up and you’ll prolong the life of your drill. I’ve lost a good one just to mixing mud.

What’s it like to self-level an entire floor? Check out this 90 second video.

7. Router

Skil Router & Router Table
Bosch Router & Router Table
Bosch Router Edge Guide
Router Options

As the case is with many tools, if you need one router, you’ll probably need two. For milling woodwork you’ll want a fixed router that is powerful. A smaller cordless router comes in handy when you need to rout out space for things like hinges and strike plates for doors.

I have 4 routers that I’ve accumulated over the years. I have 2 corded Bosch routers. One is attached to a Skil router table, another is attached to a Bosch table. Both tables are similar. The Skil router is about half the price but I love the Bosch router base attachments for plunge routing and edge routing.

Makita is my go to cordless router. It’s well balanced and easy to adjust precisely.