TOOLS
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When you first start tackling home projects, it's no problem to hit the hardware store for one of those sandpaper mul...
Equip the recent graduate in your life with the tools necessary for life in the real world—and we don't mean that metaphorically!
Chris really can't stop himself when it comes to building things. And neither of us can really stop ourselves when it co...
If your file folders are bursting at the seams with to-do lists, contractor quotes, spec sheets and inspirational cli...
After a polite invitation from our HOA to promptly remove (demolish) our front door overhang, I decided that I needed to...
When you have to tighten a nut, bolt, or other standard fastener, you need a wrench. But what kind?Listen to BOB VILA...
Do you want to make sure that shelf you’re putting up is really on the level? Then you need. . . well, a level. Level...
While renters don't need to worry things like the furnace or lawn, they are not safe from all maintenance woes. Here are ten tools to keep your digs in good shape.
Quick note: we weren't compensated in anyway for this post, but if anyone wants to send us free stuff, I'm not going to ...
A power drill does more than just drill holes. With different attachments, it also drives screws, turns a sander, or ...
I can barely think of a home improvement job that doesn’t require a tape measure! Whether you’re framing a new room o...
A plumb bob is an amazingly simple tool, basically just a pointed weight on a string. But whether you’re putting up a...
Not every homeowner needs a workshop full of professional tools, but there are a few basics you should have if you pl...
Are your home improvement plans hidden in piles of folders overflowing with clips, notes, and paint chips? You can sa...
Now is the perfect moment to plan your 2013 projects. Be more precise with your time and resources using this raft of...
Reviving rusty metal tools or furniture is a great indoor winter project, and there are three ways to remove rust. Li...
If you’re exposed to it long enough, any noise level above eighty-five decibels—like what you’d hear on a busy city s...
Augmented reality (AR)—the ability to overlay digital information over what you see through a lens—is expanding into ...
Save your eyes and shed a little light on the job you’re doing with the right flashlight. LED flashlights are illumin...
Cordless power tools, and now lithium-ion batteries, have revolutionized the home improvement world. But anyone who’s...
If those holiday gift cards are burning a hole in your pocket, a good circular saw is something you really shouldn't ...
Most home improvement projects require at least some moving around from place to place with tools, and that can get t...
Tool sets are popular gifts, but none is more useful for the home and garage handyperson than a really good ratchet s...
Good sanding can make or break a woodworking project, so every do-it-yourselfer should have a power sander in the wor...
No workshop should be without levels in various lengths, but for lines longer than 3' or 4', traditional bubble level...
If there's a leftie on your gift list this season, they might appreciate a tool or two that's meant for them. Listen ...
H. B. Fuller Construction Products, maker of TEC-brand tile installation tools, and Lowe’s have created a shopping-li...
Whether you're looking for a stocking stuffer or a gift to slip under the tree, our top tool picks will help you shop for the tool-loving handyman or woman in you...
Replete with pockets, pouches, and sleeves, Husky's tote organizes frequently used tools in one portable package.
Improving a tool's design is often a tough task, but Irwin has managed the feat with its GrooveLock Pliers.
Stay extra warm and charge your mobile device with Milkwaukee's USB-equipped heated jacket.
With its pivoting blade, DeWalt's compact and cordless reciprocating saw is easy to use in tight spaces.
Rockwell's no-nonsense oscillating multi-tool gets along famously with other toolmaker's accessories.
Thanks to its magnetic edges, which provide an extra pair of hands, Johnson's box level stands apart.
Backed by the product category's best warranty, Ridgid's drill/driver is a workhorse that will last.
Comfortable to use and easy to control, Milwaukee's powerful 18-volt grinder is near perfect.
ChannelLock's tough and thoughtfully designed combination screwdriver outperforms similar tools.
Maxxeon's pencil-thin pocket flashlight casts a whopping 140 lumens of LED light over an unexpectedly wide area.
Why carry six tools when you only need one? Save space in your tool belt with Milkwaukee's innovative combination pliers.
Craftsman's comprehensive mechanic's tool set holds the answer for innumerable projects around the house, shop, or garage.
A professional-grade tool at a budget-friendly price, Ryobi's multimeter is a handy digital device with a host of important uses.
In carpentry, the first key to a good joint is proper clamping. The clamp is responsible for pulling together the pie...
As time-saving tools go, it's hard to beat the pneumatic nailer; aka the nail gun. But before you run out to get one ...
You don't have to undertake too many do-it-yourself woodworking projects to understand that a table saw is a must-hav...
Tablets are designed to be functional as well as beautifull, so why not display your iPad as if it were an art work, ...
To get the job done right, you need stick-to-it-iveness. Here’s how to choose the right glue for your next woodworkin...
When you lose power, as many people have recently in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, the lights going out isn't the...
Don't wreck a good pair of scissors trying to cut metal; you need a good pair of tin snips. Listen to BOB VILA ON TIN...
It's a ‘staple’ in every tool and craft kit, it can save you lots of time banging tacks or nails, and it can get into...
The tool we think of as pliers only evolved from “tongs” fairly recently, but it’s hard to imagine life without a var...
Let’s say you love Asian home design. There are plenty of places you could turn for design inspiration. But Houzz. co...
Someone once asked me to describe feng shui. I said it was like believing your meal tasted bad, because the food was ...
Tech is great, but a lot of times tech can’t cut it, especially mobile technology. Thus, a fool and his smartphone ar...
Coming from a Navy family as I do, I take pride in my ability to neatly loop and stow anything rope-like, including e...
There are many reasons you might be working on a project house without running water, but there are fewer reasons to ...
Social media doesn’t have to be an inactive activity. DIY. org is a good example of social media that works best when...
How much would a serious upgrade to your iPhone 4's operating time be worth to you? If your project house is without ...
It's a ritual that dates back to cave times—DIYers showing off their proud achievements. 'Before and after' shots are...
It was 99 degrees last night in Chicago and everyone, everyone, was wondering when the power grid would succumb to th...
Working on a job site through a scorching, dusty summer day requires pacing and hydration, and now, perhaps for the f...
Besides "righty tighty, lefty loosey," there's one DIY phrase that nearly anyone can recite: Measure twice, cut once....
For a saw that’s great on the curves, no workshop is complete without a good saber saw. CM_BVILANOTES-4 Tool Tip- Sab...
A century ago, knife-maker Wenger (of Swiss Army Knife fame) started a debate that only got louder in 1983 when Tim L...
It’s been in every tool belt since the 16th century. The claw hammer is a must-have for driving and removing nails an...
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that a tool belt is just for pros! Even if you’re just doing quick jobs around the...
Did you know the right drill bit can make or break the job?LISTENListen to BOB VILA ON DRILL DRIVERS, or read text be...
With all the great power saws available today, the lowly handsaw has kind of faded into the background. But there are...
Bob Vila Radio is a newly launched daily radio spot carried on more than 60 stations around the country (and growing)...
Bob Vila Radio is a newly launched daily radio spot carried on more than 60 stations around the country (and growing)...
A square is worthless if it isn't actually square. Learn this quick, simple way to make sure your square is just that.
Brushless motor technology has been around for a while, but only within the last couple years have power tool manufac...
At BobVila. com we are dedicated to providing the tools and information necessary to help you with all of your home i...
Use a floor sander effectively in order to complete your hardwood refinishing project more quickly and easily.
Unless you plan to sand many floors in your lifetime, the best choice for do-it-yourself floor refinishing is the ran...
Having these 10 favorites on hand will make any future project a breeze.
This is not dedicated to the woodworkers, the gear hounds or the power tool junkies. This isn't for the contractors, ...
The number of home improvement iPhone apps on the market leaves smartphone-equipped DIYers with few excuses for putti...
I love wood. Maybe it’s the way the surface glows when sunlight suffuses the grain, lighting up any room with golden ...
So you think you know your hand tools and power tools? We're putting you to the test. Go ahead show us what you got!
The thickness planer is not the most versatile tool in your arsenal. In fact, it really only does one thing: it plane...
Finishing sanders function in different ways, sanding in a straight-line mode, backwards and forwards, much like hand sanding or orbital sanding.
Band saws are powerful cutting tools and must be used with proper respect and care. Follow these guidelines for safe and proper operation.
The drill press is a fixed-in-place version of the simple hand drill with a worktable beneath.
Proper tool maintenance depends on keeping your tools clean and storing them safely.
Here are fifteen basic tools that are essential for the small jobs around the house.
Coping is a process by which one piece with an irregular surface is fitted to another. In practice, most of us encounter coping in cutting trim work, especially c...
The router's versatility, light weight, reasonable cost and portability have made it a tool of choice for many.
Files are shaping tools made of hardened steel that smooth wood or metal, removing burrs or rough spots. They can finish off or enlarge holes, and allow wood to b...
The spokeshave is used to smooth curves cut onto stock. For generations of woodworkers, the spokeshave was a multipurpose tool used for shaping the seats, backs, ...
Also known as the table saw, the tilting arbor saw is the single most important workshop tool for many.
A stationary saw that can be used for freehand cutting, the band saw is a very useful piece of equipment.
Follow the three steps necessary to sharpen a chisel or similar tool with a grinding wheel.
Clamps, specifically hand-screw, bar, spring, strap, pipe, and C-clamps remain the basic tools on which any workshop relies, used to hold assemblies in position w...
Compressors are used for many different kinds of workshop and worksite tasks. Most of us first made the acquaintance of a compressor when our bicycle tires needed...
A tool for minimalists, the scraper is perfect for those who admire simplicity of form and function beyond all else.
Making mortise-and-tenon joints is a straightforward process.
Lining cuts up perfectly without a miter box is tricky, and when it comes to fitting the pieces together, the miter box more than proves its worth.
For marking off straight lines parallel to the edge of a workpiece, for certain cutting tasks, and for laying out mortises and tenons, these tools are unsurpassed...
Use calipers to transfer measurements, especially in situations where applying a rule to a workpiece is difficult.
Learn more about the keyhole saw, designed to cut holes in different materials of differing diameters and the reciprocating saw, a powerful tool best suited for d...
Know your needs and buy smart in order to build a workshop that is right for your needs.
When I consider the assortment of power tools that I've purchased, collected and inherited over time, I am amazed tha...
We have been in tool mode here at BobVila. com, posting content from Bob Vila's Toolbox (published by William Morrow ...
This old tape measure follows me around everywhere. My father gave it to me, and it does the trick. Sure, it’s a ...
A simple way to lengthen your two-foot level to conquer bigger jobs using scrap wood and electrical tape.
I traveled to Milwaukee, WI, a couple weeks ago to visit the headquarters of the Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation ...
Learn more about the simplistic and convenient tool for finishing exterior wood surfaces.
The efficient and powerful circular saw could make a great addition to you toolbox.
We are excited to introduce a new addition to the Bob Vila toolbox—a Trivia Quiz. Produced by Triviasnaks, the quiz...
The house is insulated for sound control to provide a quiet environment for baby. The installation of the insulation is demonstrated along with the necessary safe...
Bob watches the ongoing installation of the roof deck, which is being built woth a sustainable tropical hardwood decking called Ipe.
John Wellborn (from Wellborn Cabinets) and carpenter Paul Anderson join Bob for the kitchen cabinet installation.
Bob takes the first of many visits to the Winterthur Garden and Museum in Delaware's Brandywine Valley.
Paul Anderson attaches pre-finished crown molding around the kitchen cabinets in the modern Colonial project house.
Decorator Leslie Curtis joins Bob in the modern Colonial project house parlor to discuss the room's wall treatments.
Artisan Ken Forcier are applying the second "layer" of the stencil he's using to decorate in the parlor of the modern Colonial.
Interior designer Leslie Curtis shows off another of her decorating ideas in the dining room.
Furniture maker Tommy MacDonald demonstrates a few of the techniques he employs to create hand-carved furniture details.
Bob meets lead carpenter Connor McKenna from Thorough Construction, who is working with the original floor joists in preparation for the hardwood floors.
Thorough Construction's lead carpenter Connor McKenna applies panel adhesive to the tops of the new, sistered joists before laying four-by-eight sheets of Georgia...
In a progress report, Ted Riley shows Bob the pre-primed red cedar siding , the heavy-duty metal Bilco bulkhead installation, and the Quechee home's standing seam...
Bob visits with carpenter Mark Fortunati, who is building a traditional-looking staircase in the foyer.
Bob meets up with Tim Woods (of the Internet Home Alliance) in the basement of the Quechee home to hear about the progress made integrating the connected home tec...
Bob and Professor Tom Visser (UVM) visit the Burtch-Udall house in Quechee, VT, and the nearby Sumner Mansion-- suitable locales for a running discussion on prope...
Bob checks email from his truck using GM OnStar's Virtual Advisor functionality. He then meets with Tim Woods (from the Internet Home Alliance) to check out the P...
Bob goes up to the attic of the Victorian project house, where an ODL tubular skylight is being installed. Also, Bob looks back at the installation of windows on ...
Bob observes as general contractor Charlie Tomaszewski finishes up the picture framing for the mahogany deck.
Bob visits Todd Allen's cabinet shop, where he helps to mill and assemble the cabinets for the loft conversion project.
Carpenter Bob Ryley helps install a new porch railing and new screen doors. An underground sprinkler system is also installed.
Contractors put in the brick walkway. Forester Moulding and Lumber replicates the porch railings and balusters. Also, new security and sprinkler systems are insta...
Bob and contractor Ed Weller meet to demolish a block wall in order to open up the room for remodeling.
Bob confers with carpenter Cortney Lofton, as he lays the redwood decking for the back porch.
Bob and homeowner Gavin repair and refinish a 75-year-old oak floor. Because the new patch floor panels have a different thickness from the original, a belt sande...
Bob joins carpenter Bob Ryley, who is putting sidewall shingles onto the exterior of the new addition.
Bob joins contractor Bob Ryley, who is installing a Velux skylight on a curb mount. Ryley describes the screws and mounting hardware used, and Bob demonstrates th...
Bob and contractor Bob Ryley review the building plans and the progress made on the post-and-beam garage. Framing continues, and Bob discusses the various joints ...
Bob joins contractor Bob Ryley and the tree removal specialist to discuss clearing the site. Special tips on chainsaw use and safety are provided.
In the kitchen, where the white pine cabinets have been installed, Bob Ryley demonstrates how to adjust a European door hinge before he finishes putting in a plat...
Contractor Bob Ryley explains the process of installing the new clapboards. Using galvanized nails, the boards are added in a staggered pattern for better visual ...
Bob discusses the process of building the farmer's porch with contractor Larry Landers. The natural crowning of wood is discussed, as are methods for ensuring a l...
Bob helps contractor Bob Ryley hand-craft a medicine cabinet using a radial arm saw, Dado blade, router, screws, and carpenter's glue.
Bob joins plastering contractor Bob Fragakis, who will install blueboard, then apply a skim coat of plaster over it. Fragakis explains the tools and materials use...
Contractor Larry Landers installs V-groove pine on the ceiling of the new front porch and demonstrates how to stagger and miter boards for an attractive, old-fash...
Flooring contractor Leo Boudreau shows Bob how to recycle hardwood flooring. First, the floor must be salvaged. A pry bar is used to lift and remove the wood, pie...
Bob checks out the handmade tiles and selected plumbing fixtures in the remodeled bath. When general contractor Tim Berky drills into the tile, he stresses the im...
