Tools & Workshop

Drills, drivers, stud finders and the basics every home needs. Plain advice for homeowners, not just pros.

You don't need a professional workshop to handle most jobs around the house. A good cordless drill, a reliable stud finder, a few hand tools and the know-how to use them will cover most repairs and projects a homeowner tackles.

Our tool coverage is written by Tyler Ramirez, who comes from the home and garden industry. He focuses on what matters for regular homeowners: which features are worth paying for, which battery platform to buy into, and which tools you can skip.

Alongside product picks, we publish step-by-step how-tos for common jobs like hanging heavy items, drilling into masonry and finding studs.

Best picks and reviews

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  Best of
  Air Compressors for a Home Garage: 4 Top Picks for Tires, Nailers and More

  A small air compressor fills tires, powers nail guns and blows out dust. Our picks for the best air compressors for a home garage from Bostitch, California Air Tools, Ryobi and Milwaukee, with real test notes on noise, recovery and what each can run.

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  Top Benchtop Drill Presses for a Home Workshop

  A drill press makes straight, repeatable holes a hand drill can't. Our picks for the best drill presses for a home shop from Wen, Jet, Shop Fox and Ryobi, from an 8-inch starter to a 15-inch floor-worthy benchtop, with test notes.

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  Battery Chainsaws That Can Really Cut Firewood

  Battery chainsaws can now buck firewood rounds without the pull cord and fumes. Our picks for the best electric chainsaws for firewood from Husqvarna, Stihl, Worx and DeWalt, with real cut times and cuts per charge from Outdoor Life's testing.

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  Electric Pressure Washers for Home Use: 5 Highest-Rated Models

  Electric pressure washers are quieter, lighter and easier than gas for driveways, decks, siding and cars. Our picks for the best electric pressure washers from Greenworks, Westinghouse, Sun Joe, Craftsman, Ryobi and Ego, with test notes.

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  Miter Saws for Trim Work: 5 Top Picks for Clean Miters

  Crisp miters on baseboard, casing and crown need a saw that cuts square and repeats. Our picks for the best miter saws for trim from Bosch, DeWalt, Makita, Milwaukee and Craftsman, based on Bob Vila's tests on trim, base molding and crown.

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  Highest-Rated Oscillating Multi-Tools for Grout, Drywall and Trim

  An oscillating multi-tool makes flush cuts in door casing, cuts drywall, scrapes and sands. Our picks for the best oscillating multi-tools from Bosch, DeWalt, Dremel and Black+Decker, with test notes from an hour of cutting each.

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  Pole Saws for Tree Trimming: Top Battery, Gas and Manual Picks

  Cut high limbs from the ground instead of a ladder. Our picks for the best battery, gas and manual pole saws from Stihl, Echo, Milwaukee, Husqvarna and Fiskars, with real cut times from Outdoor Life's testing.

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  Best Shop Vacs for Car Detailing

  A shop vac pulls sand, pet hair and spilled coffee out of a car better than most household vacuums. Our picks from Ryobi, Milwaukee, DeWalt, Stanley and Ridgid, with test notes.

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  Rolling Tool Chests for a Home Garage: 5 Top Picks

  A rolling tool chest keeps sockets, wrenches and pliers organized and close at hand. Our picks for the best tool chests from Craftsman, Husky, Milwaukee and DeWalt, from a compact combo to a mobile workbench.

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  Best Track Saws for the Money

  A track saw cuts plywood sheets dead straight without a table saw. Our value picks from Makita, Kreg, Triton and Milwaukee, based on a woodworker's side-by-side test of 16 track saws.

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  Wet Tile Saws for DIY: 5 Highest-Rated Picks

  A wet tile saw makes clean cuts in ceramic, porcelain and stone without a cloud of dust. Our picks for the best wet tile saws from Ridgid, DeWalt, SKIL, Porter-Cable and QEP, based on Bob Vila's tests on ceramic, travertine, glass and porcelain.

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  Garage Workbenches Worth Building Around: 5 Top Picks

  A solid workbench is the center of a garage shop. Our picks for the best garage workbenches from Kobalt, Yukon, Husky, Ryobi and Worx, from a 2,000-pound-rated bench to a folding table, with test notes on stability and assembly.

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  Cordless Drills for Homeowners: The 4 We'd Buy in 2026

  Our picks for the best cordless drills for home repairs and DIY, from a compact 12V drill to a heavy-duty 18V, and what to look for before you buy.

Guides and how-tos

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  How-to
  How to Drain an Air Compressor Tank (and Why You Must)

  Every time a compressor runs, water collects in the tank and starts to rust it from the inside. Here's how to drain it safely in a couple of minutes, and how often.

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  How-to
  How to Remove Grout With an Oscillating Tool

  Replacing cracked or stained grout starts with getting the old stuff out. Here's how to do it quickly with an oscillating multi-tool without chipping your tile.

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  How-to
  How to Winterize a Pressure Washer

  Water left in a pressure washer pump can freeze and crack it. Here's how to drain it, add pump protector and store it for winter, for electric and gas models.

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  Versus
  Miter Saw vs Table Saw: Which Should a Beginner Buy First?

  A miter saw crosscuts boards to length and angle. A table saw rips boards and sheets to width. Here's how to decide which one your projects need first, and where a track saw fits in.

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  Buying guide
  What PSI Pressure Washer Do You Need? (Car, Deck, Concrete)

  Match pressure washer PSI and GPM to the job, from washing a car to blasting a stained driveway, plus which nozzle to use and why too much pressure can do damage.

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  Buying guide
  What Size Air Compressor Do You Need? (CFM by Tool)

  Match your compressor to your hungriest tool. A chart of typical air needs for nailers, impact wrenches, sanders and spray guns, plus how tank size and PSI fit in.

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  Versus
  Drill vs Impact Driver: What's the Difference and Which Do You Need?

  A drill makes holes and drives screws with control. An impact driver sinks long screws with brute force. Here's how they differ and which one to buy first.

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  How-to
  How to Drill Into Brick or Concrete (Without Wrecking Your Bit)

  Step-by-step instructions for drilling into brick, block or concrete: the right drill and bit, how to drill cleanly, and which anchors to use.

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  Buying guide
  What Voltage Cordless Drill Do You Need? 12V vs 18V vs 20V Explained

  12V, 18V or 20V max? Here's what drill voltage actually means, which one suits home projects, and why the battery platform matters more than the number.