Tools

Solve tough home improvement problems with twenty of the best tool tips we've ever published. These tool tips are nuggets of wisdom from…

Keep a few pocket tools with you and you'll be prepared to make that instant fix or quickly solve a DIY problem. Our staff editors and field…

A well-organized tool belt allows you to work faster and better and climb and work from ladders more safely. Here's how to organize it…

Smart phones are the new essential tool for home repair and improvement. Learn about must-have apps for DIYers that save money and produce…

Reduce the tool rust problem by storing tools with vapor corrosion inhibitor (VCI) products—capsules, liners and bags.

Use these tools and tips to discover major problems before buying a home, including problems in plumbing, electrical, walls, shingles and…

Pro-quality finish work is a lot easier with the right tools—and they don't have to be expensive. Check out a master carpenter's list of…

Here at The Family Handyman magazine, we love tools! We own a lot of tools (and use them constantly) and we spend endless hours discussing the…

Restore your garden tool handles to like new condition. Following this tip will make your tools look great and last forever.

Here are favorite tools of landscapers, electricians, tile setters, woodworkers and other pros that make their jobs faster, easier and better.

There's no technical mystery to sharpening garden tools like your lawn mower blades, ax and shovel. In this article, we'll show you step-by-step…

Sharp tools make yard chores a lot faster and easier. This article shows how to sharpen your tools at home. You'll get the edge you need for…

When a good leather tool belt starts to fall apart, don't throw it away. With basic leatherworking tools you can easily fix holes and tears and…

Buy this cool tool, a special faucet nut wrench, to simplify faucet removal under those hard-to-reach sinks. It works quickly and easily and you…

The best fix for a broken sledgehammer, ax or maul is a replacement fiberglass handle—an almost indestructible upgrade from the traditional wood…

Powder actuated tools are the quickest, most efficient way to fire fasteners into concrete slabs and block walls. We'll show you how to use…

Whether you're caulking a siding, a bathtub or exterior doors, it's important to fill gaps completely and lay a neat caulk line. A pro shares…

Drywall dust is hard on lungs, but a properly certified dust mask will protect you from most of it. Avoid bargain masks; look for the N95…

Ladder stabilizers mount on extension ladders, and are essential for working around windows, eaves and high walls when painting, siding or doing…

Repair an old tarp or make a new tarp more useful with extra lashing points by installing new grommets. Also install them in various sizes on…

A one-minute level accuracy test: Level or plumb in one direction. Then flip it around and test the level or plumb in the opposite direction.…

If you have a stuck screw or bolt and have mangled the head, try removing it with a special screw extractor. It usually does the job quickly and…

All GFCI outlets have one little-known flaw: their circuitry eventually wears out, usually after about 10 years, at which point they no longer…

Getting tools into young hands early and often is the best way to develop DIY skills for kids. We asked pros who teach DIY to kids for their…

Learn different methods for dealing with the annual problem of fall leaves. Field Editors from around the country share their tips for fall…

We'll show you how to use this monster of a tool for troubleshooting almost any type of electrical wiring or appliance. Once you understand…

There’s something almost magical in the way a simple chalk box creates a crisp, perfectly straight line in the blink of an eye. No other…

There are four types of extension ladders. Here's how to choose the right one for your home projects.

Gas or electric pressure washers will clean almost anything outdoors, and they work so quickly and dramatically that they're actually fun. Learn…

There are several good ways to sharpen lawn mower blades, but one of the quickest and easiest methods is with an angle grinder, an inexpensive,…

Carpenters always talk about 16d common nails or 8d finish nails or 10d sinkers, but nobody ever explains what the heck ‘d’ means.…

If you do any work with a router, planer, table saw or other noisy woodworking tool, protect your ears with good hearing protection. There are a…

Not sure about your smoke alarm battery? Wondering about the mystery batteries in your kitchen drawer? Check them with a multitester to find out…

Make the worn edge of an aluminum shovel straight and square again in about 15 minutes. You only need a jigsaw and a file or belt sander.

Changing weed trimmer line can be a frustrating experience, but there's an easier way. Instead of struggling with big, tangled spools, just lock…

Buy the semi-pro quality jack and jack stands for strength, safety and easy operation. They're well worth the small extra investment.

Lift your trailer wheel by pulling it onto these jacks. It's quick and easy. No moving parts.

Sharpen your shovel or spade and make digging easier. You can do it in 10 minutes.

Dig postholes faster and easier and position them more accurately using this step-by-step guide. It includes many labor-saving tips.

Patio furniture, outdoor tools and lawn machines all eventually get rusty. Learn how to get rid of that rust and how to protect the metal so…

Rent a power scraper to quickly and easily strip and remove vinyl flooring in bathrooms and kitchens. You'll avoid the sore hands, arms and back…

Learn how testing the ignition coil can be quick and easy using a special ignition system tester. It's inexpensive and works for any small…

Read our duct tape round up to find duct tape designed to solve odd problems and for many special uses. Special use duct tapes include such…

Our editors and Field Editors choose their favorite tools, the ones they’d most like to give and receive, for our 2012 Holiday Gift…

Used correctly, broadcast spreaders are the most efficient way to distribute grass seed, fertilizer, weed killer and other lawn products on your…

A portable clamping table is a great tool for home improvement projects. It'll tightly clamp a wide variety of pipes, sheet metal, boards, tools…

Learn to make straight cuts, curved cuts and even round cuts in sheet metal with tin snips. With proper tool selection you can do it with ease.

We’ll show you how to use inexpensive electrical testers to make electrical work safer and easier. We cover three testers—a…

These pro secrets about the best way to use and care for your paintbrushes and paint rollers will make any paint job around the house easier,…

Your lawn mower blade is dull. Sharpen the blade twice each season to help maintain a green, healthy lawn. A sharp blade not only cuts blades…

High-strength structural screws are beginning to displace traditional lag screws as the fastener of choice for structural applications.…

Paintbrushes full of dried paint or varnish don't have to be discarded. Done properly, a good soak in brush cleaner can restore the bristles to…

Two-cycle engines like lawnmowers, string trimmers and boat motors often require different oil/gas mixtures, but single-mix oil will work for…

A rip hammer is an all around utility tool capable of dozens of tasks besides driving nails. Here are nine, including demolition, chopping,…

When oiling an electric motor be sure to use special oil for lubricating electric motors. Other oils could cause excess wear and premature…

Scribing is one of the key techniques for installing cabinets, countertops and built-in woodwork. Learn how to perfectly transfer odd shapes…

Even a novice can build nice cabinets. Make tight, strong wood joints quickly and easily with pockets screws. No clamps, no dowels. We show you…

Build a simple table saw sled to make perfectly square cross cuts in both small and wide boards. You only need a 4x4 sheet of 1/2-in. plywood…

A minimal investment in roof brackets will immediately reward you with much greater roof safety and convenience. But if you have to spend a…

Working from scaffolding is much easier and safer than working from a ladder. It's stable, forms a wide work platform and provides a wide…

Avoid heart-stopping ladder experiences! We show you how to provide stable footing and a solid top, even under less-than-ideal circumstances.

A diamond tile saw is essential for cutting natural stone tile and other hard tile. In this article a tiling pro explains how to make tough cuts…

Pocket screws let you assemble perfect, indestructible cabinet joints without expensive woodworking tools or complicated jigs—a huge leap…