Best Soldering Gun: Weller 100/140-Watt Soldering Gun Review
Weller is known for making the best soldering gun and the 9400 model continues that tradition with the soldering power and cutting quickness.
Why the Weller Soldering Gun is the Best
Weller is known as the best in soldering guns and the 9400 model is awesome. This gun features three LED lights for better views of your soldering projects. It cuts in less than 6 seconds and comes with three tips. Perhaps the best part—it comes with a 7-year warranty. It’s lightweight at 3 pounds and there’s a hex wrench stored on the grip to make changing tips easier.
Weller Soldering Gun: How it Works
The dual watt gun will deliver 140 watts with the trigger halfway pulled and 100 watts when it’s pulled entirely. It’s great for heavy duty projects and as well as smaller projects like hobby models, small appliances, small engine repairs, crafts, audio systems, electrical, marine, jewelry, and automotive.
This gun is not recommended for micro-components, electronic kits, low voltage wiring, PCBs, radio-controlled devices, or indoor lighting.
You can pick up a Weller 100/140-Watt Soldering Gun today at Amazon for less than $40.
Every product is independently selected by our editors. If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
50 Awesome Gifts for DIYers under $50
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Ryobi 90-Piece Drill Bit Set
This little 90-piece kit from Ryobi will let you get a lot of projects done whether it be wood, metal, plastic or masonry in nature. Priced as low as $29.97 on Amazon, it’s a reasonably priced addition to your toolbox. Learn what different drill bits can do. Photo: Courtesy of Amazon
Black+Decker Roto-Bit
A powered screwdriver can alleviate any troubles you run into with using a regular screwdriver. This Black+Decker Roto-BIT Storage Screwdriver gets the job done and makes life easier. The screwdriver includes eight bits, a magnet to hold additional screws and an LED light to help you see your work. This tool is priced at $24 on Amazon. Find out what to look for with cordless tools. Photo: Courtesy of Amazon
Husky Ratcheting 30-Piece Screwdriver
Get everything you need out of a screwdriver with this Husky 30-piece ratcheting screwdriver. It features five slotted bits, four Philips bits, three TORX bits, seven tamper resistant TORX bits, three hex bits and four square bits. It comes with a lifetime warranty and is priced at $16.97 at Home Depot. Photo: Courtesy of Home Depot
Klein Non-Contact Voltage Tester with Flashlight
Klein has an easy-to-use low-cost voltage tester that comes with a flashlight. This voltage tester powers itself off and is dustproof as well as waterproof. Klein’s voltage tester also beeps to let you know there’s higher voltage. Learn how to use a voltage tester properly. Photo: Courtesy of Klein Tools
Estwing 15-Ounce Ultra Hammer
Estwing’s 15-ounce hammer provides plenty of punch and works smoothly. The grip reduces vibration up to 70 percent and will last. This hammer also comes with a magnetic nail starter on the head. Estwing’s 15-ounce hammer retails at $29.97 at Home Depot. Learn what some of the best hammers have that others don't. Photo: Courtesy of Home Depot
Occidental Leather Clip-On 4-in-1 Tool Holder
If you’re having trouble keeping everything within arm’s reach, try on this four-in-one tool holder from Occidental Leather. Slip in a tape measure along with a pencil or utility knife to make projects easier to complete. For $35.82 you’re project life can become sublime. If you use a leather tool belt, find out how to repair a leather tool belt. Photo: Courtesy of Amazon
Milwaukee Self-Retracting Safety Knife
A self-retracting safety knife can help reduce cutting errors and Milwaukee's knife does a nice job. Milwaukee's knife comes with a lifetime warranty and two blade positions. It can store up to five blades. It retails for $11.04 at Toolup.com Learn the basics of cutting drywall with your utility knife. Photo: Courtesy of Milwaukee Tool
Channellock Combination Pliers
Channellock has got a grip on solving your pliers problems. The E348 E Series 8-inch Combination plier with XLT Joint utilizes a crosshatch pattern on the jaws for a tighter grip. The way this pair of pliers is made makes it easier to cut because the leverage it employs uses less force. Pick one up for $22.99 on Amazon. Check out other tips for loosening nuts, bolts and screws.
Ryobi Random Orbit Sander
Ryobi’s RS290G 2.6 amp, 12,500 opm single speed 5-inch hook and loop corded random orbit sander is a versatile sander that comes in at an ultra-light pounds. It’s ergonomically designed and features a hex-notched rubber design to make gripping it easier. This sander comes with sanding discs and the dust bag is conveniently placed. This sander comes in at just under $50 on Amazon. Learn tricks to sand faster for your next project. Photo: Courtesy of Amazon
Stanley SquidBrite Flexible LED Work Light with Magnetic Back
This light can go places others can’t. Its magnetic backing makes valuable to free up one of your hands while doing repair work. The Stanley SquidBrite LED Light has 10 hours of run time and three modes of light. The flashing function makes it a useful tool to keep in the car if it’s needed on the side of the road at night or in winter weather. At $45.88 online at Amazon and Walmart, it’s an affordable tool you should add. Find other work light options to suit your needs. Photo: Courtesy of Amazon
MagnoGrip Magnetic Wristband
FastCap Accuscribe Scribing Tool
The AccuScribe Pro can help tackle any project for scribing trim, architectural moldings, countertops, tile and flooring. It’ll fit a pencil, Sharpie or FatBoy pencil. It goes for $18 at FastCap. Learn how to scribe for a perfect fit. Photo: Courtesy of FastCap
Sanding Sticks
Smooth out those hard-to-reach spots with sanding sticks. Sanding sticks are great for woodworking or even putting models together. The sanding sticks come in 80, 120, 180 and 240 grits. You can pick up a 24-pack for $27.94 on Amazon. Find out new sanding by hand techniques. Photo: Courtesy of Amazon
Mechanix Wear M – Pact Gloves
A good pair of gloves can be pretty important for working on the car and Mechanix Wear has some of the best. These M-Pact gloves are machine washable and includes a dual layer for the index finger and thumb. Pick up a pair for $21.15 on Amazon. Discover other work gloves that work well in various scenarios. Photo: Courtesy of Amazon
WORX Power Screwdriver
WORX’s semi-automatic screwdriver is pretty slick to use. From a screw holder attachment to catching screws after they’re loose, this is a pretty neat tool to have on hand. The power screwdriver has six bits in the tool and accepts a ¼” hex insert bit. An LED light can make work easier as well. This tool is available for $30.99 on Amazon. Check out some of these awesome cordless power tools. Photo: Courtesy of Amazon
3M Half Facepiece Respirator Assembly with Particulate Filters
3M’s respirator is top-notch in terms of its ability to be used in multiple environments. The respirator is approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health for environments containing certain oil and non-oil based particles. It can provide protection for welding, brazing, torch cutting, metal pouring, soldering as well as exposure to lead asbestos, cadmium and arsenic. This respirator is available at Amazon for $15.29. Find out how to choose a dust mask. Photo: Courtesy of Amazon
DEWALT DWARA100 Right Angle Attachment
When you’ve tried attacking a problem from several angles but haven’t come across a solution, DeWalt’s got the right angle with its Right Angle Attachment tool. The tool will get into tighter areas to drive screws and drill holes. Check one out at Amazon for $18.88. A right angle attachment can help with doing round ductwork. Photo: Courtesy of Amazon
Stanley Wonder Bar II Pry Bar
This half-size pry bar is pretty handy to tote around and accomplishes similar tasks of a full-sized pry bar. This tool can be great for vehicles and baseboards. Plus it can withstand the bending momentum of 310 inch-pounds. Just beware it is only 7 ½ inches. It’s going for $6.64 on Amazon. Learn how to remove wood trim with a pry bar. Photo: Courtesy of Amazon
Vampliers Patented Screw Extraction Plier
Suck out stripped out screws with a pair of Vampliers. These suckers have unique vertical and horizontal serrations on the inside jaws, which make it easier to grab a corroded or rusted out screw. These pliers are strong, too, made from carbon steel. Get yourself a pair for $29.97 on Amazon. Garlic sold separately. Find out how to remove a lightbulb with pliers. Photo: Courtesy of Amazon
Cyber Clean
Cleaning computer keyboards and other technology is sometimes difficult because of all the nooks and crannies. Cyber Clean can reach those tricky spots and pull dirt out. It’s great on cellphones, which accumulate dust and lint all the time. This putty-like cleaning agent can be used again and again by folding it over after each use. Plus, a color indicator lets you know if it’s time to get some new Cyber Clean. Grab some for $10.99 on Amazon. Learn some other cleaning secrets to make the job easier. Photo: Courtesy of Amazon
CLC Custom Leathercraft 5023 Deluxe Cordless Poly Drill Holster
The CLC Custom Leathercraft 5023 Deluxe Cordless Poly Drill Holster is designed to carry most cordless drills and give you some room to carry additional items. The holster comes with three medium pouches good for flashlights and six small loops for drill bits. It’s double stitched to provide longevity and prevent fraying. Get your hands on one on Amazon for $11.59. Find a place to put that drill with some PVC hacks. Photo: Courtesy of Amazon
Channellock 87 8.88-Inch Compact Rescue Tool
You might not be prepared for everything but Channellock’s Compact Rescue Tool pretty much is. This tool will pry open windows, cut wires and cables, shut off gas valves and loosen hose couplings. Not only that, it’s only 8.8 inches long and a little more than a pound in weight. The tool will cut through metal in small spaces and is a go-to choice for EMTs and first responders. Be prepared to pay $33.13 on Amazon. Photo: Courtesy of Amazon
Yaktrax Walk Traction Cleats for Walking on Snow and Ice
If your DIYer is working outside then you're going to want to outfit them with these traction cleats from Yaktrax. The cleats are made with a zinc coating to prevent rust and are tested safe to temperatures as low as minus-41 degrees F. Yaktrax will help prevent falls in snowy and icy conditions. They come with a price tag of $14.92 on Amazon. Learn what to do to prepare for an ice storm. Photo: Courtesy of Amazon
Ice Safety Picks
Ice safety picks are a no-brainer for ice anglers and essential for any vehicle emergency kit. In the event of an emergency on ice where someone has fallen through, they’ll give the grip someone desperately needs in order to climb out of the water. Keep them in your pocket while out in the ice in the winter. You can find ice safety picks for $5.29 on Amazon. Photo: Courtesy of Amazon
Rust-Oleum Varathane 243197 Distressing and Worm Holing Tool
Here’s the perfect gift for a DIYer who wants to add a distressed look to a piece of furniture. Rust-Oleum’s Distressing and Worm Holing Tool easily makes dents and divots to create the impressive of time worn tear. You can use the worm hole kit to give it the look of insect holes to really fool friends. Set your time machine to pick one up for $37.63 on Amazon. Find out how to use distressed wood for farmhouse charm. Photo: Courtesy of Amazon
Chopping Board and Serving Tray
Slice, dice and serve in style on this easy, cutting-edge project. We'll show you a simple way to dry-fit the parts, scribe the arc and then glue the whole works together. We used a 4-ft. steel ruler to scribe the arcs, but a yardstick or any thin board would also work. Be sure to use water-resistant wood glue and keep your tray out of the dishwasher or it might fall apart. And one more thing: Keep the boards as even as possible during glue-up to minimize sanding later. Learn how to build this project here.
Folding Workbench
Maybe your dad likes to build stuff and do projects, but doesn't have a lot of space to spread out. That's where this folding workbench will work wonders. With room for some tools and a compact footprint, it opens up to a whopping 4 x 7 ft – big enough to tackle almost any project. Don't need that much footprint? This fold-down workbench is an ingenious option.
Photo Sculptures
Surprise your friends and family with easy-to-make photo sculptures. Your favorite folks will 'pop' from your photos when you use this easy technique. Here's how: Apply photo mount adhesive to pieces of 1/4-in. hardwood plywood, firmly press on the photos to be sculpted, then cut out the figures with a scroll saw. Make some wood bases from scrap wood and glue on the sculptured photos with Special-T cyanoacrylate glue (about $11). This glue will tightly bond the sculpture's bottom edge to the base, so you won't need to fiddle with notches or screws. Hints for great-looking sculptures:
- Use a sharp No. 2 or No. 4 'skip tooth' blade (about $24).
- Change blades when the sawn 'paper edge' appears slightly ragged.
- Select a medium or high speed and feed the work at a slow rate, pressing the wood firmly on the table as you saw.
- When choosing photos to sculpt, look for clearly outlined subjects so it's easy to follow the cutting line. Hair or clothing that blends into the background is difficult to cut.
Simple Step Stool
Here's a great gift idea that will draw raves. The joints are accurately made in seconds with a biscuit joiner! Complete instructions for building this stool are found here. Want to learn about using a biscuit joiner before taking on this project? Watch this video that shows you how to make strong, fast and accurate joints with this useful tool.
Easy Knife Block
This handsome knife block is fast, easy, fun to build and includes a 6-in.-wide storage box for a knife sharpener. To build one, you only need a 3/4-in. x 8-in. x 4-ft. hardwood board and a 6-in. x 6-1/2-in. piece of 1/4-in. hardwood plywood to match. Begin by cutting off a 10-in. length of the board and setting it aside. Rip the remaining 38-in. board to 6 in. wide and cut five evenly spaced saw kerfs 5/8 in. deep along one face. Crosscut the slotted board into four 9-in. pieces and glue them into a block, being careful not to slop glue into the saw kerfs (you can clean them out with a knife before the glue dries). Saw a 15-degree angle on one end and screw the plywood piece under the angled end of the block. Cut the 6-1/2-in. x 3-in. lid from the leftover board, and slice the remaining piece into 1/4-in.-thick pieces for the sides and end of the box. Glue them around the plywood floor. Cut a rabbet on three sides of the lid so it fits snugly on the box and drill a 5/8-in. hole for a finger pull. Then just add a finish and you've got a beautiful, useful gift. If you don't have time to make a gift this year, consider offering to do something for the person. You could offer to sharpen their knives! Here's how.
Upcycled Tool & Hardware Hooks
For the handyman on your list, this upcycled tool project makes great decor. Adapt common tools and DIY hardware items into clever hooks and racks for their walls. They'll be amazed with your creativity. Here are 10 spur-of-the-moment inspirations.
How to Build a Box With a Band Saw
You can make this simple jewelry or knick-knack box from a block of wood and your band saw. Or use it as a gift box to hold other homemade presents. Cut it out in minutes and finish in an hour. Get the plans.
Classic Children's Carpentry
This classic DIY book, Easy Carpentry Projects for Children, withstands the test of time. Featuring fifteen projects kids can make themselves, along with how-to instructions for basic woodworking skills and techniques, this book is built upon the premise that kids learn best by doing. Young woodworkers will love working their way through each project.
Start Eye Safety Early
What's unique about these child safety glasses is that they're not just a toy! Kids can help in the workshop on real projects with real tools without fear of damaging their eyes when they don these child-size glasses, made with a slightly smaller frame than the adult version. And they're inexpensive enough to use at play, too. Better yet? They come with real UV protection. It's a win-win.
Their Own Take-Along Tool Kit
This Take-Along Tool Kit comes with play tools and hardware for the young handyman, complete with a kid-size carrying case. Kids can practice tightening bolts, screws, and nuts with a wrench and screwdriver. And the best part? It's all wood.
A Book For Tinkerers
Some of the best inventions are the result of tinkering. Encourage the pursuit in your kids with this book dedicated to the topic, published by Make. In Tinkering: Kids Learn by Making Stuff, kids learn science and DIY concepts with hands-on activities that make learning, building, and, well, tinkering fun. You might just get a kick out of it yourself. This book would make a great gift from a DIY enthusiast to a budding DIYer, especially if you're looking to faciliate some quality time.
Time to Get Building
Kids can get building with this Black & Decker Junior 14 Piece Toy Tool Belt Set. This tool belt and set sports the Black & Decker logo, just like the real thing, and the tools are some of the most realistic we've seen for kids. Children will love wearing this tool belt and having their tools on hand for handyman emergencies.
Dress the Part
While this toy construction hard hat is not approved for use on the job, kids will have fun pretending it is! Get your kids thinking about safety early by adding this to a gift of play tools or a workbench. This also makes a great addition to a handyman Halloween costume!
For the Future Auto Mechanic
For the future gear-head: the Battat Take-A-Part Toy Vehicles Roadster features 18 vehicle parts and a power screwdriver with three different bits. Kids can practice working on their own car and learn more about how cars and power tools work.
Mini Classic DIY Workbench for Kids
If you've got the time, build something instead of buying! Give your child a chance to make projects on their own DIY workbench — a smaller-scale version of a classic design that's been in use for over a century. Check out these free plans for the mini classic DIY workbench for kids. It's just the right size!
Stepping Stones Gift Ideas
Bring some artwork to the garden with stepping stone gift ideas. This stepping stone, from Brenda Pokorny is made from mosaic tiles. You can purchase stepping stones in garden stores or make your own! Photo: Courtesy of Brenda Pokorny
Ladder Shelves
You can build this popular ladder shelf piece for a lot less than what it would cost to buy one at a furniture store. And loved ones will certainly appreciate your effort!
Garden Archway
This garden archway looks impressive and it's surprisingly easy to create with these step-by-step instructions. Have fun watching climbing plants cover the archway year after year!
Gifts for Mom: All-Purpose Stool
This useful stool is easy to make with a jigsaw and router. You can dress it up even more with a finish to match your mom's decor.
Nature-Inspired Tool Tote
Find a few handle-size branches and build this whimsical tool tote for your mom in an afternoon.
T50R.E.D Professional Staple Gun and Nailer from Arrow Fastener
Is your mom a furniture makeover master? If so, she would love the T50R.E.D Professional Staple Gun and Nailer from Arrow Fastener. This handheld tool drives both staples and nails into hard and soft surfaces with ease. It's especially handy for upholstery projects. Click here to buy it now.
Mother's Day Gift Ideas: Simpson Strong-Tie Workbench or Shelving Hardware Kit
Your DIY mom will have fun creating her own work space with this Simpson Strong-Tie Workbench or Shelving Hardware Kit. It comes with plans and all of the necessary hardware to build a super-sturdy bench. Sweeten the gift by including the 2x4 lumber, plywood and pegboard and your mom will be ready to roll. Click here to buy it now.
Save Your Back and Knees With a Rolling Seat
A rolling creeper seat doesn't need much explanation. You sit on it. You store tools and parts under it. And you roll around to reach the tools and parts you forgot. Find creeper seats at any auto parts store, home center or online tool site. The model shown here is the Sunex 8507 Creeper Seat. A unit with a pneumatic lift and a contoured seat (for you Ferrari owners) could set you back a little more. Get it now.
Practical Shop Power Strip
The Stanley 32050 FatMax Power Claw is a clever power strip built into a clamp. It can grab on to a stud, rafter, sawhorse or ladder. Hang it wherever you need power. This strip works great at keeping extension cord connections off the ground. That's convenient, but it makes even more sense if you're working outside on a wet surface. The Power Claw has three grounded outlets and a 15-amp breaker. Buy it on Amazon now. Next, check out these 19 surprisingly easy woodworking projects for beginners.
For the Stickler: Safety Two-in-One
You'll be more likely to use eye and ear protectors if they're readily accessible, so why not keep them together — better yet, why not buy a pair of safety glasses that has built-in earplugs? These ReadyMax SoundShield safety glasses are equipped with a pair of earplugs that tuck into the ends of the earpieces/temples. Pull the plugs out of the earpieces when your work gets loud, and yank them back in with the retractable string when it quiets down a bit. These are perfect for construction, hunting or just cutting up wood in the garage. There are various styles to choose from — some glasses are tinted, some clear?and replacement earplugs are available.
