Dogs Don't Eat Pizza

Formerly The DIY Bungalow

  • Home
  • About
    • About Karen & the Blog
    • Thirty Days of Gratitude
    • Habitat for Humanity ReStore Workshops
    • Stories from the Bungalow
    • Dogs Who Don’t Eat Pizza
      • Bear, the Original Dog Who Didn’t Eat Pizza
      • Hank Dog
      • Elvis Parsley
  • Project Index
    • DIY
    • Decorating
    • Shopping Tips
    • Repurposing and Upcycling
    • Paint and Color
    • Organizing
    • Cleaning
    • Recipes
    • Gardening
    • Holidays & Seasonal
    • Friday Five
  • Home Tour
    • The 1929 House
    • The First House
    • Room Reveals
  • Advertising
    • Disclosure and Privacy Policy
    • Advertising
  • Media
  • Contact
You are here: Home / DIY / The Friday Five: Five Tools I Can’t DIY Without

The Friday Five: Five Tools I Can’t DIY Without

February 6, 2015 By Karen Cooper 4 Comments

Welcome to this week’s Friday Five! Today on the Friday Five: five tools I can’t DIY without. These are my favorites, the ones I use the most, the easiest to use…to me, the best.

Today I'm sharing the five tools I can't DIY without - Dogs Don't Eat Pizza

This post does contain affiliate links. What does that mean? I’ve partnered with certain retailers so that, if you buy the product, I get a small payment as commission. It helps keep the lights on here at HQ, so I hope you don’t mind. Also, it makes it easy for you to find these great products. Including these links did not change the substance of this post; these truly are my favorite tools. Thanks!

1. My RYOBI Drill

I love my drill - five tools I can't DIY without - Dogs Don't Eat Pizza

This may be the tool I use the most, the RYOBI 18V ONE+ Lithium Ion Drill. What do I love about it?

– It’s cordless with a battery that recharges quickly (disclaimer: I have three batteries, so I’m never out of juice).

– It fits in my hand well and is heavy enough but not too heavy. Even a then-six-year-old can use it:

Even a six-year-old can use this drill - five tools I can't DIY without - Dogs Don't Eat Pizza

– The torque is adjustable, which means I can control the power needed and, as a self-admitted control freak, I love that.

It’s just so useful for so many projects.

2. A Good Paint Brush (or two).

My go-to paint brush for small jobs or for cutting-in on edges is the Wooster Brush Q3211-2 Shortcut Angle Sash Paintbrush, 2-Inch, pictured in the roller tray below.

My favorite paint brush - five tools I can't DIY without - Dogs Don't Eat Pizza

I used it on my breakfast room tree – and pretty much any other painting project in my home.

finished tree and breakfast room - Dogs Don't Eat Pizza

My favorite “regular” paint brush is this one: Purdy 2-Inch Nylon Angle Paint Brush.

Why is it my favorite? It works for all kinds of paint, the handle is comfortable, and it cleans up easily. Most importantly, it puts paint on the wall (or anywhere) more cleanly and better than any other brush.

3. The Right Hammer

“Stop! Hammer Time!” (I couldn’t resist. Sorry.)

supplies for painting tree including paint samples and pouncer sponge brushes - Dogs Don't Eat Pizza

That’s my hammer – sitting on the paint can there.

We have two hammers in this house. We have one that’s Dear Husband’s that is heavy and hard for me to use. Then we have my hammer, which fits in my hand comfortably and is easy for me to use. This sounds so simple, but get a hammer that works for you. Feel it in your hand and test using it. You wouldn’t believe how much different hammers can feel.

4. A Ratcheting Screwdriver

One year for Christmas, my brother bought me this ratcheting screwdriver with different bits, the Kobalt 32 Piece Double-drive Screwdriver Set. Best present he’s ever given me! (Second place? A t-shirt that says, “You had me at the proper use of ‘you’re.'” He knows me.)

Why is this tool so great? The ratcheting function of this screwdriver really does a great job of loosening stubborn screws – especially when lodged in old doors. It also makes tightening screws much easier. It’s awesome.

5. A Real Tape Measure

I have approximately 87 tape measures. But I only have one that I love and use all the time.

This is the one I have, although mine is about 20 years old! Why do I love this tape measure? It locks the tape in place when measuring, making recording measurements easier, and it’s heavy, so the tape doesn’t move when measuring something.

So, there you have it: my five favorite tools I can’t DIY without. Of course, the most important tool you have for DIYing is you! Your noggin, your logic, your patience, your problem-solving magic. That’s really the best tool you can have.

Today I'm sharing the five tools I can't DIY without - Dogs Don't Eat Pizza

(Added June 3, 2015) NOTE: I am adding my RIDGID Tools wet/dry vac to this list!

RIDGID wet dry vac - five tools I can't DIY without - thediybungalow.com

Living in an old house with a wet basement has made me appreciate this tool even more. It’s great for picking up dust when sanding, cleaning up all kinds of DIY messes, and – as has been my main use lately – cleaning up water from the basement! Sucks it right up!

What would you add to this list? What’s your favorite tool? Share in the comments.

You might also like:

  • Today's Friday Five: I'm torn.
    Today's Friday Five: I'm torn.
  • Five Tools for the Beginner's Toolbox
    Five Tools for the Beginner's Toolbox
  • No Finish It Friday: Closed Due to Inclement Weather
    No Finish It Friday: Closed Due to Inclement Weather

Filed Under: DIY, Friday Five 4 Comments

About Karen Cooper

Hi! I'm Karen. I call myself a “recovering lawyer” - I traded in my power suits for power tools and a life of DIY adventures. Join me for DIY, home decorating, repurposing and upcycling, and organizing projects and tips as I transform a 1929 Tudor bungalow into our home. I believe in merging old and new to make a house a home.

« A Tree in My Breakfast Room
How to Create a Coffee Bar »




Comments

  1. Mickey Wood says

    November 29, 2015 at 5:05 pm

    Does a butter knife and the back of my salad spoon count? They were my only tools for the first 20 years of marriage & then I found the tool crib at home depot, “my” happiest place on earth : )

    Reply
    • Karen Cooper says

      November 30, 2015 at 8:22 am

      Absolutely!! I’ve cut dryer duct with poultry shears, so there you go! Thanks!

      Reply
      • Mickey Wood says

        November 30, 2015 at 12:25 pm

        Wow! I cut a rug in half with nail scissors!

        Reply
        • Karen Cooper says

          November 30, 2015 at 5:50 pm

          Now THAT is impressive!

          Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Hi! I’m Karen. I call myself a “recovering lawyer,” because I turned in my power suits for power tools and a life of DIY. This blog is all about DIY, home decorating, repurposing and upcycling, and organization. I believe in merging old and new to make a house a home.




find projects here!

My Daybed in This Old House Magazine!

Daybed from Old Doors featured in This Old House Magazine
Best of 2016 - Best Blog DIY Category - thediybungalow.com

Disclosure

Dogs Don't Eat Pizza is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.  Dogs Don't Eat Pizza also participates in other affiliate programs.

To see my complete disclosure and privacy policy, click HERE.

About Karen

A "recovering lawyer," I turned in my power suits for power tools and a life of DIY. I believe in merging old and new to make a house a home. Read More…

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
© Copyright 2012-2021, Dogs Don't Eat Pizza, LLC (formerly The DIY Bungalow LLC).