The Ultimate DIY Tool Kit For Beginners
It’s true what they say- home projects are NEVER-ending. Tackling these projects wether it be just for fun or out of necessity can often times be overwhelming. Over the years of becoming a self-taught DIY’er I have found that having the proper tools and supplies helps tremendously in the overall process and outcome of your projects.
In this post I’ll be sharing the ultimate DIY tool kit for beginners that will help set you up for success as a first time DIY’er.
I’ll be sharing basic tools and supplies needed for simple projects around the house as well as a list of power tools for those who want to get into more advanced projects.
Basic Tools + supplies
If you’re just starting out in the DIY world, chances are you want to start off small. The tools listed under this category are super basic supplies that I have found to be essential in many different projects.
Friendly reminder: I wouldn’t recommend buying all of these supplies at once. Especially if you haven’t taken a shot at your first project. Buy things as you you go for your first few projects. Once you discover that you actually enjoy getting your hands dirty you can go ahead and stock up on these essentials!
Caulk Gun
If you’re looking to achieve a professional look on your projects you’ll want to use caulk with a caulk gun. Caulk a sealant used to hide any unwanted gaps whether that be for functional or aesthetic purposes.
A caulk gun is needed to apply the caulk onto your surface. Its purpose is to hold your caulk tube and apply pressure to squeeze out a little bit at a time.
They do sell battery-operated caulk guns but in my opinion, a manual one works just as fine if not even better.
Common uses: Caulk gun
- Accent walls such as board and batten, beadboard, or moulding- seals the gap between the boards and the wall
- Baseboards- seals the gap between the board and the wall
- Countertops- seals the gap between the countertop and wall. Prevents water from getting into your cabinets or vanities
Sand block
Any time you do a project involving wood, it is very likely there will be some sanding to do.
I will discuss electric sanders down below, but I think it’s always great to have sanding blocks on hand. These are quick and easy to use for smaller projects.
There is a variety of grit levels when it comes to sanding blocks.
Low grit number = Coarser grit. Used for tough surfaces that require heavy sanding or stripping.
High grit number = Finer grit. Used for smoother surfaces that require light sanding or touchups.
If you’re starting off with a low grit sanding block, I recommend to follow- up with higher grit sanding block to create the smoothest finish possible. It’s always a good idea to keep a range of grits in stock.
Common uses: Sand Block
- Wood stain or paint prep – allows for better material adhesion
- To remove excess wood filler
Level
Another great tool to add professionalism to your project. A laser is helpful when checking to see how straight your lines are.
Laser levels are also available, but manual lasers work fine for smaller projects.
Common uses: Level
- When drawing a line
- When attaching vertical or horizontal boards onto something
- When hanging artwork or picture frames
Measuring Tape
This one is pretty self explanatory. Measuring tapes are essential to the accuracy of any home project.
I like the one above in particular because it has many of the marks labeled which makes it easier to read.
Common uses: Measuring tape
- To determine the size of a particular object
- To measure how much of a material needs to be cut
- To measure working area
Safety Lenses
Safety gear is often overlooked, but I highly recommend using safety lenses to prevent any debris from getting into your eyes.
Common uses: Safety lenses
- When cutting materials such as wood or metal
- During demolition
Rafter Square
Useful when scribing lines. It provides a perfect 90 degree angle to assure that your line is straight. There is also a hooking lip that easily slides onto and around your board. Its design also allows you to work with 45 degree angles as well.
Common uses: Rafter square
- When scribing lines
- To measure + draw angles
Clamps
There are SO many types of clamps, but if you’re just starting out I would recommend keeping trigger clamps and corner clamps on hand.
Clamps securely keep items in place while working on them. They are an essential tool when doing projects that involve wood and I promise they will make your life so much easier!
Common uses: Clamps
- Securely holding an item in place when cutting material
- When a strong hold is necessary when attaching two materials
- When you need two pieces to join perpendicularly (corner clamps)
Power Tools
I’m not gonna lie- power tools are intimidating. However, once you decide to finally start using them, you’ll see that most of them are actually not so scary after all!
I’ve rounded up the power tools that I have found to be the most essential to have in my collection. I tried to keep this list pretty basic and minimal with tools that can be used on multiple projects.
Keep in mind that tools are an investment! Like I mentioned earlier, don’t feel the need to buy all of these tools at once. Buy them as you need them and before you know it you’ll have accumulated your own collection.
Brad Nailer
This one is MUST for beginners. It is used for doing any light trim carpentry work and is super easy to use!
Common uses: Brad nailer
- Accent walls
- Decorative trim work
- Attaching baseboards to wall
- Attaching thin or narrow pieces together (such as when assembling a picture frame)
Drill + Impact Driver
A drill is as basic as it gets when it comes to power tools. Even if you’re not big into DIY projects, it’s a great tool to have around for common household necessities.
Impact drivers can typically be sold in a set along with a drill. They tend to be more powerful than drills.
There is a variety of attachments that can be used with both of these tools making them very versatile.
Common uses: Drill + Impact driver
- When needing to drill a hole
- To drive in screws
- When additional torque is needed (impact driver)
Orbital Sander
If you need to do a large amount of sanding using an orbital sander will be more effective than using a sanding block
Orbital sanders tend to be more powerful and will get the job done faster than manually sanding.
Common uses: Orbital sander
- To strip the finish off of a furniture piece
- When sanding a larger piece
- To prep wood for stain or paint, allowing for a better adhesion
Miter Saw
This one might look like the most intimidating tool out of this entire list, but it’s actually really simple to cut with!
I suggest purchasing a 12-inch sliding compound saw so that you are able to cut larger pieces of wood.
Common uses: Miter Saw
- To make cuts – both straight and at an angle
Multi-Tool
A multi-tool is exactly what it sounds like. It is a versatile tool that has multiple attachments that can be used with it. I have found it most useful when working on small and fairly simple projects.
Common Uses: Multi-Tool
- Small cuts + plunge cuts
- Sanding small areas
- Scraping material off a surface
There are many, many other tools that could be added to this list, but these are the ones that I have found myself using the most over the years. These are truly “beginner-friendly” in my books and think they are great to get your feet wet and eventually work your way up to using more complex tools.
As a reminder, always follow all safety precautions when using any of these tools and never attempt anything that you are unsure of.
If you have any questions about any of these tools, leave them down below. Happy DIY’ing!
Disclaimer: This post contains links in which I do earn a small commission from if you decide to purchase through them. This comes at no additional cost to you and as always your support is greatly appreciated!
