Choose the right tool. Use it well.
Plain-language guides for DIYers: which tool, bit or blade fits the job, what size to use, and how to get a clean, safe result.
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8 tool families
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| Material | Job | Tool | Bit or blade | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wood | Drill a hole | Drill/driver | Brad point bit for clean small holes; spade or Forstner bit for large ones | Brad point drill bits |
| Wood | Cut straight | Circular saw (miter saw for crosscuts) | Carbide blade: about 24 teeth for framing, 40 or more for plywood and trim | Track saw vs circular saw |
| Wood | Cut curves or holes | Jigsaw (coping saw for trim) | Wood jigsaw blade; narrow scroll blade for tight curves | Can a jigsaw cut a 2x4? |
| Wood | Fasten (screws, anchors, threads) | Drill/driver with the clutch set low | Pilot hole sized to the screw, plus a clearance hole in the top board | Pilot hole calculator |
| Metal | Drill a hole | Drill at low speed (drill press if you have one) | HSS bit for mild steel, cobalt for stainless; step bit for sheet | Best drill bits for metal |
| Metal | Cut straight | Metal-cutting saw: chop saw, bandsaw or angle grinder | Blade or wheel made for the metal; non-ferrous carbide blade for aluminum | Best saw for cutting metal |
| Metal | Cut curves or holes | Jigsaw | Bi-metal blade: about 21 to 24 TPI for thin sheet, 14 to 18 TPI for thicker metal | Jigsaw blades for metal |
| Metal | Fasten (screws, anchors, threads) | Drill plus a tap (or self-drilling screws for sheet) | Tap drill sized for the thread | Tap drill calculator |
| Tile | Drill a hole | Drill in drill mode (never hammer) | Diamond core bit for porcelain; carbide spear-point bit for soft ceramic | Tile drill bits |
| Tile | Cut straight | Wet tile saw or manual tile cutter | Continuous-rim diamond blade | Can you cut tile with a circular saw? |
| Tile | Cut curves or holes | Angle grinder with a diamond blade, or a diamond hole saw | Diamond blade or core bit | Cutting tile: which tool |
| Concrete or brick | Drill a hole | Hammer drill (rotary hammer for lots of holes) | Carbide-tipped masonry bit; SDS-plus bits in a rotary hammer | Masonry drill bits for concrete |
| Concrete or brick | Fasten (screws, anchors, threads) | Hammer drill | Masonry bit matched to the anchor or concrete screw size | Masonry drill bits for concrete |
| Glass | Drill a hole | Drill at low speed (ordinary glass only) | Diamond or carbide glass bit, kept wet | Can you drill tempered glass? |
| Acrylic (plexiglass) | Drill a hole | Drill at low speed | Bit made for plastic, with scrap wood behind the sheet | How to drill plexiglass |
| Acrylic (plexiglass) | Cut curves or holes | Bandsaw (or jigsaw with a fine blade) | Sharp fine-tooth blade, about 10 to 14 TPI | Cutting plexiglass with a bandsaw |
| Acrylic (plexiglass) | Cut straight | Plastic scoring knife (thin sheet) or a fine-tooth saw | Score several times along a straightedge, then snap | Cutting plexiglass with a bandsaw |
| Drywall | Cut curves or holes | Drywall (jab) saw | Pointed coarse-tooth blade for outlet and pipe holes | Drywall saw: uses |
| Drywall | Cut straight | Utility knife and straightedge | Score the face paper, snap the board, cut the back paper | Drywall saw: uses |
| Drywall | Fasten (screws, anchors, threads) | Drill/driver with the clutch set low | Drywall screws into the studs, or anchors between studs | What the numbers on a drill mean |
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- Pick your job. Find the tool family or material you are working with.
- Read the guide. Sizes, settings and the mistakes to avoid, in plain words.
- Choose your tool. Our picks explain who each tool is for, and who should skip it.
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