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.
Browse the guidesFree calculators85 guides
8 tool families
What are you working on?
See every material and job
| 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 |
How it works
- 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.
Browse by tool
Free calculators
Our free apps
Welding Technology
Welding processes, safety, equipment and certification, with quizzes and recommended gear.
Get it on Google Play
Latest guides
- Guide
Power Tool Combo Kits: What to Look For Before Buying
How to choose a cordless power tool combo kit: battery platform, which tools you'll use, battery size, brushless motors, charger and what's left out.
- Guide
Chain Wrench vs Oil Filter Wrench: Uses and Types
Chain wrench vs oil filter wrench: what each grips, the types of filter wrench (cap, band, three-jaw, strap), and which to use for pipes and filters.
- Guide
Flooring Nailers: Manual vs Pneumatic, Cleats vs Staples
Flooring nailers for tongue-and-groove hardwood: manual vs pneumatic, cleats vs staples, fastener sizes, and how to nail a floor.
- Guide
How to Sharpen a Chainsaw: File vs Electric Sharpener
How to sharpen a chainsaw chain with a round file or an electric sharpener: file size by chain pitch, filing angles, depth gauges and when to sharpen.
- Guide
Can I Use an 18V Battery in a 14.4V Drill? Risks Involved
Why an 18V battery shouldn't go in a 14.4V drill: cell counts, what the extra voltage does to the motor, and the same answer for 12V and 24V tools.
- Guide
How to Charge a Drill Battery Without a Charger (Safely)
Why a lithium drill battery needs a charger made for it, the safe ways to charge it when yours is missing or far from an outlet, and the methods to avoid.