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.

81 guides

8 tool families

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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.

Welding Technology
Welding processes, safety, equipment and certification, with quizzes and recommended gear.
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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.
Guide
Are Cordless Drill Batteries and Chargers Interchangeable?
Which cordless drill batteries and chargers swap between tools: across brands, within one brand, between 18V and 20V, and what adapters really do.
Guide
Masonry Drill Bits: How to Drill Concrete and Brick
Which masonry drill bit to use for concrete, brick and block: carbide-tipped vs SDS-plus vs SDS-max, the right bit size for anchors, and how to drill cleanly.
Guide
What Size Is a Number 7 Drill Bit? Inches and mm
A number 7 drill bit is 0.201 inch (5.105 mm), between 13/64 and #8. How number sizes work, the nearest fractional and metric bits, and what a #7 is for.
Guide
1/4-20 Tap Drill Bit Size: What Size to Use and Why
The tap drill for a 1/4-20 thread is a #7 bit (0.201 in). Clearance hole sizes, the 13/64 and 5.1 mm alternatives, and how to drill and tap the hole.