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

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.

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.
Best picks
7 Best Brad Point Drill Bit Sets for Woodworking
Brad point drill bit sets for clean, accurate holes in wood: what the center spur does, sizes and shank types, plus seven sets compared.
Guide
Can You Drill Through Cast Iron? Bits, Speed and Steps
Yes, cast iron can be drilled with cobalt or TiN-coated HSS bits. Which bit, what speed, why gray iron is drilled dry, and the step-by-step method.
Guide
How to Get a Stuck Drill Bit Out of a Drill Chuck
How to remove a drill bit stuck in the chuck, whole or snapped off: loosening a jammed keyless or keyed chuck, and how to stop it happening again.