DIY Shops

Does He Need So Many?

By Andrew Stratton

If you're concerned about an overabundance of power tools flooding the garage - don't be. Just as you need an abundance of shoes -heels, flats, boots, sneakers, and sandals - all in various colors and styles, your husband needs those power tools. Just as you wouldn't wear your sneakers with a summer dress, your husband certainly wouldn't use a miter saw to do a circular saw job.

For even the most basic of home improvement or hobby projects, a minimum four or five power tools are necessary for the job. And that's just the bare minimum. More complex jobs might require a dozen or more specialized tools.

Although it may seem like a drill and a hammer can perform just about any job, in reality there are not as many versatile, multi-use tools as you might think. A circular saw can cut straight lines and not much else. It can't get into small corners, cut through very heavy materials, or give you smooth clean lines.

A miter saw can cut corners, but it can't make intricate cuts or saw a large plank in half. You'll need a jigsaw for more detailed cutting work that neither of these saws are fit to perform - and all three of these actions will be necessary just to cut a new frame for a door. And that's just the cutting part.