GIFT GUIDE FOR THE DIY BEGINNER

When I asked what type of gift guides you wanted to see I got a lot of requests for DIY products and tools for newbies. So I’ve rounded up some of my favorites to help get you started if you’re just getting your feet wet in the DIY world.

1.) Kreg R3 Jig Pocket Hole Kit with Classic Clamp 

This is by far one of my favorite tools. It takes a little time to read the directions and figure it out but it is so worth it. And once you do, it’s a breeze to use and creates some of the strongest joinery between wood.

2.) Ryobi Cordless Airstrike 18-Gauge Brad Nailer

The first nail gun we ever got came with a compressor and while it worked great, it was a big pain to lug it inside and it was super loud. We converted a little over a year ago to this Ryobi cordless one and couldn’t be happier. This guy is a small finishing nailer used for smaller projects like trim, shiplap etc.(see #3 for a heavier duty option)

This one comes with the battery too. All Ryobi cordless tools operate with the same battery – if you have multiple tools it’s a good idea to have a couple of them!

3.) Ryobi Cordless Airstrike 23-Gauge 1-3/8 in. Headless Pin Nailer

As mentioned above, this guy is slightly bigger and heavier and used for heavier duty projects. We have this guy too and love the power it has even with being cordless.

4.) Ryobi Corner Cat Sander with Dust Bag

This is one of the first tools I ever bought since I was refinishing a lot of furniture when I first started blogging. They made a cordless one now that a lot of people use too but I find that usually when I’m using it on a piece of furniture, I’m using it for a long time and if it was cordless the battery wouldn’t last long enough for me.

Just use an extension cord so you have room to move and you’ll be set! I love the corner cat because the pointed tip is good to get into smaller areas.

5.) Tape Measure with Fractions

Confession – I could NEVER read a tape measurer. I would tell Dan a measurement was “3 inches plus 3 lines”. ha. And then I realized these existed and my world was changed. The fractions are all printed right on there so you never have to do the math yourself. #genius

6.) Single Bevel Compound Mitre Saw

This is another one of my favorite tools to use. It makes cutting wood SO easy and isn’t scary at all. We use it on basically every project that involves wood. It’s great for cutting shiplap, slats, trim – anything up to 10″ wide!

7.) Air Grip Laser Level

This guy we just started using last year and it’s super convenient to get a straight line on the wall. It suctions right on and shoots a laser line across for you to follow.

8.) Hammer

Pretty self explanatory but every DIYer should have a solid hammer.

9.) Respirator Masks

When I first started DIYing I hardly ever wore a mask. It makes me cringe to think about all the stain, paint and other fumes I inhaled. These ones are great and easy to take on and off. Don’t be lazy and skip this step – it can save your life!

10. Drill

You’ll definitely want to invest in a good drill. Whether you’re drilling a hole in a wall to hang a picture or drilling holes for new hardware on furniture – it’s a must!

11.) 14-1 Screwdriver

I can’t tell you how many screwdrivers we’ve lost over the years. I love that this one comes with 14 different bits and it has little compartments to store them. Definitely easier than having to keep track of multiple screwdrivers.

12.) Purdy Paint Brushes

Don’t skimp on paint brushes. A good quality brush will go a long way and is worth the investment. Purdy is a great brand and this one comes with 3 different sizes.

13.) Drilling and Driving Mixed Set

A full set of drill bits in every size for your drill. This case makes it easy to keep track of all of them too!

14.) DAP Rapid Fuse Glue

M secret weapon. I seriously love this stuff. It bonds virtually everything and I’ve used it on so many of my projects. It also dries super fast which I love.

15.) Reusable Nitrile Gloves

When I used to stain, I would wear the disposable latex gloves but I found that they would break at the fingers and I would still get my fingers and hands dirty. Maybe I’m just an aggressive stainer 😛 But I’ve switched to something a little more heavy duty and although they make my hands a little sweaty, no stain gets on them.

16.) Titebond Wood Glue

A must for any woodworking project.

17.) DAP DryDex Spackling

My favorite spackling by far. It goes on pink and dries white so you know when you can sand. Perfect for patching holes in the wall!

18.) Sanding Block

Great handheld option for sanding when you need more flexibility.

19.) Level

Getting things level is definitely a struggle at times. Everyone needs one of these!

20.) Staining Pads

Old t-shirts and socks are my preferred items for staining but if I don’t have those, then I like to use these staining pads. They’re definitely only a one time use type of thing but they apply stain really well.

21.) Frog Tape

I’m a messy painter and always need to tape off my edges. Frog tape gives me super clean lines every time!

SHOP THE GUIDE

I hope this list is helpful – there are tons of products and tools out there but these are some of the ones I’ve been using and have found to be very effective and useful!