Tool Review Lab

Buying guides · Choose before you shop

Most of the spec sheet is marketing.

These guides decode the handful of numbers that actually predict whether a tool will do your job — so you walk into the store already knowing the answer.

Guide 1 · Drills

How to choose a drill

See the drill scores →

Three questions settle it. Everything else on the box is tiebreaker at best.

Answer these three questions

  1. What's the heaviest job in your next five years? Furniture and blinds → 12V. Anything with the word "deck," "fence," or "concrete" → 18V (add "hammer" for the concrete).
  2. Whose batteries will you own? Your drill decides your platform. Every future cordless tool gets cheaper if it shares batteries — pick a brand with the tools you'll want later.
  3. Who's holding it? Weight is a real spec. A drill that's a half-pound lighter gets used; the heavy one waits in the drawer while you grab a screwdriver.

Spec decoder

Voltage (12V / 18V / 20V MAX)
Power class. Note: 18V and "20V MAX" are the same pack measured differently — nominal working voltage vs peak voltage off the charger. DeWalt's own fine print says so. Marketing, not physics.
Amp-hours (Ah)
Battery fuel-tank size, not power — the voltage versus amp-hours split trips everyone up. 2Ah is fine for a drill; saws want 4Ah+ partly for runtime, partly because bigger packs sag less under heavy load.
Brushless
More efficient motor: more runtime, less heat, longer life. Worth it at today's prices — but it isn't automatic power; a well-built brushed tool can still beat a cheap brushless one.
Clutch numbers
Torque limiter for driving screws. The numbers aren't standardized between brands — you find your clutch setting by test-driving a screw. More positions ≠ better; you'll use about three of them.
Chuck size (3/8 in vs 1/2 in)
Max bit shank the jaws can close on. Spade bits fit any drill (they ride 1/4 in hex shanks); what a 3/8 in chuck locks out is big auger bits and hole-saw arbors.

Guide 2 · Saws

Which saw for which job

See the saw scores →

Nobody needs five saws. Find your actual job in the left column and buy the one saw on that row.

DECISION TABLE — match the job to the saw, not the other way around.
Your job The right saw Why
Straight cuts in plywood & lumber Circular saw Fast, accurate with a guide, handles 2x stock — the default first saw.
Curves, cutouts, sink holes Jigsaw The only saw here that turns. Slow but precise; blades for wood, metal, tile.
Trim, molding, picture frames Miter saw Repeatable angle cuts a hand-held saw can't match. Worth it once trim work starts.
Demolition, pruning, pipes Reciprocating saw Cuts anything ugly, fast, where precision doesn't matter.
One shelf, once, ever A decent handsaw Under $25, no batteries, and honestly quicker for a single cut.

Buying order for most homes: circular → jigsaw → miter. Rent the rest until a job proves you need it — and rented or owned, keep the guard on; OSHA's handheld saw rules are short and blunt.

Guide 3 · Starting from zero

The first toolbox, in buying order

See the hand-tool scores →

The order matters more than the brand. Each purchase unlocks the next tier of jobs — stop whenever your jobs stop.

  1. Tape measure (25 ft)

    Every project starts with a measurement. A stiff, accurate tape is the cheapest accuracy you'll ever buy — wide-blade models like the Stanley FatMax 33-725 and the Milwaukee 48-22-1225 claim 14-18 ft of one-person reach and run $25-$41 as of July 2026.

  2. Screwdriver set + utility knife

    Half of home maintenance is a #2 Phillips and a sharp blade. Boxes, batteries, outlet covers, caulk tubes.

  3. Claw hammer (16 oz) + torpedo level

    Hanging, tapping, nudging, checking. The level keeps your shelves from announcing your skill level.

  4. Cordless drill (see the drill guide above)

    Your first motor — and your battery-platform decision. Add a mixed bit set the same day.

  5. Adjustable wrench pair + locking pliers

    Plumbing fittings, bike seats, grill bolts, mystery nuts. The pliers double as a third hand.

  6. Stud finder + safety glasses

    The finder keeps your TV on the wall; the glasses keep you able to admire it. OSHA's eye and face protection standard is the shopping spec: ANSI Z87.1-rated, nothing less. Non-optional once the drill exists.

  7. Circular saw — only when a build shows up

    The first tool you should wait to buy. When a real project needs real cuts, get it (and see the saw table above).

Guide 4 · General principles

Four rules to buy by