Tools

Jigsaws and reciprocating saws are versatile tools, but their uses are often confused. Let’s take a closer look.

Buying hand tools can be a confusing—and at times a losing—proposition. When faced with aisles full of putty knives, hammers, utility knives, and other toolbox must-haves, it’s tough to know if you’re really getting the best product for your money. If you’re like most people, you’ve probably purchased a few tools in the past that ended up breaking during use or rusting into a corroded mess soon after you brought them home, and you’d like to avoid that disappointing experience in the future. In search of advice how the average handyperson can make better-informed tool-buying decisions, we enlisted the help of Corey Talbot, Vice President of Marketing and Product Development at Hyde Tools, who knows what goes into making a quality tool and understands how DIY centers market products. The next time you find yourself staring at a wall of similar-looking tools in a bevy of colors and a range of prices, try the following tips to ensure that you come home with a quality tool you’ll be proud to add to your box.This content has been brought to you by Hyde Tools. Its facts and opinions are those of BobVila.com.

Your router can perform some impressive feats, but not unless you have the right bits. Unleash your router’s potential with these 10 router bits essential for any DIYer.

They’re among the handiest tools for gardening and landscaping, but lopper blades occasionally need sharpening to keep them working well.

Tool and equipment rental from the mega-retailer just got easier, but renting gear isn’t always the best answer. Here’s the lowdown on which tools it makes more sense to buy, and which ones you don’t want to store long term in your garage or workshop.