The jigsaw is one of those power tools that many people can get by without, but oh does it ever open up options for your projects when you have access to one. Think of it as a precision circular saw. Your designs can be more flowing and eloquent when you’re able to incorporate tighter curves and sharp angles.

Most people think of a jigsaw as a tool that cuts thin pieces of wood. While this is its principal use, did you know that with the right blade you can also cut metal, laminate, plastic, and plexiglass?

When it comes to power tools, I have two rules: 1.) I always buy a name brand, but I’m not beholden to any single brand. The manufacturer that convinces me that their model will outperform and outlast the competition wins my business. 2.) I own one cordless drill for when I need to work on something back in the woods where a cord won’t reach, but other than that, all my power tools are corded. I prefer the reliability and consistent power, plus I don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars on batteries over the life of the tool.

The DW331K is a variable speed saw that delivers 500-3,100 strokes per minute. You definitely want a variable speed saw if you’re going to cut metal or do intricate curved cuts in wood. The shoe adjusts to cut bevels up to 45 degrees.

Cheap jigsaws like to pull to one side due to their reciprocal cutting stroke, making it difficult to do straight cuts – not so with the DeWalt. The blade moves straight forward with very little coaxing thanks to the four-position orbital cutting motion which minimizes blade wear and reduces the chattering that is common on cheaper standard-action jigsaws. The end result is a smoother cut that is easier to control.

The all-metal tool-less blade change lever is a major selling point for the DW331K. It’s conveniently located right on the front of the unit. It eliminates having to touch a hot blade when changing it out or losing the allen wrench that is used on many other saws. This lever can get a bit hot if you’re making a lot of cuts, so always let it cool down before you put it back in its case.

I have cut a cat door (link to KittyPass XL door), the body of my son’s pinewood derby car for Cub Scouts, and numerous crossbars for my garden arbors. The powerful 6.5-AMP motor powered through still-wet pressure-treated lumber of the latter with no problem.

The DeWalt 331K is the Goldilocks of jigsaws and represents a great value in relation to its performance. It’s light enough to easily maneuver in tight spaces, which is the nature of cutting with a jigsaw, but it’s heavy enough to not bounce around on your work.

Overall build quality on this jigsaw is good. The polymer on the handle feels durable and provides a stable grip. An all-metal gear case protects the internals.

I narrowed down my choices to the DeWalt and a similarly-priced Bosch barrel grip. I have a Bosch planer that has served me well over the years and I have an overall favorable opinion of their products. In the end, I liked how the DeWalt top handle felt more balanced in my hands. I’m sure I would have become accustomed to it, but I didn’t feel like the barrel grip gave me the control that I was looking for.

My only complaint with this unit is the “air blaster” feature – it’s OK, but not great. I didn’t notice a big difference between when it was on vs. off, but this seems to be a constant complaint with smaller power tools. Manufacturers continue to include this feature because it sounds like a good idea on paper and consumers have come to expect it. The reality is that a jigsaw just isn’t big enough to generate the volume of air needed to clear sawdust from the path of the cut. You actually don’t want a strong flow of air in front of the blade when cutting metal, as the airflow will blow away the oil from the cut line.

I was surprised to see there isn’t an LED light on a tool of this price. Inadequate light can be a problem with jigsaws since the tool and the operator’s hands naturally cast a shadow over your work. I solve this by cutting outside most of the time, as I have natural light from the sun and a quick pass with my Stihl leaf blower makes quick work of the sawdust.

If you don’t need quite as much power and want a slightly smaller saw body, then I recommend the DeWalt DW317K. It still has all the same important features as the 331K but the motor is 5.5-AMP instead of 6.5-AMP and it comes in a cheaper canvas tool bag instead of a molded case.

Note that this jigsaw, like most others, doesn’t come with blades included. I purchased this DeWalt 14-blade set to go along with my new jigsaw. It includes a wide variety of blades for just about any material that you will ever find yourself having to cut. The two-sided case fits conveniently in the carrying case for the jigsaw so you won’t waste time looking for the right blade.

I researched the Makita 5007MG more than any other power tool I owned before making my final purchasing decision. I was replacing a cheaper Craftsman 18v cordless and wanted something that I could use for an extended period of time.

Every homeowner needs a circular saw. You can cut almost anything you need for indoor or outdoor projects if you have a circular saw and a jig saw.

The best circular saws have magnesium shoes (the flat plate that guides the blade over the material) for their strength and light weight. Aluminum is also used for its light weight, however it can crack easily.

Steel shoes are common on less expensive saws, and have several downsides. First, they bend easily when you drop them (not that you should be in the habit of letting your power tools fall to the ground), which will cause your saw to cut poorly. Second, steel shoes have rolled edges, which can be a problem if you’re using a thin straightedge (such as a rafter square) to guide your cut. Makita sells this same 15.0 amp saw with a steel shoe for about $50 less, but for how long the typical person is going to own a name brand circular saw, the lighter weight, durability, and increased accuracy make the price difference worth it.

The balance and ergonomics of the Makita 5007MG felt better in my hands than the comparable DeWalt that I was considering. This is important to me, as I hate ruining good lumber by not being able to control the tool. Two built-in LED lights illuminate the cutting path for improved accuracy.

A 15.0 amp motor delivers 5,800 RPM, which is more than enough power and speed to cut a variety of wood without straining the motor. It does all of this and only weighs 10.6 pounds. My first experience with my new saw was cutting several 4″ x 4″ pressure-treated posts to make the posts for my raspberry and blackberry trellises. These posts were heavier than usual, indicating that they still had a high moisture content from the pressure treating process. Lumber that contains more moisture in the cells of the wood can be considerably harder to cut than wood that has been kiln-dried or otherwise aged.

Adjusting the depth of your cut and maintaining it cut after cut should not be difficult, but this is an area where cheaper saws fail. Makita’s gauges are accurate and very easy to adjust. Cutting capacity is 2.5″ at 90 degrees, 1.75″ at 45 degrees, and 1.375″ at 56 degrees, which is the maximum bevel angle that this saw can cut.

The included 24-tooth carbon-tipped saw blade is a quality general purpose framing blade that is ideal for the majority of lumber that the typical homeowner is going to cut. Some trim pieces and specialty woods that require a finer cut call for a blade with more teeth.

The heavy-duty carrying case is no afterthought. It’s made of thick blow-molded plastic and closes securely with the two oversized latches. There’s even a pocket inside the case to store and protect additional blades.

Makita’s warranty only lasts for one year, which is less than the DeWalt and Bosch saws that I was also considering. In reality, there is very little that can go wrong with a corded circular saw unless you abuse or neglect it. It’s one of those products that will have problems straight out of the gate that you’re going to know about immediately and will be covered by the warranty.

An angle grinder is one of the most versatile power tools you can own. It can grind, cut, sharpen, strip, and sand. You’re only limited by the many accessories that are available for the 4 1/2″ size. Go and take a look in the power tool section of your local hardware store and you will see what I mean.

I suggest you go to your local hardware store and handle angle grinders from each of the major manufacturers before you buy. The 4.5″ DeWalt fit my hands the best and felt the most balanced. There are larger grinders out there, but this is the most common size for a good reason. The thick body gives you plenty to grip and is heavy enough to keep the grinder steady as you work. You can install the side handle on either the left or right side for comfort and control, or you can leave it off.

While cordless tools have made significant technological advances in just the past decade, I prefer corded tools for a variety of reasons (consistent, reliable power and avoiding planned obsolescence of battery systems are the two big ones.) An angle grinder needs to operate at high RPMs to work effectively and safely. Providing a constant flow of power will ensure you can do this every time.

I have used my angle grinder on a wide range of home improvement projects, but its versatility doesn’t stop there.

If you work on cars, you know it’s only a matter of time until you encounter a seized nut or a bolt head that you have to cut off. There are certain parts that you’re replacing anyway (ball joints, for example) that are far easier to cut off than to remove because of how corroded they tend to be. It’s also nice having the peace of mind knowing that you have a method of last resort to remove the component if all else fails.

My DeWalt angle grinder also sees regular use in my pole barn sharpening lawn mower blades. I have found that an angle grinder with a 60 or 80-grit flap wheel is the fastest and most effective way to sharpen blades. It’s much easier to get a quality edge than with using a bench grinder, as you’re removing less metal with each pass. A flap wheel is less likely to overheat the blade edge, which causes it to become brittle and crack when you inevitably mow over a stick or a rock.