Tools How To & DIY

Ask This Old House carpenter Nathan Gilbert has the lowdown on choosing and using the right cordless finish nailer to best suit your needs.

Watch House One editor Jenn Largesse demonstrate three easy ways to make multiple cuts using a miter saw.

It can be very difficult to create a perfectly circular cut with a jigsaw. Luckily, there’s another easy way to cut a circle using a router and a simple DIY circle jig. Watch this video to learn how.

Pneumatic Nailers used to require a compressor and hose, and came with a hefty price tag. Now, cordless options make them much more DIY-friendly.

A drill driver is one of the most widely used tools in DIY, so learning to use it properly is essential. Watch this video for a quick introduction and tips for using a drill by This Old House DIY Expert & House One Editor Jenn Largesse.

Ask This Old House host Kevin O’Connor works with House One maker Jenn Largesse to demonstrate an interesting technique on a trim router.

Ask This Old House carpenter Nathan Gilbert demonstrates a mobile CNC routing machine.

Ask This Old House general contractor Tom Silva explains the basics of using a hole saw.

Ask This Old House general contractor Tom Silva gives a general overview of a table saw and the best techniques to use it safely and effectively

Miter saws are an essential tool for most builders and craftsmen. In this episode of Tool School, Norm Abram and Brian Sedgeley demonstrate several useful features of the Kapex KS 120, including the mobile base, extensions, and micro adjustments for the miter, bevel, and depth.

Woodworkers have used loose-tenon joinery for hundreds of years to make strong, accurate miters and other connections. But instead of cutting mortises by hand, the Domino System uses a unique rotating and oscillating bit. In this episode of Tool School, Festool’s Brian Sedgely and Norm Abram use the Domino DF 500 to align and cut mortises of different widths for fast and precise assembly

Builders need to make quick, accurate cross-cuts for framing and many other carpentry projects. In some ways, the Festool HK 55 Carpentry Saw is like a circular saw with a built-in speed square. In this episode of Tool School, expert Brian Sedgeley and builder Jeff Sweenor use the saw to cut the rafters for an 8-pitch roof

Like many builders and woodworkers, Jeff Sweenor often uses a large band saw to make curved cuts. But in this episode of Tool School, Brian Sedgeley from Festool shows Jeff how to achieve the same level of precision with a portable Carvex jigsaw

Track saws are more popular than ever on jobsites and in workshops. In this episode of Tool School, Festool trainer Brian Sedgeley and Tom Silva demonstrate how to use several features of the TS 55 track saw to get accurate, splinter-free cuts

Ask This Old House general contractor Tom Silva explains basic chiseling techniques

Ask This Old House general contractor Tom Silva shows the best uses for a jigsaw and how to choose the right one for the job

Ask This Old House general contractor Tom Silva and host Kevin O’Connor discuss how to choose and use a circular saw.

Scott Caron, master electrician for Ask This Old House, explains how two tools are all it takes to do many electrical projects

This Old House host Kevin O'Connor shares a few tips for getting the most out of your cordless tools.

This Old House general contractor Tom Silva explains the basic parts, uses, and cuts, of cicular saws

Keeping outdoor power equipment running smoothly with This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook.

Safe and efficient cutting techniques with This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook and chainsaw expert Tim Ard.

Pro tips on cutting curved scribe lines at an angle