Tools Videos

General contractor Tom Silva shows host Kevin O’Connor everything he needs to know about choosing the right level for the task at hand.

General contractor Tom Silva shows host Kevin O’Connor the features and techniques required to stay safe when using a table saw.

This Old House landscape contractor Jenn Nawada stumps the guys with a contraption they’ve never seen before—even after celebrating 20 years of "What Is It?"

Ask This Old House carpenter Nathan Gilbert explains everything we need to know about track saws—including their parts, how they work, and how to use one.

This Old House general contractor Tom Silva shows host Kevin O’Connor everything someone would need to know about the different types of hammers and how to choose one for the job.

Ask This Old House carpenter Nathan Gilbert discuses the main features of miter saw blades.

Carpenter Nathan Gilbert explains how table saw blades work and the different blade types used.

In this DIY Smarts, general contractor Tom Silva helps a young woodworker set up her first workshop.

Carpenter Nathan Gilbert explains everything you need to know about drill drivers, from their history to their modern features.

Ask This Old House general contractor, Tom Silva, explains why he loves sanding and what goes into a good sanding job.

Cutting a straight line through plywood with a circular saw seems easy enough, but it rarely comes out as straight as it feels while you’re making the cut. To get better results, here’s three easy ways to create a guide for your 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.

With four nail gauge sizes to choose from, one size does not fit all carpentry and woodworking applications. Need to know how to pick the right finish nailer? Watch as This Old House editor Chris Ermides showcases the differences between the types of finish nailers.

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

Ask This Old House home technology expert Ross Trethewey tests out a new smart stud finder

Ask This Old House landscape designer Jenn Nawada shares some tips about pruners.

Ask This Old House mason Mark McCullough explains the uses for different types of masonry jointers

Ask This Old House carpenter Nathan Gilbert explains when and how to use a Japanese pull saw

Ask This Old House general contractor Tom Silva explains the uses for different drill bits

Ask This Old House carpenter Nathan Gilbert demonstrates how to build sawhorses using leftover materials from the job site

Ask This Old House host Kevin O’Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape designer Jenn Nawada discuss DIY Smarts around tools that make good gifts for new homeowners.

Ask This Old House general contractor Tom Silva teaches the basics of sanding

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

Not all random orbit sanders are created equal. In this episode of Tool School, Festool expert Brian Sedgeley shows Tom Silva how the two different sanding modes and dust extraction capability of the Rotex RO 150 can achieve great results