Easy-to-Use Power Tools for Women

Cordless Drill

• Drills are handy for driving screws as well as making holes. The typical homemaker doesn't need the power of a heavy-duty corded drill because cordless drills can handle most household tasks and repairs. The smallest battery-powered drills fit easily in a kitchen drawer, but they aren't very powerful. A midrange battery size, either 12 or 18 volt, is a better choice that can handle everyday tasks such as door and cabinet repairs, as well as most woodworking projects. Cordless drills are safe, easy to store and ready to use, as long as you keep the battery charged.
  
  

Palm Sander

• If you keep a palm sander in the utility closet, you may be surprised by how often you'll use it. It's an indispensable tool for any refinishing or painting project, but you can also use it to remove rust, dull sharp metal or wood edges, shape wood and even prepare floors for polishing. As with a cordless drill, a palm sander is safe and easy to use. Most models are inexpensive, and you can buy one with a cord or without. Be sure to have several different grits of sandpaper on hand so you won't have to go shopping when you need to use the sander.
  
  

Battery-Powered Circular Saw

• A circular saw can be dangerous in inexperienced hands, but every household should have one, because there is no better tool for making straight cuts in wood. If you find the prospect of using a circular saw daunting, using a cordless one may give you more confidence. Every circular saw manufacturer makes a line of cordless models, which are generally smaller and lighter than the corded ones. They have enough power for almost any woodworking task, and if you keep an extra battery on hand, you'll never run out of power.
  
  

Jigsaw

• A jigsaw doesn't make straight cuts with the same accuracy as a circular saw, but it is useful for a variety of other purposes, and you can use it to double for a circular saw in a pinch. Besides cutting wood, a jigsaw cuts metal, plastic and Formica. The blade is always facing away from you when you use it, making it safer to use than a circular saw, and it's easy to control. There are corded and battery-powered models available, and those with 18-volt batteries have enough power for most household tasks.