Tools & Gifts for DIY Homeowners

If you’ve got a DIY‐homeowner in your life, or you are that homeowner, then Black Friday is basically the Super Bowl of “treat yourself.” Deals are deep, gadgets are fun, and your odds of finally upgrading that wobbly old drill just went way up.

Whether you’re shopping for gifts or stocking your own workshop for the next year, here are the tools and essentials that stand out for anyone who loves to tinker, repair, or dig into a weekend project. And yes—we’ve paired each category with two strong product picks (4.5-star+ reviews) to help you navigate the sea of sale fluff.

1. Cordless Drill/Driver Upgrade

Every DIYer has a drill. But do they have a good one? Black Friday is the time to get a brushless 20 V or similar kit with extra batteries and a case.

What to look for: Brushless motor, two batteries or more, compact design that won’t torque your wrist off.

Recommended picks:

• DEWALT 20V MAX Cordless Drill/Impact 2‑Tool Combo Kit

• DEWALT 20V MAX XR Brushless Drill/Driver Kit

These two offer very different budgets, both with strong reputations. One’s more of a full combo; the other’s a focused drill/driver upgrade.

2. Laser Distance Measure

If they’re still using that tape measure from 1997 (you know the one with the drywall dust fused in), it’s time. Laser distance measurers save time, reduce mistakes, and make planning way easier.

Recommended picks:

• Bosch BLAZE 100‑ft Laser Measure

• Milwaukee 65‑ft Laser Distance Meter

Either one will feel like a futuristic upgrade for the weekend warrior.

3. Wet/Dry Vacuum (Shop Vac)

Nothing says “I love you” quite like a tool that sucks up the catastrophe inside the garage. These vacs are ideal for sawdust, leaves, drywall scraps, and every random mess a homeowner faces.

Recommended picks:

• BAUER 6‑Gallon 4‑Peak HP Wet/Dry Vacuum

• RIDGID 16‑Gallon 5‑Peak HP Shop Vac

 Hard to beat this kind of efficiency when you’re clearing up weekend debris.

4. Oscillating Multi-Tool

This is the “how did I live without this?” category. Cutting, sanding, scraping in tight spots - all things you didn’t know you needed until you had one.

Recommended picks:

• DEWALT 20V MAX XR 3‑Speed Oscillating Multi‑Tool Kit

• DEWALT ATOMIC 20V MAX Oscillating Multi‑Tool Kit

Both are solid picks, nicely future-proof and flexible.

5. Smart Home Starter Kit

DIYers like gadgets and control. Smart plugs, sensors, starter hubs - they’re fun gifts and useful tools for setting up the home for “just in case.”

Recommended picks:

• YoLink Smart Home Starter Kit

• SimpliSafe 9 Piece Wireless Home Security System w/HD Camera

Options really run the gamut from just plugs to full security systems, so choose based on your needs. Pick something easy to install and compatible with smart assistants for max impact.

6. Stud Finder That Actually Finds Studs

Too many homeowners rely on the cheap model that misses everything. Upgrade to a good one and save future drywall repair headaches.

Recommended picks:

• CH Hanson Magnetic Stud Finder

• Franklin Sensors ProSensor M150 Stud Finder
  

Compact, battery-light (or no batteries), and dead-reliable, just the kind of gift you’ll be glad you got.

7. Portable Work Light / LED Shop Light

Holding your phone in your teeth while installing the garage shelving? No thanks. Good work lights make the space safer, more fun, and usable after sunset.

Recommended picks:

• Luminar 1,000‑Lumen LED Work Light

• Husky 2,000‑Lumen Portable LED Work Light

 Choose rechargeable or battery-compatible for flexibility.

8. Tool Storage & Organization

You know the phrase: “A place for everything and everything in its place.” Rolling toolboxes, pegboards, stackable cases - they cost less during Black Friday and keep workshop chaos at bay.

Recommended picks:

• RIDGID Pro Gear System Gen 2.0 XL 3‑Drawer Toolbox

• CRAFTSMAN 52‑in 10‑Drawer Rolling Tool Cabinet 

Better than buying more tools: buying a place to store them.

9. Heavy-Duty Extension Cord

Finally, the unsung hero: the extension cord. It doesn’t seem glamorous, but when your workbench is in the garage, you need good reach, proper gauge, and outdoor durability.

Recommended picks:

• Southwire 50‑ft 12/3 Outdoor Heavy‑Duty Extension Cord

• Hyper Tough 12‑Gauge 100‑ft Indoor/Outdoor Extension Cord

 Look for 12 or 14-gauge, weather-resistant jacket, and visible color for safety.

Final Thoughts

If you’re shopping for a DIY homeowner this Black Friday, go for tools and accessories that make their weekend projects smoother, safer, or just more fun. And if you’re the DIY homeowner? Consider this the perfect excuse to upgrade your gear. Because let’s face it, the project list isn’t getting any shorter.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

The Coolest Gadgets for Your Home

We have all heard of the Internet, but you might not be as familiar with the Internet of Things (IoT), a development that allows household objects to send and receive data, making them “think” with the help of sensors, information, and behavioral patterns. This might sound a bit Jetsons to you, but chances are that you’ve already seen an IoT product or maybe even have one in your home.

CNET, the leader in technology product reviews, updated their best of 2016 list this week, hand picking their top products to make your home smarter, faster, and more efficient. I combed through the list and picked out some of my favorites to share with you.

If you’re brand new to IoT devices, the WeMo® Switch from Belkin is a good place to start. It’s a smart plug that goes right into your current socket, turning any appliance that’s connected to a smart device. You can plug in your home stereo system to control the volume from different rooms, turn off the iron you accidently left on when you ran out of the house, or put a timer on the TV so it falls asleep when you do. www.belkin.com

Looking for something with a little bit more variety? Samsung’s SmartThings goes a few steps beyond just a socket to let you control lights, locks, security cameras, and more. It contains a sensor to tell you whether doors and windows are opened and closed, a motion sensor to monitor movement, and an outlet to control specific appliances. It’s relatively well priced at $250 and you can add hundreds of products to the hub for enhanced security and customization. www.smartthings.com

I am a big fan of energy saving so the Nest Learning Thermostat is right up my alley. It is a temperature control system that programs itself and learns your schedule to cool and heat your home automatically. It saves energy by turning itself down when you leave the house and can be operated using your phone which means you can heat the house up a bit after a cold morning on the soccer field. Plus, it tells you how much energy you’re using every day so you can make adjustments accordingly. www.nest.com

If you need to give people access to your home for work or repairs, if you have guests, or if you’re putting your house on the market, the August Smart Lock is worth a look. This smart locking system creates virtual keys so you can grant access for minutes, days, or weeks without having to copy keys or worry about unlawful entry. For the homeowner, the system senses when you’re coming and going, locking and unlocking the doors automatically so you never have to fumble for your keys with an armful of groceries again. www.august.com

I can’t talk about IoT products without mentioning Amazon Echo. Effectively Echo is a smart speaker with a virtual assistant named Alexa who can deliver some light jazz, the weather, the news, your meetings for the day, or a 20-minute kitchen timer just by asking. Google Home has also just come out with a smart speaker which does much of the same, and both connect with tons of different applications to make talking to your house a reality that you never thought was possible. www.amazon.com/echo

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.