My 10 Favorite Tools Under $50

Not every awesome tool needs to cost a lot. Some of my favorite and most useful tools are things that have cost me the least and last the longest. Since I get asked a lot about tools used in the restoration trades I figured sharing some of my favorite, yet inexpensive tools was a must in the holiday shopping season.

Spring Nail Set

I had to list this one first because it has been a total game changer for the work I do. With this handy little tool I no longer need a hammer and nail set because this baby is a spring loaded nail set. I use it to set nails below the surface, punch pilot holes in wood or weatherstripping, or even punch hinge pins out of hinges. It’s strong, versatile, and hard to kill.

BlackBill Pliers

When it comes to removing parting bead on double-hung windows there really isn’t another choice for me. Everything else tears the parting bead into pieces making the work more difficult. So I set out to make my own tool based on sheet metal pliers that grabs the parting bead with a wide grip and gets it out in short order.

ProScraper

I hate scraping paint, but when I do it’s almost always using a ProScraper. Its 2” reversible carbide blade and hollow body design allows me to hook it up to a vacuum so my paint scrapings are safely contained and don’t end up on the table or my client’s floors. For anyone dealing with lead paint it’s a must.

End Cutting Pliers

I don’t know exactly what “end cutting” is, but for me this inexpensive tool has lasted years in my tool belt and I use it for several pivotal tasks in restoration like pulling nails without marring the surface and cutting sash rope. It’s also strong enough to cut through nails, wires, thin pieces of wood or anything else I may find the need to cut or otherwise mangle.

Carbide Glass Cutter

I used to buy standard glass cutters by the dozen. They would last me a couple weeks and then get dull and go in the trash. Then in 2014 I bought a carbide glass cutter and I haven’t had to buy another one since. This model glass cutter comes with a carbide cutting wheel that has continued to cut cleanly and consistently for years. It also has a reservoir for cutting oil which extends the life of the cutter. At this point I’m beginning to wonder if this thing is immortal.

Yankee Screwdriver

I have a major problem with slotted screws unlike a lot of preservationists. They are a pain to deal with and strip so easily. Then I found an antique yankee screwdriver and I changed my tune. This vintage tool is a screwdriver on steroids that makes driving screws without an impact driver a breeze. It’s an old technology that still work great today so I find them where I can, restore them, and sell them in my store.

Speed Square

If you have a tool belt the first thing you should buy is a tape measure and the second is a speed square. The versatility of this little tool that last for generations is incredible. At its simplest you can use it to draw perfectly straight lines, in more complex uses I can space my cuts perfectly for framing, mark rafter angles, draw any angle, or use it as a guide for my circular saw. It’s so incredible if you buy a quality metal speed square. Don’t skimp and go with plastic or you’ll regret it.

T-Bevel

Old houses are notoriously not square. When I’m installing trim, or repairing window sills, or any number of other tasks where I am dealing with imperfect angles then my T-bevel is incredibly useful to know how to match that imperfection. You can match any angle, lock it in place and then transfer that mark to your board or you can check what the angle is by reading the gauge and then set your saw to that angle.

StudPop

I love simple tools and this one is about as simple as it gets. It’s a magnet with a colorful little toggle on it that pops into place when it’s placed over something metal. This simplifies the trouble of finding (and paying for) a stud finder that works on plaster walls which are notoriously difficult to detect studs. This little magnet detects the drywall screws or the lath nails in the studs making stud detection dummy proof. And you’ll never need batteries!

Molding Pry Bar

I’m constantly prying things open in old houses, but I don’t do HGTV demo where a mega pry bar is needed. For prying windows open, removing baseboards, trim, stops, or floor boards my molding pry bar is the go to tool for me. One side has the slim line prying side to slide behind things without damaging them, and the other side has the cat’s paw which will dig out old nails or help tear apart things when I have had enough and finally decide to destroy the item to get it to move.

These tools are all great choices for any DIYer or homeowner. Hopefully, you’ve got some great options to up your old house game now and keep your wallet from being emptied at the same time.