Home workshop guides · UK

Choose the tool for the job on your bench.

Start with the cut, hole or line you need. Find the tool family, learn which specification matters, and see the review status of each guide.

Illustration of a drill, twist bits, folding rule, pencil and square on a workbench. — Editorial illustration. No model shown has been tested or recommended here.

Start with the tool

Choose a tool family to see the questions that matter before you pick a guide.

Or start with the job

These first checks help narrow a choice. Confirm details in the tool manual.

Cutting skirting or trim
Check first: The crosscut width of your widest board, and whether the saw bevels one way or both.
Mitre saws
Drilling a pilot hole
Check first: The bit size specified by the fixing maker. A screw number alone does not fix one size.
Drill bit size chart
Cutting sheet plywood
Check first: Depth of cut, then blade diameter and bore against the saw manual.
Saws and blades
Putting up shelves
Check first: Whether you need a line or point laser, and the accuracy for the exact model.
Laser levels

Reading a guide

Know what has been checked.

Our archive contains older pages. A review label tells you whether a page has passed the current editorial check. We do not claim hands-on testing unless a dated test note supports it.

Evidence record