What are the 9 Most Important Hand & Power Tools for Women to Know How to Use?

We’re introducing you to the tools of the trade, courtesy of Nadi Mond, one of our stellar and highly experienced Women’s Basic Carpentry instructors. We recently asked Nadi to share her top tools for women carpenters, and the list is accessible, instructive, and fun.

Ready to fill your toolbelt? After browsing this list, you’ll know what you need and why. These tools were picked by a woman, for women. 

Why? Because the weight and size of tools used by women are important considerations since our hands are smaller and we have less capacity for heavy lifting. These tools are for you.

Nadi’s recommendations include a mix of hand tools and power tools for women, along with some fun extras. The following suggestions are in her words, straight from the carpenter’s mouth.

Essential Power Tools for Women

1. Impact Driver

This is one of the first tools for women I’d recommend. You can use both drill and driver bits with an impact driver, so it’s multi-functional. If I had to choose between a drill or a driver, I’d always choose my driver. It’s one of the tools I use the most and it has the added benefit of being smaller and lighter than a drill. 

Since this is such a useful tool, I’d recommend going to a hardware store and trying out a few to see which one feels best. Makita makes nice smaller drivers that are light in weight. They are more expensive, but worth it. If you want to stay on a budget, you can check out Ryobi drivers.

2. Cordless Circular Saw

This is by far the power saw I use most often. When you’re learning to use this saw, you’ll likely get some kickback, so having a cordless tool is safer and easier to use. When you need more power and have some experience under your belt, you can get a corded saw. Circular saws are smaller and take up less space than chop saws and table saws and are a lot more affordable.

Nadi’s Favorite Hand Tools for Women

3. Hammer

I use a hammer on every project I do—whether it’s a small project or a big one. There are a wide range of hammer varieties, with various hammers made for different kinds of projects. You’ll want to do some research so you can get the best type of hammer for the projects you’ll be working on. Personally, I love titanium hammers because they’re very strong and yet very light. Keep this in mind: how fast you can swing a hammer is more important for applying force than the hammer’s weight. Try a few out at the hardware store and choose one that feels really good in your hand and doesn’t create fatigue. 

Hammers come in handy beyond hammering nails. For example, I often use my hammer to manipulate something into square, knocking a board over an inch, or removing a board or nail that’s in the wrong place. They are so useful for prying and denailing materials!

4. Tape Measure

A tiny tape measure you can tuck into your toolbelt will come in handy for small bench projects. For most bigger projects, you’ll want a 16- or 25-foot measure. I like a wide tape measure because they’re more stable, especially if I’m taking measurements by myself. I like the Stanley Fat Max; the Cobalt tape measure is also nice and wide.

5. Milwaukee Fast Back Box Cutter

This tool is a folding box cutter knife, which may not seem carpentry-related right off the bat, but I use it all the time to sharpen my pencil throughout the day and trim down small pieces of wood. Because it folds up, it’s low profile for fitting into tool belts and you can easily swing it open with one hand (which makes you look very cool). I use this tool for all my jobs.

6. Speed Square

We will talk a lot about speed squares in the Women’s Basic Carpentry Class. This is a fun tool and an incredible asset for carpenters. Be sure to get the smaller 8” speed square rather than the rafter square so it can fit in your tool belt. Again, this is another tool I use for every single project. A speed square will help you mark and measure angles and perfect fits for your woodworking projects, from making board cuts to assembling projects to taking measurements.

7. Toolbelt

If you’ll be working primarily on stationary projects where you can organize your tools around a work table, you can get away without a toolbelt. But if you’re moving around or working on a site, a toolbelt is awesome. I love my Occidental Leather toolbelt that has a shoulder harness, which is a gamechanger because it takes the weight off my hips. As a woman, this is essential! I invested some money in a nice toolbelt because I wear it all the time, but there are lots of affordable options. You can also buy shoulder harnesses to add to most belts, so there’s no need to spend a lot of money right off the bat. To keep your toolbelt as light as possible, make sure not to overload it with tools you don’t actually need. 

You can also add some fun bourgeois items to your toolkit!

8. Ear Protection that doubles as an Audio Player

If you like to listen to tunes or podcasts while you work, this really adds to the workday!

9. Construction Master 5 Construction Calculator

This specialized calculator runs around $40 and is an absolute gamechanger. It is so helpful for making quick work of calculations, and is a perfect tool if you have a little trouble with math. It’s also useful for double-checking yourself. This calculator will handle fractions and angles, as well as more complex projects like stair and roof calculations.

Learn How to Use All of These Tools for Women, Plus Many More in Our Women’s Basic Carpentry Class!

Want to become a truly confident carpenter? Join us for our hands-on Women’s Basic Carpentry Class. You’ll learn how to safely and effectively use hand and power tools + take on household projects of your own. Plus, you’ll be taught by experienced women carpenters in a supportive and fun-filled environment.

Need a little testimony? Visit our course page to read what other women have said about the Women’s Basic Carpentry Class.

Note: we open enrollment for the Women’s Basic Carpentry Class twice each year: just after the New Year and in May during our Spring Sale. Want first dibs on registration? Join the waitlist! You’ll have a chance to enroll before the general public, which is a huge perk since these workshops fill quickly!