The Weekend Workshop
Tools, tested.
Honest tool reviews for weekend DIYers who want to buy right the first time.
Pick a project
Saws
Every way to cut wood, metal and everything in between.
Best Cordless Circular Saws
Battery-powered saws for ripping and crosscutting without a cord.
Open the roundup → Guide 02 · Read nowBest Table Saws
Ten jobsite and shop saws ranked for straight cuts, solid fences and real-world garage space.
Open the roundup → Guide 03 · Read nowBest Cordless Table Saws
Battery jobsite saws that cut free from the outlet.
Open the roundup → Guide 04 · Read nowBest Miter Saws
Sliding and compound miter saws for clean, square crosscuts.
Open the roundup → Guide 05 · Read nowBest Track Saws
Plunge-cut saws and guide rails for breaking down sheet goods.
Open the roundup → Guide 06 · Read nowBest Jigsaws
Curves, cutouts and scroll work — corded and cordless picks.
Open the roundup → Guide 07 · Read nowBest Reciprocating Saws
Demo and rough-cutting saws, from one-handers to full-size.
Open the roundup → Guide 08 · Read nowBest Hand Saws
Western and Japanese pull saws for quiet, precise cuts.
Open the roundup → Guide 09 · Read nowBest Hack Saws
Metal-cutting frames, from high-tension to pocket-size.
Open the roundup → Guide 10 · Read nowBest Table Saw Accessories
Featherboards, dado sets, miter gauges and the rest of the kit.
Open the roundup →Mowers
Walk-behinds, riders and robots for every size yard.
Best Electric Push Mowers
Battery mowers for small yards, big lawns and less time wrestling with gas.
Open the roundup → Guide 12 · Read nowBest Gas Push Mowers
Self-propelled and push gas mowers that keep going.
Open the roundup → Guide 13 · Read nowBest Electric Riding Mowers
Battery tractors and zero-turns for big lawns.
Open the roundup → Guide 14 · Read nowBest Gas Riding Mowers
Tractors and zero-turns for acreage.
Open the roundup → Guide 15 · Read nowBest Robot Lawn Mowers
Set-and-forget mowers, boundary wire and wire-free.
Open the roundup →Drills & Drivers
Drilling, driving and hammering — pick the right one for the job.
Best Impact Drivers
Fast driving power in a compact body.
Open the roundup → Guide 17 · Read nowBest Cordless Drills
Everyday drill/drivers for holes and hardware.
Open the roundup → Guide 18 · Read nowBest Hammer Drills
Masonry-capable drills for brick and block.
Open the roundup → Guide 19 · Read nowBest Rotary Hammer Drills
SDS hammers for serious concrete work.
Open the roundup →Nailers
Brad, finish and framing nailers — cordless and pneumatic.
Best Brad Nailers
18-gauge nailers for trim, craft work and light fastening.
Open the roundup → Guide 21 · Read nowBest Finish Nailers
15- and 16-gauge nailers for baseboard, casing and cabinets.
Open the roundup → Guide 22 · Read nowBest Framing Nailers
Framing nailers for walls, decks and sheathing.
Open the roundup →Smart Home
Lights, switches and hubs that make the house a little smarter.
Best Smart Lights
Bulbs, strips and panels that change color on command.
Open the roundup → Guide 24 · Read nowBest Smart Home Hubs
The brains that tie Zigbee, Z-Wave and Matter together.
Open the roundup → Guide 25 · Read nowBest Smart Outlets
Smart plugs and in-wall outlets for anything with a cord.
Open the roundup → Guide 26 · Read nowBest Smart Light Switches
In-wall switches and dimmers, neutral wire and no-neutral.
Open the roundup → Guide 27 · Read nowBest Smart Outdoor Lights
Floodlights, path lights and string lights for outside.
Open the roundup →Lawn & Garden
Watering gear for lawns and beds.
Best Lawn Sprinklers
Oscillating, impact and traveling sprinklers for even coverage.
Open the roundup → Guide 29 · Read nowBest Garden Hoses
Rubber, reinforced and expandable hoses that don't kink.
Open the roundup → Guide 30 · Read nowBest Hose Timers
Set-and-forget watering schedules for the hose faucet.
Open the roundup → Guide 31 · Read nowBest Smart Irrigation Controllers
Wi-Fi controllers that water by the weather.
Open the roundup →Outdoor Power
Trimmers, saws and washers for the yard and driveway.
Best String Trimmers
Battery, corded and gas trimmers for edges and weeds.
Open the roundup → Guide 33 · Read nowBest Chainsaws
Cordless and gas saws for limbing, bucking and storm cleanup.
Open the roundup → Guide 34 · Read nowBest Electric Pressure Washers
Corded washers for decks, siding and cars.
Open the roundup → Guide 35 · Read nowBest Gas Pressure Washers
Gas washers for driveways, fences and big jobs.
Open the roundup →More Guides
The rest of the workshop.
Best Wood Routers
Compact, plunge and full-size routers sorted by the jobs they handle best.
Open the roundup → Guide 37 · Read nowBest Orbital Sanders
Five- and six-inch sanders compared for control, dust pickup and finish quality.
Open the roundup → Guide 38 · Read nowBest Leaf Blowers
Handheld picks for quick cleanups, wet leaves and everything in between.
Open the roundup → Guide 39 · Read nowBest Robot Vacuums
Robot vacuums compared for pickup, navigation and hands-off floor care.
Open the roundup → Guide 40 · Read nowBest Sawhorses
Folding sawhorses and work supports that pack flat.
Open the roundup →About me
Built on weekends
I’m Matt—a dad of two with a weekday job and a weekend habit of taking on one more house project than I probably have time for.
I learned DIY by trial and error: measure, cut, realize what I missed, then make the second try look a whole lot better. Along the way, I’ve figured out which tools earn their spot in the garage and which ones mostly teach you to read the fine print.
I’m always hunting for a solid tool deal, but I got tired of reviews that read like ads. The Weekend Workshop is where I share the kind of honest advice I want before spending my own money—what works, what’s overkill, and what might save a Saturday from turning into next Saturday.
— Matt