The Ukrainian proverb “prepare a sleigh in the summer and a cart in the winter” is relevant for all times and eras. When there is a free moment on cold winter evenings, skillful hands begin to do something useful. But hands need tools. ITC editors have selected a dozen interesting and inexpensive items that will help in the household.

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We will look at ten categories of tools. And for clarity and concreteness, we will choose good representatives of these categories. In the review, we will include not very cheap, but not overrated models that are ideal for home use.

For the price of all ten useful power tools, you can buy a mediocre phone or a basic laptop with 4GB of RAM and a cheap screen. A smartphone with Android OS will lose 40-50% of its value in a year, a laptop will need two years for this. And a grinding machine, a sharpener, a technical hairdryer or a perforator are unlikely to become cheaper. Most likely, their prices will increase. We’ll also compare power tool prices with some popular household items.

Cordless screwdriver

This mechanized assistant will be useful for those who often assemble computers. A cordless screwdriver will first of all save time. And a small power will not allow to damage the textolite of motherboards when screwing in screws. Using powerful screwdrivers to assemble a PC is a bad trick. The kit includes many nozzles for different needs. For the low cost, it seems like a smart choice. This crumb will definitely not be superfluous in the house.

Cordless screwdriver Intertool DT-0301 UAH 419

Angle grinder (Bulgarian

It is a versatile tool that can be used to do anything. For example, a medium power model was added. 1900 W will be enough in most cases. You can easily cut tiles and metal pipes with it.

Special nozzles will allow you to cut wood products, grind surfaces, and sharpen garden tools. Skilled hands will always find use for Bulgarian women. A device from the “must have” category. The price of this product is less than almost any PlayStation game.

Bulgarian Craft CAG 180/1900 UAH 1515

Engraver

What kind of engraver? Today’s youth will think that this is some old-fashioned electric toothbrush. In fact, this device is a drill and grinder in a miniature format. The power is small, but it does not need a lot of watts.

Choosing the right nozzle, you can cut, drill, and grind with it. He will get to where the big saw won’t get through. A compact, interesting and useful electric tool that will find use in any house where at least one person lives.

Engraver Arsenal GM-200EFS UAH 987

Electric jigsaw

Truants of labor lessons hardly know how to use a jigsaw. This device allows you to precisely and accurately cut thin wooden products. And the electric model only simplifies this work and saves time. With its help, you can make plywood shelves, a feeder, an organizer for tools or much more. A thousand hryvnias for a useful tool for working with wood is half the price of a protective case for the flagship Samsung S22 Ultra.

Electric jigsaw BauMaster JS-4050e UAH 975

Impact drill

Isn’t it nice to start the renovation when the neighbors go to bed? An impact drill is useful in every home. Drill a hole to lead cables to another room, drill holes in concrete for dowels, etc. Hundreds of examples of practical use of this tool can be listed.

An inexpensive 1200 W model will be enough for home needs. For the price of a good drill, you can buy a 256 GB memory card for shooting vertical video in 4K. It is a difficult choice, because the cost is roughly the same.

Drill Start Pro SID-1250 UAH 1,447

Sharpener

Sharp knives are the face of the master. It is not very convenient to bring your kitchen appliances to the master for sharpening every time. It is easier to have a household sharpener at home. The 350 W model is enough for any knives. There are two stones with different textures on the sharpener. You can refill scissors, knives, sharpen axes, machetes, garden tools.

The relevance of this type of tool never decreases, it will always come in handy. Also, the sharpener will attract the attention of neighbors with dull knives who do not have 1,300 hryvnias for such a device. Most likely, they will come more than once with a request to sharpen the knives.

Sharpening machine Steel T1540 UAH 1,287

Saber saw

Saber-type saws work on the principle of a jigsaw. But this is a much more powerful device that can cut into fairly rough wood and other materials. With such a tool, you can realize your crazy ideas. 700 W is enough for basic needs. A saber saw cuts plywood, rubber hose or chipboard as easily as A4 paper with scissors.

Using appropriate saws, it is possible to process metal products. In skillful hands, it can create masterpieces, but its ease of use makes it relevant even for beginners. The asking price of such a universal tool is less than 1,800 hryvnias.

Saber saw INTERTOOL DT-0400 UAH 1,763

Perforator

Remove the old tiles in the bathroom, cover the plaster, punch a hole in the wall, dismantle or destroy something – this is all a perforator can do. From a philosophically pessimistic point of view, he is primarily a destructive tool. But without destroying the old, you cannot build a new one. A hole punch is an indispensable tool for repairs.

It is hard to imagine a construction crew without this device. Areas of application can be enumerated for a long time. The 1500 W model will overcome most household tasks. It will become an indispensable assistant for those who like to rebuild their home. In addition, neighbors will often come to the owner of the drill to borrow it for a few days.

Perforator Total Tools TH1153216 2987 UAH

Soldering iron

A classic soldering iron will always find use in the household. Has a set of garlands burned out? Five minutes are enough to solder a broken wire (the most common cause of garland breakage). The soldering iron can pay for itself in 2-3 uses. For the price of protective glass for a smartphone, you can get a useful device that can repeatedly justify its stay in the house.

Professionals choose powerful soldering stations, but a 60 W model is enough for home needs. It is inexpensive to maintain and supports thousands of replacements. With regular but careful use, the service life can be several years.

Contact soldering iron TOPEX 44E 026 UAH 385

Technical hairdryer

Why use another hair dryer when your wife/girlfriend already has a similar one? Industrial hair dryers are very different from those used to dry hair. They support much higher temperatures and allow you to easily remove stickers and paint, loosen rusty nuts, work on wooden surfaces, weld plastic pipes and much more. Car enthusiasts will be able to stick a vinyl film on the hood of their iron horse.

A technical hair dryer is not a very versatile device, but it definitely simplifies the life of its owner. This useful tool costs like the cheapest watch with terrible autonomy, a bad screen and an interface that hangs.

Technical hair dryer Stark HG 2003R UAH 1015

Conclusions

During digital technology and virtual entertainment, many users forget that there is actually something to do in real life. You don’t have to be a professional to drill a hole for a dowel, solder a broken wire, cut a piece of board, or anything else. Many of these things can be done by anyone with the right tool.

When there is nothing to do, a person goes to the appropriate specialists. This is usually time consuming and expensive. That is why we decided to compile a selection of useful tools for the home, which are suitable for beginners and amateurs.

Of course, when carrying out a large and serious repair or a difficult project, you will have to turn to a professional in your field. But you can do a lot on your own. Buying a whole box of useful power tools for the price of one mediocre phone or a very basic laptop is not a bad alternative.

We made this amazing comparison just to show you the realities of prices. Useful and practical tools are actually much cheaper than digital electronics. This became another motivating factor for reviewing dozens of interesting tools that will allow you to make a “cart in winter” and a “sled in summer”.