Adjustable Wrench: Holds nuts, bolt heads, and hose connections tightly and far better than pliers.

Air Compressor and Nail Gun: Worth the investment if you do a lot of nailing, such as installing molding or building furniture. A pneumatic (air-powered) finish nailer sinks nails with just the pull of a trigger.

Basic Safety Equipment: Goggles, rubber gloves, dust mask. Don't forget these protective basics, and don't be shy about wearing them.

Caulking Gun: Fills cracks with caulk; also used to apply construction adhesive. Use it to replace old caulk around the bathtub, but remove the old stuff first! Good models come with a pointy stem used to poke a hole in the caulk tube.

Chisel: The metal blade should extend well into the handle of the chisel, as it has to hold up to hammer blows. A set of sizes up to 1 inch wide should work for most jobs.

Combination Square: An alignment device that forms a precise right angle. Checks corners for square, figures angles, and measures. Use to figure the rise and run of stringers and roofs or to draw perpendicular lines.

Cordless Electric Drill: A 14- to 18-volt variable-speed reversing drill with a 3/8-inch chuck-plus a variety of drivers and bits-takes care of most home repair jobs. For personal comfort, test models with the battery pack inserted.

Extension Cord: To reach work areas that don't have nearby outlets, keep a 25-foot, 16-gauge ground-fault circuit interrupter cord on hand.

Tool Shopping Tip: Make sure a tools fits in your hand and feels comfortable. Wave it around a bit. Practice its intended motion and gauge its weight.