15 advanced design DIY tools worth upgrading to this year

Something has shifted In the workshop. After years of selling DIY as a weekend hobby to the mildly bored, home improvement has quietly become a serious cultural force. The global handicraft market is expected to reach nearly $1 trillion this year. And while a third of you apparently plan to start a new DIY project in the next three months, DIYers’ primary motivation is, you guessed it, to save money. That’s not a bad thing right now, considering how the Iran war has sent prices soaring.

The tape measure and exercise you inherited from your family will only take you so far. Fortunately, the tools driving this boom have never been smarter, and better hardware should hopefully lead to better results. Whether you’re building furniture, finishing a deck, or just hanging that TV upright, the tools available now are truly more precise than anything a generation ago could have imagined. From a mini soldering station to a kid-safe desktop cardboard router, these are 15 picks from WIRED worth making space in your toolbox this year.

And no matter how good your tools are, never forget: measure twice, cut once.

Multifunctional power tool

Dremel

12 volt multi drill diagram

This intimidation-free power tool is perfect for people looking to tackle a variety of household tasks that don’t require a bulky hammer drill. Dremel’s sleekly balanced 12V tool is designed for fastening, tightening and assembly. The detachable laser level and smart electronic stud finder hidden on the front of the handle make it ideal for hanging pictures, shelves and 4K TVs. It comes with nine drivers and three drill bits, covering most home repairs without requiring an extensive toolbox overhaul.

Soldering station

A compact, open source soldering workstation that condenses an entire electronics table into one portable unit. This battery-powered soldering iron provides precise temperature control from 212 to 842°F (100 to 450°C), making it suitable for precise PCB work as well as more powerful tasks. Integrated smoke extraction pulls harmful fumes away from the source, while built-in magnification and adjustable LED illumination improve visibility. The clincher is that by being open source, Soldr positively welcomes hardware modification and firmware upgrades, making it as attractive to hobbyists as it is to serious prototypers.

Sander

Festool

Basic delta cordless sander DTSC 200

It’s well known in the crafts that if someone’s workshop is full of Festool equipment, you can bet they take their craft seriously. And with the new 18V Cordless Sander, the brand has made it possible to achieve perfection a little faster. The triangular pad reaches deep into tight corners and edges, while the variable speed control allows fine-tuning between aggressive stock removal and ultra-smooth finishing. Weighing just over 2.4 pounds without the battery, the sander is designed for one-handed controlled operation, while the built-in LED light casts low-angle illumination across the work surface to highlight even the slightest imperfections. Connect it to a vacuum hose to keep your workbench clean, or clip it to the included dust collection bag and go all out.

A level smarter

Place the rolling wheel down; This modular stackable touch screen measuring system combines laser distance, level and rolling scale modules into one device, measuring distance up to 164 feet with 1/16 inch accuracy. The system captures measurements in real time and instantly syncs with the app, allowing users to create floor plans or mark up dimensions without manually taking notes. Compact enough to fit in a pocket but accurate enough for professional use, it’s a very smart upgrade for anyone still fiddling with tape measurements and spirit levels.

Premium sewing machine

Husqvarna

Viking Designer Sapphire 85 sewing and embroidery machine

Although it may be overkill if you haven’t yet mastered the art of sewing buttons again, this smart, professional-grade sewing machine can do impressive things with a needle and thread. It offers more than 680 stitch patterns via an 8-inch color touchscreen for intuitive control, along with automatic thread tension and sensor-based foot adjustments. The extended sewing surface allows for larger quilting projects, while the powerful motor ensures consistent stitch quality across thick fabrics. Built-in connectivity and access to the mySewnet library gives you access to an ever-growing collection of embroidery designs, as well as the ability to draft and implement your own design.

Box cutter

Designed by renowned knife maker Richard Rogers, the Box Key applies his clean, simple style to the small, everyday cutting tool. The 1.24-inch drop point blade is made of Sandvik 12C27 steel with a stone finish, which helps hide scratches from daily use while improving corrosion resistance. The slotted stainless steel handle keeps the profile slim enough to attach to a keyring, and at 1 ounce, it adds barely any weight to your daily carry. A clever little tool that’s indispensable for opening boxes, trimming wire and other light duty tasks.

Tool box

Japanese-inspired Niwaki (which translates as “garden tree”), UK-based company produces highly desirable and practical tools for the home and garden. However, using the ST-Type Toolbox, the brand created a vintage design that wouldn’t look out of place on a model in the famous “lunch on top of a skyscraper” photo. Made of powder-coated steel with a traditional cantilever design, it measures 14.2 inches wide and opens to reveal layered compartments that keep hand tools organized and visible. The metal dividers in the upper drawers can be rearranged to hold screws, nails and bits, or removed entirely to fit more tools.

Safety glasses

Snake pit

Rev-Loc Z87+ Safety Glasses

Pit Viper may be famous for their anarchic, right-wing style in eyewear, but we bet you didn’t know that they also offer a great line of irreverent-looking but very functional safety glasses. (This model launches April 13.) Certified to ANSI Z87+ standards, they feature impact-resistant lenses, 100 percent UV protection, and anti-fog coatings, plus adjustable temples and nose for an extremely secure fit. Standard or high-contrast polarized lenses are available, and the side shields can be removed when not needed.

Handy saw

A good value camping saw that is very practical and folds small, but still cuts the mustard. The 12-inch blade is mounted on a four-axle frame that increases the usable cutting length and maintains consistent tension throughout each stroke. Then, when you’re done, it folds flat without disassembling, completely encasing the blade for safe transport. At 15.3 ounces, it’s light enough for any expedition, but still feels reassuringly sturdy in use. This textured rubber handle works well in wet conditions, and fortunately, the design accepts standard 12-inch replacement blades.

3D printer

This high-speed 3D printer is designed for rapid prototyping and is therefore aimed at designers who are tired of nightly printouts of simple parts. It ejects building materials at speeds of up to 1,200 mm per second, driven by a lightweight and precise Delta motion system. The enclosed cylindrical build chamber (12.6 x 16.9 inches) improves temperature stability for materials such as ABS and PETG, while automatic leveling and intelligent calibration reduce setup time. The direct drive extruder with an all-metal nozzle capable of reaching 350°C supports a wide range of filaments. Wi-Fi, a built-in camera, and AI-powered monitoring all help keep prints on track.

DIY stem project

circuitmes

NASA Mars Perseverance Rover

This 1972 NASA Moon Buggy is one of the few “products” that WIRED has ever given a coveted 10/10 score. It’s a shame you’ll never be able to get one of these, but you can always scratch that interstellar itch with this awesome DIY Mars Perseverance Rover electronics kit. Designed for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning, it combines over 200 parts with programming, robotics, and mechanical assembly into one project. Users can program motion, sensors, and basic autonomy through an embedded microcontroller, gaining hands-on experience with real-world engineering concepts. Although complex and detailed, the entire model is noticeably smaller than the family cat.

Leaf blower

Hutu

20V Cordless Leaf Blower

Bring some much-needed sleek sci-fi to your yard work with this 20-volt cordless blower that propels 720 cubic feet of air per minute at 120 mph from a lightweight body. The compact, 3.7-pound design (without battery) makes it easy to use with one hand, even if you’re dealing with trees after the fall foliage season. The brushless motor improves efficiency and extends blower life, while the stepless speed control allows for precise adjustment to give you enough wind to remove light debris all the way to a full power clean. The lithium-ion battery lasts up to 30 minutes and is removable, so you can purchase additional batteries to quickly swap them out and keep blowing.

Charger and radio

milwaukee

M18 Packout Radio Charger

This sound system can be stacked with Milwaukee storage systems, and has a classic set of 10 rock-ready speakers capable of blasting The Boss into every corner of the construction site. It’s ruggedly built, powered either by plug-in or using a standard M18 battery, and has Bluetooth connectivity and AM-FM radio. It also works as a battery and USB charger for smartphones and power tools. The reinforced case protects it from drops, dust and moisture.

Electrical breaker

Compact, battery-operated cutting tool designed to reduce effort and improve accuracy for a range of cutting tasks. The motorized blade uses SK5 high-carbon steel segments, providing clean, precise cuts in everything from cardboard and fabric to leather and even some plastics. Weighing 10.5 ounces, it’s easy to steer with one hand, while the 4-volt rechargeable lithium battery will allow you to chop for hours on a single charge. Advanced trigger and activation technology further improves control, as well as keeping your fingers safe.

For children

This kid-safe router-style cutter is the perfect antidote to your usual screen time. Using a digitally controlled blunt cutting head instead of exposed blades, it allows kids (big and young) to cut cardboard, cardstock, foam, felt, delicate fabrics and light plastics at either 1,500 RPM for faster cutting or 800 RPM for more controlled work. The standard head can handle materials up to 3mm thick, but an optional upgrade to a 5mm ‘ProCut’ head lets you go even thicker. The compact 11.8 x 11.8-inch desktop unit comes in pink or green (go pink!) and connects via USB or Wi-Fi to bundled software that can create cutting templates from simple project designs you upload. The Cutter 2 offers fun and engaging activities for children as young as four years old.