The Wirecutter Show — "How To Be Handier"
Date: October 31, 2025
Hosts: Christine Cyr Clisset, Kyra Blackwell, Rosie Guerin
Guest: Doug Mahoney (Senior Staff Writer, Home Improvement, Wirecutter)
Episode Overview
This episode dives into the essentials of becoming more "handy" around your home. Building on a previous conversation with Nick Offerman, the hosts sit down with Wirecutter’s Doug Mahoney to demystify tool selection, foundational skills, and the philosophy behind DIY home improvement. Whether you’re starting from absolute scratch or have a few basic tools in your drawer, Doug provides a practical roadmap for assembling your first toolbox and shares wisdom for building confidence with repairs and projects.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Why Become Handy?
- Empowerment & Savings:
Doug highlights how learning basic home repair skills gives you agency over your environment and saves money and time."It sort of shifts your relationship with your home. You start to see your home as something that you can really adapt to your needs... you don't have to rely on other people to fix things."
— Doug Mahoney (04:05)
First DIY Projects
- Where to Start:
- Painting a room (a small but impactful first step)
- Tightening loose handles or hinges
- Swapping out cabinet hardware for a quick kitchen update
"Painting a room is a great place to start... Another pretty interesting thing. You could just swap out the hardware on your kitchen cabinets, which... can really change the look of your kitchen."
— Doug Mahoney (04:45)
Building Your First Toolbox
-
Absolute Basics:
Doug’s "trifecta" of tools:- Screwdriver
- Hammer
- Tape measure
"...those are three pretty essential tools that you can really do a lot, lot of little things in your house with."
— Doug Mahoney (05:18) -
Skip the Pre-Made Kits:
Doug warns that most pre-assembled toolkits are low quality and overpriced."They cost more than what they're worth... you're going to bump up against the limitations... very, very quickly."
— Doug Mahoney (05:43) -
Quality Is Worth It:
- Higher-quality tools last longer, are easier to use, and turn into "lifetime" investments.
- Individual tools: $15–$30 each, but well worth the cost.
"A better tool, you're going to notice it just feels better in the hand... It's worth leveling up to the good stuff."
— Doug Mahoney (06:50)
Next Tools to Add
- After the Basics:
- Adjustable pliers/wrenches: versatile for plumbing and repairs
- Locking pliers (vice grips)
- Stud finder (for hanging heavy objects)
- Level
- Allen wrenches (especially useful for bikes and furniture)
- Headlamp (for hands-free work in dark places)
- Non-contact voltage tester (for basic electrical troubleshooting)
"Once you have those basics, I would then sort of move on to the plier wrench category..."
— Doug Mahoney (07:52)
Power Tool Milestones
-
When to Upgrade:
- Power tools signal moving from reactive fixes to proactive projects.
- Cordless drill is often the first and most versatile upgrade—useful for much more than just driving screws.
"[A] cordless drill is probably essential for anybody who's interested in taking on this kind of work."
— Doug Mahoney (09:32) -
Benefits of a Drill:
- Efficiency, versatility, energy savings
- Opens up new DIY possibilities (from assembling furniture to drilling holes for home improvement projects)
"It really opens up a huge, huge arena of things you can do."
— Doug Mahoney (10:25) -
Top Pick:
- DeWalt 12V Cordless Drill
- < $150 (often bundled with two batteries and a charger)
"Our top pick is a little 12 volt DeWalt..."
— Christine Cyr Clisset & Doug Mahoney (11:00) -
Cordless is King:
- Corded drills are becoming obsolete due to major advances in battery tech.
Should You Buy Power Tool Kits?
- Power Tools: Kits are Good Value:
- Unlike with hand tools, starter kits are a cost-effective and logical entry point for power tools.
- Kits often include:
- Drill
- Circular saw
- Reciprocating saw
- Oscillating multi-tool
- Flashlight
- Multiple batteries/charger
- Price range: About $200 for a multi-tool set
"For one, it's a way to get a lot of tools at a fairly low price... it's a good place to get started."
— Doug Mahoney (11:45–12:52)
What’s an Oscillating Multi-Tool?
- A versatile power tool; accepts blades, triangular sanding pads, and grinder heads
- Good for sanding, plunge cutting (cutting directly into surfaces), and detailed cleanup
"You can plunge cut like directly straight into a wall... If you're cutting in for like an outlet or something... you can just kind of plunge in and... make a really tight, nice little box."
— Doug Mahoney (12:57)
Safety and Philosophical Advice
- Safety First:
- Especially with power tools—watch lots of tutorials for complex jobs (not just one!)
- Accept imperfection and stay positive
"...keep a good attitude about it and don't let... perfect get in the way of pretty good."
— Doug Mahoney quoting his brother-in-law (14:07, 14:54)- Old houses bring special challenges—expect the unexpected
Notable Quotes & Moments
-
On House Projects Changing Your Outlook:
"You start to see your home as something that you can really kind of adapt to your needs. It's not sort of a static thing anymore." – Doug Mahoney (04:05)
-
On Tool Quality:
"A better tool, you're going to notice it just feels better in the hand. The grip is going to be much better. The overall design will be better." – Doug Mahoney (06:50)
-
On Avoiding Perfection Paralysis:
"Don’t let perfect get in the way of pretty good." – Doug Mahoney's brother-in-law, as quoted by Doug (14:54)
-
On Learning:
"YouTube is a great resource... Watch 10 videos on people replacing their toilets and not just one." – Doug Mahoney (14:07)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- [04:05] — Why being handy matters
- [04:45] — Starter projects for beginners
- [05:18] — Building your first tool kit
- [06:29] — Navigating the tool aisle and choosing quality
- [07:52] — Expanding your hand tool collection
- [09:32] — Moving up to power tools
- [10:25] — The value of a cordless drill
- [11:00] — Wirecutter’s top drill pick
- [11:45] — The value of power tool kits
- [12:57] — What is an oscillating multi-tool?
- [14:07] — Safety, preparation, and philosophical advice
Final Thoughts
Doug encourages everyone, regardless of skill level, to see their home as an adaptable space and to start with manageable projects. Investing in quality tools and education pays off, both in satisfaction and practicality. Most of all, progress is better than perfection, and handy skills are built one (well-researched) project at a time.
For more, see Wirecutter’s top picks and safety guides in the show notes.