Before you jump into making your man cave, take a minute to figure out what tools you will need. When I started my man cave DIY journey, I had no idea what tools I needed for the different jobs that would pop up. With this article, I am hoping to save you a few trips to your local hardware store. This list is in no particular order.
So, what tools do you need to build a man cave? If you have a router, drill/impact driver, miter saw, palm sander, laser level, stud finder, and a tape measure, you will have all the tools you need to be prepared. With this combination of tools, you have what you need to tackle any project in your man cave.
1. Router:
Why Is a Router Needed While Building Your Man Cave?
When people think about projects, they always think of drills and saws. The router is rarely mentioned. I went a long time without owning one, but I realized how useful they can be once I started to build my bar.
A router is used to cut designs or trim the edges of your projects. If you have ever seen a rounded edge on the end of a piece of wood, chances are that it is a router’s handy work. You can get a lot of jobs don without ever needing a router. But once you have a job that needs one, no other tool can get the job done.
While you are building your man cave, there are going to be a couple of opportunities to use it. The projects you will need a router for are adding edges to your floating shelves, trimming the edges of your bar top, and dulling the edges on all other DIY projects.
The jobs a router is used for can be avoided. But, any DIYer worth their salt will want a router in their arsenal of tools.
How Much Will a Router Cost:
Not all routers are created equal. If you are planning to use the router on things like floating shelves, you are going to need a router table as well. You can get a pretty good router and table for $200 to $300. If you really wanted to save money, don’t get the table. But if your goal is to handle any job you man cave throws at you, you probably want it.
2. Drill/Impact Driver:
Why Is a Drill/Impact Driver Needed While Building Your Man Cave?
One of the most important tools to have while building a man cave is a drill. You probably already knew this. But in case you didn’t know, drills are used to drill holes and drive smaller screws. Another consideration is an impact drill, which is similar to a drill. An impact driver is stronger than a drill and has more torque.
One important this mention though is: make sure you buy a drill and impact driver with strong motors and a ¼ inch drill. That size will give it the most flexibility with bits and other accessories. This one of the most versatile tools you can have in your arsenal.
With the combination of a drill and impact driver, you will be able to tackle projects like mounting your TV, hanging your display cases, creating your DIY bar, and all kinds of other things.
This is probably one of the least surprising inclusions on this list. Because of a drill’s flexibility, go ahead and spend a little extra. It’s better to have more drill than not enough.
How Much Will a Drill/Impact Driver Cost:
There are a couple of things to consider when buying the right drill for your man cave projects. The two most important are that you get a ¼ inch drill and that you get a drill that is strong enough for any hob you will be throwing at it.
Compared to other tools, a drill and impact driver is pretty affordable. One of the most important things to keep in mind when looking for impact drivers and drills is their power. It is worth buying a combination of these two tools. To buy these two together, you can expect to pay anywhere from $125 to $175.
The drill/impact driver I decided to highlight here is one of Amazon’s top-rated. Like I mentioned, the most important factor is its power. These use a high-performance motor, which is an impressive 300-unit watts.
3. Miter Saw:
Why Is a Miter Saw Needed While Building Your Man Cave?
A miter saw is another one of those tools that are often overlooked. I was lucky enough to have one handy from past projects during my man cave’s construction. It is essentially a chop saw, that can pivot to make angled cuts.
If you are constructing your man cave from scratch as I did, there are going to be plenty of projects that you will be pulling out the trusty miter saw for.
Using it as a chop saw, your miter saw is going to come in handy for cutting your floating shelves to size, cutting laminate flooring, and cutting lumber to size for other projects like your bar.
Your miter saw’s angled cutting comes in handy when tackling projects like cutting floor trim, cutting the bar rail of your bar top, or other framing projects. Having the ability to join two pieces of wood into a perfectly square 90-degree corner is a powerful thing!
Talking from experience, it took a little practice to get used to setting the blade at the correct angle. After a little practice on inexpensive wood, you will quickly start to impress yourself and your guests.
Without having a miter saw to do this finish carpentry, your man cave will look incomplete. Trust me, finish carpentry is one of my least favorite parts of the man cave build process. But if you take the time to get good with a miter saw, you will be able to hold your own.
How Much Will a Miter Saw Cost:
A miter saw is going to be one of the more expensive tools you are going to need to finish your man cave. Luckily, it can serve multiple functions, so you will get your money’s worth.
When searching for a miter saw, you should consider getting one with a larger blade radius (12 inches) and one that slides. You can expect to spend anywhere from $300 to $400. You are already spending so much money on this tool, you may as well spend a little extra to make sure it can handle any job you need to get done.
4. Palm Sander:
Why Is a Palm Sander Needed While Building Your Man Cave?
So I just got done telling you that finish carpentry is my least favorite part of building a man cave. Well, wood finishing is my favorite part. One of the most important tools for wood finishing is a good palm sander. If you are planning of doing any DIY projects in your man cave ever, a palm sander is an important addition to your tool collection.
Some of the projects that you will need a sander for are bar tops, DIY floating shelves, and any other wooden projects you plan of staining or painting. When finishing wood, it can look pretty awful if you don’t do it right. Getting that stuff nice and smooth is the first step to doing the job right. You don’t NEED a palm sander to do it right, it just saves you a lot of time.
If you wanted to save money, you could go without a palm sander. But take it from me, sanding by hand in definitely not worth your time…
How Much Will a Palm Sander Cost:
For what they are capable of, palm sanders are pretty affordable. The things to consider when buying a palm sander are the sheet size, if it’s corded or not, and if it has variable speeds. Corded sanders are much less expensive than their cordless siblings. For a corded sander, you can expect to pay $40 to $60. For the more convenient cordless sanders, you can expect to pay from $100 to $120.
The palm sander I have chosen is a ¼ sheet cordless sander that is variable speed. This is one of Amazon’s top picks for palm sanders. I have the corded version of this exact model. If I were to buy a new sander, I would be going with cordless. That short power cord is a pain.
5. Laser Level:
Why Is a Laser Level Needed While Building Your Man Cave?
If you do not already have a laser level, you will need to get one. You are going to be hanging all kinds of things while you build your man cave. It is hard to make sure everything is straight unless you have a partner in crime. A laser level is one of the cheaper tools on this list.
It is important for projects like mounting your TV and hanging other decorations on your walls. When you are drilling holes, you need to be certain things are all straight. The laser level’s clear red line will help you quickly and easily make sure things are straight. A laser level will give you that peace of mind. No one wants a crooked TV.
Laser levels are also great from providing a guide when painting. Depending on your room’s layout, you may need to paint in a straight line. This is nearly impossible to do without a laser level. Yes, you can use painter’s tape, but that can be hard to get perfectly level.
There are plenty of options out there that are great at what they are designed to do. There are a few features that may be nice to have. Some are auto-leveling, some that have a built-in stud finder, and some that are just regular laser levels. The level I chose to highlight is one of the top-rated on Amazon.
How Much Will a Laser Level Cost:
A good laser level is going to be a little more expensive than you might have first thought. There are a few things you are going to need to keep in mind when looking for one. It is worth looking for a self-leveling one. That will just make your life easier. It is also worth looking for one that will also help you find straight up and down as well. To find one with these features, you can expect to pay around $30 to $40.
The laser level I have gone with is one of Amazon’s most popular. It has both the features I mentioned that you should look for. You should give it a look.
6. Stud Finder:
Why Is a Stud Finder Needed While Building Your Man Cave?
A stud finder is another one of those tools that you need in your arsenal. There is nothing more frustrating than missing a stud multiple times and gauging up your drywall.
Whenever you go to hang something up on your walls that has a little weight behind it, you are going to want to make sure it is solidly anchored in a stud (a wood 2 by 4 that is behind your drywall every 16 to 24 inches). If what you are hanging is not solidly anchored, you run the risk of it tearing out of your drywall. Then you will need to repair what just fell out of the wall, AND your wall!
You could play the knocking game to find the stud, or you could spend a few dollars to save yourself the headache. The one I have gone with is one of the top-rated ones on Amazon. It’s awesome because it can sense more than just your regular wooden studs. With a stud finder, you will feel assured that your precious TV or collectibles are securely attached to the wall.
How Much Will a Stud Finder Cost:
In the grand scheme of things, stud finders are pretty inexpensive. Like anything though, some are great quality and inexpensive, and some that are not worth your time. If you stick around the $25 to $30 range, you can find some pretty solid ones.
The stud finder I have gone with is one of Amazon’s top-rated. It is flexible, affordable, and easy to use. What more is there to ask for?
7. Tape Measure:
Why Is a Tape Measure Needed While Building Your Man Cave?
I feel a little silly for saying it, but you will be lost without a tape measure. I hope I don’t need to explain why it’s useful, but I will give a few examples.
To plan your man cave, you will need to be able to measure. There is no way around that. The planning process will go more smoothly the more precise you can be. The Building process will go more smoothly with a tape measure because you will… shocker… be able to measure twice before you cut. Finally, the finishing process will go more smoothly because you will be able to precisely measure how high off the ground to mount your TV or where in the room to put your pool table or dartboard.
A decent tape measure is an absolute must for anyone wanting to build their man cave. There is no substitute for an old-fashioned table measure.
How Much Will a Tape Measure Cost:
A tape measure is the most affordable tool in this list. Because of this, there is no excuse for not getting one. You will be able to get a good quality tape measure for around $10. Simple is better here when buying tape measures. Just figure out the length you need, and bite the bullet.
Final Thoughts:
If you have a router, drill/impact driver, miter saw, palm sander, laser level, stud finder, and a tape measure, you will have the tools needed to handle any man cave project. With these seven tools, no project will catch you unprepared.
Each tool has features that are worth paying attention to when shopping. I hope this article gave you the information you need to conquer your man cave construction.
Until next time,