How To Be Handier

The Wirecutter Show

The New York Times

Life Hacks, Product Recommendations, Wirecutter, Podcast, New York Times, How To, The Wirecutter Show, Leisure, Recommendations, Products, Testing, Home & Garden, Society & Culture, Education

4.2 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 31 October 2025

⏱️ 14 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Tool expert Doug Mahoney shares what every beginner needs to start fixing, building, and creating at home.

Transcript

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0:00.0	I'm Christine Zierclicette. I'm Kyra Blackwell.
0:05.5	I'm Rosie Garan, and you're listening to The Wirecutter Show.
0:08.7	Hey, y'all. it's Kyra.
0:22.4	A few days ago, we released an episode with actor, writer, and woodworker, the famous
0:27.5	Nick Offerman.
0:28.5	It really is a fantastic conversation, and if you haven't listened to it yet, you should
0:32.6	definitely go find it.
0:33.7	We talked with Nick about the tools he likes and the woodworking projects he thinks are good to start with, especially with kids.
0:40.2	But here at Wirecutter, our tool expertise goes way beyond just woodworking.
0:44.3	We have a team of home improvement writers who cover everything, from power tools to simple hand tools to the best way to store tools.
0:52.2	So in light of our episode with Nick Offerman, we thought it'd be helpful to bring you some more
0:56.3	in-depth information on how to build a basic toolbox, whether you're starting from scratch
1:01.0	or a couple steps above scratch.
1:04.8	Today, we'll chat with senior staff writer Doug Mahoney.
1:08.0	Doug has joined us on the podcast many times before to chat about everything
1:11.5	from fire safety to pest control, and he's also been using tools professionally and writing
1:16.7	about them for years. In a minute, Doug tells us what tools you really need to start being
1:22.3	handy, what you can expect to spend, and what you don't need to invest in as a beginner. Be right back.
1:31.9	Welcome back.
1:45.7	Welcome back.
1:45.7	With us now is Doug Mahoney, who is a senior study. Welcome back.
1:52.6	With us now is Doug Mahoney, who is a senior staff writer on the home improvement team who specializes in hand tools and power tools.
	...

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