Anyone with an interest in home improvement will find themselves using power tools at some point during their endeavours. Power tools make difficult tasks much easier and make tasks which would be impossible with hand tools reasonable. Common tasks which would require the use of a power tool include constructing furniture such as wardrobes, beds and bookshelves. In the garden, you could use power tools to construct a fence or shed, to keep a hedge looking healthy. You could use a leaf blower to clean up leaves in the autumn or blossom in the spring.

There are a number of different brands on the market, many of which produce similar products. As with many things in life, consumers will often choose one brand of tool and stay loyal for many years.

Makita

Makita started life as a manufacturer of electric motors, introducing their first electric tool in 1958. Nowadays, Makita is one of the world's premier power tool manufacturers with seven manufacturing installations around the world and a selection of over 350 innovative tools. On top of this, the manufacturer produces well over 4,500 accessories which are popular with tradesmen and DIY enthusiasts alike. Makita tools are enduringly popular, especially in the United States.

Dewalt

For almost 80 years, Dewalt has earned a reputation for producing tough industrial machinery. In 1923, Raymond Dewalt invented the radial arm saw that set the standard for quality and durability for decades. Dewalt tools are famous for their black and yellow colour scheme. Dewalt is the most popular brand of power tools in North America and has seen the largest international growth of any power tool brand since 2000, beating smaller competitors like Clarke tools hands down.

Panasonic

Panasonic tools are famously high-tech. Panasonic was created in 1955 and was first used as a brand for audio speakers produced by the Matsushita company. Originating in pre-war Japan, Matsushita produces everything from cutting-edge LCD televisions to the legendary Technics 1200 turntable. Their power tools are high quality and enduringly popular, sometimes seen as a Japanese equivalent of Germany's Bosch tools.

The variety of products available from these manufacturers is huge, ranging from generators to the humble nail gun. All produce power tool accessories to be used alongside the tools. It is important to use power tools safely as they can be dangerous if incorrectly used. Follow all instructions to the letter.