six3x · Women in the trades
Whether you're starting an apprenticeship, renovating your first home, or just done waiting for someone else to hang the shelves: here's a starter kit that fits your hands, plain-English reasons for every pick, and a first project you can finish this weekend.
Specs sourced from manufacturers · No hard-coded prices — just $ to $$$ tiers · Updated 2026-10-24
Weight with the battery on, tool length and a good clutch decide how much control you have. We put those first.
Batteries only fit one brand's tools. Choose a family once and every future tool gets cheaper to add.
Glasses that flex, earmuffs that adjust, gloves cut for women's hands. If it fits, you'll wear it.
Starter kit
A drill, an impact driver, a circular saw and your safety gear. Pick a kit below — or compare other options on our drills, impact drivers and circular saws pages, or let the quiz choose for you.
DeWalt 20V MAX — one battery family for all three tools
All three tools share DeWalt's 20V MAX batteries, which Lowe's and Amazon both carry. Buy the saw as a kit (DCS565P1 comes with a 5Ah battery, charger and bag) and the drill and impact driver as tool-only — one battery runs everything. Add a second battery when you're ready. source ↗
Drill/driver $$$
Your everyday tool: drilling holes, driving screws, hanging anything. Compact for a full 1/2" drill, with a smooth two-speed gearbox.
DeWalt US rates this drill in watts (UWO), not in-lbs. 797 in-lb is converted from the 90 N·m 'hard' torque in DeWalt's EU manual.
Impact driver $$$
Drives long screws without twisting your wrist. Under 4" long, so it fits inside cabinets and between joists — and its low speed setting is gentle on small screws.
1,825 in-lb ≈ 206 N·m (EU manual lists 206.2 N·m).
Circular saw (buy as kit DCS565P1) $$
A 6-1/2" saw is lighter and less intimidating than a 7-1/4", still cuts 2x lumber at 45°, and has an electric brake that stops the blade quickly.
The Original Pink Box 20V — matching, brushless, honest about limits
If you want your tools to look like yours, this is the most capable all-pink system we found. The drill and impact driver are genuine brushless tools. The saw is fine for plywood and 2x4s, but it's slower and shallower than the DeWalt — so we'd pair a pink drill and impact with whichever saw you'll feel safest using. source ↗
Drill/driver $$
Brushless motor, metal 1/2" chuck and 19 clutch settings — a real drill, not a toy.
Converted from the listed 45 N·m max torque.
Impact driver $$
180 N·m listed torque, close to name-brand 18V impacts; slower top speed, so long screws take a little longer.
Converted from the listed 180 N·m max torque.
Circular saw $$
Left-side blade gives right-handed users a clear view of the line. Lower speed (3,650 RPM) and 2" depth — great for shelving and boxes, not our pick for decks.
The non-negotiables — wear them every time
Safety glasses $
Every saw and drill manual calls for eye protection. These flex to fit different head sizes — handy if 'one size fits all' glasses usually slide off you — and the flat temples sit comfortably under earmuffs.
Specs from the maker: source ↗
Hearing protection $
Impact drivers and saws are loud — DeWalt declares 88 dB(A) for its compact impact driver and 91 dB(A) for its compact saw. Earmuffs go on and off in a second, and the headband adjusts to smaller heads.
Specs from the maker: source ↗
Work gloves $
Gloves cut for women's hands mean no floppy fingertips catching on things. Wear them for carrying lumber and handling rough boards — choose a snug size so nothing loose ends up near a spinning blade or bit.
Dust mask / respirator $
Sawing and sanding make fine dust you don't want to breathe. The exhalation valve keeps it cooler, and the adjustable nose clip lets you shape a snug seal over your nose.
Prefer something lighter? The DeWalt 12V DCD701 drill is about 2.4 lb with its battery, and the WORX 4-1/2" saw tops our beginner score. Use Feel it to compare sizes on your screen.
Your first project
One board, six cuts, about eighteen screws. It uses all three tools, teaches the skills behind almost every project, and you'll use the box for years.
| Part | Name | Qty | Length | Stock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Long sides | 2 | 16" | 1x6 pine (3/4" × 5-1/2") |
| B | Ends | 2 | 9-1/2" | 1x6 pine (3/4" × 5-1/2") |
| C | Bottom boards | 2 | 16" | 1x6 pine (3/4" × 5-1/2") |
Measure 16" from one end of the board, hook a speed square on the edge and draw a square line. Mark an X on the waste side. Mark one piece at a time — measure each new piece from the fresh cut, not from the far end.
Glasses and earmuffs on. Clamp the board with the waste end hanging past your support, set the blade about half a tooth deeper than the board, let the saw reach full speed, then push smoothly through. Let the blade stop before you lift. New to this? Read Your first cut first and practice one cut on scrap.
Mask on. Sand every cut edge with 120 grit until it feels smooth, then do a quick pass with 220. Soften the sharp corners slightly.
Stand the two ends (B) between the two long sides (A) so the long sides cover the ends' cut edges. Check that the box sits flat and the corners look square.
Run a thin bead of glue on an end's cut edge, clamp it between the sides, then drill two pilot holes with the countersink bit through each side into the end. Drive #8 × 1-5/8" screws with your impact driver on its lowest speed (or your drill with the clutch set low) until the heads sit flush. Repeat for all four corners.
Flip the box over. Lay the two bottom boards (C) side by side, glue the edges they sit on, then pilot and drive two or three screws into each long side and one into each end.
Wipe off any glue squeeze-out with a damp cloth, give it a final sand, and leave it natural, paint it, or stain it. Use it as a planter liner tray, a toy box, a tool tote, or entryway storage.
The best part
Measured, cut, drilled and drove every screw yourself. Every bigger project — shelves, planters, a workbench — is just more of what you did today. Share it, use it, and go build the next thing.
Weight, length and torque side by side.
Explore →From compact 12V to full 18V.
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