Female-friendly power tools or tools for small hands

Hi Xana. Have you tried out a driver? I have a Dewalt DC825 and it is WONDERFUL for me. I'm on the small side (5'7" and 125 pounds), too, and I have no problems at all using it.

I have hand strength issues, and do not have large hands.

I use AC-powered tools whenever possible because they are lighter than the battery-powered ones.

My drill has a handle that screws into the side for stabilizing it. I won't buy a drill that doesn't have this (look for a threaded hole in the side of the drill).

Look for a sander that has a "nose" that you can hold as well as a handle. Two-handed is easier than 1-handed.

www.amazon.com/Makita-BO3700X6-Sander-Sheets-Sandpaper/dp/B0002HC46O is an example.

I also avoid the battery powered tools, which reduces size and price. Not that cordless drills and drivers don't have their place, but they don't offer any real advantage for the work I'm doing.

I also try to use hand tools whenever I can. They're smaller, generally more precise, and a whole lot less likely to try to take off a finger. Most importantly, I'm not trailing a cord or hauling around batteries. They are often cheaper, but since I spent just about $150 on two new saws over the holidays, it's clearly not a universal truth. On the other hand, there is no substitute, powered or not, for a quality joinery saw, and they both paid for themselves immediately.