Here's the list of gifts for joel@loudermilk.org, last updated on September 15, 2024.
High priority
Random orbital sander with dust collection ($69)
Available at: Home Depot
The only power sander we have is an old Black & Decker "mouse" sander from 20 years ago. It still works, and we have sanded a ridiculous amount of stuff with it. But it gets dust everywhere. Nowadays, sanders have dust collection. And it would be better to use a random orbital sander for larger areas and just the "mouse" for corners.
I'd like to get this Ryobi corded sander from Home Depot.
"Cat's paw" nail puller ($10-20)
Available at: Lowe's or any home improvement store
Our handyman had one of these, and we used it when we needed to demo the staircase. Sure, you can remove a nail with a hammer, but these claw-like nail pullers will help you when there's not enough room to maneuver your hammer or when the nail has been hammered flush with the wood surface (you can hammer the claw underneath the nail's head and then start pulling).
You can get these at any home improvement store, and they might just be called "claw nail puller" or "nail puller." Here's one from Lowe's. If there are options for how long it is, 9 or 10 inches is probably best (I want to make sure it's short enough to get in tight spaces).