Long before Nick Offerman became the mustached, straight-faced Ron Swanson of Parks and Recreation, he was a woodworker. Growing up in Minooka, Illinois, he described his childhood home as “Little House on the Prairie”—a place where everyone made their own things, carefully crafting furniture, clothing, and tools by hand.
And as a skilled woodworker and general handy person, Nick appreciates good tools. This is fortuitous, because Wirecutter’s staff are similarly obsessed. For this episode, we sat down with Nick to talk about his new book Little Woodchucks, the joy of learning to build things, and the essential things he recommends that anyone should have in their toolbox.
Our colleague Rose Lorre also sat down separately with Nick to discuss the foundational tool in his kit–a claw hammer–and documented her journey following his advice for buying a great hammer and learning to pound nails.
Here are some of the conversation highlights:
- Hands-on work builds confidence and independence: Doing things with your hands—whether it’s woodworking, sewing, or fixing something around the house—teaches problem-solving and self-reliance.
- A few quality tools and materials are worth the investment: Cutting corners might save money upfront, but investing in tools or materials that last saves frustration and disappointment in the long run—and often makes the work itself more enjoyable.
- Keep it simple when building a toolkit: A few versatile, high-quality essentials can get you started and teach you the fundamentals before you invest more.
- The Estwing claw hammer is still Nick’s favorite tool of all: Nick is a longtime fan of Estwing hammers. Back in 2019, he even tweeted his recommendation for an Estwing, and linked to Wirecutter’s hammer guide.
- Discipline in one area feeds success in others: Patience, planning, and attention to detail learned in one pursuit—like woodworking—translate to other areas of life.
Wirecutter Picks In Nick’s Workshop:
- The best hammer: Estwing E3-16C
Nick says he also keeps a cordless drill, a multi-bit manual screwdriver, a set of wrenches, and a saw. Here are Wirecutter’s picks for these handy staples:
- The Best Cordless Drill: DeWalt DCD701F2 Xtreme 12V Max Brushless 3/8 in. Drill/Driver Kit
- The Best Multi-Bit Screwdriver: Megapro 13-in-1 Ratcheting Driver 211R2C36RD
- The Best Hex Wrenches: Amazon Basics Hex Key Allen Wrench Set with Ball End
- The Best Adjustable Wrench: Channellock 8WCB WideAzz 8-Inch Adjustable Wrench
- The Best Handsaw: Shark 10-2315 Carpentry Saw 15-Inch
Other products Nick loves:
- The unsung hero in Nick’s workshop: Lie Nielsen Hand Planes
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