5 Woodworking Tools You Must Own Right Now

Every woodworker loves his tools, but he or she also loves not spending a fortune on tools they never use. While every tool has its use, before buying any tool, it's always a good idea to ask yourself whether or not you will ever actually use it.

After all, there's a good chance you can rent or borrow a tool if you're just going to need it one time for one project.

But there are some tools no serious woodworker can do without, and this goes beyond the core drills, tape measures, hammers, and other essential tools found in most homes.

1. Belt Sander

Many people presume that belt sanders are the purview of professional contractors, who need to use one to remove old paint from a wall or resurface a hardwood floor.

While traditional floor sanders are certainly ideal for this, the table sander will prove invaluable to you for all kinds of small work, from evening and smoothing cuts for joining to rounding edges so they won't splinter or cut the hand.

Smooth, slightly curved wooden surfaces feel excellent, and you'll regularly amaze yourself at how good a properly sanded piece can be even before finishing.

Once you have the best belt sander, you will question how you lived without one for so long.

2. Table Saw

Again, a lot of people think that table saws are just for contractors when actually they can save you hours of work and hundreds of dollars in wasted pieces of wood.

If you've ever cut a piece of wood using a hand saw or circular saw, you know that the biggest problem is ensuring the cut is straight.

A rough cut can mean time wasted sanding it down even, or worse, having to start all over again with a fresh piece of wood.

Table saws prevent this, enabling you to get a clean cut every time, through the use of proper angles and restraints on the wood.

Be certain to get one which has a SawStop or similar conduction-based safety brake, and to keep your fingers away from the saw at all times.

Improper table saw safety is among the leading causes of finger damage among woodworkers.

3. Router

Cutting hole, trench or recession into a piece of wood can take hours and require some tough sanding to make it smooth inside.

A router can put shallow grooves into a material to help adhesives flow and stick better, it can cut small recessions for holding objects or concealing wires, and it opens the world to small decorative cuts.

While you will, of course, want to do much of the most detailed carving by hand, getting the work started with a router can save time and let you focus on the fine details.

4. Jigsaw

Between the router and the table saw it is possible to do 90% of the cutting you will need to do on most projects, but for the remaining 10% you will need a high-quality jigsaw.

Most people are familiar with jigsaws for their ability to do large, decorative cuts, such as those seen on headboards.

But they can also do the sorts of cuts that are too small for a table saw and too big for a router.

They can start the cuts necessary for later decoration, and with practice, they become a fast, safe option for making basic cuts on small pieces of wood.

Jigsaws can also be used to make decorative windows or holes in surfaces, as well as enable you to cut out non-structural wood to let in light and remove weight.

5. Reciprocating Saw

One last thing you will need if you plan on doing a lot of woodworking is a tool that enables you to get rid of old cabinets, banisters, or just break down old furniture into useful kindling.

After all, how can you build a replacement when the old thing is still in the way? A reciprocating saw will not only do this, but with speed and power that is downright startling.

With a minimum of understanding or training, a reciprocating saw will let you remove just about anything in minutes.

Just make certain you don't unleash it on anything you intend to reuse later.

Wrapping Up

Of course, all of these tools need to be backed up by safety goggles, work gloves, and face masks in the proper applications. You'll also want a good shop vac to gather all the sawdust and prevent it from becoming a fire hazard.

It is also important to monitor each tool and to replace worn belts and blades immediately to keep them from catching on the wood. By doing so, you'll prevent accidents and wear and ensure the tools you buy today will still be working for you in ten or twenty years.


  • November 10, 2016
  • Tools
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