Picking the best selection of beginner woodworking tools can seem like a daunting task. There’s actually a small group of tools that will be used in almost all of your woodworking projects. You can get all the tools you need for less than $1000. Now let’s look at exactly what tools are the best for you for getting started with woodworking.
When you go to any hardware store these days you will certainly be overwhelmed with the number of woodworking tool options there are. Just remember that most of what you are looking at is not needed for what you will be working on.
Getting good quality tools is the most important thing to consider. Poor quality tools will end up frustrating you, and can possibly wind up being dangerous. You don’t need to spend high prices on quality tools. Keep reading to the end to find out my suggestions on where to purchase used tools for affordable prices.
What Tools Should Every Woodworker Have?
Below is a list of woodworking tools for beginners in the order that is recommended to purchase them in. Click on the tool in the list to see what the price is for a brand new tool.
These are a great set of tools for you to get started with. Most of them will be able to be used for several different functions, allowing them to be used on many projects. Let’s take a closer look at what each one of them is used for.
Circular Saw and Straight Edge
The Circular Saw is a tool that can be used in many applications. The main reason is to cut the rough lumber down to the sizes you want to work with. Another example for how a circular saw might be used is if you want to cut a chamfer on the edges of a table you are making.
This tool is used to make straight cuts in longer pieces of lumber. The Straight Edge is used as a guide to run the saw against the edge of. This will make sure your cut is perfectly straight, and not veering off one way or another.
Cordless Drill/Driver Set
At some point you are going to need to drill a hole in a piece of wood. The DeWalt 20V Cordless Drill is the perfect tool for this job. This tool has plenty of torque to drill through the densest hardwoods you will be working with.
And when you need to screw fasteners in, you have the driver for this. I prefer to have two tools because this allows for one to have your pilot drill bit on one and your screwdriver bit on the other. It saves a lot of time not needing to switch them out on the same too.
Random Orbital Sander
Sanding your materials is an important step to make your projects look nice. And the Random Orbital Sander is one of the best tools for this job. This is a handheld sander that is very easy to use. The disk spins as you move it along the surface of the material.
This tool is ideal for flat surfaces being sanded, but can also be used to kick down the sharp edge on pieces. The sanding discs are easy to change out, as they use a velcro type system. Your random orbital sander is going to get a lot of use in your shop!
Clamps
There is a saying in woodworking that you are going to hear over and over. “You can never have too many clamps.” And this saying can’t be more true. This assortment of Clamps give you a variety to work with.
Clamps have many uses in the woodshop. They can be used for things like holding down a board while you plane one edge. But arguably the most important use for clamps is to glue up two boards together. These boards will need to be held tightly while the glue dries, and clamps are the best way to do this.
Workbench
It’s easy to overlook the Workbench as a woodworking tool for beginners, but it should not be left off the list. There can be many options to choose from, but take these characteristics into consideration before making your choice. If all these needs are met you can use pretty much whatever you want, as long as you don’t mind the surface getting worn out over time.
The workbench will need to be stable while you are doing things like planing or drilling into your materials. The surface should be large enough to fit your project on without slipping off while you work. It’s also important for it to be a comfortable height while you work, which helps keep your back from getting sore over time.
Miter Saw
The Miter Saw is a staple in the woodworking hobby. This tool makes it quick and easy to make accurate angles in your materials. A good example of this is making mitered corners in picture frames. If you get a good quality miter saw, you won’t need to replace it for a very long time.
The miter saw will cost over $200 for a good one. If this feels like an expensive purchase that you are not ready to commit to, a good alternative is using a miter box and handsaw like this Craftsman Miter Saw. The biggest negative for this option is it takes longer for you to physically make the cuts by hand.
Chisel Set
A good chisel set like This One is great for doing things like making a mortise and tenon joint. The chisel is an important hand tool that shouldn’t run you very much money. This one costs $17 and comes with four size options.
Mallet
You won’t be able to use your chisels without a Mallet. The benefit of using a mallet over a hammer is you are less likely to damage the materials. Mallets can be used for many tasks like making corners flush before fastening them. It is made out of dense rubber, which is safe to use on wood.
Hand Saw
The Hand Saw is a great tool for cutting down materials like 2×4’s or other dimensional lumber. And at $20 you don’t need to feel like you are spending a tremendous amount of money to get started in the hobby.
The biggest negative of using a handsaw is it is not as quick as a circular saw, and much more laborious. It can feel nearly impossible to rip through a piece of plywood with a handsaw, and your accuracy may suffer. But if you are determined, the handsaw is a great option for a beginner woodworking tool.
Tenon Saw
The Tenon Saw is a fine-toothed hand saw. It’s used to make precise cuts in various woodworking joints like a mortise-and-tenon joint. These joints take a little practice, but a dedicated beginner will be able to perfect them in no time. Take your woodworking joints to a new level with a tenon saw.
Hand Planer
The Hand Planer is a hand tool that’s used to shave off small amounts of wood at a time. This is important when you are doing things like laminating two pieces of wood together with glue, and you need a smooth surface. Or maybe you need to square up an edge of a board, and just need to take a little off.
The hand planer doesn’t cost much money, but if properly maintained you will be handing yours down to your children at some point.
Combination Square
The Combination Square is a well-loved hand tool among woodworkers. It’s used to make accurate 90 degree marks on your materials. Use your combination square to make the marks you want to cut for joints like a mortise and tenon joint, or dovetail joint.
You can make 45 degree and 90 degree quickly and accurately with a combination square. You can also remove the straight edge if needed as well.
Tape Measure
I recommend going with a 16 ft Tape Measure because it’s long enough to take measurements of pretty much any materials you will be working with. The nice thing about a 16 ft tape is it isn’t very bulky, which makes it easy to clip it to your pant’s pocket when not in use.
It’s better to use a pencil than a pen when working with wood. Any pencil will work, but I like using a Carpenter Pencil when possible. These have a thicker lead, which makes them less likely to break when making many marks on wood. You can use a Utility Knife or a Carpenter Pencil Sharpener to sharpen them.
What is The Most Useful Woodworking Tool?
A Table Saw is the most useful woodworking tool to have in your shop. This is a great option for making rip cuts on long materials, as well as working your stock materials down to the dimensions you want. But many beginners can’t justify spending around $400 on a tool this early in the hobby.
The good news is a circular saw with a straight edge is a great option to grab while you decide if this is the right hobby for you. Although it will take more time to set up the cuts, you will still be able to have the same outcome as you would if using a table saw.
I recommend mastering the method of using a circular saw to make your rip cuts when first starting out. This technique is excellent practice for hand eye coordination, as well as getting comfortable with the saw.
I recommend the DeWalt Jobsite Table Saw when you are ready to get one. It uses an 8-½” blade which is a great size for cutting the materials you will be working with. It has a compact size which makes it easy to move around as needed, and it includes all the features you will need.
What Is The First Tool You Should Get When Starting Woodworking?
The first tool a beginner woodworker should get is some type of a saw. Even though there are a lot of choices on the market, a Circular Saw is going to be the most versatile and useful for a beginner. A circular saw is a power tool that will let you make cuts quickly, and easily. You are not as likely to get burnt out as you would with a hand saw because the circular saw does the work for you.
Many of the first projects you will be working on will require making straight cuts. The circular saw is a perfect tool for this. It’s also a good tool for a beginner to master before moving on to another more specialized saw like a miter saw.
Best Woodworking Tools for Any Woodshop
Once you know woodworking is a hobby you want to keep doing, there are a few additional tools to add to your shop. These tools will help take your woodworking to the next level.
Table Saw
If you don’t have a table saw yet, I recommend getting one. DeWalt makes a Jobsite Table Saw that is a perfect option. It’s much smaller and less expensive than a cabinet table saw. It has all the features you want with a table saw, letting you do everything you need to do.
Router
A router is a very cool tool that creates various shaped edges on your materials. There are many options for bits to choose from. I recommend getting a router with a ½” collet, which will have more options for bits you can use.
Bosch makes an awesome Router Kit that includes several base options to use. This means the kit makes your router more versatile, giving more options on how you can use it. It has a fixed base for edges, as well as a plunge base you can use the router to cut holes in the material.
How Do I Start Learning Woodworking?
There are a few main things to consider when starting out with woodworking. The first is setting up your woodshop to be the most productive it can. To learn more about taking the right steps in getting started in woodworking, check out This Article.
Where To Find Affordable Priced Beginner Woodworking Tools
You don’t need to purchase brand new tools to get good quality ones. We now have some amazing resources online to find and purchase used woodworking tools that will last a very long time.
Online Marketplaces
The first one I want to talk about is FaceBook Marketplace. You will need to be a FaceBook member in order to use this option. It is a local marketplace that people around you use to sell items on.
Do a quick search for the type of woodworking tool you are looking for in the search bar. It may take some searching and a bit of your time to find what you are looking for, but this will often be worth it.
Craigslist and eBay are options for finding good used tools. Like FaceBook Marketplace, these are also online marketplaces that you can search in for tools you are looking for.
Tool Libraries
Many communities also have tool libraries. Like our conventional libraries, a tool library is a group of tools you can check out to use for a project and then return. It may be a specific building, or an archive of local homes that people list their tools on to be borrowed or rented.
Tool Rentals
Some hardware stores offer tool rental services. Like a tool library, this can be a good option if you need to use a tool one time, or are considering buying one for yourself and want to “test drive” it first.
Conclusion
It isn’t hard to pick the right set of beginner woodworking tools for your wood shop. You don’t need to feel overwhelmed by all the choices, and you don’t have to spend a huge amount of money.
You have now learned what group of tools will get you going and making virtually any project. The most important thing at this point is you learn the right techniques when using these tools. You want to develop good skills so you can woodwork safely and comfortably .
Check out my other articles for more specifics on different woodworking topics. I also have a set of videos that take another look at some of these topics.
Most importantly feel free to drop me a comment below with any questions or comments you might have for me. I encourage hearing from you so I can get to know where you are at in this fun hobby.
Happy Woodworking,
Kevin