If you love woodworking then you know it’s fun. But what you need is the right tools, skills, and proper planning of the project that you are working on. Today, in this article, we’ll talk about some of the must-have tools which are recommended for both beginners and advanced users. You can use these for various purposes that include furniture making, carving, and other DIY stuff.
Some of them are hand tools while some are power tools and need power connection (Some tools you can charge while for others you need continuous AC Supply). These are equipment that will make your workshop, and you can make whatever you want. So, let’s dive into each tool one by one. In case you have any question, you can ask me at the comment box below, we’ll try to reply as soon as possible.
1- CIRCULAR SAW
There are a lot of brands like Bosch, Dewalt and Ryobi are there which make circular saw. It is an essential tool when it comes to cutting a large piece of wood. You can use it to cut the plywood, MDF, and other kinds of wood. If you are a beginner, it’s going to be your best companion, and you’ll need it every once in a while. I would prefer it calling more of a carpentry tool than a woodworking tool.
Sometimes when you have a big board, and it becomes quite challenging to move it from one place to another, you can cut it in different pieces and make it more portable. It is a very heavy duty tool, so you have to keep in mind several safety measures as well. Though table saw could also be a good alternative, but when you are just a beginner, i would recommend you start with Circular Saw. For accuracy and precision cut, you will take some time to master. So, practice it with care and take all the safety measures as these are unforgiving power tools.
2- JIGSAW
This is another very essential power tool for woodwork. Most of the time, when you want to make the non-linear cut in the wood, jigsaws is what you need. You can also use it for cutting the wood in the middle. It could be costly sometimes; you can also go for used ones from your nearby workshop. You will take some time to master the circular and cut pattern in the wood. The smooth movement of wood is critical while doing it. Also, wear gloves and use all the safety measures. If you are buying it offline, make sure you feel comfortable using it. The excellent grip is what you need for the effective use of a jigsaw.
3- TABLE SAW
It is one of the most heavy duty machines that you can go for. If you are just starting out in woodworking business and don’t want to spend a hell lot of money, then you can ignore it. But, if you really want to ante up the game then this is the must-have tool for you. Though the use of table saw and a circular saw is the same, but Table Saw is more convenient once you get used to it. If you are dealing with heavy wood in that case, you can go for a circular saw while in case of lightweight wood, the table saw is a better option as you can easily lift it. There are also different varieties of the table saw that you can go for that includes Benchtop, Sliding, Cabinet, and others. While using them, you should also have safety precaution, probably dust extractor and automatic braking system are also required. If you don’t have much space, you can also go for compact saws as well, which are really portable and does the job pretty good.
4- MITER SAW
In the miter saw, you basically have a large or mounted circular saw that you move to cut the wood. It is also known as chop saw and suitable for cutting the wood boards fast and easily. I usually use to make a cross cut on the wood at the selected angle. What i really love about this tool, that it is relatively small and can be easily carried from one place to another. There are also different variety of miter saw, which includes compound, dual compound, sliding, and more. So, choose the one that suits your requirement, and you also don’t burn your pocket at the same time.
5- POWER DRILL + DRIVER
When you do woodwork, you need to make the holes once in a while. Handling everything with a screwdriver is a real pain, power drill makes everything easier for you. You can choose between cordless and cord drill, but i would highly recommend you to go with the cordless one as you don’t have to worry about wire tangling. The drill is the tool that is not just confined to woodwork. You can use it at your disposal. You can use it for wall work and other metal work as well. It is available at a very affordable price; there are different varieties available, so choose the one that fits you the best.
6- NAIL GUN
When you are dealing with hardwood, putting the Nail with a hammer is really exhausting. That’s where the nail gun comes into the picture and takes your pain away. You just press the button, and it puts the nail exactly where you want. It is really helpful when you are installing something or adding two pieces. There are different varieties as well that includes power actuated nail gun, electric, combustion power, and others. Also, make sure that you keep all the safety measures into the mind and wear the right apparel and gloves while dealing with a Nail gun.
7- RANDOM ORBITAL SANDER
It is very important when you want to sand the two pieces of wood in the right place. Sanding the wood by hand becomes really difficult at times, that’s where Random Orbital Sander makes your job easy. It can easily sand any wooden surface in seconds. The tool uses sandpaper disks to sand the wood. Some of the companies have inbuilt dust collector as well, which makes the job more convenient. It is going to be your best companion when you are working on your new DIY project.
8- PAINT SPRAYER
This machine uses compressed gas to paint the wood. To give your furniture a brand new look, doing the paint manually doesn’t give you the right reward until or unless you are really good at it. That’s where paint sprayer comes handy and does the job. You can also use the paint sprayer when you want to give a new look to your old furniture items. There are also different settings options that you can try in the tool.
9- The Claw Hammer
This is not a power tool; it is a hand tool recommended for every woodworker. The front part you can use for beating the nail or wood. While the back claw part, you can use to drive out the nail. It comes at a really cheap cost, and you’ll need it very frequently when dealing with the nails. There are different sizes of claw hammer present that you can use.
There is not much variety but go with the one with the decent build quality and lightweight as well so that you can comfortably use it.
10- The Utility Knife
This tool is mostly used for general purpose but also very essential when you are doing the woodwork. You can either go for fix blade utility knife or the replaceable blade ones.
It comes in various design, and some are so good that you can’t resist buying them. You use it when dealing with the mortise joints or cleaning the scrap wood. And don’t forget that you can always use these knives as a weapon for your self-protection.
11- The Moisture Meter
Being a woodworker, the first skill that is required is to check the quality of the wood.
That’s where the role of moisture meter comes into the picture. You should know how much moisture percentage is the right one. Sometimes what happens if you are making the furniture with the moist wood. Later on, when it dries, the wood will shrink, and it will affect the whole design of the furniture. So, know properly how to use this tool, and the required moisture percentage will also depend upon the geographical location you are.
12- The Screwdriver
This is a basic tool that i think not just woodworker, but everyone should have. There is a wide range available when it comes to screwdrivers. You can go with flathead one, Phillips and slot one, star and torex ones. If you want more torque, you can go with the long screwdriver which takes less effort and does the more work. Make sure that one you are buying has good quality material and last longer without any wear and tear.
13- The Chisel
When you want to carve the wood, the chisel is what you need. You can also use it for cleaning out joints and saw cuts. There are different varieties like butt chisel, carving chisel, flooring chisel, framing chisel, and more. Buy a good quality one which is made up of high alloy carbon steel or some different sturdy material. If the quality of the chisel is good, the end of the chisel will not be deformed, and it will remain the same. There a lot of people have this habit of using the claw hammer for butting, which gradually damages the upper end of it. I would recommend you to use the mallet instead.
14- The Layout Square
This is a very important measuring tool that you need in your arsenal. It comes in 6 and 12 inches in size. It is very small in size and easy to carry around. This triangle, you can use to mark square cuts on the wood. After measuring the length, you use the layout square for lining up to the edge of the board. You can also use this tool for measuring the angle on the wood. There are plastic ones and metal ones in the market. I would recommend you to go with metal ones as they are sturdy and last for years without any deformation.
15- The Nail Set
You should also have a proper nail set with you. Dealing with the arrogant nail sometimes only with a hammer might damage the wood. In that case, we need the nail set. It ensures that it is flush and also below the wooden surface. Also, make sure that you know how to use the nail set properly.
16- The Sliding Bevel
It is used for setting and transferring angle. The handle is made up of wood connected with a steel blade. You can lock the wood at any angle by using the screws. There are different kinds of sliding bevels present in the market. There are large ones as well. So, choose the one that suits your requirement.
17- The Clamp
These are fastening tools which are used to hold the two different pieces of wood together. There are some temporary and some permanent clamps as well. When you are going for long stretches, you can go for pipe clamps. There are clamps like C clamp, K Clamp, and F clamp. If you want to apply the equal pressure, you can go for Hand screw clamps that you tight from both the sides and get the equal pressure. You need a different variety of clamps in your shop as you never know what kind of clamp is required.
18- The Feather Board
Feather boards are essential tools which ensure the quality and smoothness of a cut. You can use them for different kind of saws. People also go for their handmade featherwood. So, the choice is entirely up to you.
19- The Work Bench
For smooth and glitch-free work, You should need a proper workstation. It can be portable as well and of different sizes. So, firstly check how much room you have and then accordingly, you can make one for yourself or also can buy one. There are some extra large workbenches as well where you can work from both sides. Also, when you are using your workbench, keep it clean. If it always messed up, you won’t feel very motivated to work.
20 – The Miter Gauge
With every saw, you need a miter gauge as it allows you to hold the workpiece at the set angle. It slides on the worktable slot and helps you in having the perfect cut. There are some saws which come with built-in miter gauge while in others, you have to use them separately. Make sure when you use them, you use them properly. You don’t want them to get loose while in use.
Safety Measures | Watch the Video till End
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