Several years ago I found myself wandering aimlessly around the tool section of a store, completely overwhelmed. So many things, so many options, where do I begin??? Scared to buy the wrong tool, the wrong screw, the wrong everything….I left with nothing and went home, defeated. Are you in that boat today?
In this post I’m sharing my 10 favorite, tried and true tools that I use almost daily. Just starting out and feeling overwhelmed? These are the tools that will make your life easier.
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1. Miter Saw
Oh, how I love my miter saw! This was my first woodworking tool – an old, worn out miter saw that a friend gave to me. I ran it until it died – mid cut, just DIED – 3 years later. But, it got me through so many projects! There are lots of good brands to choose from, with a range of prices. My second miter saw was purchased on Craig’s list for a song, but it’s a reliable workhorse. I prefer a 10″ blade, both because the blades are less expensive and also 10″ blades are considered more accurate. As the blade diameter increases, the amount of deflection also increases. This tends to be an issue mostly with a dull blade.
Miter saws are used to make crosscuts in boards, trim, crown molding, etc. Cross cuts are made when you cut perpendicular to the grain of the wood. The grain will run the length of the board, so cross cuts go across the width of the board.
There are different types of miter saws: sliding compound (the blade moves forward on a track to increase cutting capacity, and also angles left or right to create a bevel), compound (the blade can tilt at an angle to cut a bevel). If you are looking to cut larger boards without having to flip them over (6+ inches), a compound sliding saw is a better choice.
This one is fairly obvious – a good, solid measuring tape will prevent lots of frustration. If using an old measuring tape, check the little metal piece at the end to make sure it’s not loose. This will skew your measurements and make building incredibly hard!
Also called a speed square, this is a low cost tool that will help you in so many ways. Use it to make a straight cut line across your boards, measure angles, find square on your builds, table and miter saw. The list goes on and on!
The names give it away here, but you need one to drill holes, and another to drive the screws into the holes. There are many deals on combo packs at big box stores. Just make sure to buy the battery pack and charger as well if it does not come with one! There is a difference in the performance of the less expensive sets versus the higher end sets. You do get what you pay for in this instance. If woodworking is a hobby or goal of yours, the higher end set may be a worthwhile investment.
Do you know what’s super boring? Sanding. And sanding. And sanding. BUT – sanding will make your projects look professional, and no one on this planet wants to touch a rough, bumpy, finished project. So take the time and go through the paces of sandpaper, from 80 to 220, higher if necessary. A good orbital or palm sander will make this tedious task slightly less tedious.
6. Track saw
Like it’s name suggests, this is a small saw that runs on a straight metal track. The tracks pieces are generally around 48-50″ long and can be pieced together to span 8′. Perfect for ripping boards and plywood, and lighter and smaller than most circular saws.
Ripping a board is cutting it with the grain of the wood – the length of the board, if you will. So, for example, in a full 4×8′ sheet of plywood, ripping it refers to making 8′ long sections of various widths.
If choosing a track saw, check out the weight of the saw – there is a wide range between brands and being able to lift and move the saw around with ease is important.
Pocket holes are real dreamy, friends. What is a pocket hole? It’s a hole drilled into the board face so a screw can attach at a 90 degree angle without being seen in the end product. I have used pocket holes in many of my projects and builds. They offer a very secure bond – glue optional – but can also be taken apart again if needed to adjust or modify your build.
Pocket holes are great for building quick drawers, cabinets, furniture…..honestly the list goes on and on! I use pocket hole joinery in about 85% of my builds, and when I don’t use pocket holes I use a….
8. Doweling jig and dowels
What are dowels? Dowels are those little wooden pegs in the picture above. A doweling jig uses a drill bit to drill holes into two pieces of wood that are meant to join together. A dowel goes into the hole and holds both pieces of wood in place. If you’ve ever assembled any flat pack furniture from a specific Nordic company that uses blue and yellow in their branding, you have probably used dowels. Like pocket holes, these remain unseen in the final product.
9. Jig saw
A jig saw is another tool that is great to have around. This can be used for crosscuts, for ripping, for intricate cutouts, for all kinds of cuts you don’t want to do on a larger saw. Having all 10 fingers is always a bonus in woodworking!
If a miter or track saw is not an option, a jig saw can perform many of the same cuts, while taking up much less space. They are fairly inexpensive when compared to other saws. This is a great entry level tool to have on hand!
10. Clamps
Once all the wood pieces are cut and ready to assemble, there needs to be a way to hold them while joining them together. Enter the humble clamp. Clamps make life infinitely easier in woodworking.
There are many, many, many styles of clamps out there, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed. The clamps I use for almost everything are trigger clamps (also called quick grip clamps). My other favorites include 90 degree aluminum clamps, and a 2-3″ face clamp. Pipe clamps are necessary for larger builds, like cabinets or for gluing wood together for a table top or other large surface.
This rounds out my top 10 favorite tools and accessories for woodworking. All of these are easy to find, both online, and in big box stores. For the success of a project, it is crucial to have the right tool for the right job. I hope this list has given you the confidence to start your own tool collection so you can build something beautiful!
Forget diamonds… miter saws are a girl’s best friend. 🎵
This is remarkably true! Ha!