Must-have Basic Woodworking Tools For Beginners

Power Tools

For someone who hasn’t worked with power tools before, this can often be an intimidating topic. As long as you work with them in the way it was intended you should be fine. Make sure that safety is your number one priority and you won’t have anything to worry about. Power tools are basically an improved version of most hand tools. They get the job done quicker, easier, and with more accuracy.

However, not all hand tools can be replaced, which is why we will include some of the most useful hand tools that have nothing that can be compared to them. Before that, let’s see which are some of the basic power tools that any woodworker should have by their side.

Circular Saw

Circular saws are a relatively inexpensive way of making fast and smooth cuts. They are rather easy to get the hang of as well. Even though similar saws like a table saw and a miter saw can do some specific jobs better, it’s not recommended for beginner woodworkers to invest so much money in all those tools right away.

The circular saw can make any cut the others can, even though it may take a bit more time and getting used to. When it comes to long rip cuts, you will find that this tool will become your new best friend. After you’ve gotten more experience and a bigger budget, you can feel free to invest in the other saws simply to make your job a lot easier. Until then, your average circular saw will be more than enough for your basic woodworking deeds.

Drill

Now that we have a tool that will handle cutting wood pieces, let’s have a look at one that is going to make drilling holes a piece of cake. Drills and cordless drills are crucial weapons in any woodworker’s arsenal. Try making your first wooden construction without a drill and you will see what I mean. You can definitely do it, but it will take much more hassle and time. Drills also aren’t extremely expensive, depending on the brand and other specifications. But, for beginners, you don’t need the most high-end one.

Impact Driver

Alongside the drill, the impact driver is going to be a tool you simply won’t be able to live life without. Many think that a drill and an impact driver are the same thing, mainly because they look almost identical. However, there are a few crucial differences between drills and impact drivers. In short, a drill is for drilling holes, while the impact driver is similar to a screwdriver. It is basically a better way to drive many types of fasteners.

Jigsaw

A jigsaw is another power tool for cutting wood, mainly wooden boards. The difference between a jigsaw and circular saws is that circular saws can only cut in a straight line, while the jigsaw can almost freely travel in any direction on the wooden boards. This tool will come in really handy when you’re trying to cut out curves, circles, and many other shapes.

Wood Sander

This is one more tool that makes a huge difference between using it and the hand tool version of it. Imagine sanding wood for hours only to find that you are halfway done. The electric wood sander can triple the amount and hard work it takes to sand wood. There are a few types of wood sanders, an orbital, a belt sander, disc sander, and a finishing sander.

Obviously, each of them is designed to serve a specific sanding-related purpose. However, a beginner doesn’t need to invest in all of them at once. You can do a bit more research into finding out which one can accomplish most standard tasks, but an orbital or belt sander should be enough for the start.

Hand Tools

Aside from some of the most useful and essential woodworking power tools that definitely make life easier, there are some hand tools that can never become obsolete. Luckily, these types of tools are usually much cheaper than power tools, so you can invest in getting as many as you can because they, too, can be lifesavers when it comes to woodworking. Here are a few must-have woodworking tools that don’t require electricity.

A Hammer

A trusty tool such as a hammer that has been around for hundreds of years is impossible to lose its purpose. When looking for a great and convenient hammer, it’s recommended to go for a claw hammer, as it serves multiple purposes, such as pulling nails out as well. A 20oz. claw hammer will probably be best, as it has enough weight to drive nails easily and not wear you out as fast.

A Screwdriver Set

Among the most basic woodworking tools are screwdrivers. We mentioned the impact driver above, however, it’s always nice to have a great screwdriver set for a few purposes. There are cases where the impact driver simply can’t fit, which is when you will be glad you have all the necessary screwdrivers to easily reach and drive the screw in or out. It’s important to be prepared for such a scenario, as an inexpensive solution like a decent screwdriver set can be a huge lifesaver.

Tape Measure

You’d be surprised by how overlooked and underrated this woodworking tool is. It’s almost impossible to do a single woodworking task without a simple item such as a tape measure. It needs no further explanation, as this tool has only one crucial purpose, to make sure your builds are precise and accurate. Keep this helpful tip in mind – measure twice, cut once.

Chisel

One of the last things you will find that no woodworker is without is a nice set of chisels. This also isn’t an extremely expensive investment but it can save you a lot of stress and worry. It’s the ultimate tool for cleaning messy joints and saw cuts. A nice tip here would be to look for chisels that are made from stainless steel, as they will last you for a long time.

Key Takeaways

Consider the tools that we’ve listed here as a few of the most essential woodworking tools that are going to serve you greatly in the beginning and after. There are many more you can add to your arsenal that would make your job even easier such as a bench grinder, a table saw, routers, and more. But for now, you will have plenty of decent beginner woodworking tools that will serve you greatly. Enjoy their benefits and start crafting some amazing constructions.