One of the things that confuses most new people that start with woodworking is the tools. You go to the hardware store and you see a lot of different things, different types of saws and drills and sanders and clamps, but you just kind of don’t know what it is.
And here’s the bottom line: You don’t need it all. You need to know what the tool does and how to use it.
In this article I want to help you pick the right tools and how to use them correctly.
Hand Tools vs Power Tools
Now before we start getting into specific tools, first I wanted to address hand tools vs. power tools. The idea here is you can either run your tools with your hands or you can run them with a battery or electricity.
Hand tools are hand operated. They are generally cheaper, quieter, and more control over. This is great if you’re just starting.
Now if you’re going to start with power tools, you need to realize that there is more electricity and more efficiency, but also more safety issues and technique. I always like to start with the basic hand tools and then move your way into the power tools as you get more comfortable.
Measuring and Marking Tools
The next thing I like to discuss are your measuring and your marking tools. It’s really important to understand how accurate measurements are. It’s what makes or breaks your project.
Tape Measure
A tape measure is used to measure the length, width, and depth. Make sure you double check your numbers because that’s where you measure and cut.
Combination Square
A square will help you create a line from straight marks and will also help check angles. This is very important to know.
Marking Pencil or Knife
You want to mark the material you’re working on so you have an accurate cut. Make sure your line is thin and clear so you’re not over cutting yourself.
The thing here is, the smaller your mistake is, the better your project will be. The more accurate your measurements are, the better your project will be.
Cutting Tools
The next step is your cutting tools. This is where you’ll really start to create the piece.
Hand Saw
A hand saw is a cheap and simple tool that can make straight cuts. Good if you are starting out.
Circular Saw
Now circular saws are power tools so they will cut much faster and more precise cuts. These are great to use if you are cutting large pieces.
Jigsaw
Now you might have curved or complex cuts and a jigsaw is very good to use in that situation. This is good for designs.
The key here is making sure you hold your wood in place to prevent mistakes and injury.
Drilling and Fastening Tools
The next thing is that you’re going to have some tools for putting your project together.
Drill
A drill is a tool used to make holes and drive screws. Now there are many different styles of drills but the most common one is cordless drills, which gives you a nice tool to be able to use in a variety of situations.
Screwdriver
You might also have some screws as part of your project so a screwdriver is also useful for precision work to tighten things up.
Hammer
Sometimes you’re going to have a nail. You’re going to need to nail things together. A hammer is really important to know that it’s used to nail things together and other simple tools.
Again here, if you’re trying to drive in a screw, you don’t want to force it too hard because you don’t want to break the wood. Let the tool do the work.
Sanding and Finishing Tools
Then it gets to the part of your project that you’re just going to sand it out so it looks nice. A project isn’t done until it is done.
Sandpaper
You may or may not have different grades of sandpaper. Some are a bit more coarse than others. You can start rough and move to smooth to get a good smooth finish.
Electric Sander
An electric sander is going to take the work out of it to sand your project out more evenly and it’s also much faster.
Finishing Supplies
Now you need to finish your project. This is where you’ll get the oils and the stains and the varnishes to help protect and make the wood look good.
The thing I’ll say here is, don’t skip the sanding part! That is how you turn a piece into a project and make it look nice.
Clamps: The Most Underrated Tool
Another thing I wanted to cover here are clamps. A clamp will help hold wood together for when you cut, or put them together.
Clamps are very often used by the more experienced woodworkers, but the most under-rated tool is a clamp in a beginner’s set of tools. Clamps will really help you when you need it. They will help you to get a much stronger and accurate cut or assembly.
Now there are so many different clamps you can have. I’ve got over 100 in my shop, which is kind of ridiculous because you can never have enough clamps.
Safety Essentials You Should Never Ignore
Now I also wanted to cover safety. These tools are great, but if you don’t know what they do, you can hurt yourself.
So I want to just quickly cover some of the safety things: Safety glasses always. Never have your hands near the blade. Make sure your work space is clean and organized. And don’t be in a rush when you’re using the power tools.
Safety is always a part of woodworking, and so don’t ignore it just because you’re not using power tools.
How to Choose the Right Tools as a Beginner
I’d like to just kind of summarize and go back through what we’ve been talking about here. When you’re starting with woodworking, the important part is to learn more with less.
Now you can buy tools one at a time, but what I would advise is to pick your basic tools and learn them really well and know that when you want more, then get more. This way you can learn a lot about woodworking and not spend a lot of money.
Common Tool Mistakes Beginners Make
Many times beginners struggle not because of what they don’t know, but because they don’t know what tools to use. Here are some common mistakes I see people do: You buy too many tools too early. You’re going to be using the wrong tool. You’re not learning proper techniques.
If you avoid doing those things, you’ll be just fine.
Final Thoughts
To summarize, a lot of tools doesn’t make you a good woodworker. Understanding the tools is what makes you a good woodworker.
I hope that these tools can really help you get started and know how to get you started down the road. You don’t need to start with everything all at once. Learn the right tools for your needs first and get them. Then over time you will have them too.
The thing I’ll leave you with is don’t be afraid of tools. If they are going to help you get a good project, use them and use them properly! When you know how to use woodworking tools, everything gets a lot easier and a lot more fun.