If you’re thinking about trying your hand at woodworking, one of the first things you’ll notice is how many tools are out there. From the classic handsaw you might spot in your grandpa’s garage to high-powered machines at a pro’s workshop, woodworking tools come in every shape, function, and price point. The tools you’ll need depend on what you want to build, but getting familiar with the main types is a solid place to start. Here, I’ll run through the popular categories and share a rundown of the handy gear you’ll likely see, whether you’re working on small crafts or building that dream table.
Saws: The Cutting Edge of Woodworking
Saws are at the heart of most woodworking projects. You’ll find both hand-powered and electric saws, each with their own uses. Here are some you’re likely to come across:
- Hand Saw: This is the classic tool for straight cuts. It’s simple, affordable, and very helpful for small projects and touch-up work.
- Japanese Saw: Known for clean, precise cuts with less effort. Its thin, flexible blade makes detailed work easier to control, which is big for fine woodworking. This saw cuts on the pull stroke. The regular Western-type hand saws cut on the push stroke. I find the Japanese saws are much easier to control and cut better with less binding.
- Dovetail Saw: Mostly for dovetail joints, but also handy for other clean joinery cuts. The slim blade and fine teeth deliver accurate results.
- Table Saw: A workhorse in most shops for ripping and crosscutting boards. It can handle large panels and gets repeat cuts made quickly and much more accurately than by hand.
- Band Saw: Super helpful for curves, resawing, and creative shapes. With the right blade, you can work on thick or thin pieces, even intricate designs.
- Scroll Saw: The go-to for truly detailed inside cuts or delicate shapes. If you’re into puzzles or decorative trim, this is a must-try.
- Miter Saw: This tool shines at cutting angles; it’s excellent for frames, trim, and furniture parts that need to fit together precisely. Mine gets a lot of use cutting long boards down to the rough size I need for projects.
- Circular Saw: A handheld powerhouse, great for rough cuts and slicing down sheet goods. It’s portable, so you can bring it to the material instead of the other way around.
- Chainsaw: Not just for the forest. Chainsaws can help with woodturning blanks or getting logs into shape for bigger projects.
Drills: Making Holes and Driving Fasteners
No matter what you’re making, you’ll end up having to drill holes at some point—whether for screws, dowels, or installing hardware. Here are the most useful types of drills for woodworking:
- Drill Press: Stationary drills offer power and precise control. Excellent for straight holes or when you need exact spacing, like shelf pins or dowel holes.
- Cordless Drill/Driver: The MVP for most woodworkers. These are perfect for drilling holes and driving screws anywhere in your shop or on a job. Look for 12 or 18-volt models for the right balance of power and ease. I find the 12V models have the right balance of power and weight for most woodworking projects. They are also usually smaller than their 18V counterparts, which make them easier to get into tighter places than the bigger models.
- Cordless Impact Wrench/Driver: Provides extra torque for large screws or bolts. These are especially handy if you’re building big furniture or shop projects, though not always essential for beginners. Don’t use them for small delicate screws. Don’t ask me how I know that, just trust me on that one.
- Corded Drill: Delivers consistent power for tougher jobs or longer sessions, though you’ll be working near an outlet.
Sanders: Smoothing and Finishing Surfaces
A smooth finish is a big deal in woodworking, and sanders can take a lot of elbow grease out of the process. Here are several things to know about:
- Belt Sander: Removes material quickly, ideal for rough shaping or flattening wonky boards.
- Electric Palm Sander (Quarter Sheet): Handy for smaller surfaces or light sanding jobs that need some finesse.
- Random Orbit Sander: Moves in both spinning and random motions, so you avoid leaving swirl marks. This one is especially nice for final finishing passes.
- Combo Sander (Belt and Disk): Gives you options for aggressive sanding as well as detail work. A good fit for getting a lot done in a tight space. This is one stationary tool I would not want to be without.
- Drum Sander: Common in bigger shops, drum sanders are made for smoothing large panels or prepping wood for finish when hand sanders aren’t enough.
- Oscillating Spindle Sander: Just the thing for sanding curves and unusual shapes, thanks to its up-and-down, spinning sanding drum.
Wood Dressing Tools: Flattening, Straightening, and Sizing
To turn rough lumber into perfectly square, usable boards, you need a specific set of tools. Here’s what many shops use:
- Bench Top Jointer or Planer: These more affordable machines are useful in small workshops for straightening edges and evening surfaces on modest-sized boards.
- Stationary Jointer: Available in various widths, these heavy-duty machines get board edges flat and square so you can glue up panels cleanly. The most common size in many home shops is a 6-inch jointer. This can flatten a 6-inch-wide board. If you have the money, I would recommend an 8-inch jointer. The two extra inches doesn’t sound like much. I can tell you from experience that two inches would have been nice many times in my shop, working with slightly wider boards.
- Stationary Planer: From about 12 up to 20 inches wide. This tool flattens rough lumber and brings it to just the thickness you want, making even rough stock ready for projects. You use the planer after you have flattened the first side (face) of the board on the jointer. You then flatten and make the second side parallel with the first side with the planer.
Turning Tools: Shaping Wood with a Lathe
If you’ve ever wanted to make bowls, pens, or table legs, turning tools are your gateway. Here’s a look at the essentials:
- Lathe (Benchtop or Stationary): Spins wood at various speeds, letting you shape it using chisels. Benchtop versions work for small pieces, while stationary models handle large or heavy blanks. It’s a different experience—kind of like sculpting. I enjoy making pens with my lathe and giving them away as gifts.
- Lathe Chisels: Special chisels for turning. A beginner’s set covers most needs, and keeping them extra sharp makes working at the lathe smoother and more rewarding. There are new carbide-tipped lathe chisels available. These never need sharpening.
- Sharpening Tools: Whether you use a bench grinder or a system designed just for turning chisels, sharp tools are crucial for good results. You will also need good sharpening equipment to sharpen your hand plane blades and your bench chisels.
Safety Gear: Protect Yourself in the Shop
Woodworking creates dust, lots of noise, and sometimes flings sharp fragments. Safety gear matters just as much as any other tool:
- Shop Vacuum or Dust Collector: Keeps dust managed so you can breathe easier and keep your area cleaner. I highly advise you get both eventually. But start with a good quality shop vacuum that can collect the finest particles of dust. A HEPA filter it best with them.
- Safety Glasses or Visor: Shields your eyes from flying debris. Always have a pair nearby if you’re using machines. Use them when nailing and using hand power tools as well.
- Dust Mask or Respirator: Filters out extra-fine particles and fumes—must-have for sanding, and a good idea when working with oily or exotic woods. A respirator is a must when spraying finishes.
- Ear Protection: Machinery can get loud. Earmuffs or plugs help keep your hearing intact after years of working on projects.
- Shop Apron: A shop apron isn’t necessarily a safety device. But it will help keep your clothes cleaner (a little). And a good one will have pockets to hold the tools you use most often so you don’t always have to hunt for them.
Common Hand Tools: Everyday Essentials
If you ask most woodworkers, they’ll say hand tools give you real control and are nearly irreplaceable for precision tasks. You don’t need to plug them in, and they’re often the first things you’ll reach for. These basics are worth having:
- Hammers: Great for driving nails, fitting joints, or even persuading tight pieces into place.
- Woodworking Chisels: Must-haves for cleaning up joints, carving out spaces, or shaping finer details.
- Screwdrivers: Still needed for small, delicate work, even if you use a drill most of the time.
- Ruler, Tape Measure, and Metal Ruler (6″ and 12″): Trustworthy measuring tools get your cuts and assemblies right.
- Square: Essential for marking and checking ninety-degree angles, which makes your builds stronger and more accurate.
- Pencil or Marking Knife: A sharp pencil or fine marking knife lets you trace cut lines precisely, reducing mistakes.
- Clamps: Lots of clamps in different sizes keep your work steady and let glues set up properly, so pieces don’t slip.
This list just scratches the surface—specialty hand tools for carving, inlay, or fine joinery exist too, letting you dig into even more detailed work down the road.
Quick Tips for Beginners: Building Your First Toolkit
- Start with Measuring Tools: Invest in a reliable tape measure, 6- and 12-inch metal rulers, and a trustworthy square. Consistent measurements lead to clean, tidy builds.
- Add a Pencil for Marking: A sturdy mechanical pencil (0.7mm works well) is perfect for drawing clear-cut lines that won’t fade halfway through a project.
- Pick Up a Cordless Drill/Driver: A 12V or 18V drill manages most beginner needs without being too heavy or awkward. I use 12V almost exclusively in my shop.
- Look for a Sturdy Table Saw: It doesn’t need to be fancy. Just make sure the fence is stable and that you’ve got basic safety features like a blade guard and riving knife.
- Expand Slowly: No need to buy everything at once. Let your projects guide you to your next tool purchases, and build your toolkit at your own pace.
Finding Woodworking Tools: New and Used Options
You can pick up new tools from woodwork stores like Woodcraft, Rockler, or Grizzly. Big box hardware stores and online retailers stock a wide selection as well. If you’re hoping to save or find unique, heavy-duty tools, considering used options is smart—check Facebook Marketplace, Ebay, Craigslist, or local auctions. And if you’re after reliability on a budget, look for refurbished options from places like CPO Outlets, which often include warranty coverage that helps you shop confidently.
Here are some websites where I have bought various tools:
- grizzly.com
- Rockler.com
- Woodcraft.com
- CPOoutlets.com
- taytools.com
- chipsfly.com.
Common Questions About Woodworking Tools
Question: Which tools do I really need to begin?
Answer: Start with a tape measure, square, good pencil, cordless drill/driver, and a basic saw. Add from there as you get a sense of what you want to build.
Question: Are used tools a good buy?
Answer: Absolutely, as long as they’re in good working order. Check them out carefully and test if you can before handing over any cash. Make sure bearings and arbors are good in stationary equipment, unless you like rebuilding old equipment.
Question: How do I know if a tool is of good quality?
Answer: Brand reputation and user reviews are valuable. If possible, handle the tool yourself—look for sturdy construction, smooth movement, and reliable safety features that work just like they should.
Feel free to reach out to me with any questions you have about which tool you might need. Or with any other questions you might have about woodworking. I would love to help you grow in this fantastic hobby.
©5/16/2025
the master’s workshop of wisconsin