If you are a beginner entering the world of DIY and woodworking, you may feel overwhelmed with so many tool options available. At FindBuyTool, we test hundreds of tools to identify the essentials that meet your requirements.
This comprehensive guide covers 10 essential woodworking tools, which can help you tackle nearly any woodworking project effectively. We discuss them in different factors, like performance, selection considerations, types, etc. Now, let's get started!
Thickness Planer
What we tested first was the thickness planer. It's the very beginning woodworking tool that every workshop or woodworker should have, which can help you plane the board to a consistent thickness.
The primary purpose of a thickness planer is to achieve smooth and even surfaces by removing material from the surface of the wood. Typically, before you use the thickness planer with an uneven board, you need to use the jointer first to get a flat surface. Then, you can take this surface as a reference.
Choosing Considerations
The thickness planer has three types: benchtop, stand-alone, and combo. For home woodworking or DIY, a benchtop is enough. This is what we focus on.
Except for the differences in types, the three cutterhead types also affect the cutting performance, including straight, spiral, and helical. Among them, the helical cutterhead performs better.
The above are the main considerations when choosing a compatible wood planer. Moreover, the motor, capacity, cutting depth, and speed are also indispensable.
We've published a review of the 6 best benchtop thickness planers and explored them in detail, including performance, key features, prices, and considerations. You can serve it as an example.
Recommended Brands & Models
- FB131H 13" Thickness Planer With Helical Cutterhead
- DeWalt 735X
- CRAFTSMAN CMEW320
What We Pick
Key Features of FB131H 13" Thickness Planer With Helical Cutterhead
- A 4-row helical cutterhead with 40 tungsten carbide inserts.
- Visible thickness scale.
- High-temperature resistance and a long life span. (Over 200,000 hours)
Jointer
It's what we mentioned in the thickness planer section, and it's also known as a planer in the UK. A jointer can quickly produce a flat surface and straight, smooth edges on workpieces. Therefore, you can take this surface as a reference and then use the planer to get a consistent thickness.
This machine is particularly useful for removing any cupping, bowing, or warping, resulting in a smooth and even face. But it won't reduce the overall thickness of a board or ensure both faces of a board are parallel. Thus, we suggest that you can use it with a thickness planer. Of course, you can choose a jointer planer combo.
Choosing Considerations
There are two types of jointers: benchtop and jointer with stand. The former is ideal for home woodworking and DIY, while the latter is more suitable for big workshops and industries. In the following section, we will focus on the benchtop jointer.
Besides, the cutterhead and the blade are a crucial part of a jointer. We tested the effect of three types of cutterheads working on wood, straight, spiral, and helical; without a doubt, the helical cutterhead performed better. And you need to pay attention to the size, the most common sizes being 6", 8", 12", and 16".
The blade's material is also important, including HSS (high-speed steel) and tungsten carbide. There's no doubt that the carbide planer blade can get a better cutting effect due to its hardness, strength, and resistance.
Recommended Brands & Models
- WEN JT3062 6 Inch 2-Blade Benchtop Jointer, Straight Cutterhead
- Wahuda 10-inch Benchtop Jointer, Spiral Cutterhead Portable Jointer
- JET 6-inch Benchtop Jointer, Helical Cutterhead
What We Pick
(image source: Amazon)
Key Features of JET 6-inch Benchtop Jointer
- Equipped with a helical cutterhead and 14 indexable four-sided carbide blades.
- Heavy-duty cast iron table and fence.
- Built-in chip blower with the bag.
Wood Lathe
When it comes to woodworking power tools, the wood lathe must be the protagonist in the woodturning process. It gradually becomes a must-have tool for every woodworker.
It is an ideal tool for making circular elements for wooden furniture parts, like bowls, plates, spoons, etc. Except for turning, it can be used for cutting, drilling, sanding, and some other basic woodworking operations.
Choosing Considerations
Like the thickness planer, woodturning lathes also have three types: mini, midi, and full-size. For most woodworking projects, midi and full-size types are the best choice.
For woodturning, the motor, swing, DBC, and speed are also important factors you need to consider. For the motor, 3/4HP or higher can meet most woodworking projects and provide a stable turning environment.
The swing and DBC separately decide the diameter and the length you can turn on the lathe. Not to mention speed. It decides the turning effect. From our test, a lathe with variable speed is more pragmatic than one with fixed speed.
If you don't know how to choose a compatible lathe, it doesn't matter. We have a review of the 7 best wood lathes, including 4 midi types and 3 full-size, and all the details you want, like performance, price, advantages, disadvantages, and choosing considerations.
Recommended Brands & Models
- Machorool FL1221 Wood Lathe (Midi)
- JET JWL-1221VS Wood Lathe (Midi)
- Woodfast WL520A Wood Lathe (Full-size)
What We Pick
Key Features of Machorool FL1221 Wood Lathe
- Lose speed no more than 20 rpm.
- Equipped with the forward and reverse switches to adjust the spindle rotation direction.
- It can mount extra guideways to produce longer workpieces.
Table Saw
Undoubtedly, the saw is the best woodworking tool used to remove excess wood. Thus, apart from the table saw in this section, we will introduce you to the other three types of saws in the following two sections: circular and miter.
The table saw is a versatile cutting machine that can crosscut or rip effortlessly. Due to its wide table, it can cut nearly all sizes in daily woodworking. It aims to increase the cutting accuracy, save time, and reduce the effort required to make a straight cut.
Choosing Considerations
It classifies two categories, portable and stationary. Portable table saws include benchtop, compact, and jobsite, while stationary table saws include contractor, cabinet, and hybrid. The former is commonly equipped with a universal motor, while the latter is widely equipped with an induction-type motor.
More importantly, stationary table saws require specialized circuit support and more space to place, thus, they are more suitable for industries. For beginners, portable ones are enough.
Apart from types, tiny differences in diameter, bore diameter, thickness, and tooth shape of the saw blade will affect the cutting effect. You need to choose the saw blade according to the material and cutting requirements.
Recommended Brands & Models
- DeWalt DWE7491RS 10" Jobsite Table Saw and Rolling Stand
- Bosch 4100-09 10-in 15-Amp Portable Benchtop Table Saw
- SkilSaw 10 In. Heavy Duty Worm Drive Table Saw with Stand
What We Pick
(image source: Amazon)
Key Features of DeWalt DWE7491RS
- The T-Style rail system adjusts smoothly for fine cutting.
- Well-designed emergency braking system (5ms response) and blade guards for high safety factor.
- Cutting capacity (32.5 inches wide and 2.25 inches deep) and power (4,800 RPM) are suitable for most wood and composite materials, meeting the diverse needs of both home and jobsite.
Circular Saw
In woodworking terms, a circular saw refers to the handheld type, but in some aspects, a table saw and chop saw are considered circular saws. In this section, we focus on the handheld type.
The circular saw uses round blades, the same as the table saw, which can quickly slice through the material by ripping or crosscutting. It can be used on cement board, plastic, and other materials if you mount professional blades on it.
Compared to traditional reciprocating saws, they are more energy-efficient because of the continuous cutting motion. In addition, no matter which saws you need to use, you must wear PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), like gloves or masks.
Choosing Considerations
The first thing you need to consider is the styles, including worm drive, hypoid, and sidewinder. Here is the introduction of these three.
- Worm Drive Saw: The motor is placed behind the blade, thus, it can offer enough torque to cut wet wood or hard materials, which makes it suitable for major work. This saw needs more maintenance, because you usually need to add oil.
- Hypoid Saw: Like the above, this saw's motor is placed behind the blade, but using a hypoid gear, it can improve the blade contact, provide more cutting power, and reduce the motor size and noise. Different from the above, it has a sealed motor system, so you don't need to add oil.
- Sidewinder Saw: This saw's motor is placed on the side of the blade, making it compact and lightweight. Because the motor and the blade are in line, it can achieve a higher speed. As such, there's no need to add oil, either.
Except for this, the rest are routine considerations when choosing a power tool. For speed, the range from 4,000 to 5,500 rpm is sufficient for home projects; for power, 15 amps is common; for corded or cordless, corded is limited by the length of the cord, but more powerful, while the battery limits the cordless; for blade, 7-1/4-inch blades are more useful and suitable for most tasks.
Recommended Brands & Models
- Makita XSH06PT Brushless 7-1/4 In. Circular Saw
- Bosch GKS 18V-25CN Connected-Ready 7-1/4 In. Circular Saw
- Skil SPT70WM-01 10-1/4 In. Magnesoi Worm Drive Skilsaw
What We Pick
(image source: Amazon)
Key Features of Bosch GKS 18V-25CN
- It pairs BITURBO Brushless™ Technology with a CORE18V® High Power Battery.
- Featuring connectivity, it can link users to the connected device through the Bosch Toolbox App.
- Equipped with an electronic convenience brake, it can reduce the breakdown between cuts.
Miter Saw
Here comes the last saw we want to recommend to you is the miter saw. This saw has a swingarm with a blade mounted that can make angled cuts. It's essential in making the crown molding, frame construction, and other designs.
Choosing Considerations
This machine categorizes three types: compound, sliding compound, and dual sliding compound. The dual sliding compound is more suitable for heavy-duty tasks and industrial uses, while the compound and sliding compound are more suitable for DIY and home projects.
The common sizes of the blade are 7.25", 8.5", 10", and 12". The bigger the size, the thicker and the wider the blade you can cut, thus, the more powerful the motor needed. A 15-amp motor is more popular.
In particular, you need to give special consideration to the cutting angle of the mitered according. The common degree is 45, but some miter saws can provide 90 degrees.
Recommended Brands & Models
- Festool Sliding Compound Miter Saw KAPEX KS 120 REB
- DeWalt DWS780 12 In. Double-Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw
- Makita LS1019L 10" Dual-Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw with Laser
What We Pick
(image source: Amazon)
Key Features of DeWalt DWS780
- Integrated cutline blade positioning system provides adjustable cut line indication.
- Perfect dust collection collects more than 75% dust.
- The oversized bevel scale makes it easy to adjust.
Cordless Drill
Like a screwdriver, a cordless drill is used with drill bits to drill holes or drive screws, and at the same time, cordless drill gradually replaces the screwdriver due to its convenience and efficiency. Equipped with a rechargeable battery, it allows you to work without limitations.
Choosing Considerations
For this machine, what we focus on is its voltage, which impacts how you tend to use it. In general, if you do not often use the drill, the 12V or less model is enough to handle a wide range of drilling tasks, but it's not ideal for heavy-duty use. Most professionals prefer the 18V or 20V model.
The battery is also important for the cordless machine, which affects the runtime. The higher the Ah, the longer the machine can run. Battery is included in a new drill, but typically is 1.3 Ah or 1.5 Ah. We suggest that you change it to 3 Ah or 4 Ah, which are more powerful and last longer.
The third factor you need to consider is the chuck size. It decides the biggest size of a drill you can mount on. Some drills feature a keyless chuck that allows you to change the drill quickly to increase convenience and efficiency. And most cordless drills come with a 3/8 inch or 1/2 inch chuck, obviously, the latter is better.
Speed is an indispensable factor for every power tool. The higher the speed, the faster the task can finish. But higher speed provides less torque; in contrast, lower speed provides more torque, which is suitable for drilling through harder materials. Thus, choosing a drill with variable speed settings and with at least 10 clutch settings is necessary.
Recommended Brands & Models
- Milwaukee M18 FUEL 1/2 Hammer Drill Driver
- Bosch Cordless Combi Drill PSB 1800 LI-2 18V
- Makita XPH07Z 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 1/2" Hammer Driver-Drill
What We Pick
(image source: Milwaukee)
Key Features of Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2804-20
- A brushless motor and a 5.0 Ah battery can provide more power and a longer runtime.
- It is equipped with an LED on its foot to work in a dark space.
- It can speed up to 2,000 rpm and provides overload protection, so it can easily handle heavy-duty tasks.
Router
Most woodworkers may have a router plane, a traditional hand tool, but here, we want to introduce you upgrade of it - the router. Even though they have the same uses, the power tool is more efficient and precise than the hand tool.
The router is commonly used with different router bits, so it can cut, trim, and shape wood, metal, plastic, MDF, and other materials. Typically, it is used to create patterns on wood, especially to add details on doors, cabinets, and other furniture. For this machine, it can be handheld or mounted on a router table.
Apart from the two types of routers, maybe you've heard of the CNC router and want to know what it is. It's used to cut material, especially steel, aluminum, and other metal materials. Compared to the other two, the CNC router is widely used in industry to produce various workpieces in a short time.
Choosing Considerations
You must pay attention to the types at first, no matter what tool you need to buy. The router has three types: fixed-base, plunge, and combo. For DIYers, we recommend the former two types. The fixed-base router is the basic type of router, and the plunge router is the best choice for cutting details in the centre of the board.
Like other power tools, when choosing a compatible router, you need to focus on its basic technical details, including power, motor, speed, and size. These factors are indispensable for every power tool.
For routers, the horsepower can be 1.25 to 1.75, or even 2. If you want to choose a cordless router, the battery with 3 to 5 Ah must be better. In the aspect of speed, no matter which power tool you want to choose, we still recommend that you choose one with variable speed.
Recommended Brands & Models
- Bosch MRP23EVS 120-Volt 2.3 HP Electornic Plunge Base Router
- Milwaukee M18 Fuel Compact Router
- DeWalt DW618 2-1/4 HP EVS Fixed Base Router With Short Start
What We Pick
(image source: Bosch)
Key Features of Bosch MRP23EVS
- A powerful 15-Amp motor to produce 10000 – 25000 rpm and 2.3 HP.
- Featuring a trigger system and the power switch located on the handle, it enhances the convenience and control.
- It has an always-on LED light for enhanced visibility in a dark space.
Sander
Sanding is indispensable in woodworking if you want to achieve a smooth surface. With a sander, you can smooth, polish, or clean a surface on wood, plastic, metal, or other materials. Obviously, sanding by hand wastes time and limits the place where it can be used; thus, a power sander is the best choice for you.
Choosing Considerations
When you choose a power sander, you need to distinguish its types: belt, random orbit, palm, and drum. Among them, the random orbit one is suitable for fine woodworking, and it's the most popular; the palm, with a compact design and lightweight, is very suitable for beginners.
Here are corded or cordless models. The corded model can provide consistent power, while the cordless model is flexible and convenient. Therefore, choosing depends on your needs.
One more consideration is the dust collection. It will produce an amount of sawdust when you use the orbital sanders, so perfect dust collection is necessary. No matter how perfect the system is, you need to wear a dust mask to keep your health.
Recommended Brands & Models
- Bosch ROS20VSC Sander
- Milwaukee 2648-20 M18 Random Orbit Sander
- Skil SR211601 2.8Amp 5 In. Random Orbital Sander
What We Pick
(image source: Amazon)
Key Features of Skil SR211601 Random Orbital Sander
- It provides 7,000 to 13,000 OPM variable speed.
- A high price-performance ratio is very suitable for a beginner with fewer sanding projects.
Nail Gun
If you are still hammering nails by hand, this section is for you. A nail gun can help you drive nails or brads quickly and accurately, so you can save a lot of time. What we would like to emphasize is that you should ensure your safety first.
Choosing Considerations
There are 9 types of nail guns, but for beginners, we recommend 3 types among them, including staple, framing, and brad. They can meet nearly all requirements in basic woodworking tasks.
When it comes to handheld power tools, you need to consider their size and weight to ensure accuracy. Thus, a nail gun including a battery weighing around 7 pounds is suitable, and a corded nail gun weighing around 2 to 5 pounds is suitable.
In addition, you need to pay attention to the nail size and the depth adjustment. Especially the depth adjustment, it will affect the flexibility and ensure that the nail head sits flush with the material.
Recommended Brands & Models
- Metabo HPT 18V 3-1/2 Inch 30° Paper Strip Framing Nailer
- Ryobi 18V One+ Air Strike 18GA Brad Nailer
- Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2740-20 18GA Brad Nailer
What We Pick
(image source: Milwaukee)
Key Features of Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2740-20
- It has single-fire and bump-fire models.
- Zero ramp-up time and tool-free drive depth adjustment.
- It can deliver stable power for firing brads without missing a beat.
Bonus Tips: Hand Tools in Woodworking
All the above are power tools in woodworking, but this section focuses on hand tools, especially clamps, wrenches, and chisels.
Clamps
Simply, it is a device that holds or presses parts tightly together, ensuring precision and stability during cutting, gluing, or assembly. We've introduced types of clamps in detail in our published blog, you can click the link to read if interested. Here, we will give a brief introduction to them.
- Pipe Clamp: It is used to hold pipes and hoses securely in place, and is highly used in plumbing, woodworking, and cabinet-making.
- Bar Clamp: It's also known as the C-clamp, which can be easily expanded or contracted to hold different sizes of workpieces.
- Spring or Binch Clamp: It utilizes two jaws that grip both sides of the material, especially lightweight materials. Featuring lightweight and portability, it's ideal for small, quick, and temporary tasks.
- Corner or Band Clamp: It has adjustable straps or bands that wrap around the workpiece, and it is commonly used to hold 90-degree angles or joints.
- F-clamp: It features a sliding jaw that can adjust to apply pressure, which is ideal for general woodworking, metalworking, and DIY projects.
- Ratcheting Hand Clamp: It uses a ratcheting mechanism to apply and maintain clamping pressure, which is ideal for woodworking, crafts, and home repairs.
- Bench Clamp: It is a stationary clamp, mounted on a workbench or other sturdy surface. And it's commonly used in workshops and is important for heavy-duty tasks.
- Wooden-Hand Screw Clamp: It has two identical jaws to provide even pressure across a wide area, so it's widely used in woodworking, typically in furniture making and joinery.
- Strap Clamp: It uses an adjustable strap to hold and secure a large or irregularly shaped workpiece, commonly used in woodworking, metalworking, and various crafts projects.
- Parallel Clamp: It can maintain a parallel clamping surface throughout the entire clamping range, ideal for securing panels, doors, and other flat surfaces.
Wrenches
You must be very familiar with wrenches, even if you're a beginner. It's a common tool in our daily life used to loosen or tighten bolts and nuts. Here are some types of wrenches.
- T-Handle Preset Torque Wrench: You can preset the torque, and it will remind you when the torque reaches the preset value with a sound or vibration.
- Open-end Wrench: Its opening size is typically fixed at 90 degrees, and it's suitable for hexagonal or square nuts.
- Adjustable Wrench: It can adjust the width to fit different nuts, but it might be slippery while using.
- Socket Wrench: Utilizing the socket to sleeve the nut and then gripping the handle to rotate the socket. It's very useful in confined spaces.
- Hex Wrench: It's perfectly compatible for hexagonal screws.
Chisels
The last hand tool you need to know is the chisel. It can be used to cut, carve, and trim the wood edge, typically when making furniture. Here we introduce you to some common types of it.
- Bevel-edged chisel (Bench chisel): It has a flat, bevel-edged blade for maximum access to dovetail joints, fitting most of the woodworking tasks.
- Firmer chisel: Thicker than the bench chisel, with a square side, it's more suitable for heavy-duty tasks.
- Mortise chisel: This tool's long and thick blade is more suitable for cutting mortises and removing waste woodwork.
- Paring chisel: It's suitable for shaving off wood in tight spaces.
- Skew chisel: It's used for finish carving and is typically used with the wood lathe to carve shapes.
- Dovetail chisel: As the name suggests, it's specially designed for cutting dovetail joints.
- Corner chisel: Due to the L-shaped cutting edge, it specializes in cleaning out square holes and cutting 90-degree corners.
- Slick chisel: It's used to take long and thick slices off a wood block.
Sum Up
When you choose a power tool for woodworking, you can't just consider the brand; the performance and specifications of the machine itself are more important.
For every power tool, type, speed, motor, and power are the direct factors that can affect your working result. Choose the tool that works best for you based on the project you need to work on.
More importantly, no matter which tool you want to choose or which project you need to handle, don't forget to do personal protection.
In addition, FindBuyTools supplies all the hand tools that we mentioned above, and we guarantee they are precise and high-quality. You can click here to browse and purchase what you need for your projects.
