Woodworking can hold different meanings for different people. For some, it’s a way to relieve stress while tapping into their creativity to craft functional and long-lasting items. These woodworking enthusiasts appreciate the therapeutic benefits that come with working with sawdust.
Whether you’re a skilled artisan or a novice, essential woodworking tools are crucial for constructing highly sought-after furniture. Refer to this comprehensive guide for details on which tools are necessary to become a professional and earn generous rewards for your expertise.
For woodworking beginners, a fundamental toolbox should include cutting, finishing, assembling, measuring, and holding tools for constructing simple or intricate projects. This beginner’s guide to woodworking provides all the necessary resources.
1. Circular Saw
A circular saw is a must-have power tool for any novice, as numerous brands on the market share a standard feature.
A circular saw is a tool with a round blade containing sharp teeth that cut through wood. These saws are powered by electricity and come in different power ratings. While most circular saws are corded and run on household current, cordless versions have significantly progressed.
Contrary to popular belief, circular saws are not exclusively suited for rough carpentry. With the proper technique and blade selection, circular saws can produce precise and neat cuts. There are three classifications of circular saw blades available:
- Ripping Blades:Â Cut material lengthwise along or with the grain
- Crosscut Blades:Â For sawing across the grain
- Combination Blades:Â Designed for both ripping and crosscutting
Blades vary in their teeth arrangement. Ripping blades feature evenly spaced teeth, whereas crosscuts have teeth that are staggered. Combination blades incorporate both types of teeth. For those on a budget, purchasing one high-quality combination blade that comes with carbide teeth is advisable.
To have a comprehensive grasp of blade sizes, it is essential to note that circular blades begin at 7 ½” in diameter. Nonetheless, a 10″ blade is more widely used, and 12″ diameter blades are ideal when cutting large wooden materials.
There are two types of circular saws, each with its design. The first is a direct drive, in which the blade is attached directly to the arbor and mounted at a 90-degree angle to the motor. This is the most prevalent and cheapest type of circular saw. Meanwhile, worm drive circular saws are designed for heavy-duty work but have the same blade shape as direct drive saws. The only difference is that the blade is geared to move ahead of the motor.
2. Jigsaw
It is recommended that novice woodworkers acquire a good-quality jigsaw, also known as a saber saw, due to its back-and-forth, saber-shaped blade. These power tools are handy for creating detailed cuts that follow straight, curved, or wavy lines, similar to those in a jigsaw puzzle.
Jigsaws use a reciprocating motion instead of a rotating blade, unlike circular saws. Blades come in different tooth counts and materials and can be used to cut wood, plastic, and metal. Coarse-tooth blades are ideal for quick, rough cuts, while fine-tooth blades are better for slicing through thinner materials like veneers.
One can operate a jigsaw single-handedly, allowing the other hand to hold the work securely. Jigsaws are ideal for cutting intricate, small pieces, especially for interior cuts like circles or rectangles. To accomplish this, a pilot hole is drilled and the blade is inserted. With practice, one can learn to perform plunge cuts proficiently with a jigsaw.
3. Orbital Sander
When purchasing an electric wood-finishing tool, it is recommended to choose an orbital sander. These machines operate swiftly and eliminate the need for hand sanding, making the task much faster. Unlike belt sanders, orbital sanders work by using sandpaper pads that rotate in both a circular and orbital motion.
Disk sanders of the traditional kind utilize a circular disc of abrasive sandpaper which is rotated in a circular motion. Despite quickly removing material, these sanders are notorious for leaving behind stubborn swirl marks. In contrast, a random orbital sander is an ideal choice for finish sanders. Unlike conventional sanders, this kind oscillates at random, ensuring the surface of the wood is left smooth and devoid of marks.
4. Hand Files
When it comes to shaping and smoothing wood, a hand file can often be the most effective tool. High-quality steel hand files may last a long time and are relatively inexpensive. However, they should be replaced once they become dull as sharpening them is not the best option. Here are the primary options for hand files.
- Rasps are rough-edged tools with coarse teeth. They’re used to remove large amounts of wood for general shaping, then allow finer files to take over.
- Half-round files have a flat surface on one side and a curved face on the other. This lets them be worked on straight and curved surfaces.
- Mill files are flat on both faces. They usually have coarse teeth on one side and fine on the reverse. Mill files also have toothed edges for tight spaces.
Rotary files operate similarly to hand files, but with the added feature of being electric drill bits. These files can be secured into a drill chuck and utilize a rotary abrasive motion to remove material. They come in various designs and cutting grades.
5. Hammer
A woodworking hammer that can do everything does not exist. While a carpenter’s claw hammer may come close to being a versatile pounding tool, even there, there are many variations. Typically, woodworking hammers are expected to carry out two functions – pounding and prying – and the degree to which they do this effectively depends on several factors.
- Head design, including face size and weight. Some heads are smooth, as in finishing hammers. Some have serrated faces for gripping nails and fasteners like you see in framing hammers.
- Claw design, including length and curve. Finishing hammers have long and pronounced claws while framing tools use a straighter edge used to split materials.
- Handle composition is critical for comfort. Most beginning woodworkers prefer a wooden or composite hammer handle. They deliver less shock when striking. Framers like steel handles. There’s more shock, but steel adds to the weight, so there’s more driving force. Steel handles also don’t break easily.
- Overall, weight is important. Hammer weight is measured in ounces. Lightweight hammers are 8 to 10 ounces. Intermediate hammers are 16 to 20 ounces, while heavy-duty ones weigh 24 to 32 ounces.
Woodworking hammers come in various purposes and compositions. For novice woodworkers, it is crucial to determine the intended use of their hammer before buying from a wide array of options. The following are the primary classifications of woodworking hammers:
- Finishing hammers are all-purpose. This should be your first purchase as they’re so handy.
- Framing hammers are tough. However, they’re a bit of overkill for most woodworking projects.
- Tack hammers are like brad drivers. They’re for small work and usually have two different head sizes with no claws.
6. Marking Gauge
Marking gauges have been an essential addition to woodworking toolboxes for centuries. They, along with a combination square, form the foundation for any type of joinery, simple or complex. Marking gauges are not only useful for basic and intricate joinery but also user-friendly.
To perform mortise and tenon joints dovetails, rabbets, thicknessing, and numerous other tasks, a marking gauge is indispensable. For beginners to grasp the fundamentals of joinery, it is such an important tool that it should be among the first tools purchased.
Moreover, they are extremely inexpensive.
7. Combination Square
Another layout tool follows on the list and it holds even greater importance than the previous one. The combination square surpasses other square types in terms of convenience and adaptability, making it an excellent option.
For those starting out in woodworking, a combination square is essential for marking and cutting at 90 and 45 degrees, the primary angles used in woodworking.
Achieving accurate angles at 90 degrees is crucial for tasks such as board cutting, edge joining and constructing mortise and tenon joints. Additionally, 45-degree angles play a significant role in making corner joints and various other types of cuts. It is essential to possess a reliable combination square even if you opt for power tools.
Although a sharp pencil is capable of marking lines on your combination square effectively, it is advisable to acquire a reliable marking knife too.
8. Clamps
Clamps are highly valued by woodworkers, who often find that they can never have too many of them. Nevertheless, beginners can make do with a minimum number of clamps for essential tasks. As a novice woodworker, you will find yourself in need of clamps for a variety of purposes, including securing your work, bonding panels, completing assembly, and providing an extra hand when required. The demand for clamps in woodworking is inexhaustible.
As a novice, you only require approximately eight particular clamps, so don’t rush to purchase a set of 24 or more from the closest major retail store.
Pipe clamps are your primary tools and are available as fixture sets. These fixtures are connected to pipes of standard sizes, which are readily available at home improvement stores. Consequently, you can replace the pipes with longer or shorter ones, making them convenient for woodworking in any situation.
Despite their usefulness, pipe clamps can be cumbersome due to their size and weight. As such, it is recommended to invest in a few high-quality bar clamps as they can handle most woodworking tasks on a regular basis, particularly if you haven’t acquired a sturdy workbench and vise yet.
9. Smoothing Plane
The smoothing plane is a tool highly valued by woodworkers, and there are excellent reasons for it.
In my opinion, it is completely absurd that numerous guides suggest novices to purchase a power joiner/planer since they are not only expensive but also require a significant amount of space and are unnecessary for those who are newly acquiring the skill.
For beginners in woodworking, a single high-quality smoothing plane is sufficient for all basic tasks. Moreover, becoming skilled at using a smoothing plane will significantly reduce the time spent on sanding, which is arguably the most unpleasant aspect of woodworking.
10. Mallet
Even though a mallet is a suitable starting project for novice woodworkers, purchasing one at the beginning is still recommended.
If you care about the longevity of your tools, it’s advisable not to employ a standard claw hammer for woodworking tasks, despite the possibility of it being present in your household. It would be preferable to utilize a more appropriate woodworking mallet.
Retain your claw hammer solely for hammering nails, and acquire a pleasant mallet with a nylon head for all other activities within the woodworking workshop.
Using a high-quality mallet, whether for fitting joinery or carving hardwood with a chisel, can provide a highly gratifying experience due to the sensory feedback and sound, leaving you hooked from the first use.
11. Chisels
Having acquired a fantastic mallet, it is time to procure an item to strike (with care).
Beginner woodworkers should carefully consider chisels before purchasing, as many well-known brands offer inferior-quality tools that can hinder initial woodworking efforts.
If you wish to enhance the quality of your work substantially, invest in a useful set of six chisels, and acquire the skills to handle and sharpen them. These chisels are versatile and can be used for joinery, carving, shaping, paring, and other tasks. However, specialized types such as mortise chisels and bench chisels are not recommended for beginners as they have limited advantages. EH
