Woodworking is a skill that will always come in handy. Cutting, shaping, and joining wood are great for doing things from DIY housework to working on a creative project. Wood is all around us and knowing how to work with it is very rewarding.
You’re going to need some woodworking tools to get the job done right. With so many tools available, it can be difficult to know where to start. There are some tools that are too advanced for beginners so it’s important to only get the essentials.
Read on to learn about 10 woodworking tools for beginners. Each woodworking task is unique, but these tools cover the basics. Click on the blue text to be taken to an Amazon page that has a beginner-friendly tool for an affordable price.
1. Handsaw
A handsaw is a must-have tool for any beginner woodworker. Handsaws are pretty straightforward: You use them to cut wood. It’s best to get a handsaw that’s sharp. You’re going to be doing a repetitive motion with it so it should also be comfortable to hold.
There are different types of handsaws that you might want to invest in:
Crosscut Saw: This tool is perfect for cutting across the wood grain. It has teeth that are angled backward with a beveled edge for clean strokes when cutting. Click here for a nice crosscut saw on Amazon.
Coping Saw: This saw is thin and flexible, which makes it perfect for detailed work. You can easily handle them with one hand to do intricate cuts. Check out a coping saw on Amazon here.
Japanese Saw: These saws cut wood by being pulled, as opposed to other saws that cut by being pushed into the wood. This results in cleaner cuts. These saws remove less wood and produce less wood dust. Click here to see a great option on Amazon.
2. Cordless Drill
A cordless drill is a power tool that will come in handy many times when woodworking. It’s a versatile tool that can be used for drilling holes, driving screws, and more. It’s useful for woodworking since these things could take hours of time if done by hand. The portability of the tool makes it essential for getting things done.
A good cordless drill is lightweight, comfy, and has a long battery life. When using the drill, you’re able to swap out the tip of the tool for your different needs. You’re also going to adjust the clutch, which controls the torque (or speed) of the drill.
Most of the time, your drill is going to be used to join wood together but it has other uses in woodworking as well.
Click here for a great cordless drill.
3. Random Orbital Sander
This power tool is used for sanding wood to a smooth finish. It uses random orbital motion to prevent deep scratches in the material being sanded. When you’re preparing to finish the wood, you’re going to need to sand it down.
It’s important that sanders have speed control and a comfortable handle.
The size of the sanding pad varies from product to product. Special woodworking projects might need a larger pad or a smaller pad. Beginners should get one that’s averagely-sized.
Click this link to be taken to an awesome sander on Amazon.
4. Chisels
Woodworking can require very delicate and careful work. Chisels are tools that are used to sculpt wood and remove excess. They’re sharp blades attached to wide handles. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes. They’re made of steel since they have to be tough enough to break away at the wood.
It’s important that chisels are comfortable to hold, tough, and easy to hit. You hit chisels in order to get them to actually get into the wood and break it down.
The sharpness of the blade is important since dull chisels can require you to put in more effort to actually work. A set of high-quality chisels is essential to any woodworker’s toolkit.
Follow this link to see a set of high-quality chisels that are great for any beginner.
5. Tape Measure
Being accurate is essential for any good woodworking project. You need to know exactly where to do things, there should be no guessing.
Tape measures can be great since they’re flexible. This will allow you to wrap wood or measure small or long distances with ease.
Click here for a great tape measure on Amazon.
6. Square
Another tool for measurement in woodworking is the square. Squares let you make accurate measurements, mark cuts, and ensure that your work is square (perpendicular).
Squares are great tools for being exact. Check out a great option on Amazon.
7. Screwdrivers
You’re going to need screwdrivers to, well, drive screws into wood! Screws can hold large or small pieces of wood together with stability and strength.
There are different types of screwdrivers, so it’s good to be well-equipped with a variety of them in your toolkit.
Click this link to see a set that has a variety of high-quality screwdrivers. Each tool in this set is comfortable to hold, durable, and able to get the job done.
8. Mallet
If you’re going to be using chisels, then you’re going to need a mallet, too. Mallets are hammer-like tools that you use to hit chisels with. This creates enough force to drive the chisel into the wood and whittle it down.
Click here for a mallet on Amazon that’s great for beginners.
9. Vise
A vise helps you clamp onto large pieces of wood while you work on them with a chisel or drill. A vise is a must-have tool in the workshop.
Click here for a vise that’s high-quality and durable.
10. Protective Gear
It’s important to protect yourself when woodworking. Wood can fly everywhere and leave you with painful splinters. Protecting yourself is important.
Here’s some protective gear you need when working with wood:
Gloves
Your hands might get splinters when working with wood. You’re also going to be dealing with sharp tools, so cuts can be a big hazard.
Investing in cut-resistant gloves for woodworking is critical to your well-being when woodworking.
Click here for a great pair of cut-resistant gloves on Amazon.
Safety Goggles
Goggles will protect your eyes from flying debris. Protecting your eyes is important when woodworking since eye injuries are preventable.\ \ Here are some safety goggles that will keep you safe when woodworking.
Hearing Protection
A lot of power tools on this list (and in general) are quite loud. Loud enough to damage your hearing if you’re exposed to them for extended periods of time.
Your ears will thank you for using hearing protection.
Here’s a set of comfy ear plugs that should keep you covered for some amount of time.
Dust Mask
Wood particles in the air can actually be inhaled. This is really dangerous for your health, so it’s important to cover yourself up with a mask.
Here’s a great mask that filters wood particles that might enter the air when woodworking.
Conclusion
Everybody’s woodworking journey is different and unique. Starting out with basic tools will let you learn about your own preferences and needs.
These woodworking tools for beginners will lay down the groundwork for the start of a new hobby that’s going to come in a lot of handy for the rest of your life.