Novice Woodworkers – Get an Idea What the Essential Power Tools Are

A lot of people who look to get started in woodworking hesitate whether they have the budget or not to afford all the necessary power tools to get started. Fortunately, if you know where to look, you won’t have to spend a fortune. There are really only several woodworking tools that I would personally recommend to any aspiring woodworker, and most of them are relatively affordable. With these several tools, you can tackle a decent amount of projects.

Circular Saw

Many novice woodworkers consider the circular saw more of a carpentry power tool rather than a woodworking tool, but I disagree. There isn’t a more versatile tool than the circular saw, as it can be used to perform a wide array of household and woodworking task. So when you set out to buy power tools, the circular saw should be on top of the to-buy list.

Power Drill

Another one of the must buy power tools is the power drill. For beginners, I recommend a corded model, as it’s more powerful and more versatile. It isn’t as portable as the cordless one, but the corded models are typically more affordable and can perform better than the cordless models. Things to consider when buying a power drill are the size of the chuck, whether you want a keyless or keyed chuck, whether you want a hammer or straight drill.

Jigsaw

Owning a jigsaw allows you to cut circular and curved patterns. While a band saw can be more accurate and more capable of cutting thicker wood, the jigsaw should be sufficient enough for a beginner. Pick a corded, orbital-action jigsaw that’s comfortable when operating and has a blade changing system that’s easy to handle.

Random Orbital Sander

Another necessary tool every woodworker should have in their tool arsenal is the random orbital sander. While it’s true that the palm sander is more affordable and you can use plain sandpaper, the random orbital sander uses hook-and-look sanding disks that doesn’t sand in a pattern, but instead uses a random sanding motion. This reduces the chances of sanding marks which may appear on the wood. When buying this power tool, make sure you pick up a couple of disks as well for the model you go for.

Router

And last but not least, a quality router can be a very valuable addition to any woodworker’s toolbox. You can either choose a plunge or stationary router. For entry-level woodworkers, a stationary base model will be enough to accomplish most tasks at hand. When you get more experience with this tool, you can either build or invest into a router table. Pick a model that has at least 2 horsepower and variable electronic speed controls, is easy to make changes on and has a soft start mechanism.