What Tools Do I Need To Get Into Woodworking?

Eager to get into woodworking? Whether you’re looking to build your own wooden ornaments or start a professional carpentry company, you’ll need to own a few specific tools. Below are some of the most important tools you need to get into woodworking.

Saws

In order to cut through wood, you need a saw. There are two types of saws: manual saws and electric saws. Manual saws are the cheapest but slowest option, and can come in the form of traditional hand saws (for straight lines) or coping saws (for curved lines). Electric saws cost more money but get the job done quickly and can come in several forms including jigsaws, circular saws, band saws and chainsaws. 

Planes

A thickness planer can help to shave a wooden surface down. Such a tool is ideal if a board is just too thick or wide, and sawing is too time-consuming or fiddly. You can buy either a manual plane or an electric plane. When it comes to electric planes, there are handheld planer tools and there are stationary machines like jointers. The latter may be better if you’re planning to do lots of planing work.

Sanders/files

When it comes to getting rid of rough surfaces on wood, it’s important to have some form of sanding or filing equipment. It’s possible to sand down wood manually using a sanding block or sandpaper. For more heavy duty sanding jobs, an electric sander is required. This could include a handheld tool such as an orbital sander or a stationary machine such as a sanding belt. Some areas may be hard to access using sandpaper or an electric sander. Files may be useful in these situations – you can buy files in various different sizes to access different areas. These tools are often either flat or curved in shape. 

Drills

Drills are necessary tools for creating holes or quickly installing screws. Few people nowadays use a manual drill – electric drills have taken over, as they are far more convenient. Handheld drills can be used anywhere. In fact, many are cordless, so you don’t have to be near an outlet. Stationary pillar drills are useful for when you want to keep a piece of wood steady. Both types of drill can be used with various different drill bits depending on your purpose. 

Other equipment

There are many other tools that can be useful to own when woodworking. Firstly, you may want to consider looking into workbenches and sawhorses for holding your wood in place as you’re working on it. A hammer and a mallet could be other useful tools for putting in nail or getting wooden joints to fit more snugly. Measuring tools like tape measures and metal rules are also a necessity for making sure that you’re cutting the right lengths or drilling in the right places. Finally, you may want to consider buying yourself some safety equipment. Safety goggles are probably the most important safety equipment when using electric tools as they can prevent sawdust from getting into your eyes.