I'm looking to start doing some basic woodworking. I'm not a total beginner when it comes to working with my hands but I'd say I'm starting out as a novice. I've recently purchased a table saw and I've been doing a lot of research but I'd be interested in what some of you think.

I've been following the Youtube 731 Channel, and he seems very practical. Besides machinery and clamps, what are some of your regular go-to tools that you use regularly?

The plan is to make some plank planters and a storage box for our outside deck to start with.

Welcome to the addiction. A table saw is the biggest door opener for wood working in my opinion. Glad you got that!

Random orbital sander is very helpful. , whenever you think you need a clamp… buy two. You'll use them.

I just got a planer and LOVE it. Helps clean things up and make life so much easier.

Pick a battery system you like and just pick up the tools that go with it.

Some YouTube follows I watch-(Marc spag Nola) wood whisperer, wood working for mere mortals (Steve Ramsey)

Listen to wood talk pod cast when driving, and you'll learn wuick

Woodworking is such an enjoyable hobby. Welcome to the money pit. 731 is one I watch regularly, too. I do think he's a little bit product-driven. I like the Woodtalk podcast alot (each of those guys has a large social media footprint - Marc Spagnuolo is the one I follow the most).

I think the biggest question you should ask yourself is "what kind of woodworking are you into?". And maybe you don't know, but that will end up pushing you towards certain tools. I've got a good buddy that is a luthier, and I have a lot more variety in my projects. While we have some of the same tools in name, they're completely different in capacity and purpose.

There's a lot of ways to do the same things, so this answer will be different for different people, but two tools I would start with is a nice sliding compound miter saw and a nice router. I think my miter saw is probably the most used general-purpose tool in my shop. I built a workbench where the saw sits flush with the working surface, and it's always ready to go. I actually own several routers (6), and typically keep a few loaded with certain bits. For example, I've got a flush cut trim bit for router templates. I never have to really fidget with that router and it's always ready to go. I bought several of those on Marketplace and garage sales, but two of them were bought new with much nicer features for certain applications.

I think you can always find a good deal on tools on Marketplace. Never hurts to buy one and try it for a while. You can always re-sell and pick up one that's bigger, or more suited to what your style is.

I also really recommend thinking about your a space. I like a lot of workbench area to work on. Lighting is a very underappreciated need in a working space. The ability to organize and store things can make it easier. And configuring your space where it is easy to keep clean helps.

Just a bonus thought - a 3D printer has been a game-changer for my carpentry. I make templates for routers, thickness and angle gauges, jigs, fixtures, organizing trays... you name it. Just a little bit of learning in a CAD tool like Fusion360 makes it a very powerful tool. In fact, my luthier buddy and I filed for a patent for a router template indexing system, intended to help guitar makers. It was all possible with 3D printed parts.

Dangit man...! Now I'm just copying you.

Track saw
Router table
Jointer
Planer
Random orbit sander
Table saw
Router (freehand)
Kreg jig
Biscuit jointer

You'll find every new project you do for the first...well, all of them you'll be buying something new lol

Most importantly. Share your work with peeps here.
Ben, Agrams,Drummer are all great resources, and answer questions and provide insight all the time. I've Learned a ton from their posts

javajaws said:

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Track saw
Router table
Jointer
Planer
Random orbit sander
Table saw
Router (freehand)
Kreg jig
Biscuit jointer

You'll find every new project you do for the first...well, all of them you'll be buying something new lol

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These ^ and might I add drill press and wood bits and at some point a bandsaw. It's an addictive hobby and there are always going to be "new" tools that you need/want .......emphasis on want...

I appreciate all the recs. What sort of tools besides "machines" do you find yourself using frequently with a build?

Get a simple circular saw, good blades and some edge guides. A good square can solve a lot of math problems.

A flush trim saw. I have the harbor freight $5 saw and it works great for trimming dowels, splines etc

This is starting to sound dangerously like a hand-tool woodworking thread. Resist temptation!

• I have a lot of pencils since I'm always setting them down. A few sketchpads to go with them.
• Multiple tape measures for similar reason. A laser measurer is super handy.
• Several levels, including a laser projection level that gets used a lot more than I thought it would when I bought it.
• I don't use chisels a lot, but when you need them, you need them.
• Don't forget PPE. Especially a cartridge respirator. Pushblocks, too. Latex gloves for finishing.
• Depending on what you mean by "machines" - there are lots of methods to fasten or join, and having the library of skills helps open up what you can do. Having a good set of common screws on hand, or jigs for dowels or pocket holes. Then you get into dovetails and dominoes. Having a few different nail guns helps a lot as well.
• A set of Forstner bits.

I picked up this hobby about 20 years ago. Mitre saw, table saw, circular saw, and jig saw is what I started with. I actually don't use the circular saw all that often - it was very handy when I built my daughter's outdoor swing set with a tower thing, or the deck that I built.

The table saw has proven to be the most versatile over the years. I've cut lots of wood on that thing, but changing the blade to one rated for cutting materials like laminate (for the floor) allowed me to redo all of the floors in my house.

I've added a scroll saw which I use for some fine craft projects I've wanted to do, but it doesn't get used for any other applications.

I inherited a router many years ago. I used it a bit before deciding I wanted another more modern model (a Craftsman). I bought a router table and several bits. I didn't use the table all that frequently, but it was good for using the templates that I bought to cut out a sign that I made for my mother-in-law.

If you're married, be prepared for your wife to question why you'll need a particular tool. When I bought my drill press, my wife asked that question, to which I responded, "to put holes in things". I've used that for wood projects, but believe it or not (it's a table-top Craftsman drill press), I've used that more frequently when building the scale model airplanes I build (my other hobby).

Someone mentioned lighting. IMO one can never have enough lighting. I have plenty of lighting but eventually I find that I just need more. Trouble is, I've run out of places to install it.

Storage - I have 3 of the big Craftsman tool boxes. Those hold all of my hand tools as well as boxes of router templates and bits, and other random things.

Some hand tools I can think of is an good assortment of hammers (dead blow, rubber mallet, claw, framing) and have multiple sizes of levels, even a laser-light level. Squares and measuring tapes are essential. And keep a good supply of pencils for marking.

To that last point, the most useful tool that I have is this: Pencil Holder I mount these things on each of my power tools and the tool boxes, and I've recently added magnetic strips to give me more easily accessible storage for frequently used tools Magnetic Tool Holder

Finally, always measure twice cut once, wear the proper PPE, and if something sounds like possibly a bad idea, consider that the absolute truth and don't do that something. And have fun.

Cinco Ranch Aggie said:

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I picked up this hobby about 20 years ago. Mitre saw, table saw, circular saw, and jig saw is what I started with. I actually don't use the circular saw all that often - it was very handy when I built my daughter's outdoor swing set with a tower thing, or the deck that I built.

The table saw has proven to be the most versatile over the years. I've cut lots of wood on that thing, but changing the blade to one rated for cutting materials like laminate (for the floor) allowed me to redo all of the floors in my house.

I've added a scroll saw which I use for some fine craft projects I've wanted to do, but it doesn't get used for any other applications.

I inherited a router many years ago. I used it a bit before deciding I wanted another more modern model (a Craftsman). I bought a router table and several bits. I didn't use the table all that frequently, but it was good for using the templates that I bought to cut out a sign that I made for my mother-in-law.

If you're married, be prepared for your wife to question why you'll need a particular tool. When I bought my drill press, my wife asked that question, to which I responded, "to put holes in things". I've used that for wood projects, but believe it or not (it's a table-top Craftsman drill press), I've used that more frequently when building the scale model airplanes I build (my other hobby).

Someone mentioned lighting. IMO one can never have enough lighting. I have plenty of lighting but eventually I find that I just need more. Trouble is, I've run out of places to install it.

Storage - I have 3 of the big Craftsman tool boxes. Those hold all of my hand tools as well as boxes of router templates and bits, and other random things.

Some hand tools I can think of is an good assortment of hammers (dead blow, rubber mallet, claw, framing) and have multiple sizes of levels, even a laser-light level. Squares and measuring tapes are essential. And keep a good supply of pencils for marking.

To that last point, the most useful tool that I have is this: Pencil Holder I mount these things on each of my power tools and the tool boxes, and I've recently added magnetic strips to give me more easily accessible storage for frequently used tools Magnetic Tool Holder

Finally, always measure twice cut once, wear the proper PPE, and if something sounds like possibly a bad idea, consider that the absolute truth and don't do that something. And have fun.

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That's what God gave you ears for........

A few more:

Hand tools:

A woodworking square
Smaller adjustable square like a Starrett
A few chisels
Tape measures
Lots of clamps of various sizes/types
Glue brushes
Sandpaper
Carbide dovetail scribe if you need very precise marking
Something to mark angles


And power tool accessories:

Router bits
Dado blade set
Drill bits
ROS Sandpaper

And finally: a good bench.

Quote:

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Finally, always measure twice cut once,

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Or if you're a clutz like me, measure twice, think about cutting, then measure again to find out that you miscalculated/mismeasued preciously.

If you intend on doing anything with sheet goods, get a track saw to break them down. You can also get a track and adapter for a regular circular saw. I have one, and it works really well. I have a dedicated circular saw for it though. Sheet goods can be cut on a table saw, but you'll need a lot of room and really good outfeed support. The track saw makes it infinitely easier. It's also great if you want to get unfinished hardwoods. If you get S2S (planed to a uniform thickness, but right, you can easily rip a nice, straight edge on side and then run the other through a table saw.

If you want to use rough cut wood that's not finished at all, get a jointer, router sled, or build a planer sled. The jointer would be the best option though. It can give you a very clean, perfectly square edge that you can join without a lot of other prep work to remove saw marks.

If you get a miter saw, remember that sliding saws will have some natural play because you have leverage on the sliders. You have to be very aware of any lateral pressure your hand made be putting on it if your going for a very square cut. If you really need something dead square, use a table sled.

For all of your equipment, get the tools necessary to align them and tune them up. You'll need something like a dial alignment gauge and some precision squares. I have some high precision machinist squares for squaring up my saws. Don't trust anything out of the box. Always check blades for square and parallel.

If you get chisels, get a good sharpening jig. I have a veritas, and it's pretty good. I also got the scary sharp system instead of stones for sharpening. It is FANTASTIC and will get your blades literally razor sharp. Probably even sharper TBH.

Also, think it of investing in a pocket hole jig. Makes joining face frames really easy.

Rattler12 said:

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Cinco Ranch Aggie said:

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I picked up this hobby about 20 years ago. Mitre saw, table saw, circular saw, and jig saw is what I started with. I actually don't use the circular saw all that often - it was very handy when I built my daughter's outdoor swing set with a tower thing, or the deck that I built.

The table saw has proven to be the most versatile over the years. I've cut lots of wood on that thing, but changing the blade to one rated for cutting materials like laminate (for the floor) allowed me to redo all of the floors in my house.

I've added a scroll saw which I use for some fine craft projects I've wanted to do, but it doesn't get used for any other applications.

I inherited a router many years ago. I used it a bit before deciding I wanted another more modern model (a Craftsman). I bought a router table and several bits. I didn't use the table all that frequently, but it was good for using the templates that I bought to cut out a sign that I made for my mother-in-law.

If you're married, be prepared for your wife to question why you'll need a particular tool. When I bought my drill press, my wife asked that question, to which I responded, "to put holes in things". I've used that for wood projects, but believe it or not (it's a table-top Craftsman drill press), I've used that more frequently when building the scale model airplanes I build (my other hobby).

Someone mentioned lighting. IMO one can never have enough lighting. I have plenty of lighting but eventually I find that I just need more. Trouble is, I've run out of places to install it.

Storage - I have 3 of the big Craftsman tool boxes. Those hold all of my hand tools as well as boxes of router templates and bits, and other random things.

Some hand tools I can think of is an good assortment of hammers (dead blow, rubber mallet, claw, framing) and have multiple sizes of levels, even a laser-light level. Squares and measuring tapes are essential. And keep a good supply of pencils for marking.

To that last point, the most useful tool that I have is this: Pencil Holder I mount these things on each of my power tools and the tool boxes, and I've recently added magnetic strips to give me more easily accessible storage for frequently used tools Magnetic Tool Holder

Finally, always measure twice cut once, wear the proper PPE, and if something sounds like possibly a bad idea, consider that the absolute truth and don't do that something. And have fun.

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That's what God gave you ears for........

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Well sure, but when I put my pencil down somewhere else…….

I may have missed it, but a dust collector or at least a high capacity shop vac will help you breathe better.

Thank you to everyone for their recommendations. I appreciate it.

Buy high quality saw blades! Don't skimp out and get the cheapest stuff. Quality set of Dado blades, router bits ( get a router table!) Good quality jigsaw, but a band saw was a nice addition. Build a wood rack to separate your lumber and species type. Invest in lots of birch plywood when it goes on sale.
Later on maybe a Lazer cutter, etcher or something like a Cartwright wood; you can hook them up to a laptop and it will copy your template/design.

You can spend thousands, but the peace and sense of accomplishment is worth it.

Plus you know it's made with Love and high quality wood.

Become friends with someone who has a sawmill so you can work with high quality wood. Pecan, walnut, and others which grow in TX!

Have fun

What is y'all's favorite band saw? Looking at the 14" Rikon 10-234TG open stand but this will be my first band saw purchase.

Looking for something that will last and love the 13" resaw capacity. Have 2x6 rough sawn oak that I want to resaw so I don't have to use my table saw anymore

I will add a couple things that I've concluded in my experience over the last 20-some-odd years specifically related to investments made in tools since that's what you inquired about.

1. I would suggest only buying tools as you need them for projects that you have committed to take on. I have purchased several tools over the years because I fell in love with the idea of having them, not really because I was going to use them extensively. Large bandsaw, Jessem router lift, and a planer come to mind. I ended up selling those items off eventually and never even once used the lift or bandsaw. I try to keep my purchases practical and focused more these days.

2. If I was starting over, I would invest more early on in dust collection. I'm just now getting to a place where I'm fed up with the dust constantly being an issue. I've been more focused with a shop vac recently, but I have yet to purchase a legit dust collector. I think overlooking that for years was a bad idea.