Last month, I wrote a post about woodworking tools that I feel are essential for every basement or garage workshop. The items I listed are commonly found items and they can be picked up at any home improvement store. If you’re adventurous, you can also buy a lot of quality used tools from Craigslist. MOST of the larger workshop tools I own were bought on Craigslist. A lot of these items are like cars, the minute someone drives home with them new, the value drops quite a bit. Consequently, I do have a good amount of tools, but in reality, they probably aren’t worth much at all since they are heavily used.
Since I wrote that post, I have been thinking of items that I forgot to add and I realized that you could probably get away with professional results for very low money. For a couple hundred dollars, you could get a bunch of smaller, new tools that will get the job done. Interested in building your own cabinets? You don’t actually need a table saw. Does it help? You bet. But, you could certainly do it without it.
Here’s my list of essential woodworking tools:
1. A Circular Saw: With a sharp blade, a circular saw can get you major results. I use one all. the. time. When I was building my workbench, I used it to cut sections off my long sheet goods. Even with a table saw, there are a lot of cuts that you can’t make without using special jigs. The circular saw can usually handle those cuts without much fuss. It’s not ideal for cutting very thick pieces of hardwood or building fine furniture, but for cabinets, shelves or built-ins, it’s the best.
2. A Straight Edge and some C-Clamps or an All in One Clamp: Have you ever tried to make a straight cut with a circular saw?? It’s not easy to do it free hand. Here’s a tip though, if you clamp a long straight edge along the piece you’re cutting and butt the circular saw up against the straight edge, you can get a cut as straight and perfect as a table saw. This is the very method I used on my workbench. You can’t go wrong with this approach.
3. A Jigsaw: For making curved cuts, or even small straight cuts, a jigsaw is perfect. Plus, you can usually get one for under $60. If you’re interested in making perfectly straight cuts, you can also butt it up against a straight edge. I don’t use one often, but when I do, they are indispensable… pretty much the Dos Equis of power tools.
4. A Hand Saw: Am I starting to sound like your grandfather? Everyone should own a basic handsaw. Why use a handsaw when you can use a circular saw? Because a handsaw can be used up on ladders and with your arms extended out from you. Circular saws can get heavy and are obviously incredibly dangerous if used improperly. Hand saws are a great backup and majorly cheap.
5. A Router: Admittedly, the most expensive item on my list. You can get a great router for $100 new and well under $50 for a used one. I prefer Porter Cable or DeWalt. If you get a Craftsman, make sure it’s a more recent model. The less plastic on the housing, the better, in my opinion. Remember that jointer that I recommended in my last tools post? A router can do the same job a jointer can do for 1/3 or less of the cost (with the right bit and a straight edge, of course. Should’ve called this post “Uses for Straight Edges”). Plus, routers can be used for what they’re intended for… putting profiles on hardwood. I don’t use a router very often either, but they are nice to have just in case. On a side note, I will be building a router table soon for our raised panel project, so you’ll soon get to see their usefulness.
I can’t believe it’s Wednesday already!! Still feel like my week is just starting. Not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. Do you own a hand saw? How about a circular saw? Do you ever use them?
***Full disclosure: Lisa and I are members of Amazon.com associates. If you purchase any of the items above, we get a small kickback. If you’re interested in joining Amazon Associates, go to Affiliate-Program.Amazon.com ***
