I’ve always loved working with my hands. It’s was another way to be creative and solve problems. In the last 5 years or so I’ve had a desire to get into woodworking. There is something about making a piece of furniture that I can’t describe. Carving something from nothing. Starting with a tree and turning it into something that someone will cherish. Something that will out last you and that people will talk about after your gone.
Here is the list of tools and below you can find the details.
- Bench
- Chisels
- Hand Saw
- Table Saw
- Band Saw
- Jig Saw
- Drill
- Orbital Sander
- Clamps
- Planer
How To Get Started
Like anything else, just start. Don’t let excuses stop you. The fact I don’t have a garage or nice large space was my excuse until I decided that I’ll never have those spaces if I don’t get started. I knew it would be difficult. I live in a very small one bedroom apartment with my wife, and three kids and have roughly a 10ft by 6ft patio on the 4th floor.
The trick is knowing how to make the most out of your space and know its limitations. I’ve see where people have had a desk or one step up from one of those old school dinner trays I grew up with as their bench, in their carpeted apartment. Obviously, they are probably not making 6ft live edge river tables. They may be making décor items, jewelry, or other smaller items.
With my space I utilize vertical space with a 4-tier shelf that hold most of my tools. I also have a closet on the patio where I store my wood. I was able to rig up a lighting system using a hanging shop light, some wood, a metal bar, a bolt, and a clamp. Other then the light, I used stuff I already had.
I except that weather will play a role in everything I do. If it is raining I can’t go out and work. The weather also effects wood movement. I’ve flattened a live edge slab to go out the next day and have it look like a potato chip by morning. When possible, I bring my work in at night to reduce that as much as possible.
The other issue with the weather is tools can get wet and start rusting. Luck for me, SoCal doesn’t get much rain. Of course this year is an exception and it’s been raining almost every other week. To combat this problem I cover everything with a tarp and since doing that I’ve had almost no issues. Of course I have to give my wife a shout out because there have been many days I’ve had to call her up to cover everything.
Where To Find Affordable Tools
- Friends/people you know
- Home Depot
- Lowes
- Woodcraft/ Specialty stores
- Harbor Freight
Friends/People You Know
For starters, check with people you know. See if they know anyone looking to unload some tools. You never know if your neighbor might be looking to clear out some unwanted tools. Just know they may not be in perfect running order but that’s part of the fun.
My tools collection started when a friend handed down to me a collection of tools that her late husband had owned and she didn’t have the room or need for. They all had seen better days. They had been left out outside for a few months in one of the wettest winters we’ve had in years.
One of those tools was a table top planer it has taken me over a year to get up and running. Rust everywhere, worn belts, stripped bolts, and no handle to adjust the height of the plane thickness. Even still I have some work to get it running perfect, if that’s even possible. I tinker with it when I can to learn more about it and get it just a little closer.
Other tools where table top belt sander, chisels, files, hand planes, vintage hand drills, and some other vintage tools that all seem to have seen much better days. Some hard work and I was able to get them back in working order.
Home Depot/Lowes
Other places to look can be Home Depot or Lowes. You will find the basics you will need to start but you will be paying full price. I suggest you look for deals when they have them. If you are veteran you can get a discount, though that has been more difficult this last year at HD.
Woodcraft/Specialty Stores
Woodcraft or other specialty stores that are made for woodworkers are a great place to go. Their employees know what they are talking about. You can also take some classes at some of those stores.
The only thing with those specialty stores is you will be paying top price for those tools and when you are starting out you might not want to spend those type of prices….yet. On the flip side you will be getting quality tools.
Harbor Freight
Another place to get cheap tools, and I know to all professional woodworkers out there will curse me for this, is Harbor Freight.
Let me start by saying I’m a product designer, I know what goes into making products specifically in China, where most of Harbor Freight items come from. I know to get that cheap price they are going with sub par materials, stuff might be slightly out of alignment, not stay forever in alignment, or made with open market parts.
A prime example is the Central Machinery band saw. Plastic shell, some plastic adjusters, cheap metal table that was slightly out of alignment out of box. However I was able to get it straight with some work. I find it works great for what I use it for. Funny thing is, it’s the same thing as the Wen and Ryobi band saws that you will find at HD or Lowes just different name on it.
I know that you will get what you pay for and as a beginner you don’t need the best of the best tools even if you are like me and just starting to push to make it your full time job you can get by with something simple like this.
As a beginner you will beat on those tools and why would you want to do that to a nice expensive tool.
Tools I prefer not to buy at Harbor Freight is chisels or hand planes. When I sharpen my chisels I want them to stay sharp. Buying a really nice one I know the edge is more likely be square, at the right angle, and wont break or chip easy.
Another type of tool I prefer not to buy there or anywhere really is battery powered tools.
This is more of a personal preference but I hate going for my drill just to realize the battery is dead. Eventually, it will stop holding that charge and you have to try and find a replacement.
As for Harbor Freight specifically, I don’t trust that their battery powered items are all that good. I have no good reason for it, other then I know it’s one area they could skimp on and it’d be hard to notice until its too late.
Now for the real reason you came here What are some beginner tools as a woodworker you will need.
Bench
First thing you will want is a bench of some sorts. It’s very difficult to build anything without a solid surface. I personally started with 2 collapsible saw horses and a piece of plywood and a few clamps to hold it in place. It was good at the time, I was able to set it up and take it down as I needed. The only problem I had was keeping it still when I was trying to plane something.
From there I was going to build my own but to save time and be able to start making products to sell sooner I bought the one from HF (Harbor Freight). It’s not the best bench and when I get my own house and into a larger and more permanent location I will be building my own more beefy bench.
As for the HF one, it does the trick. The vice on the side is meh, the top is a little thinner then I’d prefer. However, too much weight could make it a fixture in the downstairs neighbors patio which I think they may frown upon. The drawers on it like to open when you are working and the bench dog holes in the top filter sawdust straight down into the drawers below. However for $110, easy assembly, and being able to actually get going on making things to sell is a solid trade off in my eyes.
Chisels
To me this is one of those things that I think is worth spending money on. That or buy some older/ vintage ones. The older ones were well built and last forever. You just have to watch out for ones with bad chips, pitting from rust around the tip, or signs that it has lost its heat treatment to it and wont keep an edge.
This was one of those things handed down to me. some in really good shape but others in a good need of some tlc. This is when I realize those older tools where made in a way that a little hard work and you can get them back into good working order.
Chisels are something I wouldn’t buy at HF. Spend $50 or so dollars at Woodcraft and get a set of 4 to start, you will be better off. Once you get a feel for sharpening them you can buy ones specific to your needs. To go with these you will also need sharpening stones and strop.
I got my stones from Woodcraft for about $50 and it came with 3 stones of different grits and some honing oil. It’s the Arkansas Stone Kit. They have worked perfect for me. I also got a honing guide from there to help make sure I get the correct angle on my chisels. I think if you can learn without it you will be better off as the chisels I got don’t really fit the guide all that well. As for the strop I made my own. Double stick tape a board and leather and I was good to go. Get some green Chrome Oxide Compound for like $12 at WoodCraft it works great and lasts a long time.
Saws
I’m being a bit general and saying saws because it’ll really depend on your space and what you want to make. I’ll list a few below and you can judge for yourself if it’s something you need.
Hand Saws
I have a bunch of hand saws but the one I find most useful is my dovetail saw. I haven’t had to do much cutting other then bow tie inlays. Mostly because I have been making live edge side tables and small home décor items.
I will warn you, the dovetail saw may be small and not as intimidating as something like a chainsaw or table saw but it’ll cut the bloody hell out of you. I sliced through the meat of my hand by my thumb on the last bow tie I did.
Of course my wife not 20 minutes earlier said “Hey make sure you wear your gloves.” Well of course I think I know better and when I was cutting through my last inlay and as it finished the cut the momentum of me pushing ended up pushing it straight into my hand that was holding the piece still and damn it if my wife wasn’t right. Trust me you’ll see this as a running trend in most things I do.
The worst part wasn’t the cut, it actually didn’t hurt that bad, it was the walk of shame past my wife knowing she and I both knew she was right. You almost contemplate bleeding out as a-posed to having to admit she was right lol.
With that said, picking a saw is more about what are you planning to make. If you plan on doing anything with hardwood (Maple, Cherry, Walnut, Oak,ect.) know that they are a little tough to use a traditional saw on.
If you plan on getting logs and cutting through them forget a hand saw. You might know why but I didn’t. When I started and tried cutting through a 16 inch thick Oak log… I worked that saw for about 3-4hr and made it like 3-4 inches in. Could barely move my arm for like 2 days.
Of course my wife has said to go buy a chainsaw but since it was her idea I choose not to listen. See the trend again. Needless to say I caved after that and got myself a chainsaw. Which she is all happy to add the ongoing list of ones that she reminds me of when I don’t listen.
I’ll give you a bit of advice if you do get a chainsaw and are just using it around your shop, live in the city or with neighbors close by an electric chainsaw is substantially quieter then gas. I got mine at Harbor Freight. It’s the Portland 14″ and I really like it. It leaks chain oil a bit but it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to take for only a $45 tool. You won’t get the power like a traditional chain saw but with just doing small cut I don’t need a lot of power.
Table Saw
This is one item I have, haven’t used much but when I needed it it was very useful. I got my table saw from HF as a gift from my wife. I got the 10” Hercules compact for about $300 or so dollars. Now, like I said I haven’t used mine all that much but I also have been doing mostly live edge tables and home décor items. However, I know that most everyone I follow uses it in most builds. Also, this item has so many possibilities using hand made sleds or using attachments.
Band Saw
I think I covered this above but I’ll say for me this is a must. With making smaller items, items with lots of curves and angles I either use this or my scroll saw and this is one that I’m most comfortable with. For $159 and being the same item as the more expensive Wen and Ryobi you can’t really go wrong.
Jig Saw
I think this is another very versatile tool. In my shop it’s not always easy to maneuver large boards or sheets of wood, and it doesn’t always fit in my band saw. I rough cut my designs out if I’m doing any shapes and then use my bandsaw to get final shape down or my scroll saw if it’s more intricate. The variety of blades make it so you can cut just about anything you could need.
Drill
This is one of the few items I have that’s battery powered. Mostly because I got it before getting into woodworking and needed it to put shelves up for my wife. However, recently I put on my to get list a plugin drill because of the whole no charge in my battery. I have actually used my vintage hand drill more often in woodworking because I can go slow and honestly it’s just fun to use those old tools.
Orbital Sander
Sanders are a necessary addition to your collection. You will be doing a lot of sanding. I feel the orbital sander is the most used of all the electric sanders. With that said I also have a 1” and 4” bench top belt sanders.
Clamps
You will learn fast that you can never have enough clamps. I have about 10 and am running out all the time. I try to get a few every time HF has a sale. Reason I go with the HF clamps is because clamps are expensive otherwise. There are a few types clamps. You have ratcheting bar clamps those have trigger grip, you have a bar clamp which is manually tightening and loosening by sliding one end of the clamp along the bar, and Aluminum bar clamps which are hollow and at HF they twist. I don’t have the Aluminum ones but am looking to get some. The one thing I have heard about those ones is it’s best to cut a piece of cheap wood like pine and use it to fill the void in the center of the bar and that will stop the twisting.
Planer
Depending on what you plan to make you might need a planer. I have a few hand planes, a bench top thickness planer, and am looking into getting a electric planer. Hand planes are good for taking down high spots on uneven wood. Thickness planers are just that, to take down the wood thickness and if you have one side of your wood flat it’ll help get the other side parallel to that. My thickness planer is old and rusted. I’ve been working on it and have gotten it running but I believe it needs new blades and they’re not cheap. Not only do you need blades but also the gage to make sure it’s even and the ones that came with this machine are long gone.
Other Less Expensive Must Haves
Safety Equipment
This is the very first things you should get. You need eye protection, I have regular safety glasses and then I have goggles that cover all the way around my eyes. The glasses are good for everyday working. The goggles are if I am doing a lot of sanding as my eyes dry out.
As for hearing protection I use ones that cover my ears completely that way I can use my AirPods and listen to music.
One more thing that is necessary is a mask or respirator. With constant sanding and paint fumes it really is a must have.
Measuring
Measuring and being able to make a 90 deg. Is essential in woodworking.
Pencil
Sketching, marking, and then losing them…. I just buy a pack of pencils and leave them in my bench drawers so I always have one. I have regular #2 pencils and some carpenter pencils as well.
The carpenter pencils I sharpen at different angles so if I need I can get the angle of marking I need.
Marking Knife
Any thin bladed knife will do. I use my pocket knife. They do sell marking knives specifically for this and I know they are made for woodworking but I find my knife works just as well.
If you are marking your work with a pencil and it isn’t sharp or even if it is sometimes the line it makes is heavy to the point it’ll be as thick as the kerf of a blade. If you cut on the wrong side of the line you could be an 1/16 of an inch off and that can screw up a whole project.
The other good thing about marking knives is they cut the top fibers of the wood to help reduce tear out.
Glue
Other then wood glue, I use spray mount to mount paper to wood when I need to scroll saw something it helps keep it in place. I’ve used hot glue and cocking to make a barrier when I am doing a resin pour.
From experience, I know affording woodworking tools is not easy. Like me you might be already pinching every penny you make. Even if that is the case there is no reason you can’t be successful in making things for yourself or to sell.
One you get your workspace in order and figure out how to use the tools, it’ll be a great bonding experience to have your kids out their with you. If you’d like to know how I did a post on 9 Ways To Get Your Kids Into Woodworking.
