Woodworking tools

What are woodworking tools?

Woodworking involves many different tasks. An essential tool for one woodworker may lie unused and dusty in another's workshop. It can be difficult for a beginner to choose among all these tools.

Whatever type of woodworking you're interested in, there are some basic skills you'll need. For each of these tasks, woodworkers need the right tools to cut, drill, shape, fasten, measure and finish.

Here are some of the most common tools in each category, as well as the most essential ones. Don't buy tools if you're on a budget. Instead, find ways to use them. Only buy tools that are useful for the projects you love.

Carpentry tools that cut

Woodworking begins with cutting. All woodworkers must cut the wood along the grain (ripping) and across the grain (cross-cutting).

While modern power tools enable cuts to be made with incredible speed and precision, almost all wood cutting can be done by hand. Even today, finely detailed cuts are best made with a quality hand saw.

Table saw

A table saw can be used for ripping and cutting, making it a versatile tool in many workshops. It's also ideal for cutting large, flat workpieces, such as plywood, thanks to its wide, flat table. Consider buying a portable jobsite table saw before investing in a full-size version, which is often much more affordable.

Mitre saw

Miter saws make fast, precise and easily reproducible crosscuts. Using a miter saw is an incredible time-saver if you often work with narrow workpieces (15 cm or less).

Miter box

Consider using a miter box if you don't make enough crosscuts to justify a miter saw. Essentially, this is a hand-operated miter saw with a plastic or wooden frame and slots to guide a hand saw. Cutting with miter boxes is relatively quick and inexpensive.

Jigsaw

A Cutting curves and circles in a wooden surface is easy with a jigsaw. Many beginners are intimidated by the "chatter" (rapid vibration). If you have a little experience and patience, a jigsaw can be a valuable tool for any woodworker.

Scroll saw

The narrow blade of a scroll saw is ideal for cutting complex curves and dovetail joints, as well as for cutting crown joints.

Band saw

Vertical band saw blades divide wood in half and cut curves. Thanks to its large size, the band saw remains stationary while the carpenter repositions the material to be cut. A band saw is much better than a table saw if you need to cut a 2x6 into two 1x6s.

Scroll saw

Scroll saws are smaller versions of band saws. The scroll saw is designed for detail work on smaller materials, due to its smaller mouth opening. It is ideal for meticulous detailing in fine wood.

Circular saw

A circular saw is first and foremost a carpenter's saw, but it also has its place in a woodworker's toolbox. For occasional cuts of plywood, a circular saw is often a better option than investing in a full table saw.

Drilling carpentry tools

Cordless drill/driver

A cordless drill used to be something of a luxury for carpenters. Today, the many inexpensive options available on the market make it an indispensable tool. Most carpenters have a single drill/driver for drilling holes and fitting screws.

Column drilling machine

Some holes require a level of precision that cannot be reproduced by hand with a cordless drill. In these cases, a drill press can be used to produce precise, easily reproducible holes.

Hand drill

There is something of a niche market for hand drills. However, its precision and ability to drill in increments of a few minutes can be extremely useful when working with fine or precious materials.

Woodworking tools that shape

Wood can be shaped with all kinds of tools. The project can be shaped at the beginning or at the end of the process. This is essentially the project when it comes to wood carving and woodturning.

These woodworking tools shape :

The hand plane

It's been around for centuries, and it's still one of the most effective tools around. When properly maintained and carefully calibrated, a planer can remove material quickly or in thin, transparent layers. There are many sizes and styles to choose from. The Stanley 6-inch plane is a great starting point for most woodworkers.

Orbital sander

Use an orbital sander to smooth a wooden surface or hide unwanted blade marks.

Belt sander

The belt sander allows you to remove material very quickly. As this is a very aggressive tool, care must be taken not to overdo it.

Planer

A Planers reduce the thickness of boards and make them uniform. You can save money by using it when you buy raw lumber. Parallel, even surfaces are ensured by a planer.

Surface planer

A It's common practice to use a jointer at the same time as a planer. With planers, the wood is shaped at a perfect right angle along its length and edge. You can use a jointer to ensure that pieces of wood fit together perfectly, for example when placed side by side for a table top.

Sandpaper

Because it is used and replaced, sandpaper can be considered a "material" rather than a tool. In the woodworking shop, it's essential, which is why we've included it.

For detailed work or curved surfaces, sandpaper is particularly useful. Don't hesitate to discard the grains once they've been removed.

Tower

You'll need a lathe in your workshop if you're interested in woodturning. The sight of a turner at work, with wood shavings flying and a finished object slowly emerging from the rotating material, is magical.

Wood chisel

A From hinge mortises to carvings, wood chisels shape everything. While size and shape depend on your specific needs, a quality, sharp chisel is essential for almost any type of woodworking.

Router

A Modifying the edge profile of your project is easy with a router. You can use a palm router for shelves or a table router for custom wood trim.

Files and rasps

Wood can be removed and shaped using files and rasps. Files can be used to smooth surfaces and make small modifications, while rasps can be used to remove layers of wood. Users can easily switch between files and rasps when using combination tools.