Suppose you are discussing woodworking with your friend. Your friend asks you if you can state the top 11 essential power tools for woodworking. What are you going to say? If you don’t know, then continue reading this article.
Woodwork or carpenter is such a profession that you need them in almost every construction project. Woodworkers use a wide range of tools for their work. Each of the tools is used for different jobs. Some of the tools are handheld, and some of them are power tools. Some of the power tools are also handheld. Let’s find out the essential woodworking power tools.
Our Top Choice
|
Image |
Name |
Function |
|---|---|---|
  |
SKIL 15 Amp Circular Saw |
Straight Cut |
  |
WEN 3959T Band Saw |
Heavy wood Cut, straight cut |
  |
BLACK+DECKER 20V sander |
Smoothing and refining |
  |
BOSCH JS260 Jigsaw |
Circular shapes cut |
  |
Metabo HPT Miter Saw |
Different angle cut |
  |
BOSCH 1617EVS Router |
Designing and precise cut |
  |
WEN DPA2412T Drill Press |
Drilling |
  |
Evolution – RAGE5-S Table Saw |
Steel, Aluminium, wood Cut |
  |
Stalwart – 75-CD91 Power Drill |
Drilling |
  |
BOSTITCH 18GA Nail Gun |
Nailing |
  |
SHOP FOX W1727 Dust Collector |
Dust collection |
Essential Power tools for woodworking
There is a wide range of power tools you can use for woodwork. All of them do different things. So you need to choose power tools according to your work needs. The following are the best woodworking power tools for me. You can also search for tools for woodworking.
Below, I will be discussing 11 power tools that is essential for woodwork:
1. Circular saw
The most common power tool used in woodworking is a circular saw. This saw consists of an abrasive disk with toothed. The disk is attached to the handle and the rest of the machine. There is covering on the top and sides of the disk for protection. The bottom part is open. This is the part that does the cutting.
You can make the best straight cut with circular saws. If you have to cut along the board’s length, then a circular saw is perfect. Woodworkers use this to cut MDF, sheets of plywood etc. You can achieve cuts like a table saw used with clamps and clips.
Circular saws can also give bevel cuts. Depth adjustment and bevel adjustment is also possible to do with a circular saw. If you are low on budget, then a circular saw will be your primary handheld power tool.
2. Band saw
If you are looking for a versatile woodworking tool, a band saw is the one. This saw makes cutting wood almost effortless. Band saw is large in size. But this large size has its pros.
Band blade is the part that cuts wood pieces. A band saw is a tall structure. It has two parts. The upper part and the lower part. The blade is attached to two large wheels. One of the wheels is in the upper part, and the other is in the lower part.
The wheels rotate at a high velocity. This gives the blade an enormous amount of power. You can cut big blocks of wood or even logs almost effortlessly.
Carpenters use band saws to cut small to large pieces of wood. You can also cut multiple blocks at the same time. Band saws can also do shape cuttings. You can make notch cuts and other unique cuts with band saws. It is also good for re-sawing.
3. Sander
When you go to buy wooden furniture, the first thing you look for is fineness. How smooth the surface of the furniture is. Well, to achieve fineness and smoothness, you need a sander.
Sanders consists of a rotating or back and forth going power wheel. A sanding pad is attached to the wheel. When you turn on the sander, the wheel starts to move. Then you polish your wooden surface with it.
There are different types of sanders. Some popular ones are belt sanders, stroke sanders, orbital sanders, detail sanders, flap sanders and so on. Though all these work in the same principle. But they have different types of work.
The main work of the sander is to make the wooden surface smooth. When you work with wood, the sides and edges become uneven. It feels bad to touch and also looks bad. Sanders makes these parts even and flat.
4. Jigsaw
If you are a beginner in woodwork, then jigsaw is the right tool for you. This is the most suitable woodworking power tool for you. You can cut rounded or circular shapes with jigsaws. Though many professionals like band saws for these types of cuts. But jigsaw is best for beginners.
A jigsaw consists of a small blade. You can attach different teeth arrangements to the blade. This will give you your desired cut. A jigsaw works in a reciprocal manner. That’s why it’s other name is reciprocating saw. The blade moves up and down to create enough motion to cut through the material.
You can use jigsaws to cut complex shapes from wood planks. You can create miter joints with jigsaws. Jigsaws are also best for crosscutting for marking on wooden boards. You may finish up the inside corner cuts that you started with a circular saw.
5. Compound miter saw
If you need to cut compound angles of bevels, mitered and combination cuts, then compound miter saw is your tool. It costs less than a table saw.
Compound miter saw works as an essential power tool for every carpenter. People also call it miter saw. Because its base is like a table. This can rotate in both rights and left. This allows the saw to cut at different angles. You can even bevel the blade in both left or right.
It sounds a bit confusing. I know. But don’t worry. Once you start using it and understand its functionality, you will love it.
6. Wood Router
Many consider a wood router as the most versatile tool in any carpenter’s arsenal. Having a wood router will make your woodwork a lot easier.
A wood router is a stationary tool. You can use it to accomplish quite a few tasks. You can also mount it on a router table. A wood router can also cut different objects. You may mount it on plastic or aluminum. It will cut just fine.
A wood router is a semi-portable tool. You may run it manually. Most of its use is in hollow cutting. You can hollow out wood with it. It is also famous for precision cuts.
7. Drill press
People normally use power drills to make holes. But a drill press also has some applications in a wood workshop. Sometimes it works as an important woodworking machine. If you need large precision holes, a drill press is up for the task.
You can set the drilling depth in this machine. If you need to drill a number of holes with the same depth, nothing can help you more than a drill press. Drilling these holes with a power drill will be very difficult. And it is not possible to maintain the precision of every hole.
8. Table saw
If you have continued this far, then it is time for the ultimate essential woodworking tool. But I strongly suggest learning and mastering the above-stated tools.
The most important tool every carpenter or woodworker needs is a table saw. It is hard to imagine a woodworking project without a table saw. All other tools are set by keeping the table saw in the center. Take your time before buying a table saw. Because it is one of the most expensive tools on this list.
There are various applications for table saws. So you have to understand your type of work. Then you have to buy your table saw. Though it is a bit expensive and a hefty investment. I will still recommend it. Because a table saw can replace many of the above-mentioned tools.
9. Power drill
You will find power drills in almost every workshop. It is one of the essential power tools. Carpenters also use a power drill. You will find both a corded drill and a cordless drill. Cordless ones are more popular. But they lack power. On the other hand, corded ones are powerful. There is also a significant price gap between these two.
A power drill is a machine with a rotating drill bit. You can attach different bits to get different types of holes. In carpentry, you will need three types of power drills. They are regular drills, hammer drills and impact drills. Each of these three has different works.
Regular power drills have an advantage. By just changing the drill bit, you can turn your drill into a screwdriver. And you can screw in and unscrew both with a power drill. Hammer drill has more force. The drill bit comes and goes back and forth. This gives you more power to bore a hole easily. Impact drills are similar to power drills. They have less power.
You have to use a power drill to make a hole in your wood piece. You can also use them as screw fasteners. Power drills can be both cordless drill and corded drill.
10. Nail gun
If you are doing woodwork, then you must have a nail gun. A nail gun is mostly used in construction sites and places where wood panels need to be attached.
The nail gun has replaced the nail and hammer. You can save money and effort by using nail guns. You can put nails in the wood more precisely. This will help you a lot in the carpentry process. There are different models with different power ranges. Select one according to your need.
11. Dust collector
One more thing you must have to do woodwork is a dust collector. If you cut wood, trim or polish, there will be wood residue. If you do not collect them on a regular basis, this residue will make a pile of dust.
So to keep your shop clean, you need a dust collector. People often overlook it. But today or tomorrow, you will need one.
Conclusion
Woodworking is all about the touch of the carpenter. The tools used are mere tools without the carpenter. But it is obvious that these tools help a lot in the process. Choose your power tools wisely.
Buy them according to your needs. The above-given list is my preference in terms of woodworking. Many of these come as a corded or cordless tool.
FAQs
Why do you need power tools for woodworking?
For woodworking, there is a wide range of tools. In woodworking, you may need to cut large chunks of wood or make holes of the same depth and diameter. These tasks are very hard to complete with just a hand tool. This is where power tools come into play. Power tools are a must in every carpenter’s woodworking tool kit.
