8 MUST HAVE POWER TOOLS FOR WOODWORKERS
Woodworking is a great hobby to be involved in, especially in today’s world during this on-going pandemic. Woodworking makes “staying at home” extremely enjoyable and it’s a fantastic way to practice social distancing! If you are interested in getting your workshop (or garage) ready for this rewarding hobby, you came to the right place. Today we’re going to discuss eight must have power tools that every woodworker should have.
CIRCULAR SAW
Investing in a quality circular saw is an important purchase. It’s a very common power tool in a construction site or for a contractor but it can play a role in the woodworking field as well. It’s a great way to cut down bulky sheets of wood and with the right attachments like a rip fence, you can easily make accurate, straight, and clean cuts too. Take the Milwaukee 2830-21HD M18 FUEL 7-1/4 Inch Rear Handle Circular Saw Kit as a prime example!
DRILL DRIVER AND IMPACT DRIVER
You are going to need to drill a lot of holes when woodworking. You can get by with just purchasing a standalone drill driver but spending a little more on an impact driver as well is the best way to go. Impacts are great for driving in screws fast and efficiently. This is exactly why you see them sold as combo kits. Just like the Makita XT275PT 18-Volt Drill and Impact Driver Combo Kit. If you are interested in learning more about the difference on drills drivers and impact drivers click here!
MITER SAW
Another great power tool in your woodworking arsenal is the mighty miter saw. It’s an easy and fast way to make a variety of cuts like cross, angle, and of course miter cuts. Its one of the best power tools you can have to get you up and running and start making amazing things. From an idea to a finished project. A good purchase is the DeWALT DWS779 12-Inch Double Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw. Proven to handle any project at hand!
JIGSAW
A jigsaw is a versatile tool for woodworkers because eventually you will find yourself wanting to cut curves, and that is extremely difficult to do with a circular saw. Jigsaws are so nimble, lightweight, and agile. Designed for maneuverability, make any straight cut and move into a curve instantly with little effort. It's easy to handle for new woodworkers. The Milwaukee 2737-21 M18 FUEL D-Handle Jig Saw Kit is a good place to start!
TABLESAW
If you want to take woodworking seriously you must own a tablesaw. It is truly an amazing piece of machinery to have because it opens up your range of possibilities. Precision cuts is key with table saws, it also allows you to increase your productivity without sacrificing good quality cuts. Another advantage is that you could make very long perfect cuts, along the length of the board. Take a look at the DeWALT DCS7485T1 60-Volt 8 1/4-Inch Adjustable Table Saw. It’s a good purchase!
SANDER
Sanding is a major aspect in woodworking. If you skip this process or rush through it, any imperfections will be highlighted and noticeable. Almost every woodworking project will involve sanding, so making sure you have the right one is important. For starters, a random orbiter sander is the most versatile sander you can have. A solid choice is the Makita XOB01T 18-Volt 5-Inch Random Orbit Sander Kit. I personally have operated one of these and it's very comfortable to hold!
ROUTER
Most woodworkers might say that a router is the second most used power tool in the shop, right behind the tablesaw, and I agree with that. When it comes to shaping your project and giving it that clean and well-polished look, a router can help you achieve that goal. If you’re looking to round over an edge or maybe cut in an inlay (just to name a few examples), this is the tool you need to get. For instance, like the Bosch 1617EVS 2.25 HP 1225,000 RPM Variable-Speed Fixed Base Router.
VACUUM
This next power tool is a little underrated if you ask me. Keeping your workspace organized and clean is very important. I know it's not as fun as table saws but don't skip out on this. Woodworking is fun and all, but it creates a huge mess, you'll quickly realize how much sawdust and shavings you leave behind in a single session. This is why you need a vacuum like the Milwaukee 0885-20 M18 FUEL 3-IN-1 Cordless Backpack Vacuum! Besides, it makes you look like a Ghostbuster, who doesn’t want that!
Always remember, when dealing with woodworking machines or any other machinery, safety and protection is priority number one. Don't forget to always wear safety glasses, goggles, or a face shield during operation. This will help flying debris from hitting your eyes or face. Also wearing hearing protection is a great idea. This will obviously help suppress high noise volume and reduce hearing damage. Lastly, do not forget to wear a proper respirator, inhaling sawdust is not a good idea. With all that being said, have fun building and creating!