Some people can’t live a day without thinking about how they can improve their home and its surroundings. Many of them spend hours in their workshops, surrounded by dust and the sound of drills and saws. Does it sound familiar to you? If you identify as one of these people or want to spend more time honing your woodworking skills, you’ve come to the right place.
The key to every successful DIY project is to have the right power tools. Whether you’re a beginner or have your fair share of completed home improvement projects, you need equipment that will help you in your endeavors. In this article, you’ll find out which power tools should be in your inventory. So, if you want to learn which pieces of equipment will be useful for your next home and woodworking projects, keep on reading!
Jig Saw
The first essential power tool in your workshop is a jig saw. You can use it to cut curved and circular patterns and trim out little details. The blades can cut through thin, lightweight materials, such as wood, plastic, or metal.
It’s not an expensive tool, but now you may be wondering which brand to choose, Porter Cable vs Dewalt? With so many options available on the market, we recommend reading reviews to see which company has the edge over the other.
Circular Saw
Here’s another basic power tool you should keep in your workshop. Circular saws have circular blades with an adjustable height. This feature allows you to cut all the way through the wood or just score it.
Circular saws are inexpensive and versatile. They work well as both carpentry and woodworking power tools. If your budget is limited, but you need a staple piece of equipment, opt for this handheld device. You’ll be using it quite often for cutting sheet goods such as lumber, plywood, and medium-density fiberboard (MDF).
Table Saw
Handheld tools are portable and easy to handle. A table saw is a more significant investment, but it should be a part of every workshop. It will help you with tasks when a circular saw is not enough, especially when it comes to long, accurate, perfectly straight cuts.
Once you buy a table saw, it will become a centerpiece of your workshop – and for good measure! Depending on your budget and needs, you can buy large, high-end models or opt for smaller, portable ones. With so many brands available on the market, you’ll definitely find the perfect product for your workshop.
Power Drill
A power drill is a must-have for many woodworking projects. It’s versatile, powerful, and comes with a number of customizable features. You can decide if you want to get a keyed or keyless chuck, a ? inch or a ½ inch chuck, straight drill or hammer drill, and more.
You may be tempted to buy a cordless drill since it’s portable and seemingly more convenient. However, traditional power drills are less expensive and allow you to do more things in your workshop. If you’re a beginner, we suggest learning how to use a corded drill in the first place.
Random Orbit Sander
Since you’ll be working with wood a lot, you’ll also have to sand it. A random orbit sander is the best for this task! It operates thanks to hook-and-loop fastened sanding disks. Finer grits result in a more thorough, seamless effect – make sure you ask your local woodworking supplier for different types of sanding disks.
A random orbit sander is more expensive than a traditional palm sander, which utilizes plain sandpaper. However, other types of sanders leave patterned scratches in your workpiece, and the random orbit motion doesn’t. That’s why we think a random orbit sander reigns supreme.
Nail Gun
This one should be a no-brainer; after all, the alternative is to hammer down each and every nail by hand. A nail gun is a perfect power tool for many home improvement projects, including framing, trimming, and roofing.
No more sloppy lines and bruised fingers! Choose the right gauge, and you can add an air compressor and air hose. If you haven’t got a nail gun before, you’ll see how easy it will be to do your woodworking tasks when you finally buy one.
The Bottom Line
This list is, by no means, conclusive. Some power tools didn’t make the cut, although we suspect you could be using them quite often if you’re into more advanced woodworking projects. However, the ones we included in this article are the absolute best for beginners. If you’re passionate about DIY improvement projects, they should definitely end up in your inventory.
If you’re just starting out, you may be overwhelmed by the number of choices you can make, from different types of tools to various brands. As such, we recommend sticking to your strengths and completing your inventory project after project. This way, you won’t spend a lot of money on equipment you won’t use. However, we guarantee that you’ll see improvement in your woodworking skills with every completed task. Good luck!