Each trade seems to have its own tools; woodworking isn’t any different. It is crucial to possess the proper equipment to make top-quality products of the highest quality with speed.
We designed this guide for buyers of woodworking tools to assist beginners who feel confused when trying to comprehend what hand tools they require first. It’s frustrating! Below are some essential professional woodworking hand tools that you must begin collecting to perform the most basic woodworking tasks.
Table of Contents
Must-Have Woodworking Tools and Where to Buy Them
The power for woodworking hand tools comes from our muscles. They’re power tools, but they’re not electrically driven. Keep scrolling for a rundown of basic tools any woodworker- whether a beginner or a pro – needs in their workshop:
Claw Hammer
- Forged steel head for superior durability
- ProTouch grip for comfort and less hand fatigue
- Smooth face leaves fewer marks on surfaces
- Magnetic nail holder for one-handed nail setting
- Hybrid handle design is rounded for more comfort and fit with a curved base to prevent slippage and a hardened end
The claw should be offset along one of the two sides of your claw hammer’s head with the head, and it needs to be round. Another form of head is the waffle. The waffle head, typically employed in construction projects, leaves a distinct waffle-like imprint on the wood after using the nail.
The most popular claw hammer is the 20-ounce claw hammer. It’s hefty enough to hammer a nail with ease and so light that you can pull nails with it. Although wooden grips are attractive, these can’t withstand the force when you’re pulling many nails.
Steel hammers will be more efficient. However, these will not cushion the motions of driving a nail. The metal and fiberglass handles should come with a rubber grip for maximum control and safety.
Tape Measure
- 14 ft. OF REACH*: Retractable tape measure allows for easier measurements when working alone
- Durable high impact case with non-slip rubber of the fatmax tape measure stands up to jobsite demands
- Easy to read measurements with large font numbers
- Stands up to abrasion and repeated use with durable full tape blade coating
- Added BladeArmor coating maximizes durability of the tape at the hook and extends tape life**
- Tape rule with first 6 feet reinforced with BladeArmor coating for maximum durability
- 11-inch tape standout; 16-inch and 19.2-inch stud center markings simplify framing jobs
- Mylar polyester film extends the life of the entire blade
- Heat-treated spring provides long life and smooth blade recoil
- Stanleys limited lifetime warranty; measures 1-1/4-inch-by-25-f
Our next in line hand tool needed by woodworkers is a precise tape measure. Choose a retractable tape with a minimum of 25 feet in length. If it’s lengthier than 25 feet, you’ll have a hard time rolling it back up.
Because even tiny measurement discrepancies can make big-scale projects exceedingly vulnerable, you’ll need to ensure that the tab or the hook at the bottom of the piece is secure and leaves no room. You’ll notice a 1/8″ difference when measuring if they get loose. This could lead to a slew of major accuracy difficulties.
Utility Knife
- BladeLock Technology helps keep the utility knife blade locked in place
- Changes blades only when release button is engaged and the blade holder is in the 45° open position
- Folding utility knife features a liner lock for quick 1-handed operation
- Wire stripper for built-in convenience
- Utility knife can store up to 2 additional bla
Quality utility knives are an excellent tool for anyone working with wood. There are several different kinds; however, the one that has replaceable blades is most commonly used. To safeguard the user, the blade folds up into a grip.
The Level
- Rigid aluminum I-Beam construction
- Rotating angle vial to making leveling easier
- Full-length V-grooved strip magnet
- Guaranteed accurate to .058° for life
- Smooth edge for continuous scrib
Every woodworker should own a level. It’s unlikely that you’ll need one of the 6-foot levels you’ll find in construction; however, 48″ is a great length for a lot of woodworking projects you’ll undertake. Most likely, you’ll require the 8″ level as well, commonly called a torpedo-level. Check the level and the plum of the construction. Level refers to horizontal and plumb means vertical.
The majority of high-quality levels are made from either wood with a brass edge or from metal. There is an indication of the level and another for plumb. You have a plumb or level surface if the bubble lies exactly in between. There are also laser levels or string levels, but woodworkers most often use these kinds of levels.
Chisel
- Drop forged chrome-vanadium steel blade for durability and heat treated for edge retention;
- Bevel Edge for woodworking carving multi-purpose use, suitable for all soft wood, hard wood and laminated wood products
- Steel butt designed for heavy pounding with a hammer or mallet;
- Comes with sizes: 1/2, 3/4, 1, full length blade guard for added safety;
- Ergonomic bi-material handle for great comfort and firm contr
Every woodworker’s workstation needs to have an array of chisels. Chisels aren’t only for woodcarvers. Anyone who works with wood will require chisels to remove dust from the saw cuttings and joints. The best grips made of wood are hardwood, particularly the ones that have metal tops, as they keep the grip’s end from being bent when you hit it.
There are a number of sizes available for chisels. Some are in the 1/4 “increments from 1/4 “to at minimum 1.25 “. The smaller ones work best to work on mortises. A 1/4″ and 1″ are best suited for hinges for doors as well as that 1 1/2″ works great to chip out. It is possible to purchase an edge chisel that slices a piece of the wood with a hammer stroke.
Usually chisels have a beveled cutting edge on both sides. On one of the two sides, the bevel is 20 degrees (sometimes even 25) along the edge on the one hand as well as flat on its other side. The blade should be somewhere between four” and 7″ in length.
Be sure to purchase a chisel that allows for a convenient grip. You won’t be capable of holding the chisel steadily when working in case the grip is too small.
Screwdriver
- Black oxide tip provides improved durability and grip without compromising tip fitment.
- Speed zone provides quick rotation control for efficient run down.
- Torque Zone provides added grip texture and geometry for heavy torque applications.
- Precision tactile zone provides rotation control for precision tas
Another necessary hand tool for any carpenter is a screwdriver. The quality of construction is crucial for a quality collection of screws.
It is recommended to use an extended screwdriver with an angled blade that’s extremely heavy duty because these are sure to give you plenty of torque. Also, you’ll need an intermediate and small slot screwdriver.
To work on cabinetry and other tight areas when woodworking, you’ll require a screwdriver that has a smaller shank, so you can get screws into holes that are deep. This can be done with the cabinet screwdriver.
The Nail Set
- Bi-material grip for comfort and ease of use
- Flared grips to help protect hands against glancing blow
- Color coded by tip size for easy identification
- Hardened Tip for durabil
A nail set should be the most essential hand tool that every woodworker requires. You must have a variety of sizes on hand. They resemble awls and are used in driving nail tips level with or slightly past the wood’s surface.
Doing this will enable you to pack the holes and get ready to stain or paint. The nail set will typically be either a concave or convex surface that will hold the nail more securely and stop it from falling off and causing damage to the wood.
Sliding Bevel
- ANGLE MEASURING TOOL: Theres no more guesswork when it comes to measuring out your angles and cuts, thanks to our metal ruler. Create your layout on a flat surface, grab your slab of wood, your woodworking partner, and start the construction.
- SLIDING BEVEL: Set and transfer interior and exterior angles quickly and accurately with our level tool. We make it easy for you to build cabinetry, furniture, picture frames, and other wood-inspired projects.
- DIGITAL ANGLE GAUGE: Four large control buttons provide five functions, including power on/off, reading hold, read reverse angle, flip display, and clear readout. The automatic shut-off feature preserves battery life on our protractor tool.
- WOODWORKING RULER: This commercial-grade digital sliding T-bevel and digital protractor with an impact-resistant ABS handle features a 360-degree stainless steel blade. The battery-powered gauge includes 1 CR2032 lithium-ion battery.
- GENERAL TOOLS: Were a recognized leader in designing and developing specialized precision tools dedicated to delivering exceptional customer service. We encourage artisans and DIYers to work smarter, measure better, and repair more productive
When you need to measure a lot of angles, this woodworking tool called a sliding bevel, or a T-Bevel, can prove useful. This is flexible, allowing you to secure it at any angle, which speeds up the process of marking various angles.
Conclusion
This concludes our look at the essential woodworking tools and where to buy them. Hopefully, we’ve helped you discover the perfect tools to begin any woodworking adventure!
