These are the tools you REALLY need

It can be confusing when you're starting out to know which tools you need, and which you definitely don't. I asked my subscribers for their recommendations on what should go in every new maker/new DIY'ers box.

Enjoyed the video? Give it a LIKE and leave me a comment with what you think of my selection.

If you'd like to follow along with my future projects.

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Hi, I'm Pete. Northern Works is all about DIY furniture and home improvement projects that help us to consume less, and create more. I've got an ever-growing list of projects, and I'm excited to learn how to build things that I want to use, and that we'd love to see around our home.

If you value great design, but want to consume less of the fast furniture, then I'd love for you to join our community here on YouTube where we can learn together and share ideas.

[dougdavidson]

Good tips there Pete. Thanks for posting. Take care & stay safe.

[joytekb]

The most important tool is the one everyone already caring everyday and it is most valuable, precise and needed power tool in life. Simple brain.

[puddinggeek]

Great video as always. Keep up the good work.

[arcadia]

Here in Germany electro recycling is cool and you can sometimes find electro tools dumped. I got a planer out of the skip a while back!

[drewmagnus]

Great ideas for a beginner set. Will be getting one for each of my girls when they move out of home. When I started getting my first couple of powertools I bought cheap (Lidl) first, saw if I actually used it enough and then when they crapped out, bought a better quality brand to replace (not the hiddden expensive brand in your video though!). If I didn't use them much (I'm looking at you, nail gun) I haven't made too bad a loss.

[charver]

Great vid. First time viewer and now a subscriber. Could have added some little tips like using the saw as a square. I use old loyalty cards as putty/filler spreaders.

[LykleSchepers]

Myth two, better tools? I agree but with one exception. I cannot get a straight cut with a traditional handsaw, and I have been trying to improve for years. Then I bought a Japanese pull-saw. With that saw, I can get straight cuts, exactly on the line and exactly on the plane needed.
So that one tool has made me a better maker.

[sunalwaysshinesonTVs]

Comment worth mentioning for any tool guide: when it comes to measuring, make sure your measuring tool is relatively accurate to all your other measuring tools. 1"/1mm isnt always the same. I have a 5"/150mm $50 Starrett (which I purchased 25 yrs ago for $25), which is dead accurate and which I use to check if my other tools are dead accurate, but this aint necessary. If one measuring tool is slightly off, just make sure all your other tools are off by the same amount.

[margaretumbsen]

Speed square or combination square, please. Great reminder that we don’t need bells and whistles to start making! Thank you

[jestersteampunk]

love the videos pete, thanks for your message and content from the USA

[AlanHolmes-hp]

Hi, great video. You need a sharpening stone for the chisels. Also good for your kitchen knives. And it needs practise to get a good edge consistently. But so worth it. Alan

[fritz]

Great advice but I loved the background festool ad running while talking about cheap tools.

[PJRayment]

It really depends on who your audience is. In my mind I'm just getting into woodworking now, but I've long had tape measures, corded drill, hammer, hand saw, sets of screwdrivers, pliers, levels, and so on as basically essential tools for handyman jobs around the home. A battery-powered drill is nice and handy for jobs in the back yard to save running a long extension lead out there. Ones you didn't mention are rasps and files, and steel rulers (for drawing straight lines if nothing else). In my mind, getting into woodworking is going beyond those, to a table saw, mitre saw, etc., hand planes, good chisels, trim router, etc.

I don't completely agree about buying cheap to start with, although it does depend on how much you can afford. I bought a cheap table saw many years ago. Apart from various tasks cutting wood, I also put a cutting disc in it and used it to cut concrete pavers to size. So it got a fair bit of use. But I couldn't raise and lower the blade nor tilt it—the saw was such a cheap one that you had to raise and lower or tilt the table surface itself! It was very difficult to get an accurate cutting depth (e.g. cutting dados) and imagine cutting a piece of wood at 45 degrees when it's the table surface that's at 45 degrees! It was still working well when I got rid of it in a garage sale, so I couldn't use the excuse that I had to replace it because it was broken or worn out. Sometimes it simply is better to get a decent tool to start with (without going overboard of course).

[quirkygreece]

Definitely need a square in that beginner kit.

[MelanyWilhoite]

I still use a sears circular saw that’s about 30 years old

[raphaelbenson]

Great video and channel. Honest and to the point. Please stay this way and NEVER start to do 10 Euro projects with 1000 Euro tools like all the 'established channels' -- its just annoying. :)

[benholden]

The handsaw handle has a 90degree angle on the top edge. Free square edge!

[Pete.Ty]

👍👍👍 Chisels. If you want quality chisels buy vintage. Back in the day chisels were made from high quality steel. Not only can you get them really sharp but they keep their edge a lot longer. Thanks Pete

[paulhodgson]

Nowadays everything comes with Allen bolts, so a set of Allan keys would help.

[michaelwillson]

Great video there Pete. A think u missed 1 thing out the beginners tool box tea bags and mug. Gotta take them everywhere. 😂 In all seriousness think u got it right. Although did notice when talking about cheap tools and people wanting the fancy ones but u don't need them FESTOOL across your screen. 😮 How's Adding to your collection coming along any further on mitre saw or table saw or plainer thicknesser🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👍