Tools every woodworker needs | Start Building for under $1000

Start Building for under $1000

Links below to tools and supplies:

Additional Mentioned Tools Mentioned:

CUTTING

DRILLING

MILLING

SANDING
- Sander

SHAPING

JOINING

CLAMPING

MISC:
Bits & Bits Precision Cutting Tools (10% off code- BOURBONBITS)
RZ Mask (15% off code: BOURBONMOTH15)

Grizzly Tools:

[thecrossroadstavern]

S4S Wood - most valuable comment in this video, I feel. Thank you SO MUCH for mentioning it, because it’s never brought up anywhere else.

[ruggiero]

Now you should make a video building A piece of furniture like a desk table with just the very basic tools you picked that would be great

[heathergardiner]

I'm a weekend do it yourself chick. For all my large saws and tools, I hit the pawn shops. I've saved tons on great brands. Lots of folks get new saws/tools and for whatever reason they end up there.

[SteveSmith-phvp]

I was a master electrical/mechanical craftsman. At 72 now, still learning. You are my new professor. Thanks! Steve

[metalmouth]

I am new to woodworking as $$ . I am familiar with all the tools and how they are used .. yes I did buy all used tools .. I started building under $175 ...I found an awesome radial orbital saw. Most folks wouldn't know how to use it ..but that's my story

[hemidart]

On the whole track saw thing In my beginnings I just used a circular saw with a piece of angle iron for a straight guide with two clamps 20$ upgrade

[onc]

coming from a son who worked for his father and we had all these tools, I have now a great start.

[evodawg]

I have a full shop setup. If I was starting today I'd try purchasing from Craiglist or Offer up and others. Bought my Jet Cabinet saw for 300.00 10 years ago and a Jet 18" Bandsaw for 250.00. Just keep your eyes open for deals and act fast.

[jvgauthier]

I would include in the starting kit, even if it means a few extra hundreds :
-eye, hearing and lung protection
-dust collection

[johnbaine]

Just my two cents and maybe this is obvious but another thing to do, especially when starting out, is to make sure your miter and table saws are the same size. Both either 10" or 12". Save by only needing one set of specialty blades.

[skylerstewart]

I got excited about getting started and the first link I clicked on, shows me inflation has taken its toll. The makita drill driver kit went from 160 to 296. Still great info. I’m starting my collection and can’t wait to start

[capti]

Great advice! One option that helped me is that there was a woodworking club that had a fully equipped shop that I joined for a while. Eventually, I got my own setup, and as I did, I still used the club equipment (like the 20 inch planer) that was far beyond my budget. The only issue with the club is that you always had to check equipment adjustments for being square etc, and of course, there’s working around other people who also are using the equipment .... but it worked great for me!!! 10 years later, I had my own shop set up with good equipment. One other distinct advantage is that you get to use equipment that you want to eventually buy and you get to know what features you like and what to avoid.

[justintrefney]

Thanks, I added all those to a wish list on amazon for my wife to get for Christmas, my birthday and fathers day

[Zach]

One thing that is a must, that I wish I had when I started is a bench. Doesn't have to be fancy, but something that is flat, square, and level to work off of makes all the difference in the world. I was lucky enough to have my table saw with a 52" fence that I got for next to nothing, but I still wanted that bench just for the sheer versatility of clamping things to the bench itself. Having to put cauls under the table saw top plate to be able to clamp stuff isn't always feasible when you only have 2 hands and need 6.

[doughaber]

I'm your target viewer. I have almost all those tools and just finishing my shop. Been doing woodworking for 40 years. I'm 52. I shoot photography and will use my new shop for side projects. My trim router is a Ridgid and I have nothing but good to say about it. I'd have liked you to have mentioned, glue, levels and a brad nailer with compressor or battery operated. Nothing has transformed my wood working more than that. I use it for very light structural projects but use it with glue to set pieces in place, clamp, let it sit and then nail or screw. Your video was super amazing and my tips are just additional tips. Great job and thank you!

[MD-enzm]

Good video and list. Interesting to try to think of a minimalist set of tools like this.

You can make furniture with those tools, but often overlooked is the time you need to spend building your shop first. If you just buy those tools, the first thing you should start making is shop furniture (which I suppose is furniture making lol). Make outfeed and side tables for the small table saw, a stand for the miter saw, and a workbench with stock holding (dogs, etc. - and it‘s worth it to buy a decent vise).

You‘ll also need to make some jigs - a crosscut sled is a really early must-have and not hard to make at all.

I think you can do w/o the miter saw early on for most things, but I‘d add a larger framing square and combination square and ditch the tiny speed square (and be careful with speed squares, cheap brands are often inaccurate).

Also, get a shop vac if you don‘t have one. Eventually a dust collector, but you need a decent shop vac to start.

I‘d also add at least one decent chisel and a hammer - if starting out, get a chisel that is designed to be hit with a hammer or get a mallet too (or make one, not hard).

And of course, drill bits and driver bits. And consumables (glue, fasteners, etc.)

It reminds me of something I once heard a woodworker say. You tell someone you have a shop. They ask you, “what do you build in your shop?”. The answer - “my shop!”. =p

[nikmills]

I have a Rockwell drill I bought in 1972. Runs like new. Don't forget used tools. Rockwell was among the best. Sometimes they're not as cleverly designed but they're beefy and they work.

[lizcademy]

You get a bonus point for including clamps ... so many tool lists don't include clamps.

However, I wish you also included drill and router bits, a starter pack of sandpaper, and a few "you probably have these at home and can use them for woodworking" things like screwdrivers, a hammer, paint brushes, a broom ... most of these are very low cost.

Finally, for anyone new to the craft, it's a good idea to add one new tool to each project build. Which tool? That depends on the specific project and what direction your work takes you. For example, my next project will be a wood and copper pipe table — I'm going to buy a nice assembly bench.

[scottbennington]

What about the "furniture maker" Flannel shirt and Beard oil?! That is a must to start!!
Thank you for the info and giving the little guys a game plan.

[BobothePirate]

THE BEST VIDEO IN THE HISTORY OF YOUTUBE.