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Tools of the Trade for Beginners!

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Tools of the Trade for Beginners!

For beginners a question most often asked is, "What tools do I need"? There are various types and makes of tools on the market today and it isn't always easy deciding which ones to acquire. Which tools you need depends on what projects you want to do. Of course there are the basic tools: saw, hammer, square, measuring tape, punches, level, pencil, screws, and nails that every woodcrafter will need if they're to complete even the smallest of projects. Yes, pencil, screws, and nails really are tools of the trade. Probably the most used as well. Plus there's the face mask, earplugs and safety glasses.

For woodcrafting, clamps are a great addition to your arsenal. Again, depending on the project you're going to do, they come in various sizes from the small C-clamp to the larger pipe clamps. You can never have too many clamps when you work with wood. For smaller projects, simple items like clothespins can be used as a substitute to help glue up small parts.

You can do a lot of woodcrafting with a portable jigsaw (also known as a saber saw). For most newbies, this is probably one of the first purchase they make. It's easy to use and with a little practice you can cut straight, odd shapes and circles with it. With the proper blade you can cut wood from 1/8" to 2" thick.

The router is a very versatile tool and should be given a lot of consideration for your new workshop along with the router table. With a selection of router bits you can do wonders in creating nice designs in your wood. Some of the popular bits are straight, round-over and cove. By purchasing a set of letter templates you can rout words to create home signs. Using the router table, you can even cut perfect circles with it. Learning to free-hand can open up a whole new world of designing on wood. After you've gain experience with this tool, you'll wonder how you ever got along without it.

The Circular Saw should be high on your list of purchases. Used for crosscutting and ripping it has all but replaced the handsaw. With a guide you can cut a 4' x 8' sheet of plywood very easily and accurately. You can purchase the metal guide from any woodworking supply store or you can easily make your own using a straight edge board.

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