Woodworking

Tools

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In the introduction section of this web site, it was stated that there are three requirements for taking up woodworking; desire, workspace, and tools. Each of these requirements has an affect on the other two. For example; the type of woodworking being done, will be a determining factor in the workspace and tool requirements. Likewise, the workspace available will set the boundaries for the type of woodworking that can be done in the shop and will determine which tools are required. It's all inter-related.

Here, we will look at some of the tools used in a woodworking shop. Tools will be divide the tools into two categories,, "Basic Tools" and "Advanced Tools".

For the purpose of this discussion, "Basic Tools" are described as the primary or essential tools for doing basic woodworking. These are the tools that you would most likely have in the smaller shops or in the shops operating on a tight budget. You can build just about anything with the basic tools that you can build with the advanced tools, but perhaps not as quickly, not as accurately, and not as easily. The basic tool set is a good beginner's set even when workspace and expense are not an issue. The tables below, show first the basic tools for a workshop then a second table showing a more advanced set of tools.

About the Tables Below Neither of these tables are intended to represent all of the tools that may be required for pursuing the hobby of woodworking. Only the tools considered to be the most significant are included. The comments and descriptions should be considered very brief. More research on these tools is encouraged for anyone considering woodworking as a hobby.

Basic Tools and Equipment
Illustration	Tool	Description/Comments
	Layout and Measurement Tools	Used for measuring and marking for for cutting material to size.
	Table Saw (Bench)	Used primarily for making rip cuts and cutting sheet stock such as plywood to size.
	Circular Saw	Used for primarily for making cross-cuts to length. Must be used with a guide for accurate cuts.
	Router	Used for cutting slots and groves of various styles and for forming various styles of edges.
	Drills, Drivers, and Drilling Accessories	Drills are used for cutting holes and pre-drilling for screws. Drivers are used as power screwdrivers for rapidly and easily turning screws, bolts, etc... Accessories such as the drill stand (pictured upper right) guide the drill for making straight and perpendicular cuts.
	Top left: "C" clamp Top right: Alligator Clamp Bottom: Bar Clamp	Clamps are used for many purposes, but are perhaps most commonly used in holding parts together under pressure after gluing. Many types are available and a shop should have a variety on hand
	From left to right: Wood Mallet, Rubber Mallet, Claw Hammer	Wood mallets are used for tapping the work-piece as needed. Rubber mallets are usually used for taping metal objects as needed. Hammers are for driving and pulling nails.
	Power Sanders Left: Belt Sander Right: Palm Sander	Power sanders greatly speed up the sanding process. Another type sander not shown here is the Orbital Disk Sander.
	Bench Vice	Bench vises come in many sizes and varieties. They hold objects securely while they can be worked on. The jaws are lined with wood blocks to prevent damage to the work-piece
	Workbench	Every shop needs a workbench. It is where many operations such as assembly are performed on the work-piece

The chart below illustrates and describes "advanced" woodworking tools. Many of these tools do the same job as the basic tools shown in the table above, but they do it easier, faster and sometimes with greater precision and accuracy.

Advanced Tools and Equipment
Illustration	Tool	Description/Comments
	Table Saw (Contractor)	The Contractor Table Saw is a heavier duty version of the bench top table saw. It has a larger table and usually a larger motor making it easier to handle larger pieces of stock.
	Cut Off Saws Left: Compound Miter Saw Right: Radial Arm Saw	Either of these tools will be a huge improvement over the circular saw. Angular cuts are made quickly and easily. Which tool is best, is a matter of personal preference.
	Plane& Edging Tools Left: Planer Right: Joiner	Planers remove material like sanders do except it makes deeper cuts and cuts evenly across the width of a board. Joiners do basically the same to the edges of a board
	Mortiser	This tool is specially designed for cutting the slots used in a mortise/tenon joint.
	Routing Left: Router Table Right: Shaper	Choose one. Both make the process of routing faster, easier, more accurate and more versatile. The table uses your own router, while the shaper has its own motor and cutter.
	Wood Lathe	The wood lathe is used for shaping round pieces such as bed posts. The lathe spins a piece of stock while the operator uses chisels to cut and shape the work-piece.
	Drill Press	The Drill Press does the same thing that a drill used with a drill stand does, but it does it better. There are bench models and floor models to choose from.

There is an abundance of resources available on all aspects of woodworking to anyone that is interested. The internet alone has more information than you could possibly review. There are also magazines, videos, books, adult classes, and seminars available. This web site is purposely very general in the information it provides. If what you have seen here has sparked an interest to know more, take advantage of the resources listed here to learn more.