When purchasing woodworking tools, you need to account for the durability, power, price, and additional features. Many tools have additional features that will either be a necessity based on your needs or nice to have. I will discuss the features to look for in common woodworking tools, the best woodworking tool brands, and I have a personal warning at the end.
Directory
- How to pick the right woodworking tools
- 4 Features to look for in a circular saw
- 4 Features to look for in a miter saw
- 4 Features to look for in a table saw
- Features to look for in a drill
- Features to look for in a router
- Features to look for in clamps
How to pick the right woodworking tools
The tools that I will discuss are table, miter, and circular saws, drills, sanders, clamps, and routers. The common features that you need to look for in woodworking tools are..
9 features to look for in woodworking tools
- Portability
- Horsepower
- Torque
- Ergonomics
- Dust control features
- Corded vs cordless
- LED or flashlight
- Variable speed
- Blade size
Below, I will explain each feature in detail.
- Portability
- Will you need to go to job sites or will you only work at a stationary location?
- Horsepower
- The power of the tools that you are using is important based on the jobs you will be doing
- Torque
- The amount of force that tool pushes is important when working with denser and thicker wood
- Ergonomics
- The way that you handle the tool is important in woodworking. Does the tool appropriate for your hand size and body weight? Is it overly heavy or hard to grip?
- Sometimes you may not know this unless you try the tool out. That is why tools are on display at local hardware stores.
- Dust control features
- Many tools come with a dust catch bag, however that may not be enough. Great woodworking tools come with integrated dust suction to minimize mess.
- Corded or cordless
- This can be personal preference. Cordless comes with its benefits but it may not be a necessity in your workshop
- Integrated LED or flashlight
- Look for integrated LED lights on saws and drills for accuracy
- Variable speed
- Variable speed is essential for sanders and drills. Without it you may be using too much power for your project, thus potentially damaging it.
- Blade size
- It is necessary to consider the blade size of your saw for its intended use. Do you need to cut 4x4s or only 2x2s? Every saw will have a maximum depth cut to help you choose the right one.
That was a short list of features to look for when shopping for any tool. Now we will discuss features to look for in specific woodworking tools.
4 Features to look for in a circular Saw
A circular saw is a handheld power saw that can cross, rip, and miter cut wood. It is good when cutting larger pieces of wood but lacks in its precision. In addition to the features to look for when buying woodworking tools, you should consider these 4 things when purchasing a circular saw.
- Depth cut
- Bevel degree
- Saw brake
- Weight of saw
Below, I will explain each feature in more detail.
- Depth cut
- The maximum depth cut will show the maximum thickness of wood that you can effectively cut
- Bevel Degree
- The bevel degree is the maximum degree that the circular saw can go to. If you need a bevel of 50 degrees or more, then you will need to look for a particular circular saw to support it.
- Saw Brake
- An electric saw break will slow the blade down quicker once you release the trigger. This is a good safety feature to minimize risk to injury
- Weight
- Since the circular saw is handheld, you will need to consider the weight of it. You want to have a saw that you can easily handle and control
4 Features to look for in a miter Saw
A miter saw is a special type of saw that is used to cut miters of varying degrees. Miter saws are used for thinner pieces of wood in width and are not ideal for large wood pieces. In addition to the features to look for when buying woodworking tools, you should consider these 4 things when purchasing a miter saw.
- Double or single bevel
- Bevel degree
- Miter degree
- Cut capacity
Below, I will explain each feature in more detail.
- Double or single bevel
- A single bevel miter saw can only tilt in one direction, while a double bevel can tilt in both directions.
- If you are to get a miter saw I always think it is good to get the double bevel. However you may not find it necessary, and if you are sure that you wont need it then get the single bevel
- Bevel degree
- You will need to consider the bevel degree and degree positives when purchasing a miter saw.
- Bevels are an important feature with the miter saw and you will want to have bevel positives for the most common bevels that you will be creating for quick and accurate work
- Miter degree
- Look for the miter degree and miter positives that come with the saw you want to purchase. The same with bevel degrees, you will want to purchase a saw with the miter degrees you create commonly.
- Cut capacity
- This measures the maximum width of wood that the saw can cut. A sliding miter saw can perform the longest cuts of around 16 inches.
4 Features to look for in a table saw
A table saw is used to quickly cut larger pieces of wood in comparison to the miter saw. It is also very precise in comparison to the circular saw. However, there is normally a limit to the size of wood that a table saw can handle. In addition to the features to look for when buying woodworking tools, you should consider these 4 things when purchasing a table saw.
- Stationary or Jobsite
- Rip capacity
- Storage
- Accessories
Below, I will explain each feature in more detail.
- Stationary or Jobsite
- Do you need a stationary or portable table saw?
- Both come with their benefits and drawbacks. You will need to choose one based on your woodworking needs
- Rip capacity
- The rip capacity is the maximum length of wood you can cut using the rip fence. You should consider the right and left rip capacity when purchasing a table saw
- You may not have a rip capacity for a stationary saw. You can integrate your saw into your work bench and create your own.
- Storage
- Is the portable table saw easily broken down and stored?
- Accessories
- Many table saws come with accessories like a riveting knife, miter gauge, push stick
Features to look for in a drill
For this section I am only referring to the regular drill/driver because it is the most useful and essential in woodworking. In addition to the features to look for when buying woodworking tools, you should consider these 4 things when purchasing a drill.
- Drilling modes
- Torque settings
Below, I will explain each feature in more detail.
- Drilling modes
- Some drills come with rapid, hammer, and drilling modes. This makes a good universal drill that will be suitable for most projects
- Torque settings
- Variable torque is essential to ensure that excessive torque will not damage the wood. Additionally, you should look at the maximum torque to ensure you are getting an adequate drill for the job.
- If you need a lot of torque then you should look at getting an impact drill.
Features to look for in a router
A router is used to make designs, features, and cutouts in the wood. In addition to the features to look for when buying woodworking tools, you should consider these 4 things when purchasing a router.
- Base Type
- Bit visibility
- Jig compatibility
- Router Table
Below, I will explain each feature in more detail.
- Base Type
- Plunge, fixed, or D-handle
- You will need to pick a base type based on the intended use of the router.
- More importantly, its good to get a router from a brand with interchangeable and replaceable bases. If you decide that you need a D-handle base later on, you will be able to purchase one.
- Bit visibility
- Bit visibility is important to see the work that you are doing and is often overlooked when purchasing a router. Not all routers are made the same.
- Cheaper routers may not have the same visibility as those from reputable brands. Holding the router will give you a better sense of how it will be to work with.
- Jig compatibility
- Look at jig compatibility with your router brand. Are there many jigs available for a certain brand router?
- Router Table
- If you plan to purchase a router table, you will need to purchase a compatible router to go with it.
Features to look for in clamps
You will need many clamps when woodworking of varying sizes. You can use small, cheap clamps for small sections of the project. But you will also need medium, large, and extra large clamps. You will also need different types of clamps. In addition to the features to look for when buying woodworking tools, you should consider these 4 things when purchasing a clamps.
- Opening Capacity
- Load limit
Below, I will explain each feature in more detail.
- Opening Capacity
- The opening capacity is the largest length that the clamp can open up.
- Load limit
- The load limit is the clamps clamping force. You should have at least a couple of clamps with a higher load limit
Below I will discuss which tool brand is best for woodworking and why you should avoid buying cheap woodworking tools.
Warning: Avoid cheap woodworking tools
Following the list on how to purchase quality woodworking tools will help you from purchasing cheap tools.
I purchased budget tools from reputable brands that I regretted later on. Many of my tools did not have dust control features, variable speed options, and LED lights. While it may not sound like much, these can really change your woodworking experience.
I used to be covered in wood chips at the end of a project. I used to ruin projects because I used to much power due to the lack of variable speed in my drill. Getting my first saw with an LED light greatly increased my accuracy in my cuts.
Conclusion
In all, I discussed what features to look for in most woodworking tools. Additionally, I went over the specific features to look for in circular saws, table saw, miter saws, drill, routers, and clamps.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this article and I wish you luck on your woodworking journeys!
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