Budget Tool List For Woodworking (Under $500 USD)
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Woodworking Is A Fulfilling And Creative Hobby, But Safety Should Always Be Your Top Priority. The Right Safety Gear Can Protect You From Potential Hazards And Allow You To Focus On Honing Your Woodworking Skills. In This Blog Post, We’ll Explore The Importance Of Essential Safety Gear For Woodworking Beginners.
EYE PROTECTION
Safety Glasses Are A Non-Negotiable Accessory In Your Woodworking Toolkit. They Form A Barrier Between Your Eyes And The Numerous Risks Present In A Woodworking Environment. Wood Chips, Debris, And Particles Created By Cutting, Sanding, And Drilling Can Cause Severe Eye Injuries. Safety Glasses Ensure That Your Eyes Remain Unharmed, Allowing You To Work Confidently And Without Worry. Our Beginner Pick: https://amzn.to/3SiRuhh
EAR PROTECTION
Woodworking Often Involves The Use Of Power Tools That Generate Significant Noise Levels. Over Time, Exposure To Loud Sounds Can Lead To Irreversible Hearing Damage. Ear Protection, Such As Earmuffs Or Earplugs, Forms A Protective Shield For Your Ears, Reducing The Risk Of Hearing Loss. By Wearing Ear Protection, You Can Focus On Your Projects Without Compromising Your Long-Term Auditory Health. Our Budget Pick: https://amzn.to/3sdv8Dh
DUST MASK/RESPIRATOR
Woodworking Generates Fine Dust And Particles That Can Be Harmful When Inhaled. Prolonged Exposure To Wood Dust May Lead To Respiratory Issues And Other Health Concerns. A Dust Mask Or Respirator Filters Out These Particles, Ensuring That You Breathe In Clean Air While Working. Prioritizing Respiratory Safety Not Only Protects Your Health But Also Enhances Your Overall Woodworking Experience. Our Budget Picks: Find a good Beginner Dust Mask here https://amzn.to/477EEGS, If Your Looking For A Good Beginner Respirator You Can Check Out These: https://amzn.to/4741Ohs
WOODWORKING APRON
A woodworking apron is often considered optional but highly beneficial for safety and convenience in the shop due to several reasons. Firstly, it provides protection from debris and sharp objects commonly encountered during woodworking tasks, shielding clothing from dirt, damage, and potential injury caused by wood chips, sawdust, or sharp tools. Additionally, the apron acts as a barrier between the body and potential hazards, reducing the risk of minor injuries such as cuts, scratches, or splinters. Moreover, many woodworking aprons come equipped with pockets and compartments, allowing for convenient storage and organization of small tools, pencils, measuring tapes, and other accessories. This not only saves time and effort by keeping essential items within easy reach but also contributes to a cleaner and more efficient workspace. Here is our recommendation for a good woodwokring apron: https://amzn.to/4aFK5i9
DRILL & DRIVERS
Investing in a good drill and driver set is a wise decision for woodworking beginners. It enhances your efficiency, precision, and safety, while also expanding the scope of projects you can undertake. When it comes to this tool we recommend going brushless and cordless for added power and versatility.
- Budget Pick- Ryobi ONE+ HP 18V Brushless Drill & Driver Set https://amzn.to/45OrVba
- Accessories- If you want to be covered for any situations then you need to pick up a drill and driver kit. We recommend this one as it should have everything you may need https://amzn.to/3ShQkCT
A circular saw is a fundamental tool for woodworking beginners. It offers versatility, precision, and efficiency, making it an invaluable addition to your workshop. With proper training and safety precautions, a circular saw will enable you to tackle a wide range of woodworking projects and help you develop your skills as a woodworker.
- Budget Pick- If you’re just beginning your woodworking journey, this saw is an excellent choice to kickstart your projects. I began with a similar model many years ago, and even though I’ve since upgraded, it remains functional to this day. Check out the SKIL 15 Amp 7-1/4 Inch Circular Saw with a Single Beam Laser Guide here: https://amzn.to/3snWxCu.
CIRCULAR SAWS
RANDOM ORBITAL SANDERS
A random orbital sander is an essential tool for woodworking due to its versatility, efficiency, dust collection capabilities, and the high-quality finishes it can produce. Whether you’re a hobbyist or a professional woodworker, having this tool in your workshop can significantly improve the quality and efficiency of your projects.
- Budget Pick- When it comes to a sander I always suggest you pick up a corded Random Orbital Sander. Sometimes you can be sanding for quite a while and nothing is worse than the batteries running out on you when finishing a project. This sander is a pretty good starting point https://amzn.to/3tXBdo4
- Accessories- As you continue to work on projects you will notice you run through sandpaper quite quickly. There are many different types of grit but the 3 I suggest you always have are 80, 120 and 220 grit. The higher grit you go the smoother sandpaper finish you have. To get a feel for what you like we suggest to start off with this set. 165pcs Orbital Sander Sandpaper Sanding Discs 5 Inch 8 Hole https://amzn.to/3Sn8bbx
A jigsaw is an excellent tool for woodworking beginners due to its ease of use, versatility, ability to make curved cuts, affordability, and suitability for a range of projects. It’s a tool that helps beginners build confidence and develop essential woodworking skills while allowing them to create a variety of projects.
- Budget Pick-This jigsaw serves as an excellent inexpensive introductory tool, enabling you to become acquainted with its functions and potential. With this jigsaw, you’ll be able to tackle straightforward projects involving curves and circles, unlocking new creative opportunities in your woodworking endeavors. SKIL 6 Amp Corded Jig Saw https://amzn.to/40jw85u
- Accessories- The choice of jigsaw blade largely depends on the material you’re cutting and whether you need to navigate tight curves. Starting with this blade set is a wise choice, we recommend utilizing T-Shank blades for your Jigsaw for ease of use. 50 Piece Contractor Jigsaw Blades Set https://amzn.to/40fP2u5
JIGSAWS
If you’ve worked on a project before then im sure you’ve have wished you had an extra set of hands to hold something together while you do some gluing, nailing or measuring. Well, this is where clamps come in as you will need many extra set of hands as your projects get bigger. There are many different types of clamps but the budget pick is a great place to start at.
- Budget Pick- As a beginners I’d suggest picking up a set of quick grip clamps as they are relatively inexpensive and easy to use. The WorkPro Bar Clamps Set https://amzn.to/4a9YjIv
WORKPRO CLAMPS
KREG POCKET HOLE JIG
There are many different types of woodworking joinery some of the most basic are the butt joint, box joint and mitered butt joint. Every joint has its benifits and its strength. In recent years pocket hole joinery has become very popular and with good reason. It creates strong and discreet joints between two pieces of wood and with the pocket hole jig its very easy to do making it a must have tool for any woodworker weather beginner or professional.
- Budget Pick- Ask any woodworker and they will tell you for pocket hole joinery the first thing that comes to mind is their pocket hole jig. This is the first one I got started with and the one every beginner should start with Kreg Pocket-Hole Jig 320 https://amzn.to/46ERvjn
FRAMING SQUARE
Uses- Measuring and Marking Right Angles, Layout and Marking, As a Cutting Guide, Checking for Squareness, Rafter and Roofing Layout, Scribing Lines, Checking Angles and much more.
Best Pick- Starrett RS-24 Rafter Square
COMBINATION SQUARE
Uses- Measuring and Marking 90-Degree Angles, Checking Squareness, Depth Measurement, Marking Lines Parallel to an Edge, Setting Blade Height on Power Tools, Marking Angles, Center Finding, Marking Mortises and Tenons, Scribing Lines and more.
Best Pick- IRWIN 16″ Combination Square
TITEBOND WOOD GLUE
Wood glue is a must in woodworking and its something you always use and use alot of. There are many available but Titebond is undoubtedly the best in our opinion.
Best Pick- Titebond Wood Glue
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