What Power Tools Do I Need for Woodworking

A power tool is a tool that is moved by an additional power source and mechanism other than the solely manual labor used with hand tools. The most common types of power tools use electric motors. Internal combustion engines and compressed air are also commonly used. Other power sources include steam engines, direct burning of fuels and propellants, or even natural power sources such as wind or moving water. Tools directly driven by human power are not generally considered power tools. Power tools are used in industry, in construction, in the garden, and for housework tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and around the house for purposes of driving (fasteners), drilling, cutting, shaping, sanding, grinding, routing, polishing, painting, heating and more. Power tools are classified as either stationary or portable. Stationary power tools are those that are kept and operated at a particular place, just like your table saw. Portable power tools are those you can carry around like the angle grinders.

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Woodworking is the activity or skill of making items from wood and includes cabinet making (cabinetry and furniture), wood carving, carpentry, and woodturning. Many beginners trying to get started in woodworking take one look at their budget and worry about how they can afford to buy a whole shop full of power tools to get started. Fortunately, one does not have to spend a fortune to get started. There are really few woodworking-tools that a beginning woodworker should have on hand from the start, and most are relatively not expensive. However, with these few tools, a beginner can tackle almost any project.

Let's take a look at the following;

Router:

Routers are versatile woodworking tools designed to hollow out areas in wood and create intricate designs or edges. It operates by spinning a cutting bit at high speeds, allowing it to carve, groove, shape, and trim wood pieces with precision. Routers come in various sizes, from handheld models suitable for smaller tasks to larger, table-mounted routers ideal for more extensive and detailed woodworking projects. They are equipped with different bits, such as straight, chamfer, or dado bits, allowing craftsmen to achieve diverse designs and cuts. These tools are essential for professionals and hobbyists alike, enabling the creation of decorative edges, joints, and patterns in woodwork with accuracy and finesse.

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Circular Saw

There may be no more versatile basic handheld power tool than a circular saw. It is the cutting tools that get the heaviest use in most woodworking shops are those that use circular saw blades. These tools include the table saw, radial-arm saw, power miter saw, handheld circular saw, and blades designed for each of these tools that share most of the same characteristics. When used with a clamp-on straight-edge, the circular saw can be just about as accurate as a table saw and handle quite a few of the same tasks, including cutting sheet goods such as plywood or medium-density fiberboard (MDF). When woodworking on a budget, a quality circular saw should be the first handheld power tool purchased.

Random Orbit Sander

The random orbit motion will not leave patterned scratches in the workpiece, as do other types of sanders. The random orbit uses hook-and-loop fastened sanding disks. Of course, you can be certain that your local woodworking supplier has sanding disks readily available in a number of grits to fit the model that you choose, as the key to proper sanding is to use progressively finer grits.

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Jigsaw Machine    

The jigsaw (also called a saber saw) is an effective woodworking tool, it allows the user to cut curved and circular patterns in stock. When you need to make curved cuts, particularly on plywood, particleboard, or other relatively thin materials, jigsaws are preferable. 

PowerDrill

Power drills are indispensable tools for home improvement and for all types of jobs around the home, small or large. You can equip them with needle-thin bits for drilling tiny holes for craft projects or chuck in large hole saws for cutting up to five-inch diameter holes in drywall and other soft materials. With a driver bit, you can drive screws directly into wood for a myriad of home projects. Used properly, a power drill can aid you with your tasks, taking you to completion in far less time than you can imagine. Power drills come in either corded or cordless versions. Corded power drills offer reliability and strength at the expense of being tied to an electric cord at all times. Cordless drills, powered by onboard, rechargeable lithium-ion battery packs, help free the user from the power cord. However, battery packs are expensive and are prone to failure. Choose a power drill based on your needs and your abilities. If you need a power drill only for light work, such as hanging the occasional shelf or mounting a bathroom mirror, an inexpensive, light-weight 8- to 10-volt cordless drill should be sufficient. For mid-range power drill work, such as hanging sheets of the drywall as a do-it-yourselfer, an 18-volt cordless model will do the job. Heavy work with hole saws and auger bits, or for any type of constant all-day use, purchase a 20-volt cordless drill or a corded power drill.

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Table Saw

The table saw is likely the costliest and most important tool purchase a woodworker can make. This is the one woodworking tool around which most woodshops are centered. The table saw is the heart and soul of every woodworking shop, it is the centerpiece around which all of the other tools are used and organized. The table saw's strength is its ability to cut sheet goods with perfectly straight edges, but it can also make just about any cut you want, including miters, bevels, and even dado grooves. You'll want to buy the best table saw that your budget can comfortably afford, as this tool will be the heart of your workshop for years to come, and as such, making an ill-advised purchase can be a costly mistake, not only in terms of finances but also in terms of productivity. Take the time to learn which features you really want and choose the table saw that best fits your budget and your needs.

Jointer

While the jointer is not my personal favorite, I know a lot of woodworkers who would put the jointer at the top of their list. A critical tool for anyone who wants to do more traditional projects that require dimensional lumber for perfectly square glue ups. Many people assume a planer can do the job of a jointer, however if you put a curved board through a planer, you end up with a thinner curved board most of the time. Some will say to buy a jointer before a planer, however I say buy a planer first and make a jointing jig for it. If you are shopping any stand up jointer 6” or larger, don’t be afraid to shop used. However, some used jointer beds can be a project to get set up just right.

Good option

I started out with a benchtop jointer, and it was ok. But I wouldn’t recommend it here. I would invest in a 6” Jet jointer to begin with. Well built, not too hard to move around a small shop, and readily available second hand for NGN200,000.

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Planer

A planer is a shop necessity in my opinion. Unlike a jointer, I feel that you can get by with a benchtop model if space and/or money is an issue. You might be surprised how much wood you can move with a little lunchbox planer, but it is nothing compared to a free standing model. Whether you are shopping big or small, don’t be afraid to shop used. Just be prepared to throw out the blades on the machine you buy. Nobody has ever sold a planer with sharp blades.

Good option

I’d start with a Ingco planer if you are on a budget. Decent power and accuracy, and not too hard to find second hand. The consensus best of the lunchbox options would be the DongCheng and Makita planer though. If you have more money than space, don’t hesitate to drop the NGN250,000 on it.

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Frequently Asked Questions

 Q1 Can power tools be repaired if they break down?

Many power tools can be repaired by authorized service centers or skilled technicians. Proper maintenance can help prevent breakdowns and extend the tool's lifespan.

Q2 What is the most common type of power tool used?

The most widely used types of power tools have electric motors. Internal combustion engines and compressed air are also widely utilized. To put it simply, power tools are any implements that run on electricity.

Q3 Do power tools use a lot of electricity?

Small power tools, such as jigsaws and sanders, usually require 2 to 8 amps of current. Generally, 6 to 16 amps are needed for bigger power tools (such as routers, circular saws, table saws, lathes, etc.). Certain instruments, including air compressors and duct collectors, could require considerably more power.

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