What’s in a Basic Woodworking Toolkit?

Michael Taggart
6 min readSep 29, 2020

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As you read the list, you’ll notice we don’t mention stationary power tools. We left them out because this is a basic tool kit. You will add them as your needs and skills develop.

Equip your shop a few tools at a time. As your skills improve, so will your tool inventory. Here, we list the tools that we find indispensable in bold-face type. They’re the items you’ll find most useful and use most often. so think about purchasing them first.

Can you sidestep any processes for which you’re not well equipped? Some hardware stores will joint, rip, plane, and crosscut lumber to requested dimensions. Yet, you pay for this service, of course. In the short run it’s less expensive than buying tools you’d need to do the work yourself. In the long run, you’re better off with your own tools.

As you budget each project, figure in the cost of one new and necessary tool. You’ll spread out the cost of equipment, and you’ll be able to enjoy a new tool with each project you undertake. Bookmark this article and come back to see our recommendation for your next tool.

Finally, there are some woodworkers who make exceptional pieces with hand tools only. We love power tools, but we know that it’s possible to take more time and do things by hand.

We have included links to our recommendations for your toolkit based on reviews. We also include the prices at the time of this article. If you were to buy everything on this list it would come out to $1,353.70. If you don’t have that much to devote to your kit, don’t worry. You can always space out purchases on as as-needed basis.

Speaking of as-needed, CLICK HERE to get access to 50 FREE WoodWorking Plans and a 440 page Guide Book.

Let’s get started:

Measuring Tools

Combination Square: $15.51

Combination Square

Sliding Bevel: $3.08

Sliding Bevel

Marking Gauge: $32.20

Marking Gauge

Framing Square: $6.99

Framing Square

Steel Tape: $5.38

Steel Tape

Folding Rule: $15.97

Folding Rule

Compass: $5.49

Compass

Scratch Awl: $4.58

Scratching Awl

Cutting Tools

Crosscut Saw (12pt): $23.95

Crosscut Saw

Rip Saw: $69.99

Rip Saw

Backsaw: $21.70

Backsaw

Coping Saw: $8.98

Coping Saw

Hacksaw: $11.98

Slip-joint Pliers: $8.99

Needle-nose Pliers: $8.90

Needle-Nose Pliers

Diagonal Cutters: $9.49

Diagonal Cutters

Shaping Tools

Smooth Plane: $99.99

Smooth Plane

Low-Angle Block Plane: $45.99

Low-Angle Block Plane

Wood Chisels: $15.99

Wood Chisels

Single-Cut Mill Bastard File: $11.99

Single-Cut Mill Bastard File

Rasps: $23.99

Rasps

Cabinet Scrapers: $16.97

Cabinet Scrapers

Utility Knife: $9.99

Utility Knife

Joining Tools

Claw Hammer (16 oz): $11.99

Claw Hammer (16 oz)

Finish Hammer (8 oz): $12.46

Finish Hammer (8 oz)

Nail Sets: $8.75

Nail Sets

Wooden Mallet: $19.99

Wooden Mallet

Screwdriver Set: $34.99

Screwdriver Set

Doweling Jig: $41.85

Bench Vise: $57.35

Bench Vise

Bar Clamps: $39.99

Bar Clamps

Handscrews: $33.99

Handscrews

C-Clamps: $14.99

C-Clamps

Safety and Maintenance

Safety Glasses: $1.74

Safety Glasses

Hearing Protection: $17.64

Hearing Protection

Dust Mask: $17.99

Dust Mask

Sharpening Stone: $21.18

Portable Power Tools

Router (1 hp): $149.00

Router (1 hp)

Router Bits: $19.90

Router Bits

Circular Saw (7–1/4 inch): $62.99

Drill (3/8 inch, variable speed): $99.00

Drill (3/8 inch, variable speed)

Twist Drills: $8.99

Twist Drills

Spade-Based Drill Bits: $10.98

Spade-Based Drill Bits

Brad-Point Drill Bits: $29.99

Brad-Point Drill Bits

Jigsaw: $39.90

Random-Orbit Sander: $49.97

Belt Sander (3x21 inch): $69.99

Belt Sander (3x21 inch)

Enjoy your next project!

CLICK HERE to get access to 50 FREE WoodWorking Plans and a 440 page Guide Book.

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