Woodworking Tools - Power Tools, Hand Tools and Woodworking Machinery
By Chris Baylor, About.com Guide
Power Tools
Most modern woodworkers utilize a variety of power tools. Today's power tools are lightweight, fast and include a number of safety features that make short work of many woodworking tasks. In this section, we discuss these power woodworking tools, including how and when to use them.
- Top 7 Power Tools for the Beginner
- Compound Miter Saws
- Circular Saws
- Power Drills
- Cordless Drills
- Random Orbital Sanders
- Stationary & Plunge Routers
- Plate Joiners
- Sheet Sanders
- Woodworking Vacuums
- Jigsaws
- The Difference Between Jigsaws & Sabre Saws
Woodworking Machinery
While power tools are commonplace in most modern wood shops, the workhorses of the shop are the woodworking machinery. These machines include table saws, band saws, radial arm saws, and many more. These woodworking machines are designed to be relatively stationary in the shop, and typically have much larger motors than their portable cousins. In this section, we discuss these woodworking machines and how to use them properly.
Hand Woodworking Tools
While power woodworking tools are commonly used today, there are still some tasks that are best accomplished with hand tools. In this section, we discuss a number of hand woodworking tools and how to best utilize these tools in your woodworking projects.
Blades and Bits
Power woodworking tools and machinery, including saws, routers, jointers, planers and drills, all need sharp bits and/or blades. Your woodworking tool will be very inefficient without a sharp blade or bit. In this section, we discuss blades, bits and the proper methods for using, storing and sharpening them.
- Selecting the Proper Saw Blades
- Using a Stacked Dado Blade
- Saw Blade Teeth Per Inch
- Folding & Storing Band Saw Blades
- Removing Pitch From Blades
- How to Eliminate Saw Blade Burns
- Ten Basic Router Bit Shapes
- Straight & Spiral-Cutting Router Bits
- Install Router Bits Properly
- Forstner Bit Alignment Tip
Jigs & Accessories
Many woodworking tasks can be made easier through the use of woodworking jigs and other accessories. In this section, we detail a number of woodworking jigs that can be used to assist with your tools, as well as accessories to make your woodworking tasks more accurate, safer and easier.
- Woodworking Shop Accessories
- Bench Grinder
- How to Use a Featherboard
- Make Your Own Featherboards
- Cross-Cut & Panel Cutting Jigs
- Circular Saw Measuring Jig
- Band Saw Circle Cutting Jig
- Table Saw Box Joint Jig
- Tips for Making Custom Woodworking Jigs
- Spring Clamps
Woodworking Tool Reviews
In this section, we have tested a number of woodworking tools, including routers, band saws, compound miter saws and more. Many of these reviews include links where you can find the best prices on the internet for the particular tool.
- Reviews of Woodworking Tools
- Milwaukee 5616-24 Router Kit
- Porter-Cable 893PK Fixed Base & Plunge Base Router Kit
- Bosch 1617EVS Fixed Base & Plunge Router Kit
- DeWalt DW618PK Fixed & Plunge Router Kit
- Festool OF 1400 EQ Plunge Router
- Freud FT1700VCEK Fixed Base & Plunge Router Kit
- Ridgid R2900 Fixed Base & Plunge Router Kit
- Hitachi KM12VC Fixed & Plunge Router Kit
- Craftsman 28084 Router Combo
- Bosch Colt Palm Router Kit
- SawStop CNS175 Contractor Table Saw
- Craftsman Professional Laser Trac 12-inch Compound Miter Saw
- Milwaukee Sliding Dual Bevel Miter Saw
- Ridgid BS1400 Band Saw Tool Review
- Ryobi JM82 Biscuit Joiner
- Bosch JS5 Jigsaw
- Craftsman Cordless Sabre Saw
- Milwaukee 12v Compact Driver
- CarveWright Wood Carving Machine
Woodworking Accessory Reviews
There are a myriad of woodworking accessories that have been developed to help make woodworking safer, easier and more efficient. These accessories include jigs for building consistent woodworking joints and tools to assist the woodworker in completing projects. In this section, we review a number of these woodworking accessories.
- Leigh D1600 Dovetail Jig
- AKEDA DC16 Dovetail Jig
- Katie Jig Dovetail System Review
- Porter-Cable 4212 Dovetail Jig Review
- Keller Dovetail System (Model 1601)
- MLCS Pins & Tails Through Dovetail Template
- MLCS Pins & Tails Half Blind Dovetail Jig
- Kreg Jig K3 Pocket Hole System
- PSI Woodworking PHJIG3 Pocket Hole Jig
- Craftsman Digital Miter Gauge
- Bessey Revo K-Body Clamps
- Bessey U-Style LMU Light-Duty Clamps
- Irwin Quick Grip Woodworking Clamps
- Bosch T308B Jigsaw Blades
- Festool CT 22 E Mobile Dust Extractor
- Grip Rite GR152CM Air Compressor
- PSI Woodworking Portable Panel Saw System PPS-2
- Final Cut Saw Blade
- ARCUS Blade and Guide System
- Gator Zip Multi-Surface Sanding Tool
Woodworking Media Reviews
If you're looking to improve your woodworking abilities, there are plenty of materials available to help you learn and hone your skills. In this section, we review a number of these woodworking books, multimedia and educational materials.