Do you feel like the list of woodworking tools for beginners is never ending? It seems like a person could spend tens of thousands of dollars before they can even get started.

Well I can assure you, it does NOT have to be that expensive. There are some basic techniques you need to be equipped to handle. I’ve learned over the years how to do without some of the more expensive power tools, as I’m limited on space in my garage wood shop.

So below I’ve listed the 19 tools I believe a beginner woodworker would benefit the most from. These are well-rounded and mostly versatile woodworking tools. If I had to start over, with my shop and knowledge, this is the list I would begin with.

1 – Table Saw

Even if you start out with a less expensive table saw, you can still use it for many types of cuts and joinery techniques.

NOTE – If you are NOT ready for a table saw, that’s ok, you can still enjoy woodworking. You will want a good cross-cutting tool (see below), and you’ll need to spend a little more time planning your projects around the lumber you have available to you.

For example, if your local lumber stores sell standard dimensional 1×4, 1×6, and 1×8 boards, you’ll be using these for your projects. You won’t be ripping them down to a narrower width (without a table saw) so you’ll need to plan your projects to use the full width of these boards.

But again, cross cutting is a necessity, which is next…

2 – Cross Cutting Tool

I don’t want to limit this to a single tool, because you have a few options, and there’s no need to spend money when you don’t need to. You’ll need to cross cut (cutting across the grain to make a board shorter) for 99% of your projects (if you’re into basic projects like furniture, small crafts, picture frames, etc).

Your cross cutting tool will also handle your miter cuts if/when you need to make them.

Compound Miter Saw –

Miter Box –

Table Saw –

4 – Hand Saws

A regular finishing hand saw, like my Stanley Fat Max, will come in handy for some projects. A decent pull saw also does wonders. It cuts on the pulling action, making it more accurate and versatile for detail work.

Another handy choice (but not required) is a hack saw to cut metal. I use this quite a bit when building table saw sleds and jigs that require aluminum hardware, like T-tracks or threaded rod.

5 – Block Plane

This small hand plane works great for cleaning up edges, flattening small pieces, adding a chamfer to a corner, cleaning up dovetail joinery, and more.The more you learn, the more important this woodworking tool for beginners becomes.

Yes, one day you may decide to take on dovetail joinery.

6 – Set Of Woodworking Chisels

Basic chisels are helpful for any woodworker (unless you’re specialized like a wood turner or scroll sawyer).I started out with a 1-1/4” Stanley fat max chisel I got from a hardware store. I learned how to sharpen it, kept it fairly sharp, and ended up using it all the time throughout learning woodworking. If anything, it will help keep glue squeeze out cleaned up off your workbench. I also suggest getting a narrow ¼” chisel in case you have a need for some detail clean up work. If you plan on getting into learning some serious joinery soon, like dovetails and mortising, then a full set of chisels is a good idea.

7 – Sharpening Kit

If you have planing irons and woodworking chisels, then you need to add a sharpening kit to your list of woodworking tools for beginners.Nothing is as useless or counterproductive than a plane or a chisel with a dull blade.You can get a decent water stone for cheap, or a more expensive set of diamond plate sharpening stones if you’d prefer.

8 – Random orbital power sander

A power sander tool uses hook and loop sanding pads of various grits, it rotates in a circle, and it oscillates side to side so the circle is uneven, thus ‘Random’. That way it reduces the chance of leaving circle marks everywhere it touches.

The trick with a good random orbital sander is to use the right grit for the job, and do not apply too much pressure. It makes sanding very easy (on flat surfaces where the tool has room to move around) and works faster than a basic palm sander.

Of course, you could always do your sanding by hand. That works good too, and it’s good exercise. But sometimes you don’t feel like exercising. So get you a power sander and save yourself some elbow grease

9 – Drill

This should be a no-brainer, but some people see a power drill as a job site construction or handy-man diy projects type of tool.

But in woodworking, you will be drilling holes, and you will be using screws.

So get a couple cordless drills to take care of all your drilling needs. This will include not only setting screws, but also for countersinking, and for making clearance and pilot holes.

In case you didn’t know the difference, a clearance hole clears the threads and lets the bolt or screw pass through freely. But it’s still small enough to catch the head of the screw or bolt. A pilot hole is smaller and allows the screw to fit, while still catching most or all of the screw’s threads.

10 – Standard Shop Tools

When you have a woodworking shop, and it’s got woodworking tools, you need basic hand tools to maintain and tune these power tools. That would be your box wrenches, sockets, ratchets, screwdrivers, allen wrenches, pliers, and a crescent wrench.

These also come in handy for DIY repair work around the house.