20 Best Woodworking Tools For Beginners (2023 Updated)

By RichInSoMD: I quickly noticed a feature that makes the 851 square functionally different from the other try squares you see in the store. To measure and mark using the more familiar try-squares, you measure from left to right at the top or bottom of the blade, with the origin at the right side of the handle.

To do the same with the 851, you must measure and mark only along the bottom of the blade. Evidently, this is because the 851 also allows you to use the left hand side of the handle as the origin and measure and mark only using the top of the blade (e.

g. at a wall inside corner). Certainly, the 851 offers an advantage; but, for the most common measure and mark, you will have to get used to the 851.

The square is as advertised; and I think it will be better than others I have, that are hard to read, have thin blades that deform, or have a 45 degree ramp where the handle meets the blade. And, it’s made in the USA.

One feature I did not like on the 851, is the length and width of the handle. Compared to my old wooden handled Stanley, the 851 is a 1/4″ less in each dimension. This makes the 851 less comfortable for a man’s hand when you grab the square; but in use, you frequently handle the square with your fingers, not by grabbing it.

This is a minor point, but how could they design the square at that price point and not add a little more metal?.

I recently ordered The Woodpeckers 641 and 851 square set. I really like the box they came in, it keeps them stored safely when not in use. The squares themselves are very nice. I needed a de-facto set of squares for setting up my tools and checking square on things I build and these do the job flawlessly.

The red finish is both decorative and durable, the squares feel good, have a nice heft and are above all, VERY square. I would not hesitate buying a woodpeckers product again and would buy it from Carbide Processors.

The items I ordered was on back order from the Mfg. and Carbide Processors kept me informed along the way and had overall excellent post order customer service.

I purchased this Dewalt chisel set as a backup to my wooden handle chisel set. After setting and sharpening the blades, they have turned into my favorite set. The handles are so very comfortable. When cutting a mortise, I can really dig back on the handle with no pain for me or the chisel.

I used this one inch chisel to hang a closet door. It worked pretty good to clear wood for the hinge recess. I just held the door up to the existing hinges on the frame. drew around them on the new door and used the chisel to remove my Mark’s.

5 min or less per hinge. The chisel worked like a charm. I will definitely return to get other size Dewalt chisels. I am sold on the yellow and black. The packaging also says it’s a carbon steel blade so it should be easy to sharpen, however after three hinges it is still sharp as new.

My only gripe is the steel cap on the end for the hammer to hit. Most people would love this feature, but myself am very sound adverse and could do without the strike cap. The handle however, provides a superior grip.

I am sold enough I will buy the complete set.

I have used this chisel for several projects and am very pleased. I mortised a door for hinges and lockset. The edge is sharp and durable. The handle easy to hold with gloves or bare hands. Very easy to position while hitting with a hammer.

The handle shows no sign of damage or mushrooming. I also put the chisel to good use removing some interior door trim which had been painted on and required cutting through the paint and prying off the trim.

The trim came off without and damage to the wall saving me the work of patching and repainting.

Wish we would have had this saw years ago as it would have made a lot of renovation projects a lot easier! The saw is very powerful (it plugs in so no worries of batteries running down). The saw is designed that when we ripped a narrow piece of OSB board it had the smoothest splinter-free cut I’ve ever seen for a circular saw.

LOVE the attachable dust bag for mess-free cutting and keeping sawdust out of the air. Adjustment tools store right into the handle of the saw. The saw can be adjusted to a tilted position to allow for bevel cuts.

We love the guide track that is designed to go with this saw. It prevents kickback. The guide has a grippy bottom to it that holds to the board and doesn’t slide around. This takes the guesswork out of cutting a long straight line.

I’ve watched my grandfather and dad over the years use a variety of word working saws and assist my husband with renovation projects we have done a lot of measuring and re-measuring to ensure a straight line.

If we would have had this saw years ago it would have made a lot of projects easier. Even though I don’t operate saws often I found it easy to use and maneuver. My husband and I are very impressed with this kit and look forward to using it for all our upcoming projects! Oh, and the saw came with a very roomy and handy bag for storage and transportation! Love the quality of everything that came with the kit.

VERY well made! Would highly recommend it, told a friend about it and he’s been asking to borrow it already!.

My husband is newly retired and has his little workshop for his projects and the honey-do list I presented him with a month or so after he retired (didn’t want to ambush him with it right away). We live in a 45-year-old house that has lots of places that need updating and now that we’re past doing all of the big stuff we can concentrate on updating and fixing the cosmetic things.

This Kreg ACS 2000 saw system is perfect for some of these projects my husband has to do now. He said that the saw is accurate, the blade sharpness is excellent, he really likes the anti-kickback control and the whole system is well thought out.

He loves the bag to store it in and thinks that is a wonderful addition to the set. He would like to make one suggestion though. He wishes the guide track could be broken down into two pieces to make storage easier.

He would like to see them in a 2-piece snap together configuration if that would be possible and still keep be able to keep the strength as good as it is in a one piece. Other than that, that he thinks this is probably the best addition to his workshop in a long time.

This track saw system works like the high priced saws at a price I could afford. Accurate, clean cuts. Dust collection using the bag is great. Fills fast though so you need to empty it often. When using vacuum dust collection, I’m really impressed.

Bought the additional track to rip a full eight feet. Had to buy the connection bars separate. Kreg missed the mark on this. Should have been included with the extra track. One other issue is that the set screws for the track connectors are a different size (smaller) than the other screws used on the saw.

No place to store the extra wrench. I’ll eventually drill out a tap the connectors so I can use set screws that use the same size as the wrench stored in the saw handle. Stupid design mistake on Kreg’s part.

Other than those very minor issues, the track saw and the track is great.

The quality is average. The steel holds an edge about the same as other brands I own. The molding of the handle and overmolding is good quality and the handle shape fits well. The lacquer on the blade comes off quickly and offers little corrosion protection.

sadly most other brands use the same finish. the big downfall of this product is the warranty. I cant walk into a big box store and get a free replacement.

I got these a few weeks ago, and have put them through some tough projects to say the least. From hardwoods, to soft pine, they get the job done with precision. The 3 different sizes mean that no matter what project I am working on, I have the right tool for the job.

They hold an edge for long periods, and are easy to sharpen when they finally do need it. I am one very happy user!.

Great product, good price, lightweight and very easy to handle. This tool cuts wood like cutting cheese. The blades are so sharp and its ideal for small projects that require precision cutting without ripping the edges.

I enjoyed it so much because it is so easy to use and doesnt tire your arms. I recommend this pull saw to anyone looking for a quality tool.

This is a great little saw if you prefer a pull saw for woodworking. Works really well and is easy to control while cutting .

This is a great saw. I never used one before, but now it is my go to saw. It cuts great with little effort. I would buy this saw again.

This is a gorgeous handsaw, aesthetically pleasing, well-made and comfortable in the hand. (A fellow with esp. large hands might find the handle fit a bit tight. ) But it took me 8-10 minutes to make a simple cut thru a piece of 1×3.

Why? Turns out it only cuts on the pull, or draw, stroke. I could scarcely move the blade forward unless it was not touching the wood. Pull, lift and move forward, pull, lift and move forward. Maybe I’m doing something wrong, but I’m used to handsaws cutting back and forth, back and forth.

But it does cut beautifully on the pull stroke!.

Lovely small handsaw. The steel used for the blade is top notch. The handle is what I call a hybrid were you have an outer plastic grip covering a nice wooden handle making it very very comfortable to use.

This specific saw from Irwin I found was only available from the USA and not Europe which is a shame as it’s a much better product than the available Euro model. Hense due to the quality I decided to buy and import from the USA.

Really recommend this so much I purchased a 24″ version fine cut saw as well.

I use these small saws mainly to top small trees around my property. This usually involves me climbing a ladder and hanging onto the tree with one hand while working the saw with the other, so I need a saw to get the job done quickly and without binding and causing me to work harder than I should.

In the course of normal wear, I find I need to replace these types of saws about once every 5 or 6 years. This will be my third. My first was the Stanley and it worked well, but I find the deep cutouts of the Irwin make for a faster cut.

The Woodpeckers Mini Square has been a great addition to my shop to this point. It works great for table saw setup, setting the fence on a jointer, fits easily in a tool pouch or pocket, therefore always being at hand to check squareness of any project on hand.

I’m extremely happy with the square to this point I would recommend it to anyone who needs an accurate Square on hand in their shop or at their job.

This square is great for checking to be sure chisels and plane irons are square. It also works great to check a scroll saw to make sure the blade is square to the table. I’ve even used it to get into tight spot that a regular square won’t fit.

This little square is great in too many situations to list here. I know its not the cheapest tool, but I find myself reaching for this one every time I need to make a quick check table saw blades and projects for squrare – couldn’t live without it.

The box stunk of tobacco smoke when I got it. After cleaning the box and foam, the smell went away. The tools cleaned up nicely and are in great shape. It was a good deal for the price. Once the cutting edges were honed a bit more, they cut like like a hot knife through butter.

These are wonderful carving tools. Thank you!.

Great seller. Fast shipping. Packed well. Tools themselves worked perfectly for what I was looking at them for. Used them the same day I got them and they worked great out of the box. Sharp doesn’t do them justice.

Holding an edge really well.

I bought this set primarily for its 1mm v gouge. It does the trick of cutting very fine lines in vinyl for relief printmaking. The set came with plasters just in case, which I thought was very useful

I bought this three piece set for two reasons: I wanted some butt style chisels and I was curious as to what quality could Stanley produce for such a low price. It took only a few minutes on diamond stones and then oil stores followed by stropping on chromium oxide green to produce outstanding sharpness (tested by shaving my forearm and paring endvgrain pine, poplar and mahogany).

They performed as well as chisels costing 15 times as much and in use chopping mortise stood up well, requiring minimal stopping to stay so sharp. The handles are genuinely ergonomic. Definitely recommend adding this set to your tool chest.

It would be nice if the set included a 1/4 inch size too.

As an old-time Locksmith as well as a Do-It-Yourselfer, I prefer to make all the finishing touches by hand. I have been doing this since my Father first took me to a Lumber Yard when I was 3. Its funny how you remember little things for so many years.

My Father needed some wood for his store, but requested that the Yard Man make the necessary cuts. As a 3-year old with wide eyes and curiosity, the tool the Yard Man used to measure the lumber was a Stanley Tape measure.

This stuck with me as I grew up and saw more and more professionals using Stanley products. And of course my Father and Grandfather had Stanley tools in their toolboxes and workshops. I tried to help my Father and Grandfather whenever I could, and was thrilled when given a Stanley Screwdriver, Chisel, Hammer or any Stanley tool.

As I grew I started my own tool collection, Stanley of course. My grandparents knew that I would prefer some tool made by Stanley over any toy, and they indulged my wishes. In focusing on Stanley Chisels, as I entered my teenage years I learned how to sharpen Stanley Chisels and Stanley Plane Blades to a “hollow ground” ensuring the tool would remain sharp well through the project and through additional projects.

Recently we had to replace the front door to our house. We ordered the new door which the factory mortised to accept the lock. But since we were using the existing door frame, we had to hand cut and align the strike plate with the newly hung door.

It was literally a thrill to take my Stanley Chisel and gently cut out the necessary recesses for the plate. The factory sharpness was unsurpassed and the Stanley Chisels cut through the trim as if were simply moving through air.

The grip on the Stanley Chisels was very comfortable (which was a blessing in disguise as I recently had hand surgery to repair prior nerve damage). I have not used a finer Chisel then these made by Stanley.

I highly recommend them to all my fellow DIYer’s and to all professionals. The only downside is that Stanley has made these Chisels of such high quality, replacements will be needed in the very distant future as they are designed to be passed down from generation to generation.

New wood worker’s experience; The connections made possible by using the Kreg Pocket Hole maker were super fast and efficient. The learning curve is near instant. I was able to do some fairly complicated framing work (for me) with it and couldn’t imagine what complicated tools I would have need if I didn’t have it.

They pocket holes reinforced the strength of every connection made in my project. Definitely an essential tool for any woodworker. I would recommend purchasing at least the next level up (3 hole). This way the ability to expand its application is greatly increased.

Having holes at the ends of 2×4’s are ideal in that it would allow the placement of lag bolts if the build required them. Con. The pocket hole drill bit locking collar struggled to stay in place on a number of engagements even though it was more than adequately tightened down.

This led to the screw assembly slightly gouging the top of the drill shaft making it impossible to adjust the collar freely along it any longer. I’ll have to purchase another bit because of it. Over all I’m super thrilled to have such a great tool added to my wood working kit.

This worked much better than I thought. It is great for joining planks to make a work surface, I also used it to make a table frame using CLS timber, this was much better than my sloppy mortice an tenon joints.

I already had a quick release ratchet clamp which speeded up drilling holes along a plank. The drill bit is of good quality, I think it will last a while, the whole lot comes in a useful little case too.

I didn’t realise initially that I would need special screws, so it comes with a few to get you going but you will need to buy lots more to make anything – the screws are not countersunk so they are sort of pan head which stops then pulling through soft timber.

I added small 9mm washers to countersunk screws because I had loads and this seemed to do the trick but I will get some proper screws for the next project.

It does do what it was described to do. The question is, how long will it last with this ape using it. Just the amount of plastic used to manufacture this product lends me to believe it’s a disposable tool.

The price point drew me to purchase it and based on the price the tool is not all that bad. I wanted to give it 4 stars, but I cannot see it being above average. I do recommend it for hobby type use.

I’ve used it building shelving units and it worked fine. I’m just waiting for me to drop it on the old shop floor and sweep up the pieces.

I bought this set as a backup set to my original 11 piece set that I have had for years. It is an EXCELLENT set for beginners and even for those of us with some experience. These tools are all I have ever used in.

many years of carving. It is a good set and a good value. I may use my first set that I purchased in 2008 exclusively for bark carving now that I have a new set. The only thing I would suggest for new carvers is to get an extra handle or two.

I think I now have five handles to cut down on the time needed to change between carving blades.

These tools come honed to perfection. They are by far the sharpest carving tools I have purchased. It goes to show, you get what you pay for, just remember to hone often because the best way to ensure a sharp bit is to never let them get dull in the first place.

With that said, remember to order the sharpening block from Flexcut for these bits, it is a real time saver. I have purchased cheaper tools in the past when just starting out carving, they were not honed to the level these are, and having great tools will help develop skills faster and up your level of enjoyment while carving.

I was skeptical that these gouges would be flexible to the point of failure because in the pictures they look very thin and the rubber handle looks like it would not be firm enough to secure the bits.

Now that I have several hours of use, I can assure you the bits stay tight, the handle is very firm, and the gouges although very thin, they are very strong and do not flex. Definitely a great value.

I had a newel post job that required much finer detail work than what I routinely carve. Typical full size tools will run about $50 each and this adds up quickly. I took a chance on the starter set of Flexcut tools that had the sweeps that I needed.

I have been totally thrilled with the results and would highly recommend them to anyone, from amateur to pro. They are a super value for the dollar. I will eventually add the next larger set to complement my array of carving tools.

It rare but nice when you feel you’ve gotten your monies worth, and then some.

The tools arrived quickly and are as advertised. I wish i could have chosen the combination of gouges, skews and scrapers i want (for bowl turning – have no need for some of these) and i wish the blades and handles were longer.

But for the price?! Couldn’t be beat. Thank you.

I have had these tools now for 3 months and have loved every second of having them and turning large bowls to custom beer tap handles on my Laguna 1216. The ease of turning with these traditional tools makes these tools something I would buy another set of.

The product is well made and priced right for the tools. Even get a wooden case along with them. The steel is easy to get a sharp bevel on so I would recommend these tools.

I bought this tools a couple of weeks ago and have not used them as of this review. I am sure they will need sharpening once I get the anti rust coating removed from the cutting edges. I find it interesting that the only indication that these tools where made in China was a stamp “made in China” on the shipping box.

The jury is still out on the quality of the tools.

The rougher cuts great, this is the first full size tool I’ve tried. It handles well and is very comfortable to hold, even when turning for long periods of time. The inserts are great for people who can’t or won’t sharpen the HSS tools.

I bought this tool, together with an Easy Wood negative rake carbide insert, to work with epoxy hybrid woodturning. It works great. I also use it for cutting end grain wood.

As a novice wood turner, I found this tool to be invaluable as it eliminates the need to constantly sharpen chisels. When the carbide cutter dulls, you simply change it. A real time saver.

They arrived very sharp and in good order. The metal parts were all clean and well polished. The wooden handles were smooth and comfortable in the hand. They are a delight to use for small or detail work.

I made a tool roll for them with plenty of spaces for more.

I bought these tools to use for lino cutting and they work brilliantly. They are very comfortable to use due to the large handle which fits into the palm of your hand, great if you get achy hands. The small chisel is great for cutting out small areas and the larger scoop tools are good for clearing larger areas.

They were pretty sharp when they came and I could use them straight away.

These chisels are excellent. Easy to handle and easy to keep sharpe. Would recommend.

This is one solid piece of metal, just one, from the point of the chisel to the tip where you hit it with your hammer. The handle is very, very comfortable. This is a chisel for truly heavy work. Will never break.

This is a heavy chisel that can take a lot of abuse. The plastic hang tag packaging it came in can by reused to protect the tip in a tool bag. I bought it to take the antique glazing off of old windows and help free them from the jambs to move again.

I used it hard the day after it came in and it held up well. I wouldn’t use them for fine detail work but if you are looking for something sturdy this is a good bet.

I’ve had the 10 in. x 18 in. 5 Speed 1/2 HP Benchtop Wood Lathe for several years, now. I have made little bowls, coffee table legs, toy wheels, coffee grinder container, and more. I have used the lathe with pine, walnut, oak, and maple.

All I can say is: it is easy to use, it is made of cast iron (hence, heavy, which makes it stay in place – no vibration making it walk), it is affordable, and most of all – it has been a work horse for me.

I have had ZERO problems with it!!! If there were a wish list: it would be great if Harbor Freight could obtain the right to sell the Variable Speed Midi Lathe Conversion Kit for it – the one that is sold through Penn State Industries.

That would enable HF to get more customer business sales (many have bought it throughout the years from PSI) while enabling the customers to upgrade their purchase with the company that originally sold them the unit – HF.

Another wish for me would have been to have bought the extension bed from HF as well. For me, I found an exact fit at Rockler – the extension bed for their Excelsior mini lathe was an exact match for my Harbor Freight lathe.

I’m just saying that it would have been nice to have been able to make the purchase at HF instead. All in all, I would buy this lathe over and over again if I had to. Lucky for me, I only had to buy the one!!!.

Out of the box, very pleased with a clean machine that had everything it was supposed to. Easy set up even for a brand new turner. Includes a 1″x8tpi head with a flat base and spur drive center as well as a cup live center for the tail.

Only has a 2″ travel on the tail for drilling though. I have only one complaint at this point. The belt and pulleys are cheap. I mean CHEAP CHEAP!! Started squealing about an hour in. Put some Johnson’s paste wax on the pulleys and she shut right up.

Takes about 60 seconds to adjust from speed to speed by changing the belt from one pair of pulleys to the next. No problems turning pine, walnut, pecan, and oak so far. Very small tool rest. Only suitable for turning pens and chess pieces really.

Miss my 10″ rest. Nade on a similar solid steel platform as the Grizzly mini lathe, I don’t think this will fall apart any time soon. Worth buying the extended protection on (if for nothing more than the motor and pulleys).

I bought this lathe and even at full price it’s a good deal compared to similar lathes out there. I opened it up and assembly was practically not required. I plugged it in and went to town roughing a piece of oak and it did ok for the most part.

It kept stalling and at times took a long time to spin up to full speed. I threw on a chuck to keep working on the piece of oak and when using the tail stock it wouldn’t speed up more than 60-120 rpm.

After readjusting the tail stock and belt, it finally sped up but took 10-15 seconds to get to full speed. I tried hollowing out the oak again and kept getting nasty catches. Thinking it may be the tools, I bought some carbide tools and it made no difference.

At one point the catch was so bad it yanked the piece out of the chuck and threw it ten feet across the garage. You can hear the motor slow down as soon as any tool touches the wood. Like I said, maybe I got a bad motor or something on mine but other than that the only downfall was the pain in the back end it was to change the belt setting.

As a beginner Luthier, I wanted something that would not break the bank and still be of great quality. Well Erwin Blue Chip chisels is just that. They serve my purpose well and with the right care, I should be able to a life’s time use from them.

I highly recommend the Erwin Blue Chip Chisel for anyone that has stay within a certain budget but still needs a great quality tool.

The face of the chisel has very fine striations, so it is fairly easy to hone to a sharp edge, compared to Stanley 150 series and generics. Some people say the current production made in China does not have the quality of previous models made in Sheffield, England.

This one is chrome vanadium steel, which is also high carbon tool steel. I have two of the older chisels made in England, and I can’t tell any difference in use. The handle is a little larger.

I was very impressed with the quality of this 6 pc. wood carving set. The tools were sharp enough to use right out of the package. With a little honing the edge is great. The handles were comfortable in my hands and I was certainly impressed that they were real wood instead of the usual plastic.

This would be a great starter set for someone thinking about getting into wood carving. The variety of tools is a great place to start. As a former Industrial Arts teacher I would certainly consider using these with my students as I think that they would hold up well to woodshop classroom use.

I starting using this set of carving tools about a week ago. I am not a great carver but do use carving tools from time to time. The first thing I noticed about this carving set is the blades were all very sharp.

I have had other carving tools that need to be sharpened right out of the box. These tool were sharp right from the start. I also liked the size and shape of these tools. The handle just feel right. I can safely say I would recommend these carving tools to any one who needs or wants to carve.

Great carving set.

I’ve always wanted to try my hand at wood carving and this set of carving tools from Stanley were an inexpensive way to get started. In terms of fit and finish, these tools are only fair, the edge grind is a little rough as is the shaping.

I found the edges unusable out of the box but after some shaping and honing the tools performed adequately. The handles are nicely turned but a little on the small side for my average sized hand. All in all, I feel these tools represent a reasonable value for the hobbyist wanting to give wood carving a try.

Just be advised that the edges will need some work before they can be used.