Tools: 10 Essential Wood Working Tools

Having basic tools are absolutely essential to the success of great wood working pieces.  From beginners to well seasoned professionals, every wood worker should have these 10 Essential Tools:

Chisel

When removing pieces from small areas, smoothing edges, or creating the exact corner on your piece, having chisel set is a must have tool in your shop.  Instead of just an individual chisel purchase a set with varying sizes.

Tape Measure

If possible, purchase a retractable tape measure of about 25 feet long.  It should have both Standard and Metric markings, a locking mechanism and a slightly loose hook on the end of the tape. A tape measure is fundamental and is used to take internal or external measurements.

Screw Driver

This one is kind of self explanatory.  Even if you’re not a woodworker keeping a set of screwdrivers are needed to remove or add screws.  From Phillips to Flatheads, screwdrivers are fairly inexpensive and needed in every shop if not, in every home.   

Saw (Circular, Band, Table, Tenon, Dovetail, Saber)

Just like screwdrivers, having a saw is needed in every shop. Saws are great for making unique shapes and designs in wood particularly a band saw.  Not everyone can afford all the saws listed above but the more the merrier.

Power Drill

A common house hold tool, a power tool is another essential needed in your shop.  These are really convenient for drilling holes and they come cordless.

Dust Collector

Dust collectors make clean up so much faster. You can purchase one or you can make one using an oscillating fan and an air filter.  Dust Collectors cut down cleaning significantly and they also make your working environment healthier.

Lathe

A lathe is great for woodturning and smoothing surfaces. There can be very specific uses when using a lathe but when you have a good lathe, it can make any project simple and quick.

Claw Hammer

Probably the most popular tool amongst wood workers, a claw hammer is a versatile hammer with a smooth, slightly rounded finish head. It’s the most popular hammer and most people should already have one in their home, and is used for both hammering nails and removing nails.

Level

A level assures that a piece of stock is perfectly horizontal (level) or vertical (plumb.  There are 2 types of levels available: a long level ranges from 28 to 36 inches and a short level is about 6 inches.

Utility Knife

Lastly, a Utility Knife is a versatile cutting device that can be used for scribing a mark in a piece of wood work piece, cleaning up a hinge mortise or anything else it is needed for.

Preferably, get one with a locking mechanism that uses disposable razor blades so you can change blades when dull.

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Top 5 Wood Workers

There is a lot of debate around the web about who are the top wood workers in the industry.  When it comes down to it, there is no real standardized list that can define who is better than who.  There are so many great woodworkers in the world than ever before. 

At CabinetParts.Com, we are huge fans of the wood working industry and wood workers.  That’s why we came up with this list of notable wood workers.  Notice we said NOTABLE.  It’s in no specific order and we might do this on a weekly basis where we highlight notable wood workers who have made a NOTABLE contribution to the Wood Working industry.

Jesus of Nazareth

Jesus is one of the first notable wood workers in history.  He was known as a carpenter and built yokes and ploughs.  Historians also believe that Jesus was the general carpenter and craftsman for the village he grew up in.

 Lu Ban

Lu Ban is revered by wood workers across the world.  He was a Chinese engineer and contractor who is credited with inventing the cloud ladder, wooden bird, and grappling hooks and rams.  There are other inventions that are associated with Lu Ban such as wooden horse carriage and the coachman.  He is noted as a Patron of Saints in China.

James Krenov

Krenov is respected by many wood workers for his inspiration to bring into one's work simplicity, harmony and above all, a love of wood. Krenov's books A Cabinetmaker's Notebook and The Impractical Cabinetmaker shun ostentatious and overly sculpted pieces, stains, sanded surfaces, and unbalanced or unproportional constructions. Krenov felt that details such as uniformly rounded edges, perfectly flat surfaces, and sharp corners remove the personal touch from a piece of furniture.

 Roy Underhill

The host of the longest running “How-To” show on PBS called “The Woodwright’s Shop”, Roy Underhill has long been respected as a notable woodworker.   He is the author of many books and holds several prestigious positions in the world of wood working as a consultant.  Mr. Underhill is regarded highly among Wood Workers because of his use of non-electrical tools.  He is affectionately known as “St. Roy.”

 Sam Maloof

Last but certainly not least, is Sam Maloof a furniture maker and well respected wood worker.  He designed and built a suite of furniture for his home using salvaged materials. Recognizing his talent, Maloof was eventually commissioned to design pieces.  From there on out Maloof continued working in the garage of his Ontario home. Maloof relocated to  California where he built a studio to continue making furniture.  Maloof became the first craftsman to receive a MacArthur fellowship; and despite such recognition, he declined to identify himself as an artist.  Maloof's work is in the collections of several major American museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum. In 1985 he was awarded a MacArthur "Genius" grant.

This list is by no means standard or is any specific format.  We at CabinetParts.com want to recognize the significant individuals that contributed to such a fine industry.  

Don’t forget at Cabinetparts.com we have all the Cabinet Hardware, Hinges and other accessories that will have your furniture and wood works looking great!