The Best Woodworking Tools for Beginners - Girl, Just DIY! December 2024

Do you have someone in your life who loves to make stuff, and who wants to try out woodworking? Then you’ll love this Best Woodworking Tools for Beginners gift guide.

This will help you with choosing a gift or two to support them in their new passion. Woodworking can be expensive so I’ve pulled together a list of quality but affordable woodworking tools for you to select from.

I’ll work through the list from beginner to more intermediate so you can get an idea of what might be good for your woodworker based on their skill level.

Plus, I’m only linking to products with a 4 star rating or above. Or which I personally own or have used.

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Beginner Woodworking Tools

Some of these might seem basic but if you’re just starting out you have to start somewhere. And if you’re looking for a gift with a smaller price tag be sure to read all the way to the bottom where you’ll find a list of some general tools every woodworker needs.

1. TAPE MEASURES – I keep losing mine so I suggest getting a two-pack.

If only small projects will be made then I suggest going with a 16′ tape first. They’re smaller and easier to handle. But I really like our Milwaukee 25′ tapes.

2. CORDLESS DRILLS – These are all great starter drills. But I’d personally make sure you get at least a 20V for ease of drilling through harder woods.

Some of these options above come with other tools and drill bits, making them a really great value. A cordless drill is a must have for wood working. Two batteries is a plus so you can always have one on backup.

We upgraded to a Rigid Cordless Drill and Impact Driver Set a few years ago, they are real workhorses.

Drilling pocket holes into 2x4 plant stand shelf.

3. HAMMERS and MALLETS

Mallets are so handy; I reach for mine more than I ever would have thought. But sometimes you just need to nudge the wood into place every so slightly.

4. ELECTRIC SANDERS

For beginners I’d start with the 1/4 Sheet Sanders. Of course you also need some sanding sponges on hand for those detail areas.

Once you’re used to a 1/4 sheet sander you can graduate to an orbital sander. They’re really great for larger projects. And the sand paper disks are so much easier to change.

Orbital sander being used to sand diy modern end table legs smooth.

5. Pocket Hole Jigs – this is a must have for furniture building newbies.

I love my Kreg Jig. I haven’t used any others so I can’t really recommend them. I started with the K4 System and purchased the Face Clamp Separately, which is also a must have.

Two 1x2 boards being attached into a T with a face clamp holding them to the work table.

But the Automaxx Right-Angle Clamp (shown below) is super helpful as well. And don’t forget about the Pocket Hole Screw Starter kit.

Attaching 2x4 legs parts together with pocket hole screws using a drill. — The right-angle clamp makes joining pieces with pocket holes so much easier.

My Projects using Pocket Holes

6. JIGSAWS

I think every garage should include a jig saw. Sometimes you want to make a small cut, or one that has a curve. There is no easier way to do that than with a Jigsaw.

Make sure you get one that has at least 5.0 Amps so it’s got the power to cut through your materials. Mine is old and I think I’ll put a replacement on my own gift list 🙂

7. BAR CLAMPS – You only have two hands, and sometimes you need four.

The one-handed clamps are great but the longer one’s can get pricey. I really like my Bessey clamps for larger projects.

Cordless Drill and hands screwing in screws to bench top. — Long clamps make working solo a breeze.

8. HAND SAWS – No, these aren’t your grandpa’s hand saws.

Also known as Pull Saws, these small saws have big cutting power and are perfect for small pieces.

9. MITER SAW

This is where it can get expensive to start wood working. My recommendation is to buy the best saw you can afford. You don’t want to skimp on quality or safety.

These saws above all have good ratings and are a great starter price. We started out with a less expensive one that worked well for years. If you can afford a sliding saw you’ll have more building option with wider boards.

10. TABLE SAW

You probably don’t need a table saw as a beginner. And I really don’t recommend one until you’ve worked with power tools on a few projects. But if you’ve worked around them with other people and know all the safety tips then I say go for it.

While I don’t have personal experience with the BladeRunner Tabletop Saw, my friend Anika used one for the first few years of woodworking. And she made lots of really projects and even furniture with hers.

I think this is a great option to get comfortable. Plus the blade lets it double as a jigsaw.