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5 Power Tools No Woodshop Should be Without

We've all heard the phrase "the right tool for the job". But in woodworking, that phrase is only half true. While it is true that you don't want to use your router to cut a sheet of plywood, you also don't want to go out and buy a panel saw you might only use once every six months. One look through any hardware store and you'll see tons of specialty tools made for just one or two types of jobs. If you're like me you want them all, but you also wonder what exactly you need. We'll here's a list of the 5 power tools every general woodworking shop should have.

1) Table Saw

Without a doubt, the table saw is the workhorse of any woodshop. You can use it to cut plywood, shorten 2x4s or shelf board, resaw boards, and even some joinery tasks. A variety of blades are also available for different types of cuts. You can get rip cut and crosscut blades, or a combination blade. Blades to cut a dado in a single pass, as well as plywood and paneling blades are available. Because the saw's table supports your workpiece, you can get an accurate cut easily and the saw needs fewer adjustments than other saws like the radial arm saw. If you have limited shop space or need a saw you can take from place to place, smaller portable models are available.

2) Router

The router is the wonder tool of the modern woodshop. You'll find that it has almost no end of uses. With your router you can mold edges, cut irregular shapes, cut grooves and slots, and more. With the right cutter and jig you can use your router for most of your joinery needs. You can cut dovetails, dadoes, box joints, and mortises. Special turning jigs are also available to let you use your router to make table legs without a lathe. This is especially useful if you don't do enough woodturning to justify buying a lathe. Combine your router with a table for increased stability and control over your work.

3) Drill

At least one hand drill is something you also don't want to be without. These handy tools are just the ticket for boring holes, driving screws, and even light shaping or sanding. You'll even use your drill for joinery. But when drilling holes for dowels, you need to use drill guide in order to ensure a perfect fit. It's almost impossible to drill a perfectly straight and round hole without some type of guide or jig. It's also a good idea to have more than one drill on hand. For example if you're assembling a piece with screws, having one drill set to do your pilot hole and one set up to drive your screw is a big time saver. I tend to pick up a new drill whenever I see them on the clearance shelf at my local home improvement store. That way I always have one handy either in the shop or in the house and don't have to spend a lot of money.

4) Belt Sander

At some point you'll need to flatten a board, remove some waste wood, or correct a mistake in measurement. When this happens, your belt sander is the tool you'll reach for. It's not only great at bulk smoothing, you can go with a higher grit sandpaper for more delicate sanding. Unless you're very skilled with a belt sander, though, I would avoid using it for finish sanding. That would be best done by hand, or if you must use a power tool, pick up an orbital sander.

5) Shop Vac

You may think this one's coming out of left field. Most people probably don't consider a shop vac a power tool and it's definitely not one of the more fun additions to your shop. But clean up and disposal of sawdust needs to be something you're always aware of. Not only can sawdust accumulate in your tools clogging moving parts and ventilation, but it's also a health hazard to you not to mention a fire hazard. While the best solution to sawdust is a rated dust collection system, many small shops with only one tool being used at a time get away with just using a shop vac.

With these 5 power tools and a few hand tools you'll be able to make just about anything your heart desires. Many other tools will do the same jobs these can but easier and quicker. So as you progress in your woodworking and find that you need other tools for your work, don't hesitate to buy them. Just be sure you're not spending hundreds of dollars on a tool you'll only need once when you can spend tens of dollars for a jig or accessory that will let you do the same thing with a tool you already have. And since you can make do with what you have, you'll be able to check out clearance deals and wait to buy new power tools until the price suits your budget.