Woodworking Tools
Know the Tool.Understand the Cut.
BenchRoot explains what each tool does, how it works, how to set it up and what actually matters when you choose one — so the tool serves the work, not the other way round.
- Function
- How it cuts
- Setup
- How to adjust
- Choice
- What matters
Tool Families
The workshop, catalogued.
Ten families of tools, grouped by the work they do. Each entry covers how the tool cuts, how it is adjusted and what separates a good one from a poor one.
- No. 01Blade, fence and miter slots in one plane
Table Saws
Rips, crosscuts on a sled, dadoes and repeat cuts to width.
- No. 02Sharpness is the setting
Hand Tools
Planes, chisels, saws and knives — quiet precision at the bench.
- No. 03Bit, speed and feed direction
Routers
Profiles, grooves, rabbets and jig-guided joinery.
- No. 04Jointer first, planer second
Planers & Jointers
Flat faces, square edges, then consistent thickness.
- No. 05Grit sequence, not pressure
Sanders
Surface preparation between the plane and the finish.
No. 06
Drills
Holes and fasteners, square and to depth.
No. 07
Clamps
Even pressure for glue-ups and jigs.
No. 08
Measuring & Layout
Squares, rules, gauges and knives.
No. 09
Miter Saws
Fast, accurate crosscuts and angles.
No. 10
Circular & Track Saws
Straight cuts in sheet goods, at the sheet.
Anatomy of a Tool
The Bench Plane, Taken Apart.
Nine parts, one purpose: hold a sharp edge at a fixed angle, a controlled distance below a flat sole. Understand each part and the plane stops being mysterious.
- 01Iron
- 02Chipbreaker
- 03Lever cap
- 04Frog
- 05Body
- 06Tote
- 07Knob
- 08Mouth
- 09Sole
Note 1
Blade projection
Advance the iron until it lifts a shaving you can almost read through — then stop. More projection only means more effort and tear-out.
Note 2
Mouth opening
Move the frog forward to close the mouth for figured or difficult grain; open it for heavier stock removal.
Note 3
Sole flatness
What matters most is flat at the toe, around the mouth and at the heel. Check lengthwise, across and on the diagonals.
Note 4
Bevel orientation
Bench planes cut bevel down, with the chipbreaker set just behind the edge. Most block planes cut bevel up.
Choosing the Right Tool
Choose by the Work, Not the Hype.
Start with the cut you need to make. The right tool follows from the material, the accuracy required and the space you work in.
What does the work need?
Need 01
Straight cuts in sheet goods?
- Track saw
- Table saw
A track saw brings the blade to a full sheet; the table saw takes over once panels are a manageable size.
Need 02
Repeatable crosscuts?
- Miter saw
- Table saw sled
A stop block gives identical lengths either way; the miter saw adds quick, accurate angles.
Need 03
Profiles and joinery?
- Router
Table-mounted for small parts and repeat work; handheld with a fence or guide for large panels.
Need 04
Flat, square stock?
- Jointer + planer
- Hand planes
Flatten one face and square one edge first; only then bring the opposite face parallel.
Need 05
Precise marking?
- Marking knife
- Square
- Marking gauge
A knife line, a square you have checked and a gauge set once — every later cut registers from these.
Core Workshop Tools
Ten tools, properly understood.
The job each tool does best, the accuracy problem it is known for and the one setup habit that prevents it.
Table Saw
- Primary job
- Ripping to width; crosscuts on a sled; dadoes and grooves.
- Accuracy concern
- Blade parallel to the miter slot, fence parallel to the blade.
- Setup note
- Set blade height to clear the stock by about a tooth, and keep the riving knife fitted.
Router
- Primary job
- Edge profiles, grooves, rabbets and jig-guided joinery.
- Accuracy concern
- Bit projection and fence alignment decide the fit.
- Setup note
- Feed against the bit's rotation and make deep cuts in several passes.
Random Orbit Sander
- Primary job
- Levelling and smoothing before finish.
- Accuracy concern
- Swirl marks from skipped grits; rounded edges.
- Setup note
- Let the pad's weight do the work and move slowly, overlapping each pass.
Cordless Drill
- Primary job
- Drilling and driving.
- Accuracy concern
- Holes drifting off 90°; stripped screw heads.
- Setup note
- Use the clutch for driving and a guide block when a hole must be square.
Jointer
- Primary job
- Flattening one face; squaring an edge to it.
- Accuracy concern
- Outfeed table height relative to the knives.
- Setup note
- Outfeed level with the top of the knife arc; fence square to the table.
Planer
- Primary job
- The second face parallel to the first, and final thickness.
- Accuracy concern
- Snipe at the ends of the board.
- Setup note
- Take light passes and feed boards end to end with support at both sides.
Block Plane
- Primary job
- End grain, chamfers and small fitting work.
- Accuracy concern
- Tear-out on end grain from a dull or rank iron.
- Setup note
- Low bed, bevel up; close the mouth right down for end grain.
Chisel
- Primary job
- Paring to a line and chopping joinery.
- Accuracy concern
- A back that isn't flat will never register cleanly.
- Setup note
- Flatten the back first, then hone the bevel at 25–30°.
Combination Square
- Primary job
- Marking and checking 90° and 45°.
- Accuracy concern
- Every mark inherits the square's own error.
- Setup note
- Check it: draw a line, flip the square, draw again; the lines should meet.
Clamps
- Primary job
- Pressure for glue-ups, jigs and holding work.
- Accuracy concern
- Over-tightening squeezes out glue and racks the assembly.
- Setup note
- Even pressure, cauls on wide panels, and check the diagonals before the glue sets.
Hand Tools & Power Tools
Two traditions, one workbench.
Hand Tools
Quiet, precise and fitted to the work in front of you. Best where the cut must be exact and few in number.
Bench plane
Chisel
Hand saw
Marking knife
Where either works
- Dimensioning
- Jack plane, try plane and winding sticksJointer, then planer
- Joinery
- Saw, chisel and marking gaugeRouter, dado stack, drill guide
- Surface prep
- Smoothing plane and card scraperRandom orbit sander and a grit sequence
- Cutting
- Panel saw and backsaw to a knife lineTable saw, miter saw or track saw
← By handBy machine →
Power Tools
Fast, repeatable and tireless. Best where the same cut is needed many times, or the stock is large.
Table saw
Router
Drill
Sander
Setup & Accuracy
Accuracy Starts Before the Cut.
Six checks worth making whenever a tool is new, moved or giving results you don't trust. Each takes minutes and saves hours.
Procedure 01 · Table saw
Fence parallel to the blade
- 1.Unplug the saw and raise the blade fully.
- 2.Measure from one marked tooth to the fence at the front (A).
- 3.Rotate that tooth to the back and measure again (B).
TargetA equals B — or B a hair wider
Procedure 02 · Miter saw
Zero bevel, square fence
- 1.Set the saw to 0° miter and 0° bevel.
- 2.Square the blade to the table against the plate, not the teeth.
- 3.Square the fence to the blade, then make a test cut and flip it.
TargetNo light under the square
Procedure 03 · Router
Bit projection and fence
- 1.Set projection with a setup block or rule, then lock the base.
- 2.Align the fence parallel to the intended cut.
- 3.Cut a scrap and measure before touching the workpiece.
TargetTest cut matches the mark
Procedure 04 · Jointer
Outfeed at the knife arc
- 1.Lay a straightedge on the outfeed table, over the cutterhead.
- 2.Rotate the head by hand with the machine unplugged.
- 3.Raise or lower the outfeed until each knife just brushes the edge.
TargetKnife lifts the straightedge a whisker
Procedure 05 · Hand plane
Iron centred, shallow projection
- 1.Sight down the sole toward a light.
- 2.Use the lateral lever until the edge is parallel to the mouth.
- 3.Advance slowly until it takes a fine, full-width shaving.
TargetEven shaving, edge to edge
Procedure 06 · Measuring
Is the square square?
- 1.Draw a line off a straight edge with the square.
- 2.Flip the square over and draw a second line beside it.
- 3.Any gap between the lines is twice the square's error.
TargetThe two lines coincide
Tool Comparison
Table Saw vs Track Saw.
Two ways to a straight cut. Neither replaces the other — they solve different problems, and many shops keep both.
| Consideration | Table saw | Track saw |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Ripping solid wood; repeat cuts to width | Breaking down sheet goods; straight cuts on large panels |
| Sheet goods | Workable with outfeed support and a helper; full sheets are awkward | The saw moves and the sheet stays put on a flat surface |
| Repeat cuts | Set the fence once and every cut matches | Needs stops or parallel guides for identical widths |
| Portability | Stationary, or a jobsite saw on a stand | Carried to the work; the track stores flat |
| Space required | Room for the stock before and after the blade | A flat surface — or foam board — under the sheet |
| Typical setup | Blade height, fence parallel, riving knife | Splinter strip trimmed to the blade; depth set just below the sheet |
The library
Tools by section.
Tool kits and first tools
- How to Choose a Woodworking HammerChoosing the best woodworking hammer by specification: family, head weight against tool weight, length, face, claw and handle, plus dead-blow hammers.
- How to Choose Quality Hand ToolsBuy hand tools for the work you do: which need precision and which can be simple, the quality signals to check on each, parts, maintenance, and what can wait.
- How to Choose Quality Woodworking Tools, by What You Can CheckHigh quality woodworking tools judged by what you can check: documented specifications for layout, edge, saw, power and machine tools, by category.
- Woodworking Hammers: Types, Faces, Claws and WeightsA woodworking hammer explained: claw, rip, framing, tack and dead-blow hammers as makers name them, faces, claws, handles, and head weight versus tool weight.
- Woodworking Hand Tools: What Each One DoesWoodworking hand tools in the order they enter a project — mark, saw, sharpen, chop, plane, shape, scrape — what each does, and its power-tool counterpart.
- Woodworking Power Tools: The Three Families and What Each Tool DoesWoodworking power tools in three families — handheld, benchtop and stationary — with what each tool does, its power source and the specifications that matter.
- Woodworking Tool Kits: The Kinds of Set and What Each Is ForA tool set for woodworking, explained by kind: layout, hand cutting, drill-driver, specialist, accessory and repair sets, what each holds and the work it suits.
Saws
- Backsaws: Dovetail, Carcase and Tenon SawsWhat the spine of a backsaw does, how dovetail, carcase and tenon saws differ in size and filing, and which one each joint needs, with a worked tenon example.
- Circular Saw Blades: Diameter, Arbor, Kerf and TeethHow a blade fits a handheld saw — diameter, round or diamond arbor, speed rating and rotation — then kerf, plate and riving knife, and what tooth count changes.
- Circular Saws: Types, Parts, Guards and What They CutWhat a handheld saw with a round blade is: its parts and guards, worm-drive and sidewinder types, blade sizes, kickback, and where track and table saws fit.
- Coping Saws: Blades, Tension and Curved CutsHow a coping saw keeps a thin blade taut, which way the teeth should point, how to turn the blade in a curve, and how it compares with fret and piercing saws.
- Handsaws: Rip, Crosscut and Panel Saws ExplainedHow rip and crosscut teeth cut, what TPI and PPI mean, how plate, set and kerf relate, and which full-size handsaw suits which cut in the workshop.
- How to Choose a Band SawChoosing the best band saw for woodworking: resaw height, throat, blade widths, speed, guides, fence, brake, dust and power, from four makers' manuals.
- How to Choose a Band Saw BladeChoosing the best bandsaw blades for wood by the cut: resawing, curves, straight work, hardwood and thin stock, within your saw's length, widths and speed.
- How to Choose a Benchtop Band SawWhat to compare in a table top band saw: throat, cutting height, blade length and widths, speed, table, fence, dust and power, from Grizzly and Rikon.
- How to Choose a Benchtop Saw: Which Compact Saw Fits the WorkWhich benchtop saw fits your work: a benchtop table saw, compact miter saw, benchtop band saw or a small hand saw, chosen by the cut, the stock and the space.
- How to Choose a Benchtop Table SawWhat a compact saw gives up for its size — blade, rip, dado and mounting — compared from two makers' published figures, and the checks before buying one.
- How to Choose a Circular Saw BladeChoosing a blade for a handheld or plunge saw: fit first, then tooth count for framing or plywood, thin or thick kerf, and the kerf limits a riving knife sets.
- How to Choose a Circular Saw for WoodworkingChoosing a handheld saw by drive type, blade size, depth at 90° and 45°, bevel range, brake, arbor and power source, with six makers' manuals side by side.
- How to Choose a Compact Miter SawChoosing a compact miter saw: blade size, sliding or not, bevel direction, crosscut capacity, molding capacity and weight, from two makers' own specifications.
- How to Choose a Corded Portable Circular SawChoosing a corded handheld saw to carry between jobs: sidewinder or worm drive, weight, depth, bevel, brake, hook and the extension cord its manual calls for.
- How to Choose a Cordless Circular SawChoosing a battery saw by blade size, depth at 90° and 45°, speed, bevel, brake, weight with the battery, blade side and the battery platform you already own.
- How to Choose a Cordless Table SawWhat a battery saw trades for working away from an outlet — blade size, battery platform, dado limits and capacity — from two makers' published figures.
- How to Choose a Cordless Track SawChoosing a battery plunge saw: one 18 V pack or two, speed range, depth, weight with batteries, brake, riving knife, scoring stop, dust and the rail it runs on.
- How to Choose a HandsawChoose a handsaw from the work you do: a task-by-task decision table, the specifications that matter, what to buy first and second, and mistakes to avoid.
- How to Choose a Jigsaw for WoodworkingChoosing the best jigsaw for woodworking by specification: blade system, SPM, stroke, orbital settings, bevel, dust, clean-cut options, corded or cordless.
- How to Choose a Miter Saw for WoodworkingWhat to compare when looking for the best miter saw for woodworking: blade, slide, single or dual bevel, miter and bevel range, capacity and blade rules.
- How to Choose a Miter Saw StandWhat to compare in a portable miter saw stand: rated load, material support, folding or rolling, height, mounting and fit, from five stands' own specifications.
- How to Choose a Portable Band Saw for WoodChoosing a portable band saw for wood: what handheld band saws are built and bladed for, their speeds against woodworking saws, and the small saws that travel.
- How to Choose a Portable Table SawWhat separates one jobsite saw from another — rip capacity, stand, weight, dado limits and safety systems — with three makers' published figures side by side.
- How to Choose a Portable Track Saw and Its RailsChoosing a plunge saw to carry between jobs: what comes in the kit, rail lengths for crosscuts and full rips, rail fit between brands, case, weight and setup.
- How to Choose a Scroll SawChoosing a scroll saw for beginners by specification: throat, speed in SPM, capacity, table tilt, pinned or plain-end blades, holders, blower and dust port.
- How to Choose a Small Hand Saw: Razor, Woodcraft and Flush-Cut SawsChoosing a mini hand saw for wood by its maker's figures: razor, woodcraft and flush-cut saws, tooth count, blade length, cutting depth, plate, set and blade.
- How to Choose a Table SawWhich kind of table saw suits which work and shop — benchtop, jobsite, cordless, contractor or cabinet — decided by a few needs you can measure.
- How to Choose a Table Saw BladeWhich blade for which cut — ripping, crosscutting, plywood, general use and dadoes — from one maker's range, and the three checks a blade must pass on your saw.
- How to Choose a Table Saw Miter GaugeWhen an aftermarket miter gauge is worth it, and what to compare — bar fit, angle range, stops and fence — from three makers' published figures.
- How to Choose a Track SawChoosing a plunge saw by power source, speed range, depth on the rail, bevel, riving knife design, scoring stop, splinter control, dust port and rail fit.
- Japanese Saws: Ryoba, Dozuki and Flush-Cut SawsWhy Japanese saws cut on the pull, what ryoba, dozuki, kataba and flush-cut saws are for, and the trade-offs of thin plates and impulse-hardened teeth.
- Miter Gauges: Slots, Angle Stops and AccuracyHow a miter gauge fits the slot and guides a crosscut, what its stops and scales do, how to check it is square, and how to crosscut without trapping the offcut.
- Saw Blades for Power Saws: Sizes, Teeth and KerfHow to read a circular saw blade's label — diameter, arbor, kerf, plate, tooth count and rated speed — and match a blade to the saw it will run on.
- Table Saw Blades: Rip, Crosscut and CombinationRip, crosscut, combination and plywood blades compared by teeth, grind and hook angle, full and thin kerf, and how to check a blade against your riving knife.
- Table Saw Inserts: Throat Plates and Zero-Clearance InsertsWhat the throat insert does, why zero-clearance inserts reduce tear-out, how high an insert should sit, and which insert each operation needs, from saw makers.
- Table Saws: Types, Uses and FeaturesBench, jobsite, contractor, cabinet and sliding saws compared, every part named, the specifications that limit the work, and how the guarding system works.
- The Band Saw: Parts, Capacities, Blades and SetupHow a wood band saw works: its parts, why throat and resaw height differ, blade length, width and speed by maker, tension, tracking, guides and safe use.
- The Jigsaw: Blades, Orbital Action, Bevels and Inside CutsHow a wood jig saw works: parts, T-shank blades and tooth direction, strokes per minute, orbital action, bevels, blower versus extraction, and inside cuts.
- The Miter Saw: Types, Capacity, Blades, Crown and Safe UseA miter saw for woodworking: miter, bevel and slide, what capacity means, the blades makers allow, setup and dust, cutting crown two ways, and safe use.
- The Scroll Saw: Parts, Blades, Speed and CapacityHow a wood scroll saw works: its parts, throat, strokes per minute, capacity, table tilt, pinned and plain-end blades, and why a blower is not dust collection.
- Track Saws: The Plunge Saw, Its Rail and the Splinter StripHow a plunge saw and its guide rail work as one system: the rail, the splinter strip, depth on and off the rail, the riving knife, and the specs that differ.
- Woodworking Saws: Which Kind of Saw Does Which CutA map of every woodworking saw: handsaws, backsaws, Japanese pull saws, frame and small saws, and the power saws, sorted by the cut each one is made for.
- Band Saw Blades: Width, Teeth, Set and Steel ExplainedWhat each property of woodworking band saw blades means: length, width and curve radius, TPI and pitch, tooth form, set and kerf, thickness, steel and speed.
- Dado Blades: Stacked Sets, Width and Saw CompatibilityWhat a stacked dado set is, how its width is built from blades, chippers and shims, and how your saw's manual decides whether it can run one at all.
- How to Choose a Cabinet Table SawWhat to compare on a cabinet saw — supply, rails and rip, floor space, weight, dust port and safety system — from two makers' manuals, side by side.
- How to Choose a Radial Arm SawWhat to compare when looking for the best radial arm saw: crosscut and depth, motor and power supply, guards and return, duty, and checking older saws.
- Sliding Table Saws: How They Work and What to CompareHow a sliding table saw carries a panel past the blade, what its scoring blade does, and which specifications decide the size of work it can cut.
- Table Saw Fences: Types, Alignment and Safe UseWhat a rip fence does, how fences lock to their rails, how makers align them to the slot and blade, and the rules for using one: never as a crosscut stop.
- The Radial Arm Saw: How It Cuts, Its Guards and Its HazardsHow a radial arm saw works: crosscuts pulled toward you, the table and fence, the guards and stops the federal rule requires, and the Craftsman recall.
Routers and router tables
- How to Choose a Benchtop Router TableWhat to compare in a benchtop router table — plate, inserts, fence, guard, dust port, switch and the routers it takes — with one maker's table as the example.
- How to Choose a Compact Router, and Whether to Table-Mount ItWhat to compare in a compact router — collet, speed range, largest bit, bases, depth adjustment, guides, dust — and what three makers say about table use.
- How to Choose a Cordless RouterWhat to compare in a cordless router — battery platform, collet, speed range, largest bit, bases, speed control and table use — from two makers' manuals.
- How to Choose a Palm RouterChoosing a corded palm router by collet, speed range, largest bit, bases, depth adjustment, guides and how its maker says to hold it, from three manuals.
- How to Choose a Portable Router TableWhat to compare in a portable router table — legs, top, mount, fence, guard, inserts, dust port and the routers it takes — and how its maker says to set one up.
- How to Choose a Router TableChoosing a router table by type — benchtop, portable, cabinet — and by the router it must take, with three Bosch tables' published figures side by side.
- How to Choose a Wood RouterChoosing a full-size router: bases and kits, collets, speed range, largest bit, depth adjustment and table use, from Bosch, DEWALT and Milwaukee manuals.
- How to Choose Router BitsChoosing router bits and sets by shank, profile, carbide, bearings, speed rating and materials, with two Freud sets' contents compared and nothing ranked.
- Router Bits for Wood: Anatomy, Shanks, Types and BearingsRouter bits explained: cutting diameter, length, shank, bearing and flutes; which shank fits which collet; how deep a bit goes in; how the types differ.
- Router Tables: Parts, Guards, Fences and Feed DirectionWhat changes when a router hangs under a table: the plate, inserts, fence, guard, featherboards and starter pin, which routers may be mounted, and feed rules.
- Trim and Palm Routers: What a Compact Router DoesCompact palm and trim routers: the 1/4 in collet, three makers' speed ranges and largest bits, the bases they take, how to hold one, and trimming laminate.
- Wood Routers: Types, Bases, Bits and How They CutWhat a router is and is not, its parts, fixed, plunge and compact bases, how bits and speed fit together, and the safety rules five makers' manuals share.
- How to Choose a Plunge RouterChoosing a plunge router or base by turret, fine adjustment, lock, collets, speed range and table use, from Bosch, DEWALT and Milwaukee manuals.
- Plunge Routers: Depth Stops, Stepped Passes and MortisesHow a plunge base works — posts, lock, depth rod, turret — three makers' stepped passes, cutting mortises, and why most say no to plunge bases in tables.
- The Wood Shaper: Spindle, Cutters, Guards and Router TablesWhat a spindle shaper is, how it differs from a table-mounted router in spindle, speed, direction and tooling, and the guarding OSHA and a maker require.
Planes, jointers and planers
- Card Scrapers and Cabinet ScrapersWhy a scraper’s tiny hook cuts cleanly where a plane tears, how card scrapers, cabinet scrapers and scraper planes differ, and when to scrape rather than sand.
- Combination Jointer-Planer vs Thickness Planer vs BothJointer planer vs planer: what a combination machine adds, what a planer alone cannot do, and how separate machines compare, by the makers' figures.
- Electric Hand Planers: How They Work and What They DoHow electric hand planers work: the drum, the shoes and depth, rabbeting and chamfers, blades, dust, and the safety rules four makers' documents share.
- Hand Planes: Types, Uses and FeaturesHow a hand plane cuts, what smoothing, jack, jointer and block planes each do, where the cutting angle comes from, and which plane suits which job.
- How to Choose a Benchtop JointerWhat to compare in benchtop jointers: width, table length, straight or spiral cutterhead, minimum stock, motor, dust port and weight, from four makers' manuals.
- How to Choose a Benchtop Thickness PlanerWhat to compare in a benchtop wood planer: width, depth by width, knives, feed speeds, snipe control, dust and power, from DEWALT's and Makita's documents.
- How to Choose a Combination Jointer-PlanerChoosing the best jointer planer combo: width, depth in each mode, cutterhead, power supply, weight, changeover and minimum stock, from Grizzly's manuals.
- How to Choose a Cordless PlanerChoosing a wood planer cordless: battery handheld planers by width, depth, rabbet, depth steps and speed as stated, against corded ones, from makers' documents.
- How to Choose a Hand PlaneChoose a first hand plane from your work, then the next: jack, smoother, jointer or block plane, bevel-up or down, new or vintage, and what to inspect.
- How to Choose a JointerChoosing the best jointer for woodworking by your work: width, table length, knives or inserts, rabbeting, power supply, dust and weight, from makers' manuals.
- How to Choose a Portable Thickness PlanerChoosing the best portable thickness planer for moving between sites: weight and carrying, mounting, support tables, power supply, dust and clearance.
- How to Choose a Thickness PlanerChoosing the best thickness planer for your work: benchtop or stationary, width, depth by width, knives or inserts, feed, power supply and minimum stock.
- How to Choose an Electric Hand PlanerChoosing the best electric hand planer for woodworking: corded or battery, width, depth, rabbet depth, blades, guides and dust, from four makers' documents.
- Jointer vs Thickness Planer: What Each DoesPlaner vs jointer: what each machine does to a board, why neither replaces the other, which comes first, and where an electric hand planer fits, from manuals.
- Jointers: What They Do, Their Parts, Sizes and LimitsWhat a woodworking jointer does, how its tables, fence and guard work, sizes from 6 to 12 in, cutterheads, the minimum stock and rabbeting the makers allow.
- Spokeshaves: Types, Uses and TechniqueHow a spokeshave works, which sole suits which curve, bevel-up and bevel-down designs, why you cut downhill on a curve, and when a rasp or plane is better.
- Thickness Planers: What They Do, Specs and Safe UseWhat a wood thickness planer does and cannot do, its parts, how makers state width, depth and speed, power and dust, snipe, and the rules the manuals share.
- Combination Jointer-Planers: How One Machine Does BothHow a combination jointer planer uses one cutterhead for both jobs, how it changes over, its widths, depths and power, and the limits two Grizzly manuals give.
- Plane Irons and Chipbreakers ExplainedWhat the plane iron and chipbreaker each do, how irons vary between makers, what chipbreaker research shows, and how to check a replacement iron fits.
- Planer Knives and Inserts: Types, Changing and CareWood planer blades explained: straight and disposable knives, four-sided inserts, helical and spiral heads, changing them safely, and what each maker allows.
- Router Planes: Housings, Grooves and Tenon CheeksHow a router plane levels housings, grooves, tenon cheeks and hinge recesses to an exact depth, what its blades do, and how to set depth from the joint.
Chisels and carving tools
- How to Choose Wood Carving ToolsThe best tool for wood carving depends on the work: which knife, which gouges, palm or mallet tools, what to check in a kit, and why power carvers are left out.
- How to Choose Woodworking ChiselsChoose chisels from the work you do: a task-by-task decision table, which sizes first, what steel and hardness figures mean, handles, backs and a checklist.
- Rasps and Files for WoodworkingRasp or file: how their teeth differ, why hand-stitched rasps leave a smoother surface, how grades and cuts are named, and the order from rasp to scraper.
- Wood Carving Tools: Knives, Gouges, V-Tools and How They Are SizedWoodworking carving tools explained: knives, chisels, gouges and V-tools, how sweeps and widths are numbered, palm and mallet tools, stropping and safe holds.
- Woodworking Axes and Adzes: Types, Grinds, Handles and CareA woodworking axe explained: carving and carpenter's axes, broad axes, hatchets and adzes, their parts and edge grinds, weights, handles, poll limits and care.
- Woodworking Chisels: Types, Uses and FeaturesThe four main kinds of woodworking chisel — bevel-edge, firmer, paring and mortise — how their blades and handles differ, and which one each job needs.
- Woodworking Mallets: Types, Weights and UsesJoiner’s, carver’s and soft-faced mallets compared: head shape and material, weight as a trade-off, and which mallet to use with which chisel and job.
- Mortise Chisels: Types, Sizes and UsesWhy a mortise chisel is thick and square-sided, how makers size them, how to choose a width for the joint, and how it differs from a hollow-chisel mortiser bit.
Drills, drill presses and bits
- Drills for Woodworking: Chucks, Clutches, Gears and CapacityThe woodworking drill/driver: chuck capacity, the clutch and drill setting, two gears, rated capacity in wood, and when an impact driver or drill press fits.
- How to Choose a Drill Press for WoodworkingWhat to compare when looking for the best wood drill press: swing, spindle travel, chuck and taper, speed range and change, table, motor and depth stop.
- How to Choose Drill Bits for WoodWhat to compare when looking for the best drill bits for wood: bit type, diameters, shank against your chuck, cutting material and the tools makers list.
- The Drill Press for Woodworking: Swing, Speed, Setup and SafetyHow a wood drill press is specified and used: swing and travel, three makers' speed rules, setting up the table, clamping the work, what the manuals forbid.
- The Impact Driver in Woodworking: Hex Bits, Modes and LimitsThe impact driver for woodworking: its 1/4 in hex chuck, which bits its makers allow, speed modes, how impacting tightens, and how it differs from a drill.
- Wood Drill Bits: Types, Points, Shanks and SizesWood drill bits: how a bit is built, which bit makes which hole, which tools each maker allows it in, shank against chuck, and where sizes are charted.
- Woodworking Screwdrivers: Drives, Tips and FitWoodworking screwdrivers by the drive they fit: slotted, Phillips, Pozidriv, square and hexalobular, why PH and PZ are not interchangeable, handles, safe use.
Sanders
- Belt Sanders: Handheld and Stationary Stock RemovalHow handheld and bench belt sanders work, what belt size and belt speed decide, and the handling, tracking and table rules their makers' manuals give.
- Detail and Palm Sanders: Sheet and Delta PadsQuarter-sheet, third-sheet and delta detail sanders: their pads, paper and reach, how a fixed orbit differs from a random one, and what makers say each is for.
- How to Choose a Belt SanderChoosing a handheld belt sander by belt size, single or variable speed, weight and dust bag, from Makita's own manuals for three of its belt sanders.
- How to Choose a Benchtop SanderChoosing a bench belt-and-disc or oscillating spindle sander by belt and disc size, speed, tables, tilt and dust port, from RIKON's and JET's own manuals.
- How to Choose a Cordless Palm or Detail SanderChoosing a battery quarter-sheet or detail sander against corded ones: sheet size, paper clamping, dust holes, speed and battery, from the makers' own figures.
- How to Choose a Cordless Random Orbital SanderChoosing a battery random orbit sander by platform, speed, orbit, dust and runtime — the makers' own figures, with each runtime claim and its stated battery.
- How to Choose a Mini Random Orbital SanderWhat a 3 in random orbit sander does and does not do compared with a 5 in one: pad, orbit, speed and weight, from Milwaukee's and DEWALT's published figures.
- How to Choose a Portable SanderChoosing a handheld sander for work away from the shop: battery or cord, the type for the job, weight and onboard dust collection, from the makers' own figures.
- How to Choose a Random Orbital SanderWhat to compare when choosing a corded random orbit sander — pad, orbit, speed, dust interface and weight — read from three makers' own published figures.
- How to Choose a SanderChoosing a first sander by the job — general sanding, edges, corners, levelling, curves or flattening — and then by the figures each type's maker publishes.
- Random Orbital Sanders: How They Move and What the Specs MeanHow a random orbit sander moves, what orbit, stroke, OPM and rpm mean in each maker's terms, and how pad, speed control and dust interface differ by model.
- Spindle Sanders: Oscillation, Sleeves and CurvesHow an oscillating spindle sander smooths inside curves, what its speed, oscillation and sleeve figures mean, and the table and insert rules in JET's manual.
- Woodworking Sanders: Which Machine for Which JobEvery kind of sander by the motion it uses and the job it suits — random orbital, sheet, detail, belt, disc, drum and spindle — with the limits makers state.
- Drum Sanders: Capacity, Open-End Passes and FeedHow a drum sander's width, thickness, drum and conveyor figures work, what an open-end machine's two-pass width means, and setup from the makers' manuals.
- How to Choose a Benchtop Drum SanderChoosing a smaller drum sander by width in one and two passes, thickness, minimum length, feed, dust and power, from SuperMax's and Grizzly's own manuals.
Clamps, vises and workbenches
- Bar, Pipe, Parallel and F-ClampsF-style, parallel-jaw, pipe and one-handed bar clamps compared by jaw, reach, stated force and parallelism, with a sequence for gluing up a flat panel.
- Bench Dogs and Holdfasts: Types, Uses and FeaturesWoodworking holdfasts and bench dogs: how each holds work, the hole systems makers use — 3/4 in, 1 in and 20 mm — and how to fit, place and use them.
- Corner Clamps: Types and How to Clamp a Square CornerWhat a corner clamp holds and what it cannot check, compared with band clamps and bar clamps, with a sequence for gluing a frame or box square.
- How to Choose a Portable Bench ViseChoose a portable woodworking vice by where it clamps and what it holds: clamp-on, table-clamp, Moxon-style or portable-bench jaws, from makers' specifications.
- How to Choose a Portable Table Saw StandDedicated, integrated or shop-made stands for jobsite saws — what each holds, how it folds and moves, and the mounting rules the saw makers set.
- How to Choose a Portable WorkbenchPortable and folding workbenches compared by stated load, clamping, working height, size and set-up, from makers’ specifications, with a checklist to use.
- How to Choose a Woodworking ViseChoose a vise from the bench it will sit on and the work it must hold: type, opening, jaw width, mounting and racking, from makers’ specifications.
- How to Choose a WorkbenchChoose a workbench from the work you do: size, height, mass, workholding and top material compared from makers’ specifications, with a checklist to use.
- How to Choose Woodworking ClampsChoose clamps from the work you do: which kinds first, how many a glue-up needs, and which specifications matter, from makers’ published figures.
- Roller Stands and Outfeed Supports for a Table SawWhen long work needs support behind the saw, how high to set a roller stand, which way its roller should face, and when an outfeed table is the better answer.
- Sawhorses: Types, Heights and UsesFixed, folding and adjustable sawhorses compared, what makers’ load ratings mean, and how to support a board or sheet so the cut neither pinches nor drops.
- Spring Clamps, C-Clamps and Hand ScrewsSpring clamps, C-clamps and wooden hand screws compared by how they apply force, their openings and ratings, and which holding job each one suits.
- Table Saw Workbenches, Stands and Outfeed TablesHow to mount a jobsite or benchtop saw so it cannot move or tip, support long work behind it, and leave the dust a way out, from what saw makers specify.
- Woodworking Clamps: Types, Pressure and UsesBar, pipe, parallel, C, spring, hand-screw, band and corner clamps compared by reach and job, and what glue makers and the USDA say about clamping pressure.
- Woodworking Vises: Face, Leg, Tail and Bench VisesFace, leg, tail and twin-screw vises compared by where they mount and how they hold work, how they differ from a metalworking bench vise, and why jaws rack.
- Woodworking Workbenches: Types, Heights and FeaturesWhat a woodworking bench must do, how makers size and fit them, why there is no single right height, and how vises, dogs and holdfasts hold the work.
Joinery tools and jigs
- Biscuit Joiners: How a Plate Joiner Cuts Its Slot, and What the Biscuits AreWhat a biscuit joiner does: a 4 in blade plunges to cut a slot for a beech biscuit. Biscuit sizes from Lamello, depth and fence settings, and safe use.
- Dowel Jigs: How They Centre the Hole, Set the Depth and Line Up Two PartsHow a woodworking dowel jig places matching holes: bushings centred on the stock, edge, corner and surface doweling, and depth set from the maker's figures.
- How to Choose a Biscuit JoinerFinding the best biscuit joiner for your work from makers' specifications: corded or battery, depth stops, fence, centring, blade and dust, plus a checklist.
- How to Choose a Cordless Biscuit JoinerChoosing a cordless biscuit joiner from makers' specifications: platform, blade, depth stops, fence, speed and weight, and what going cordless cannot change.
- How to Choose a Table Saw SledBuy a sled, fit a sliding table or build one — what each fits and holds by its maker's figures, and the saw and slot checks to make before choosing.
- Pocket Hole Jigs: How They Work, Their Settings, and the Joinery Tools Around ThemHow a pocket joinery jig guides a stepped bit, why collar and screw settings follow one maker's chart and stock thickness, and where other joinery jigs fit.
- T-Track: What It Holds, How Profiles Differ, and Why It Is Not a Miter SlotWhat a T track rail does on jigs, fences and tables: profiles and bolts as Rockler and INCRA list them, stops and hold-downs, and why it is not a miter slot.
- Woodworking Jigs: What a Jig Does, and Which Jig Cuts Which JointWhat woodworking jigs do — register, hold, guide and repeat — how 'jig' and 'fixture' are used, and which joinery jig is explained where, with safety rules.
- Box Joint Jigs: How a Key Indexes the Cut at a Table Saw or Router TableHow a box joint jig for table saw or router table works: the key, the gap and the 2w pitch, fixed and adjustable jigs, cutters, fit and safe use.
- Dovetail Jigs: Templates, Guide Bushes and Bits, and How Each Kind WorksHow a router dovetail jig works: the template, guide bush and bit as one matched set, fixed and adjustable jigs, hand-saw guides, and why no angle is universal.
- How to Choose a Benchtop MortiserChoosing a benchtop mortising machine from data sheets: chisel range, travel, depth, stock capacity, fence distance and weight, and what a benchtop cannot cut.
- How to Choose a Dovetail JigFinding the best dovetail jig for your work: joints, spacing, board capacity, bushes and bits, router fit and set-up, from makers' specifications.
- How to Choose a MortiserHow to find the best mortising machine for your work: benchtop or floor hollow-chisel, chain or slot mortiser, by makers' figures, with what each cannot cut.
- Mortisers: Hollow-Chisel, Chain and Slot Machines, and How Each CutsHow a mortising machine cuts: hollow-chisel benchtop and floor machines, chain and slot mortisers, chisel and auger set-up from the maker, and safe use.
- Router Jigs and Templates: Edge Guides, Bushings and OffsetsHow routers are guided — bearings, edge guides, straightedges, template guides and jigs — and how to work out where a template-guided cut lands.
- Table Saw Sleds: Crosscut Sled Design and SquaringHow a crosscut sled guides and holds work, how it differs from the fence and miter gauge, the limits sled makers set, and a clear way to check it is square.
- Tenon Jigs: Table Saw Tenoning Jigs and Router Mortise and Tenon JigsHow a mortise and tenon jig works: table saw tenoning jigs that cut cheeks, router jigs that cut both parts, why industrial tenoners differ, and safe use.
Lathes and turning tools
- How to Choose a Benchtop LatheChoosing a benchtop wood lathe from makers' data sheets: swing, length between centres, speed control, spindle thread, motor and weight, and its limits.
- How to Choose a LatheFinding the best wood lathe for your work from makers' data sheets: benchtop or full-size, swing, length, speed control, spindle thread, supply and weight.
- How to Choose Turning ToolsFinding the best wood lathe turning tools for your work: high-speed steel or carbide, which shapes to start with, sets, sizes and what each kind cannot do.
- Wood Lathes: Parts, Sizes, Speeds and How Work Is HeldHow a wood lathe works: headstock, tailstock, tool rest and bed, swing and length between centres, spindle threads and chucks, speed charts and safe use.
- Woodturning Tools: Gouges, Skews, Parting Tools, Scrapers and CarbideWhat woodturning tools do: roughing, spindle and bowl gouges, skews, parting tools, scrapers and carbide tools, with makers' bevel figures and rules for use.
CNC and laser
- How to Choose a Tabletop CNC RouterComparing table top CNC machines for wood by their makers' figures: work area, Z, what turns the bit, enclosure, footprint, power, software; none is ranked.
- Laser Cutters and Engravers for Wood: Diode and CO2, Classes, Eyes, Fire and FumesHow a wood laser cutter works: diode and CO2 machines, open frames and enclosures, laser classes, goggles by wavelength, fire, fumes and what never to cut.
- CNC Routers for Woodworking: Kinds, Parts, Bits, Feeds and Safe UseHow a CNC wood router works: desktop, gantry and handheld kinds, axes and motion systems, router or spindle, CAD to G-code, bits, feed rates and safe use.
- How to Choose a CNC RouterChoosing among the best CNC machines for woodworking by specification: desktop, gantry or handheld, work area, Z, motion, router or spindle, power, software.
Measuring and marking tools
- Carpenter's Pencils: Types, Uses and FeaturesThe carpenter's pencil explained: its flat or oval body, a graphite core that is not lead, how it is sharpened, how it marks flat or on edge, and its limits.
- How to Choose a Moisture Meter for WoodworkingWhat to compare when looking for the best wood moisture meter: pin or pinless, range, depth, species correction, temperature handling and calibration checks.
- How to Choose a Pencil for WoodworkingCarpenter’s pencils, mechanical carpenter pencils, construction markers and fine mechanical pencils compared by line width and lead, and when a knife is better.
- How to Choose a Woodworking SquareChoose a square from the work you do: fixed or adjustable, blade length, 90° or 45°, what a maker’s stated accuracy tells you, and what to check before buying.
- Marking Gauges: Pin, Wheel, Cutting and Mortise GaugesPin, wheel, cutting and mortise gauges compared by how their marker meets the grain, and how to set a gauge from the work and a mortise gauge from the chisel.
- Marking Knives: Types, Uses and FeaturesMarking knives explained: single-bevel, spear-point and double-bevel blades, how each sits against a square, what makers state, and when to use a gauge instead.
- Wood Moisture Meter Guide: Pin, Pinless, Corrections and RangeHow a wood moisture meter reads: pin and pinless methods, measuring depth, species and temperature corrections, reliable range, accuracy and calibration checks.
- Woodworking Measuring and Layout ToolsRules, tapes, calipers, dividers, bevels, awls and more, sorted by whether they measure, transfer or mark — with the tolerances standards and makers state.
- Woodworking Squares: Types, Accuracy and UsesTry, combination, speed, framing and engineer’s squares: what each is for, fixed versus adjustable, and what a maker’s stated accuracy means over a long line.
Dust collection and shop setup
- Air Compressors: Types, Uses and FeaturesAn air compressor for woodworking explained: pressure versus airflow, what the tank does, matching tools, regulators, hoses, draining and safe use.
- Dust Collectors: Types, Airflow, Filters and SafetyHow a wood dust collector works: single-stage and cyclone types, CFM against static pressure, filter ratings, machine ports, and wood dust health and fire risk.
- How to Choose a Dust CollectorChoosing the best wood dust collector by specification: airflow at a stated static pressure, inlet, filter rating, supply and type, from Grizzly's manuals.
- How to Choose a Shop VacuumChoosing the best shop vac woodworking needs, by specification: airflow, suction, hose, filter, tool outlet, power and capacity, from Milwaukee and Bosch.
- How to Choose Tool StorageChoosing woodworking tool storage by specification: form, drawer and product load limits, casters, work surfaces, locks and tipping warnings, from makers.
- How to Prioritise a Woodworking Shop SetupWoodworking shop essentials by the work and space: which systems to set up first — workholding, light, power, dust, storage — and what machines ask of a shop.
- Shop Air Filters: What Ambient Air Cleaners DoWhat a workshop dust air filter does and does not do: ambient filtering after the work, airflow and room volume, placement, filter ratings and limits.
- Shop Vacuums and Dust Extractors for WoodworkingWhat a shop vac for woodworking does well and where it falls short: CFM against sealed suction, hoses, filters, tool-triggered outlets and safe use.
- Tool Storage: Chests, Cabinets, Walls and RacksWoodworking tool storage explained: chests, rolling cabinets, wall panels, wall cabinets, racks and bins, what each suits, and how makers state load limits.
- Workshop Setup: Layout, Space, Power, Light and StorageHow a woodworking workshop fits together: stock flow, work zones, machine space, storage, dust, power, light and security, from machine makers' manuals.
- Combination Woodworking Machines: Saw, Shaper, Jointer and Planer in OneWhat a combination woodworking machine combines — saw, spindle moulder, jointer, thicknesser and mortiser — how makers change over, and what it asks of a shop.
Before the Blade Spins
Set It Up Right.Make the Cut Count.
Understand a tool before you rely on it — how it cuts, how it adjusts and how to check it — and every project that follows gets easier.