Some of the best woodworking tools for 2024 aren’t the high ticket items, they are the humble little items that make a big difference.
1.The Machinist’s Square
This handy little square is perfect for setting up your table-saw, your bandsaw, marking cuts on small stock. The wide seat lets this square easily stand on a flat surface and provides a highly accurate reference for all your projects.
2. The Drafting Compass
Some of the greatest feats of architecture were drawn and built with a simple compass, and a square. This is probably one of the most underrated tools any woodworker can have, from marking out equally spaced holes to laying out complex geometry, once you understand the power of this tool you will never be without one.
3. The marking gauge
Starting to see a trend here? It’s not that the actual cutting tools aren’t important but the marking and setup tools are the first step in making sure that your project goes smoothly. The marking gauge is another one of those tools you will alway be reaching for. It makes razor thin lines that are much thinner than any pencil line and will make your set up so much more precise.
4. Dozuki Dovetail Saw
Arguably the best saw for fine woodworking, the Dozuki dovetail saw offers exceptional performance at a great price. The saw cuts effortlessly on the pull stroke and leaves behind a tiny kerf which is something you can’t get with power tools. This is one of the best handsaws any woodworker can get. Another bonus is that replacement blades are available for just a fraction of the cost and are a breeze to switch out.
5. The Marking knife
For a woodworker the marking knife shouldn’t be just what you have laying around, this is an essential tool for creating layouts. Use a marking knife in combination with your square. The bevel on one side also helps you get lines right to the edge of your square.
6. Drill Guide Attachment
If you are doing any kind of drilling that requires your holes to be at a perfect 90degrees then this is the tool to get. More portable and nimble than a drill press this enables you to use it on large items you might not be able to set up on a drill press. It also is a lot more friendly on the budget and if you have limited shop space.
7. Setup Blocks
Setting up your table saw and router to the correct height and depth can be a time consuming operation. These setup blocks simplify the process and get you consistent results every time. The uses for these don’t stop at just tool setup, you can use these as flat shims to get consistent reveals or as marking tools for layout.
8. Right Angle Clamps
Right angle clamps are great for glue-ups, never question where your project is out of square as you try to take diagonal measurements in between clamps in awkward spaces. You will start using these for almost every glue-up and get consistent square and true results.
9. Panel Carrier
If you work with a lot of sheet goods you know that moving them around can be cumbersome and awkward at best. This tool will make material handling a much more pleasant experience and save you time and energy so you can put it to actually getting your projects done.
10. Low Angle Block Plane
This is one of those handy little tools that will make you realize that reaching for the sandpaper is not always the best way to go. Whether you are knocking off the sharp edges or corners on your project or just getting rid of a little glue, the block plane is an invaluable tool. A lot of times reaching for the router to do a slight rond over can be more time consuming and messier than just grabbing the block plane and doing a few quick shaves.
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