Woodworking: Tools

Getting Started with Tools:

Knowing what tool to use for your project is half the battle…well, maybe only part of the battle but it’s a good start.  In this article we attempt to help you get started. 

Overview:

There are many tools used in woodworking, including saws, chisels, planes, drills, sanders, and more. Sawing tools are used to cut wood into different shapes and sizes, and can include handsaws, circular saws, and jigsaws. Chisels are used to shape and carve wood, and come in a variety of sizes and styles. Planes are used to smooth and shape wood, and come in different sizes for different tasks. Drills are used to make holes in wood, and come in hand-held and bench-mounted varieties. Sanders are used to smooth wood, and come in different types for different tasks. Other tools that are commonly used in woodworking include clamps, rulers, levels, and squares.

Saws: 

• Handsaws: These saws are used for making straight cuts, and come in different sizes and styles for different tasks.
• Circular saws: These are portable saws that are commonly used for making rough cuts, and can be handheld or mounted on a table.
• Jigsaws: These are small, handheld saws that are used for making curved and intricate cuts.
• Band saws: These are larger saws that use a continuous loop of blade to make straight and curved cuts.
• Table saws: These are stationary saws that are used for making precise cuts, and can be adjusted to make cuts at different angles.
• Miter saws: These are specialized saws that are used for making angled cuts.
• Scroll saws: These are small saws that are used for making intricate, curved cuts.
• Panel saws: These are large saws that are used for cutting sheets of wood into smaller pieces.

Drills: 

• Twist drill bits are the most basic type of drill bit and are used for drilling holes in wood for screws and other fasteners. They have a sharp, spiral cutting edge that removes material as the drill bit rotates.
• Spade bits are similar to twist drill bits, but have a wider, flatter cutting edge that is designed for drilling larger holes in wood.
• Forstner bits are used for drilling precise, flat-bottomed holes in wood, and are especially useful for drilling holes for hardware such as hinges and handles.
• Auger bits are used for drilling deep, straight holes in wood, and are commonly used for boring holes for dowels and other fasteners.

Other types of drill bits that are commonly used in woodworking include countersink bits, brad point bits, and step drill bits.

Sanders: 

• Belt sanders, which use a continuous loop of sandpaper to quickly and efficiently remove material from a surface
• Drum sanders, which use a rotating drum covered in sandpaper to smooth large, flat surfaces
• Orbital sanders, which use a square or rectangular pad that moves in a circular motion to create a smooth finish
• Detail sanders, which have a triangular-shaped head that allows them to sand tight corners and contoured surfaces
• Random orbit sanders, which combine the circular motion of an orbital sander with the spinning motion of a belt sander to create a smooth, even finish without leaving visible sanding marks.

Other types of sanders include spindle sanders, which are designed for sanding curved or contoured surfaces, and benchtop sanders, which are stationary sanders that are typically used in a workshop.

Chisels: 

For the more traditional woodworker there are several types of chisels, including:

• Firmer chisels, which have a rectangular cross-section and are used for general-purpose cutting and chopping
• Mortise chisels, which are longer and thicker than firmer chisels and are used for cutting mortises (rectangular holes) in wood
• Paring chisels, which have a thin blade and are used for delicate cutting and shaping tasks
• Corner chisels, which have a curved or angled blade and are used for cutting corners and cleaning out mortises
• Gouges, which have a U-shaped cross-section and are used for carving and hollowing out concave surfaces.

Other types of chisels include skew chisels, which have a slanted edge and are used for cutting at an angle, and butt chisels, which have a thick blade and are used for heavy chopping and chopping.

Clamps: 

There are several types of clamps used in woodworking and other industries, including:

• F-clamps, also known as bar clamps, which have a fixed jaw and a sliding jaw that is tightened using a screw
• C-clamps, which have a fixed jaw and a sliding jaw that is tightened using a screw, but are shaped like the letter C
• Pipe clamps, which are similar to F-clamps but have a pipe or bar instead of a fixed jaw, allowing them to be used on irregularly shaped objects
• Spring clamps, which use a spring-loaded mechanism to hold objects in place
• Ratchet clamps, which use a ratcheting mechanism to tighten the jaws around an object
• Corner clamps, which are designed to hold two pieces of wood at a 90-degree angle while they are glued or screwed together.

Other types of clamps include strap clamps, which use a flexible strap to hold objects in place, and handscrew clamps, which are tightened using a hand-operated screw.

Conclusion: 

You don’t need all or most of the tools listed above but each project will require it’s own set of tools.  Some projects allow for you can get away with using alternative tools but sometimes this is where expensive mistakes can happen. In general, use of a proper tool will either make your project quicker or the sharper your finished product will look.