Woodworking Tool List For Beginners
           ...and all woodworkers!

With Highland Woodworking's Starter Woodworking Tool List, becoming a woodworker is easier than you might think. This starter tool list includes a wide variety of tools used for general-purpose "straight-line" woodworking—that is, tools and machines for turning are not represented. This is not intended to slight woodturning, which is not only an integral part of much classic furnituremaking, but a fine sport unto itself. The focus of this beginner woodworking tool list, however, is on the tools and machines most often used for basic woodworking: cabinets, shelving, tables, boxes and other common projects. While this is a great woodworking tool list for beginners, it is also helpful for more experienced woodworkers to prioritize tool purchases. You can also browse our complete selection of woodworking tools for more tool options.

The choice of the woodworking hand tools and woodworking power tools herein naturally reflects personal predilections, and there's doubtless plenty of room to debate the merits of any specific item. These are our favorites, tools we've learned about, used and enjoyed during the past thirty years. Occasionally two or more similar tools are listed, marked with a *red asterisk*, to offer a choice of features or price. You'll get what you pay for, but the less expensive alternatives are nonetheless good, functional tools. Please consult the actual product listing for specifications, additional options, related items and current prices.

The starter tool list begins with our favorite, traditional woodworking hand tools and highlights the variety of hands tools available to build a great hand tool collection. We make recommendations on power tool options a woodworker needs to cover the basic power tool needs of a woodworking shop. We also provide links to safety products which we strongly suggest a woodworker use on a regular basis. Lastly, we have included key woodworking books covering the range of skills a beginner needs to learn, good resources for even skilled woodworkers to have on hand.

Our catalog numbers are shown (where applicable) to help you identify the tools precisely. The tools are labeled to indicate their usefulness in most shops and includes a range of tools from the "Must Have Woodworking Tools" to "Convenient Woodworking Tools":
•••• Critical; Must have woodworking tools you can't do without.
•••   Essential in virtually any shop; their lack will always limit what you can do.
••    Almost essential; you can get by without them, but they'll pay for themselves quickly.
•     Very useful; significant convenience. Substitutes can often accomplish the same functions.

Woodworking Hand Tools

Woodworking Power Tools

Woodworking Safety & Learning

Other helpful articles on getting started as a woodworker and the best tools for your woodworking shop: