2023 guide to all the TOOLS and SUPPLIES you need to start a woodworking hobby 

Still the best source for a no BS woodworking introduction, and after 2 years the person I still look to first when seeking advice. Thanks Steve!

at age of 36 and allways wanted to start woodworking hobby, with no cløue whatsoever, I was told to take a look at this channel, and here I am, watching my first video, thinking this is something I will keep watching as the content is straight forward, no difficult words, no sidetracking of topic, no BS, now I will watch the safety video, before continuing!

Hi all.....I'm a long time fan of the channel, i really appreciate the insight you offer. Just wanted to throw out an opinion regarding the "battery compatability" argument. My first battery operated power tool was a Black & Decker chain saw i bought off amazon. I had gotten it to clean up some small trees around the property. I was able to finish that in about 4 days. Then i lent the saw to my uncle who has 8 acres of farm land and he used it for about another month. Once i got it back, there wasn't much "chainsawing" left to be done so i put it in a storage cabinet. I didnt need to reach for it again until maybe 18 months later. When i did, the battery had run all the way down and wouldnt charge anymore. I watched some youtube videos that explained why that was and also spoke about jump starting dead batteries. Unfortunately nothing i tried, worked. I never managed to get that battery to charge. Since then i have acquired a lot more tools, most of them cordless, all the same brand, including another chainsaw. Besides battery compatability, another advantage is, even if you dont use certain tools for a really long time, the batteries are most likely being used frequently, preventing them from running down and discharging, extending thier useful lives. So i might not use my new chainsaw for a year and a half, but i use the drill and circular saw almost every day. So whenever i do eventually need that chainsaw, the batteries should still be good. .....just a thought

Every time I want to remind myself why i like woodworking so much as a hobby, I watch your videos. Especially guidelines like this one. Thank for everything you do and for your inspiration

I believe this is the only channel that is true for DIY or weekend woodworking audiences. Yes, we all roll our tools out of the shed to enjoy our weekend, and it's a pleasure to see the you-tube channel that kept the spirit alive.

Steve! You got me into woodworking with your woodworking for mere mortals course. Appreciate content that isn’t trying to sell me “tools / accessories I need” with affiliate links. I’m so burned out on all that “content” from literally every other woodworking channel right now

So refreshing to watch a woodworking channel that isn't cramming affiliate links down my throat! Thanks as always for passing on some knowledge Steve

My husband (Mike) is always mentioning you after watching your videos. He showed me this video to justify the tools he has purchased for the beginner. Thank you, he now stays in the garage all the time, and out of my hair! 🤪. He really enjoys your down to earth videos.

My table saw gets delivered today! I’m so excited. Of course, now I need to go shower the six inches of snow off my long driveway so it can get delivered. And annoyed it’s winter and my garage isn’t heated so I can’t really use it for a while. My miter saw was a huge game changer, so I’m really looking forward to my new one!

I liked as soon as you said you weren’t trying to sell us tools. You’re the first one I’ve come across that is doing this for the right reason! Thank you.

Life gets in the way of building stuff, then I see one of your videos and I get the itch to make something. Your simple and honest approche to the hobby is refreshing and does not help with the itch. You are not not an "influencer" but a contributer.

Hey Steve, I started woodworking a little less than 3 years ago and your channel was one of the most helpful I found. I have been having a ton of fun and I love where my shop is at right now and what I can now make in it. Glad to see you keep making this content for people who want to get into it.

I started watching your videos from my apartment a few years ago. At that time I was making small projects with my Dremel, random orbit sander, and hacksaw. Now that I own a house and a used table saw, I have made your push block and stick, feather board, cross-cut sled, miter sled, and jointing jig. Then I absorbed some of the methods you use in your videos, and I made myself a very tall work bench out of free lumber from the deck I tore down, and I plan to make your BMW as soon as I can! Thank you for all of your videos! I'm pretty sure I've seen them all!

the "having all matching batteries" point is usually great, not because having more brands of batteries is bad, but because as soon as you have like 3-5 batteries from a brand, you can just buy the tools without batteries and save some money. i agree, its not terribly important, but i stuck with one brand, just because i never use up my batteries, and 3 are enough for everything i do. so i just buy tools solo and 'save' 40-60 bucks on every new tool purchase form that brand.

I'm a retired CNC operator in cabinetmaking, as well a wood artist with over 40 years experience. most of the people on the internet give advise that I find questionable to some degree. I truly appreciate how you explain to your followers the how-to's of starting to woodwork and simple tools. As you mentioned I believe building your skill level is 75 percent of any successful woodworker, Thanks

Steve thanks for posting video's like these. I have been in the construction field for many years and like doing some woodworking from time to time. However my woodworking knowledge is lame. People may find it hard to believe that someone could build a house yet screw up a table. Your last video was a learning experience for me in tabletop mounting, the clips you used. I learn something from every video you post and want to say thanks.

Many thanks for this video. Prior to seeing it, I had searched scores of DIY videos to learn what and how to use the tools and equipment, without success. Rather than overwhelm, you have provided exactly what a complete beginner needs to start with. The tools and equipment!

I quit smoking and stopped drinking some years ago and you were my inspiration to woodwork. Still doing it and still watching your videos! Joined two of your classes years ago and still go back to remake some of the projects. Literally just finished 3 picture frames

Steve Ramsey WWfMM. Best woodworking channel on RU-vid. Period.

Steve, it is really refreshing to watch a woodworking video that is not trying to sell a particular brand or type of tool. Thanks

Stripping off all negative meanings, and leaving it naked in its original intention as "opinion leader", the word "influencer" defines someone who built trust on a matter over a population group. The net tends to mislead us faking quantity over quality as a measurement unit on "influencerness", so the level of promotion on search engines never reflects the real value of a channel or creator. That's how I tried to humbly explain why (again IMHO) creators like Steve Ramsey need more implication from us, who really appreciate the real value of his channel, supporting him in the way and means available to each of us. I can't emphasize enough how all of this is honestly explained in the first minutes of this video. It's so honest that shows how fragile, rare, valuous, and worthy, all at the same time, it really is. Steve, thank you so much, sincerely, and please: keep it UP!

Hey Steve, for what its worth I'm glad you started doing more project videos recently. You are literally the reason I got into woodworking. I started with your tool list and now have a full garage of all sorts of tools, machines and even air conditioned. Please keep doing what you love. If there was one request I could have, it would be a woodworkers perspective on SketchUp maybe an updated video on sketchup techniques. Love ya man. Keep up the great work.

My biggest tip for beginners is this watch this channel and also Stumpy Nubs. Also, if you need help deciding on what brand to buy, Project Farm has some of the best comparison videos you’ll ever find.

I will comment on the battery situation - At home n my shop, I have all DeWalt cordless tools. Partly because my wife spent almost 18 years working for them, so our house bleeds yellow. At our race shop (yes, we have race cars, it's a different channel) it is a hodge-podge mix of whatever was on sale at Harbor Freight (We use Harbor Freight with the race team because when they get stolen at the race track we don't really cry too much). None of those drills match, none of them use the same battery. It is a constant point of anger and frustration over batteries because you MUST have the one battery that goes with that drill and it's always dead when you reach for it. So in my opinion, while not an "end all - be all", having all matching batteries is much more than a marketing talking point. Looking back on it, I'm glad my home shop is all yellow and all my batteries work in every cordless tool I own.

Steve, just this note to say, thanks for sticking to your original mission. You continue to give solid advice, keeping it simple, offering alternatives to expensive accessories, showing how your fellow humans can accomplish and improve, all without going overboard and “artsy.” Thanks!

Steve my favorite woodworking enthusiast within RU-vid.

I already knew most of this, but I love how all the information is assembled. This is a very well made video about learning what you need to get going. Thanks for everything you do Steve.

Agree on buying used tools but the primary reason for me is when you buy them used they are already put together! Great video Steve, thanks for making it.

We are doing a ton of renovations, and over the course of doing them I had several tools fail. They were all old hand me downs, so they were pretty much end of life anyhow. I wanted an impact driver to go with my drill, my oscillating multi tool had failed, as did the ancient circular saw I was using. While shopping for replacement I came across a 6 piece 20v craftsman kit that lowes sells. It has a drill, impact driver, circular saw, reciprocating saw, oscillating multi tool, and a shop light as well as a charger and a couple of batteries. The only thing I didn't really need out of the kit was the shop light, but even that would find some use I'm sure. Not a bad score for $200.

OfferUp is a good source of second-hand tools for budget-minded enthusiasts. I bought almost all of my beginning tools there. And sometimes you get the added bonus of making new friends or advice.

Guys & gals is you're new to woodworking and drowning with info and videos, this channel is one of those you can actually trust

Literally never heard of strap clamps. You learn something new everyday.

I work at a wood working store in Chandler AZ...ahem...Woodcraft, and I often mention to beginning woodworkers, or even some experienced woodworkers who have a very specific question on some things to come visit this site. A lot of great info to help people get started, the intermediate and move forward to the next levels. And, always as a great refresher for many tasks.

I've found that for tools that stay in my garage/shop, going with a corded model is usually fine. They are often cheaper and more powerful, too. I have plenty of outlets and an extension cord with 3 receptacles on a reel. So unless it's something that I need to be mobile with, why pay extra for cordless? This is especially true if you are using a dust collection hose with it. If you are going to be tethered by the hose, what difference is a cord going to make? Of course, everyone's use cases vary, so use your own judgement.

Just discovered this channel. I’m a noob wood worker. Only have room for small projects in my garage. I think this channel is going to be my favorite go to!

As a student of all of Steve's classes since 2018, this is a great guide to get started. Steve will help you get started without spending too much $$.

Thanks for taking the time Steve to show you don't need all the expensive toys to begin woodworking. So many make it seem you need the big tools to make things, you however show the truth. Passion and creativity make the woodworking, tools help.

My woodworking is more heavily centered around construction, but my suggestion for your list would be some kind of material handling - clamping sawhorse/clamping table/clamp stand type device. It's such a huge difference maker to have a sawhorse/portable work table that you can clamp to for anything larger than your workbench (if you even have a workbench!). I like the Ridgid "Lumberjack" for the endless possibilities of custom jigs using the replaceable 2x4 top rail and the height adjustment. You can clamp along (nearly) the entire length, drill holes for bench dogs, notch grooves for clamping pipe/dowels, expand the width/height with different 2x lumber, use it with your miter/table saw for infeed/outfeed support by matching the height to your tool, cut through it without worry, attach a temporary or stowable work top etc.. It's really a fantastic thing to have around. I suffered through many years of regular sawhorses/roller stands before these came along and changed how I work.

One of the most useful next level “woodworking” tools for me is actually my 3D printer. No shortage of stuff you can design to improve your workshop and projects. I’ve done dust collection, dial indicator miter gauge attachments, corner clamps, router stencils, a custom table saw throat plate, and much more. And regarding the router, I’d suggest you add it sooner rather than later. I’d originally gone with a cheap HF trim router. Thing was terrible. So I didn’t end up using it much. Later picked up a nice Skil router with a fixed and plunge base. So much better, and I find all sorts of uses for it. Really an invaluable tool. Once you have one, you won’t want to go without it.

I am an experienced carpenter, but an amateur woodworker, more of a youtube hobbyist, but i love watching your videos, even though i never build anything

I worked for a general contractor where we did a lot of the finish carpentry. I'm now at the point where I have a home to start my own little shop in the garage to tinker around. I have to say, I love your videos and even watch the beginner videos! I always end up learning something new that can keep me safer or give me a good advantage over the material.

Hi Steve, Please could you do a video on hand held router use, specifically how to gauge accurate depth. It’s surprisingly difficult to find a video on RU-vid for this. Thank you in advance 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Getting down to the bare minimum. Thanks Steve for reminding me that. Ever since I started my journey in woodworking, I've been bombarded with woodworking videos and all its "must-have" power tools and gimmicks. It's very easy to drown in them and wander aimlessly. Every now and then we need to anchor ourselves down. You provide that anchor, Steve.

I love your section about how you no longer have a few of your tools anymore. It has stopped me from going too far and buying tools i don't need.

@2:24 There are adapters for using one battery with a different vendor. And while it's not a HUGE deal, it can get more expensive if you need spare batteries. This is where having one vendor helps. There's nothing worse than having just one battery and you forgot to charge it or you run out of juice. And work comes to a standstill until it recharges. Doesn't happen all the time, but it can be frustrating for sure.

We bought a large Craftsman air compressor when we moved into our house to blow out our inground sprinkler system in the fall that has 26 zones when we learned how much sprinkler companies charged. It paid for itself and saved us hundreds of dollars over the years and served as a reason for me to buy a brad nailer and a pin nailer. I also fix flat tires on our five family cars.

If i were to start over again, id get a track saw. Even at the low end you should break even with a good job site saw. Its a different way to do things than when i learned but i think its advantages for a new woodworker are many. Its accurate for cutting parts to size, smaller to store, and much less intimidating than a table saw. That said, the best advice i got was purchase tools as you need them for what you're working on. Don't buy cheap/low quality tools. As your skills grow, add the bigger purchases. Also, sometimes you have to trade money for time (buy instead of build).

im 16 and i had 2 years of doing woodworking, its very great im planning to get a table saw and a nail gun, Thank you for the video

I always recommend learning how to build boxes with hand tools and then going from there. I first learned how to cut dovetails with just hand tools and it has served me well.

Painting your tools is an excellent way to not get them stolen. 👍

I'm in my 60's. I've been woodworking all my life. I'm still looking forward to my first table saw. I've spent many hours working on a table saw, I've just never had one of my own. I have had 3 miter and slider miters at the same time.

My favorite tape is the Stanley FatMax mini 6'. I freaking love it. Small enough to not be cumbersome and cheap enough to easily replace. Plus I never need more than 6' of tape.

Omg I just commented on a video from you channel that was from 6 years ago and I wanted to see if you still made videos and yes thank goodness you do!!! I’m so excited to start woodworking! I’m a stay at home mom and I’m so tired of looking at broken floor trim and the hole in the wall from the bathroom doorknob from the kids flinging the door open lol and the crooked bedroom doors (thanks to the cheap door frames in our manufactured home) and I’m ready to give this home an upgrade! Can’t wait to binge your videos! Thank you!!!

Loves hearing the pitter patter of the rain 🌧 on this one Steve. "We need it" as all the Californians say 🤣💕👍

I wish I would have seen this video during the COVID lock down. Ha. During that time, I was watching a ton of You Tube woodworking videos and of course saying: "That's pretty neat, I think I will buy that." Fortunately most of the stuff I bought, I would wait for it to go on sale, so I got some pretty good deals. I don't really regret buying most of it, except for some Doweling jigs which I will probably never use. I settled on the Dowelmax doweling jig which is really a great tool. Thanks for this video as always great content.

Love your channel and in fact it really rekindled the hobby for me. I know that hand tool woodworking can be a very deep dive which there are plenty of videos for. With that being said I think very rudimentry coverage of paring with a chisel, how to break an edge using a hand plane, and how to use a hand saw properly in a machine tool woodshop can be super useful, safer, and time saving in some scenarios. I wish I knew those things much sooner. Thanks for all you do

Right on about used tools. I have bought a bunch. Hand tools are necessary for a lot of restoration work. I could not take my power tool outside to drill a one inch hole in a railroad tie. I used a brace and bit. I took me years to get a really decent hobby shop. Lots of used tools.

My 4 year old son's favorite thing is after lunch to watch a "building video" on youtube. He loves watching these projects and see how things are made.

A tip on spending money on quality, spend money on the tool which does the job you like the least. I used to hate sanding. Then I decided to buy a good sander and now it's not that bad. It's fast, light, and doesn't make my hands go numb. If you really have to know it's a Mirka, but I'd bet you find other brand quality tools if you wish.

I really enjoyed the rain in the background. It was soothing.

Thanks!

Another plus for the miter saw is that it is very useful for home improvement projects beyond woodworking. A relatively inexpensive miter saw will function for 95% of most uses.

Love your videos Steve! They helped me get back into woodworking 3 years ago and I've learned a lot from them. This video was spot on and straight and to the point, no BS. You're correct that you should buy the tools if you need them for a project. It's very easy to buy a bunch of tools that you genuinely don't need. GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) is very real.

Would you consider a video on shopping for used tools? What are good things to look out for, deal breakers, etc? I've been watching marketplace for a table saw (which I've never had before) but a lot of the ones I see are either exuberantly expensive, or I look up reviews and they're overwhelmingly negative (things like the rip fence is cheap and doesn't hold well) and I'm not sure when things like that can be swapped out for something better, or if the saw itself is the weak point. In relation to the saw, how do I know if a saw can handle dado blades? I saw the table saw video you made and would like to be able to use them, but am unsure of the limitations to being able to use them. Thanks for your time if you can answer, and thanks for all the awesome videos!

I was a dewalt fan boy bc of batteries, but it's a game changer to open yourself up to all brands...cool stuff out there

A little surprised you didn't mention Track Saws beside the Circular Saw. I use mine a lot, it is pretty accurate (I tried using a DIY saw guide & kept getting wavy edges on longer cuts) and can do most of what a table saw and miter saw can do if you spend a minute thinking ahead about your cut. Most tool guide/clamp rails as well as saw tracks have a variety of add on 'sleds' that help you use a router to do rebates and dados instead of a dado stack in a table saw (and possibly safer than using a regular table saw, without shelling out for a 'certain unmentioned brand' of table saw)

I have to agree with this list 100%. I have for about the past 10 years battled with a Jig saw, circular, drill and a couple of clamps. Over the past 2 years I’ve added another drill, drill press (which I need for non woodworking projects anyway) and was given a Triton Mk3 work centre (convertible cross cut & table saw) which has been terrific. And I am at that point to take the next step & create next tier projects, and the router is first on my list.

I learned how to be a woodworker from your courses. They are great, thanks.

I have found that pocket holes are fantastic for getting people into woodworking. They are so easy to join pieces together with and if you do it right, the holes will be hidden and they will most likely always be your go to for face frames no matter how experienced you are. My first project was my oak desk, its 45 1/4 by 19 1/2 and it has a hutch and a cubby for my pc tower. Looking back, a table saw, miter saw, a drill and pocket holes is all i needed to make this. Just 4 tools and you can make some amazing stuff.

That last little bit about "don't buy it unless you need it" is totally true. When I got started, I thought a scroll saw would be helpful for cutting discs as "lazy susans." So I bought a Porter+Cable scroll saw with a stand, for about $220. But after the first use, I had to swap out broken scroll blades three times! I realized my router with a circle jig was a much better option. Also, I'm not a "creative" woodworker, and don't make projects with a lot of curves, so there was no reason for me to keep that scroll saw. So I gave it to my brother-in-law who's a crafty guy, and it was a huge upgrade over his old benchtop Harbor Freight scroll saw.

They should let us have a love it button instead of just a like 👍🏻. I admire the straight forward advice. The name on my tools don't define how good i am or am not at woodworking 😊

Thanks for sharing your video. I enjoyed watching. Take care and God Bless.

I would recommend that you look at Robertson (square headed) screws. They have all the advantages of a star type but are more rugged.

Was that rain I heard in the background? Was nice to get some precipitation in the area. 🙂. Always enjoy and learn great things from your videos Steve! Always looking forward to seeing what you have coming up next!

The best advice I ever got was to buy used and cheap tools for your first because you really don't know where you'll go or what you'll need. The tools you use most will be the ones to break or wear out quickest, then those are the ones you can invest more in because you know you're getting the best value.

Thanks for taking the time to help beginners wood workers, and for sharing your tips and tricks. Learned a lot from your videos. Thanks again

Steve, like so many others, I have you and your videos to thank for getting me started in woodworking. I would like to comment that I think staying with one brand for common batteries is more than a marketing gimmick. In addition to the convenience of always having the right charged batteries on hand for every tool, it also means I can save money buy buying "bare tools" without battery or charger included if a deal presents itself. Since, as you say, most brands are comparable these days, then why NOT stay with one brand?

Agree on not caring about 1 battery system. I am limiting myself to 2 systems. One brand for the tools I use regularly. One other system for the handy or infrequently used tools.

I've been watching you for a very long time. Ive seen a trend of big names making videos about the algorithm and how hard things are becoming to be successful on this platform etc. I've seen you touch on that as well. I hope, for you, it never gets bad enough to quit. You're a gem Steve. Hope this channel takes off more than it has and you can live off of this for as long as necessary. You certainly deserve it. Hope to keep seeing your content 👍 you've certainly inspired at least one young cat over in VA 🤙

Just bought my first major doodad, a job site table saw. Has a 10” blade and can fit a dado stack, though the dado will be something I work up to for sure. But she’ll rip clean through a 4x4 in one go! Also getting a quality random orbit sander too. That’s all this noobie needs for now! Will slowly build my tool collection as the need dictates.

This is exactly what I needed! I’ve been so unsure about what tools I actually need and haven’t found good resources for figuring that out.

Incredible. Why did I come across your channel so late?😔 Respect from Poland👊

Great video Steve! I've been watching your channel for 3 years and I followed most of your advice on purchasing tools. The only thing I would add is that the jointer/planer is quite valuable for those woodworkers who want to save money in the long run and mill their own lumber. It'll save you a ton of money buying rough lumber than the fancy s3s/s4s. A table saw with jigs works well too for people with patience and comes with some limitations.

I'm always blown away by how humble and honest you are, despite the large size of your following. Love the channel!

I know everything already from watching your outer videos. You really motivate me to make things!

To start: circular saw, jig saw, sander, drilll To level up: router, table saw, miter saw To level up: planer, jointer, bandsaw All the rest is luxury

Spot on re. batteries. If you're burning through batteries on a job site where time is money it makes sense to have multiple interchangeable batteries, but at home it's not a huge issue

2:51 all my basic tools like drills, impact and whatnot are dewalt but most of my other tools that are usually pretty expensive are ryobi as they seem to have cheaper tools and I got battery adapters on Amazon to use my dewalt batteries on ryobi tools

Rain in California? It actually sounded great on your roof. Be worth recording and releasing. Very soothing. Great video as always Steve.

Just discovered your channel and appreciate you very much. I am very easily sucked into the tool trap and feeling like I need all the tools I see social media woodworkers using and feeling like I can't create amazing things without them but this video has helped remind me that I already have all I need and I just need to work on using them to their full potential. Thanks again!

I defenitly agree even without looking at your list , you can defenitly startup for under a 1000 for sure. Some of the tools and or machines I got I wanted to have since I saw them used at my jobsite allot where I do woodworking and used them plenty. Got miniature versions of some , but that for me is just more speed and convience when refining allot of boards. For example I got a planner aswell and a bandsaw but like you said you don't need that at first. There is just good minature machines out there for only a couple hundred each nowadays , so I've been slowly collecting pieces together. Thanks for giving allot of info out here. I allways check these kind of vids every now and then to see if there is something I haven't thought off yet to use. Seems like I got things set up nicely atm. I also want to add that there are some table saws that you can take with you if you got a car with a big trunk. Some got a really good setup with strong durable legs that you can bend and lock in to place when you use it. But folding it up it fits in a good size car trunk like lowering the backseats. Just saying for those that might need a portable option but fear moving it. Could be handy for those that need a portable option if they need to occasionally need to switch to using it at home or on the jobsite. ( thinking starting contractor work or such )

Steve I've seen tons of your videos and the other ones mentioned here about tools etc. This one was great though because it just about focusing on what you basically need and not the brand of the battery compatability etc. That was a really good point. It also made me take a look at the tools I have gathered over the many years. Portable table saw that works just fine for me. Sanders jigsaw, drill, circular saw, squares, etc. Nothing to fancy but all good and workable. Good stuff. Keep bringing us good stuff and cool little projects. Love the builds.

love the rain in the background

I had to watch it twice haha the rain in the background put me to sleep hahaha not because it was boring but relaxing haha thank your for the video

I definitely agree with your point on all matching batteries, but even better is when theres adapters available that let you use all the same batteries with different brand tools anyway

You allways give me the no bullshit (wood)cut here. Really appriciated :) Cause yeah started myself like bit over a year ago and slowly piecing things together to maybe some day making it into a job. So things like these are really helpfull.

BTW, Steve, what a nice rain there! I love the sound, specially for sleeping! 😃

Great video straight to the point. I just wish you touched on what clamps were exactly. As someone who’s never done anything with woodworking it would have been nice to know

I love your channel! Always great basic knowledge that we all need to hear regularly. I used to love watching others before each day my notifications became filled with BUY THIS! Keep up the great work, and whatever you do, don't move to Arkansas!

I've stopped buying battery powered tools and now go for ones with power leads. Cheaper and I don't have to concern myself with not being able to get the batteries anymore.