7 Essential Power Tools for Beginning Woodworkers | Woodworking Basics 

I've been watching videos like this for about 7 years. I think I might be ready to start woodworking lol

Hey Steve. I'm a pro self employed cabinet and furniture maker. I have about 12 years of experience. When I started woodworking i watched people like the wood whisperer and other great craftsman who had tens of thousands of dollars in tools and i thought I needed the same to be able to make great products. I even acquired some debt to purchase tools i thought I needed for some jobs in the past. I absolutely love your videos man. They remind me of Bob Ross's painting videos. You explain things from the perspecrive that woodworking is for everyone and doesn't require a ton of money to do. I am a huge advocate now of making your own tools and buying the least quality/priced tool that can serve you appropriately. Now with that said, because this is my job I do now own a lot of laguna, Festool, and Makita tools... But only because they get the work done fractionally faster and I can put more wear on the tools without them breaking. I can do the exact same quality work with black and decker and Ryobi tools. And in most cases, people would be wise to purchase a lesser brand tool to be able to purchase more materials, and a variety of tools that will suit them instead of getting hung up on these crazy tools that they see others using. Keep up the good work man

Diction apologize for my writing, I do not even speak English, I write the following message by google translator. Excellent your explanation; encourages me to continue.

Lol, "workshops that are the size of aircraft hangars." So true! Thank you so much for catering to us mere mortals!!

YOURE an essential power tool...🤣 no really, you’re essential to this community. Thanks!

I love that, despite your success, that you remain in your garage shop and respect you for keeping it real. Thanks as always, Steve!

My main tip - garage sales. For your first tools, just got garage sales. You can get stuff for a dollar or less if it takes some restoring, and you learn how your tools to together, how to repair/replace parts, and make new parts. I have about 5 hand planes from 1920-1960, that are totally solid and only needed surface rust removal (with a wire wheel on a bench grinder which also came from garage sales) all of which cost me less than $20. And even if it's broken or needs parts - keep the project in mind as you sure stuff up for useable parts to fix your other tools. Or you can go max out a couple credit cards on brand new tools you probably don't need. But i feel a bit proud that i can look at my work bench and know that all the tools there, are things I've restored or made myself. I would honestly only consider a new table saw as the only thing to get new - but then again, of an old table saw has a true top, they can often have the motor easily replaced.

Hey Steve, I want to send a quick thanks. I just built a king size bed frame out of African mahogany and your videos were my primary teacher. Your pocket hole video, gluing and sanding vids, and general tips sprinkled throughout all your projects have been invaluable. Thank you SO much!!

Thank God my wife didn't watch this video with me. It would have killed my excuses for more tools. Thanks Steve, it was a useful video.

I wish a table saw was an option for me. I live in an apt and have to drag everything out to the patio to wood work. One day I'll own a house. In the mean time I'll keep learning

Miter saw - 1:55 Circular saw - 2:40 Jigsaw - 3:11 Tablesaw - 4:06 Drill & Driver - 5:14 Random Orbit Sander - 6:04

Just discovered this channel in 2020, ive always been interested in woodwork but always felt it was an expensive hobby! Thanks for making these sorts of videos filled with great advice!

The expert circle: Dave Ramsey: Finance Gordon Ramsey: cooking Steve Ramsey: Woodworking

You're the first youtube woodworker who isn't standing in front of 50 hand planers!

miter saw 1:55 Circular saw 2:40 Jigsaw 3:11 Table saw 4:06 Drill and Driver 5:14 Random orbit sander 6:04

Thanks so much ... this was very helpful

Absolutely at right time you made this video for me, I really needed this list of power tools as I am going to start my wood work shop. I have been thinking forva week what sort of power tool should I buy, I mean the most essential one, you made it very easy for me, thanks alot for this video.

Very good video! I like quick, concise and practical videos and you hit all the marks. Thank you.

Steve, your channel is proof that almost anyone can get started in woodworking and make cool, useful stuff. I love how you take the mystery and fear out of woodworking. Kudos to you, sir! 👍🏼

Been following for ever, and you are still extremely inspiring. Thank you for years of entertaining and informative content.

It's easy to get discouraged thinking that woodworking is too expensive to try. Let's break this impression! If you've been at this for a while, please leave your tips for ways that new woodworkers can save money when getting started. BTW, it's been a while since I mentioned my Instagram...please follow me here: instagram.com/steveramsey_wwmm/

Used tools, used tools and used tools. Steve’s suggestion is on the mark. If you’re not in a rush estate sales and auctions are a great source.

Thank you Steve , just getting started! All your stuff out is fantastic and I'm learning alot!

Steve, you're a great guy. I'm glad that my wife and I stumbled on your channel remodeling our kitchen. Now, you have me taking a full interest in woodwork. Great work, and thank you so much.

I would have to add a shop vac to this list. I never use my random orbital sander without my shop vac. I think it is just as important as a good sander. Otherwise I totally agree with your list and I love your videos.

Great content as always Steve!! Greetings from Norway

Awesome videos. So nice to watch something clear and straightforward without loads of noise - straight to the point and easy to follow. Many thanks!

Steve, I've been a hobbyist Woodworking for about 40 years. I was never really did anything that was very complicated at all. Mostly refinishing antiques. When i was 20 years old, I bought a Solid walnut Waved drawer front with a hand beveled mirror and wooden casters and get this, i paid $5.00. I refinished it and was hooked. I want to tell you that I've learned so much from you. Of all of the thousands of people that make woodworking videos, I love yours more than anyone else I've seen. You have an awesome sense of humor and make it so much fun to watch while learning very important techniques and safety tips. Thank you so much for your videos.

Glad to see you do more regular vids on youtube. Dave

If I could make a recommendation, it would be a project that using as many table saw techniques as possible, and to do it very beginner friendly. Something that someone brand new could follow along and build something, while learning the different ways to use their table saw.

Just what I have always liked about your videos--common sense to woodworking!

I absolutely love this channel and your work. Recently getting into woodworking and have been using your channel as a resource. Thank you!

If space is an issue a track saw can do most (not all) of the work a table saw can. Love your videos

Good info and congrats on 1MILLION subscribers!!!!

How anyone could dislike your videos is beyond me. Each video is chalked full of useful information explained in a way that anyone can follow. Thank you so much for creating these videos.

Thanks for your expertise Steve. New to the Channel, but I’m learning a lot and loving it!

I’m fairly new to woodworking and started with a second hand non-sliding miter saw. I upgraded to a sliding Kobalt about a year ago and the slider is a major timesaver. I’d recommend laying out the extra funds for a sliding miter.

Wow this was really helpful Steve, thanks for letting me know. I thought a Table Saw was super duper expensive all because of how massive it is!! 🤯🤯

Man, this was so straight to the point. Thank you.

So glad I found this channel. My "workshop" is literally 2 saw horses and a jigsaw and a newly acquired RO sander. I started out with making a mold for a concrete project but now I'm interested in woodworking. Gotta find a better way to cut big pieces of wood! Thanks for all your info!!

Good breakdown! I definitely agree with the tools that made the list. Only one I would add is a palm router/router. Use that more than the jig saw but I guess we all have our preferences.

I love the index! :)

Once again you knocked it out of the park. I think your advice is right on the money. Thanks Again.

Thanks. Best video I've seen for beginner woodworkers.

After watching this video, I want to see what a power clamp would look like. I'll bet it's amazing.

People love to crap on Ryobi but you know what? They were the first battery powered tools I bought years ago and every one still works. They’re not the most precise, powerful, or pretty but they do the job for a fraction of a cost the big boys will run you. And as a working carpenter, I still pick them up from time to time. Most recently a belt & disc sander that was cheaper than filling my truck up

Thanks Steve, a great overview. There can be almost a meditation in being totally absorbed in a task..... at times profoundly satisfying.

Hey Steve, checked your videos out because im planning to make a workbench for other non wood working projects. But i kinda got wrapped up watching a ton of your videos, and now i have ideas for several projects. I think you just got me into woodworking. Thanks for the videos!

My shop is big enough to fit *2/3 of a blue whale* inside of it! Jealous? Don't be. My first shop (in my first apartment) was a 3x5 closet. There was a bucket to sit on, and a piece of acrylic glass for a workbench. It was filled to the ceiling with my junky tools, and you wouldn't believe what I made in there. Deal with what you've got! Besides, a hangar is mostly useless anyhow. 20'x20' is pretty much a dream shop, imo. Happy Friday, Steve ;)

Hey Steve, I just wanted to suggest something that I have noticed with your videos. I have been going through the catalogue to watch videos that I am interested in, however when I get to your Basics videos, who's thumbnail has a red border, I can't tell if I have already watched it or not since the red watched bar blends in to the thumbnail. I realize that it is a small thing, it would just be a little more convenient if the colour of those borders could possibly be changed a bit. You make great videos, and I've been having good fun in the shop building things lately, so thanks!

Thank you. Looking at finally moving into our new house and want to set up at least a basic workshop to allow me to do on the spot projects and repairs/adjustments to anything on my block. The list is great. Once I’m ready to set up I’m going shopping!

Love the channel. Always happy to see when you post a new video. As far as power tools go, I'd add a router to that list. They can do the job of nearly every tool on your list (not as well). A super versatile tool.

Hey Steve - I'm in your beginner's woodworking class, and have bought these tools (specifically the ones you recommended in your PDF). Myself and others have noted that the Ryobi miter saw and circular saw do *not* come properly calibrated out of the box! Could you please make a video explaining how to get them reasonably calibrated? Thanks!

For what they are, if you're on a budget get walmarts brand hypertough random orbit sander and jigsaw. Both can be had for a little over $30. Whatever saw you get though a good blade will only enhance it so dont go cheap on the blades.

Excellent advice. And nice confirmation of my purchases so far. I’ve built a nice redwood deck with steps, and other projects so far. You’ve confirmed that my next purchase should be a table saw. And your advice on drill + impact driver is spot on! 👍

Thanks for the great index & videos. Straight forward and simple advice.

Steve Ramsey: making woodworking accessible since 2008!

Pawn shops are another good source of used tools. I got my RO sander $20 cheaper than new and a recip saw for less than half the price of a new one.

Thanks Steve! You are an awesome person and everyone that’s here 😎😎. The info was super helpful!

Great video Steve. Common sense advice. Very grateful for getting me started in woodworking. Many thanks.

I would like to nominate one more essential power tool: a pneumatic nail driver. This can be a finish nail gun, pin driver or power stapler. All make your shop work go faster and create more stable joints as you do your glue ups.

Paul Sellers has to be the best with hand tools, even if no interest, take a look, very clever man. Won't take me away from Steve though, enjoy them both

Great list! It would have saved me a lot of time doing research when I got started.

Very inspiring and professional speech. Thanks! 👍

I'm a European amateur woodworker and unlike my American brethren I don't own a table saw, and I don't plan to buy one either. Not because I'm European and therefore have to do everything differently, but for a couple of reasons. First, I don't have enough space in my narrow shop (more like a bike shed than an aircraft hangar). Second, I find them scary as f... and feel much much safer using this trio: track saw, miter saw and router. Those three tools can do most things (anything?) a table saw can and more, and they take up a lot less floor space. I do see the appeal of the table saw's versatility, but I'm perfectly fine with my setup and the fact that the saw blade points away from me. When the time comes that I need more versatility and a larger shop, I will hopefully be able to afford one of those Felder/Hammer beasts that make table saws look cute. Well, that's the dream anyway. Thanks for your inspiring attitude to woodworking, and for another good video! I always learn something new.

Another great video! But I would like to see from you Steave, a video about protection. And I mean what your experience suggests for issues like dust mask, headphones, googles, vaccum system etc.

I agree with your choices. That being said, I sure do enjoy having a band saw, drum sander, and disk sander. The band saw makes some really nice cuts and the drum and disk sanders save a lot of time. I would also invest in a jointer and planer but I have no room so those will have to wait. Love your channel and your nice down to earth narrative.

Thanks for this list, Steve. It's superb!

Love your videos Steve, I would say though, that for someone just starting out, a battery powered circular saw might not be just the thing. Fairly big price jump from a basic corded model, often lesser power, and if its a hobbyist just getting started, dead or aged batteries just become a barrier to the work, when a simple corded version is often very cheap used, and when used gently, will often continue being quite functional long after the woodworker has either decided its not for them, or decided they love it, and invested in a few more tools. The only cordless tool I'd recommend to a starting woodworker is a drill/driver, as those tend to have very high general home and life utility.

Imagine him telling you "Good job, champ" after he sees your finished project

Considering this. Thanks for the tool recommendations.

Thanks as always for looking out for us folks who love woodworking but have to do it within our family budget :)

06:26 quote Donny: "your fone rings Dude ..." thank you Donny

Miter Saw 1:56 Circular Saw 2:41 Jigsaw 3:12 Tablesaw 4:07 Drill & Driver 5:14 Random Orbit Sander 6:05

Loved the explanations. thank you

Thank you!! This helped so much

Hey, you oughta do a show on clamps! Or maybe you did and I missed it.

Once I buy one type of saw my wife will start to question why I’m buying more saws 😑she won’t understand 😅 trust me

Thanks for helping me out getting started on wood working. Thanks for the videos.

Just wanted to say, thanks, because of your channel, I took up woodworking a while ago and I am hooked! thanks so much!

Curves with a circular saw? That sounds crazy dangerous.

I cut my cord with my circular saw the first time I used it a couple days ago. This is not going too well. But I finished my coffee table.

Thank you for your content. Really helpful to me.

This is my favorite woodworking channel.

Steve, I'm starting out in woodworking as a hobby and wondered - is it okay to skip the mitre saw and go straight to a table saw or should i learn the ropes on the mitre first? Also, is there a point where you're 'ready' for a table saw or have learned enough to warrant buying one or is it of benefit to buy the saw then learn as you go? Is there anything a mitre can do that a table can't? Thanks!

If you can make quality stuff with cheap tools, you'll appreciate expensive tools once you can afford them. And, you'll have more time to figure out what expensive tools you'll eventually need.

Always so happy Steve. Good to see👍

You rock Steve! Keep inspiring people!

5:44 That is incorrect. Impact drivers are not hammer drills. They do not have any axial action, hammering or otherwise. What impacts do is deliver torsional hammering blows by accelerating a mass in a rotational motion with the motor and then suddenly engaging it on the "anvil", which it the part that accepts the bit, so that it hammers it in the same rotational fashion. Thus the inertia of the rotating mass translates into torque on the bolt. This is done so that the driver can deliver torque to the bolt without the user having to apply that torque to the tool to keep it from spinning. Otherwise, if you attempted to use a 140nm non-impact driver it would just twist your arm (this is why non-impact drivers never exceed the low 40nm range. There would be absolutely no point for the to go any higher). Another reason for the impact action that doesn't really apply to woodworking is that due to the fact that impacts deliver fast blows to the anvil, the tool can tighten bolts onto parts that are not restricted from moving (for example a lug not on a wheel that in not held by a brake/the ground) by using the part's inertia to provide enough "holding force" for lack if a better term. This off course works better the heavier the part is. Love your channel. Keep it up :)

Thanks for adding the metric dimensions. So hard to understand imperial system you guys use in the U.S.

Love your channel! Thanks!

We are new homeowners and I've wanted to build my own workshop. Seeing you work on a project gave us so much joy and hope. Thank you a million times over. Your Students Shana and Chris, new home owners.

I forgot to add, number 8, at least for me.. 😧 a First Aid Kit...

I have my shop in my garage and have table saw, router table etc., all on trolleys made with boards and strong caster wheels so I can drag then out when needed. I haven't got an aircraft hanger so this system works well for me. Thanx for your videos, they are well worth the watch.

I really enjoyed this video, I'm busy building my humble little shop now and this was very inspiring. Thank you.

The tools mentioned are always handy to have in case of DIY jobs around the house. Very informative video, indeed.

Now I learn new things again about which saw will work for me,I’ll get them all,thank you

Thanks for your videos. I haven`t done wood working since high school many years ago. My wife and I are going to set up a shop in half of our garage. I just stumbled on your videos today and we will be using your videos to get set up and get going.

Steve, great videos! Thanks

Thanks you this makes the list a lot easier. I'm a beginner getting into woodworking and it's helpful have access to a channel like this