I built these beginner tools because they told me not to 

As a "retired" cabinet maker with 50 years experience, I watch a lot of videos to see if really useful info is being passed down to the newcomers, and finding quite a bit of not really true and some outright WRONG. Your rundown in this vid is truly helpful and well organized and will be recommended in my upcoming article on the best 15 advice video sources currently online. Best to you on your continuing success.

For miter slot runners I buy plastic cutting boards at the thrift store for a dollar or two each, then cut them to width on the table saw. They are fairly slick so slide easily and never wear out or change width with the seasons.

I'll give you this, that's one of the best ad-placements/reads I've ever seen. I really appreciate when creators advertise with companies and products their viewers might actually use.

In the 70's-80's we built a lot of our own shop machinery. Fine Woodworking even has a book about it called "Making and Modifying Machines". The new CNC routers and stuff like that are mind blowing for those of us in the business over 40-50 yrs. Cool video, thanks for taking the time to make it.

I do love the number of tools listed as unbuildable because it is crazy while Mathias Wandell says "hold my meds" building hilariously complex machine tools that work great 😂

Appreciate your crisp, frank and honest info & opinions!

"you can't build a jointer" matthias wandel: "hold my Molson"

Great video for beginners! “One is more ultimate than the next” gave me a chuckle.

My DIY circular saw guide has rubber non slip strips underneath it. Festool rubber strips to be precise. I routed two 1.5mm deep channels for it so the guide can squeeze it enough to come into contact with the workpiece. It works very well.

EXCELLENT video, and I could not agree more with each call. I went through this video twice, and I've personally either bought, made, or didn't buy every single one of these tools. Totally nailed it!

As an old guy cabinet maker I can't improve on the previous comment as he summed you up very well. I see you as a young man with common sense witch isn't very common these days. You are a unicorn. I watch your channel often and find it refreshing. You will be successful you unicorn you!

This is great I am a newbie on a budget. Thanks for clearing up some of the confusion regarding what I need and will use, opposed to what I want (which is everything)

32 here, i got into wood working as a hobby and i bought one of these since i always buy PPE. First day of using it, i got distracted and it caught the blade, flung across my basement, and my wife looked at me surprised. “This is exactly why i always buy safety equipment,i don’t care if i look dumb.” Is something I’ve always told her. That day, she understood why i have so much respect for the machines that we use and never get comfortable around them. I have youtube to thank for this xD Guns, construction, diy, i got lucky to grow up seeing people that did things in a safe way.

Nice! A video that gives excellent advice and is actually geared for the beginner. Nice job ST !!! Timothy

Great video - and I agree with all of the verdicts! I still don't have a DIY workbench, but I was able to find a VERY usable commercial work-table, and have built a Moxon vise to sit on top. I allows me to do lots of smaller projects.

Absolutely agree on the router table issue. I got a work anniversary gift card right when I started woodworking. I sank several hundred $ into a Kreg router table top and fence, a DowelMax lift lid, a Bosch 1617, and a purchased portable router cart plan that incorporates dust collection, bit storage, etc (you know the one). Eight years later, I have used the Bosch once (needed the plunge base), never built the cart, and have used the crap out of my Dewalt trim router I later got on sale at Big Box. I’m cutting the Kreg table top down to fit into my table saw and adding a JessEm lift because I’m just now getting into a series of projects where I need a fixed table. I sure could’ve used that cash for better quality cordless drill/drivers and jigsaw, and a high quality table saw miter gauge.

Thank you for your sincere wish to instruct and generally help.😊❤

Excellent video for the newbie. I've been at it for 40 years as a hobbyist. My words of advice are to buy the best tools you can afford. It's better to buy once for a good tool instead of reapeate buys for cheaper models. I'm on my second tablesaw, third planer and third jointer. Better to buy once and forget it. I've found many deals on craigs list and even eBay. The fiull size tools never wear out and usually parts are available.

Another great video Jon. I have used your other videos on shop tools to make purchases. So far you are right on! thank you.

Pretty new to your channel amd man I'm NOT disappointed! Love your content, honesty and "get to the point" format! Have a great day!

I've had my saw guide for over 20 years and it is still as good as when I made it. It's made out of 1/4 inch plywood with a 1/2 inch saw guide and 2 clamps. My table saw's push blocks are all free and made of either a 2 X 4 or a 2 X 6 with a removable handle. When they get all tore up, I take the handle off and make a new one. Been wood working since I was 10 ( now I am 76 ) and have yet to make my first cross cut sled. I've never bought one either. Again made the router table and it has lasted through 2 routers over 20 years and is ready for a new router. And no I don't have a lift... Hey, the first clamp I saw had a shaft on one end. Where did you get this clamp??? Please!!! Got my corner clamps from Rockler. Plastic but they do work... Do wish I had a drum sander but I no longer do that much work and it wold be a lost money item now!! Actually, I would like to have a small drum sander rather than my thickness planer. I have 2 benches. One was my Dad's and is over 75 years old and the other one I made many years ago. Both are made from 2 X 4 and 2 X 8 lumber and have hard board tops. When they get dinged past using, all I have to do is add another top piece of hard board. Ought a new jointer 30 years ago - no bath when I sell it. I would like to convert to the newer cutters but a set would cost me about twice as much as I paid for the unit new... Nice video and one that I actually like.

I think that two overlooked jigs for when you're working with longer pieces of material are infeed and outfeed extensions for the table saw. If you don't have much shop space, you can make the extensions with support legs on hinges to allow them to close flat and store in narrow spaces.

Going to be a good day if it starts with a LSW vid!

Incredible video, I really appreciate all the helpful information!

Another great video always look forward to seeing your videos Thanks for sharing as a new woodworker it’s easy to get lost in all the tools you should or shouldn’t buy

I enjoy your videos and especially your great sense of humor. Thank you for sharing and keep up the good work.

My tip is to buy a used jointer handplane. It's the only handplane I regularly use. I mostly use sheet goods and the handheld jointer allows me to build the occasional rough lumber project. I pay premium at the sawmill for "prepared" pieces, but that's totally worth it for the time saved.

Great video mate, thank you. All your content is useful and honest, please keep it up! 👍

Excellent rundown, and I agree with all of your conclusions except MAYBE the runners...I've always made my own (lately from PVC trim scraps) and they work great. Thanks!

Thank you for the very straight forward, common sense approach to help people make decisions. Thank you!

For a new woodworker, a table saw is probably the most intimidating tool. The Gripper Ripper makes the table saw less intimidating. For that reason it's a buy. Safety tools/devices are one area that you don't or shouldn't go cheap or skip.

Great video, really enjoyed that.

Excellent video. Surprise didn't mention the use of feather boards especially with the table saw.

Keep it up! These little videos are great thanks

So much great advice thanks it’s appreciated

two years ago I bought 106 inch festool rail from US tool and fastener for $345, free shipping. that exact same product at the exact same store is now $465 plus $250 shipping so now it is more than double the price to order online. geeeeez. glad I bought it when I did.

Once again, great advice with explanations of both pro and con. Thank-you.

Thanks, that is hugely helpfull

I love my 12" jointer planer combo sure switching it is mildly inconvient but damn that thing is a beast and worth every dollar.

Pro for the drum sander: anything you do is with effective dust collection! I made a high chair. A bunch of pieces the same length and/or width. All of them came off the table saw and went thru the drum sander with 100 grit. It was great.

Man I love your channel. This video was a perfect example of why. You aren’t pretentious & haughty, you are humble and straightforward. No fancy (read: distracting) music or speedy edits. No, you clearly explain your topic & stay 100% on point. Best of all, you speak from experience, with an emphasis on practicality. I’ve never regretted watching (almost) everything you produce. Thank you for continuing to make us better makers, and, in this video, helping us to make better tool decisions. Totally agree with the hidden value of making shop “furniture.” Making your own can be a real skills building experience. You can then apply that experience to making something nice for yourself, the folks you love, or your customers. It’s a win - win. But please don’t build your own workbench. Buy a bench customized to your needs, height, space constraints, etc. - from me. Sorry for my self promotion. Well, as you might say: #not sorry. Lastly, nice job showing the shots of Eric Spenceley (sp.?) & 731 Woodworks. They too are on my short list of trusted channels.

The gripper is the very best safe tool I have ever seen. I saw my first one at a wood show and bought it. I later bought the second one after using it. I recommend it to everyone!

Great video, as always!

15 or 20 years ago, before tracksaws were the popular thing but there were a couple high-priced ones out, I bought a track kit that has a sled that can be mounted on your own circular saw. The track has other accessories such as an arm for your router, extensions, and whatnot. It's a middle budget intermediate between the shop-made zero-clearance fence and an expensive tracksaw.

A very useful video... I wish I had the space most American woodworkers have. In the UK I have a 12'x6' shed that stores all my materials and tools, the two luxury tools (mitre saw on a stand and a table saw, both DeWalt), so unless I am doing something tiny I have to work in the back garden which means relying on good weather and when it comes to having a flat surface to build gates, doors or fences then I am either on the drive way (which isn't good due to our traveler community living near buy) or using insulation panels to try and create a flat surface on the garden bench I built. I am rambling... love your videos... wish I had your space!

Great video! I think I built, bought, or passed on all of these as you mentioned. A planer is more than enough for most and can serve the same purpose as a jointer with a little more work. I would add a table saw as I wish I would have bought one sooner. 👍

Hands down my favorite woodworking channel! Keep up the good work, please and thank you 😊

This is great. Very helpful. I bought a used 6” jointer. It was at a great price. But I have quickly outgrown it. Glad i paid the use price since I will need to upgrade. I think an 8” would be the minimum I’d get.

excellent vid. as someone who just got into woodworking the past couple of years...really couldn't agree more with all of your takes. the track saw was definitely a game changer for me....having used those clamp-on type guide rails with a circular saw proved cumbersome and time consuming to set up. the gripper has also proven its value...it provides much stability when passing pieces through on the table saw but can also be used to push pieces when using the jointer.

Thank you so much for this video it’s come at the perfect time for me as I’m planning my workbench right now and coming to most of these same conclusions. It was really comforting to hear your own thoughts on it echo most of mine.

This was probably the most useful tool evaluation video I've ever seen. It was -exactly- what I needed to see.

BUILD! I use mine more than the expensive ones for sure. Nice job on the video!

Great video and lots of insight into the pros and cons of the need for these tools

I laminate two layers of luan 1/4” (which it’s thinner than) together for my runners. Once cut to size, I’ve had no problems with wood movement in them. And I almost always have scraps in the shop.

I been woodworking for 15 years. You touch on all good points on what not to do. 👍

Good vid! If you do a part 2, please consider including dust collection. 😀

I made my bandy clamps from $0.99 spring clamps from home depot plus a couple of bike inner tubes cut into pieces. The right size tube makes for a perfect friction fit over the jaw of the clamp, and now I have about 15 of them for maybe $25 all-in. And they have lasted me for years

As usual no bulsh*** kinda funny woodworking advice. Thanks man. Great video

Great video but I think you missed one of the biggest downsides to using the gripper - you can’t use the blade guard with it. While I love the control it gives me, it does leave your spinning blade exposed after a cut where a a more conventional push stick with the blade guard may have it covered. On saws that take a bit to stop spinning I think it’s a real consideration. For me, the control is absolutely worth the downsides and the only time I don’t use one is if I’m intentionally pushing my push block through the blade like your showed.

UHMW Crosscut Sled For Table Saw Sled Miter Bars 3/4" X 3/8" X 36" -Predrilled holes and 20 screws included For Jigs Fixtures or Miter Slots (size 3/4"x3/8") 2 UHMW Bars works excellent. I installed these when I made my crosscut sled over four years ago, and the bars are still tight and no wobble. On Amazon.

Yeah, I have tons of tools I do not need lol!! Great videos and your open mind is refreshing.!! TY

Great video, so for the track saw, I’ve seen a video where they use an aluminum tile edging strip as the straight edge and attached it to a length of plywood.

25 years teaching adult avocational woodworking and making and teaching other courses on jig making, I’ve perfected my approach to some of these issues with respect to the tablesaw and safe, accurate cuts. Having tried a number of mitre slot runners I’ve settled on machined steel. I get my drilled and tapped by a local machinist that does it cheap out of his home. While I tend to use either Baltic birch or tight grained hard maple, I use as much aluminum as possible as there’s no annual movement. KM tools has a new jig to assist creating kerfs that are dead square to the fence. A bit expensive for me. They also have CNC machined fence parts. I still prefer a diy fully methodology. Jigs don’t have to be fancy but it’s all subjective. I make all my own push sticks as many of the commercial units have plasticizers that break down with time and UV exposure. I’ve heard of injuries and close calls on FB woodworking group comments. I did buy a Dubby Table years ago that I appreciated when still a greenhorn. My favourite tool I love is my Dowelmax dowling jig. I use it every day.

I think you absolutely nailed this - spoken as someone who also made most of the mistakes!

I think people don't take into consideration how use the Gripper can be. The thin stock guide you showed, the adjustable height etc. Another great practical video!

I used to fall for a lot of the "tools you need more than oxygen " type videos. I bet i fell for at least 741 of them. But I enjoyed your approach here. Some things can wait, and others are so specific that many builders will never need them. Thanks for taking a more balanced look at this expesive issue.

I just bought the milescraft track guide and extension tracks. I think that's a good middle ground between a dedicated track saw and the DIY option.

16:00 having a clamp sled for the table saw can be used for more than jointing. The same jig is used for cutting an odd edge straight. For slabs, you'll use a track saw for that. But for small hardwood boards that are a little wonky after drying and storing, you use a clamp sled.

The gripper is the BEST safety tool out there for a table saw

Track saws are also useful in edge jointing boards if you have a long enough track

one important thing is considering why you would even build a cross cut sled, compared to using a miter saw. What is much more valuable, is a jig like the one you had along the wall, that can ride along the fence and hold material at whatever angle you need, or even just give you a square edge for joining. Rip on a table saw, and cross cut on a miter saw. Cut curves and rough cuts on thick lumber on a band saw. Every tool has its place to keep you from losing a finger doing something dumb. I can't think of a single use case for cross cutting small material on a table saw.

Of all the 'recommendation/wish I'd known' format videos I've seen, I like this best. Solid recommendations. The ONLY thing I'd suggest is that if you teach yourself to edge and prep wood without a jointer, then you've just enabled a lot of other key purchases in the meantime. It's time consuming and a PITA, but a worthwhile skill.

My gripper has a few nicks in it. It didn’t explode and I didn’t get blood on my saw. Totally worth it.

The first time I saw a track saw I thought, "why the hell wouldn't I just get a circular saw and a straight edge?" I didn't realize at the time how many RU-vid woodworkers were sponsored by Festool.

Excellent channel and great skills. Advice is spot on too. Success to you ……..

I’ve come a long way in the years since my 1986 woodworking debut. Norm Abram provided some inspiration, though I couldn’t muster the budget at the time to mimic his tool depth. I didn’t even get a tablesaw until 1993. However, I did discover I could build jigs and homemade tool assists that had me reaching for ever more complex challenges. Of course there is no replacement for some tasks a tablesaw does so effortlessly and efficiently. And to this day I seldom use my biscuit joiner - but it is so useful for certain things I’d rate it as nearly indispensable- as I also feel about my Kreg setup (which is also seldom used unless I’m doing kitchen cabinet carcasses). There is very little outside of a tablesaw and mitre saw that you can’t make a ‘jig’ to do with no cost. 2:07 track saw I have several 1/8” x 6” lengths of aluminum for a saw guide, but the Jim Tolpin book showed me the “back to back” clamp and I built a number of guides/jigs for the router and circular saw inspired by his kitchen cabinet book. 4:42 sleds are so valuable to me but I’ve never found a manufactured one that seemed useful enough to expend the cash for. Tablesaw blades: buying $150-$300 blades did way more for my work than dropping $450 on a manufactured tablesaw sled. As far as jointers: a $200-ish hand plane jointer does what an electric jointer would do - better. Unless you are a production shop there’s no need. However!! Having not purchased any new tools in a long time, I’m collecting pennies right now because probably the most valuable productivity booster for my current work would be a surface planer. And there’s a crop of decent 8” and 10” combo jointers that incorporate the machinery for a thickness planer. I almost never need a 10-12” or wider thickness planer because it’s usually 1-1/2” to ~6”+ that I’m working with, or tabletops. So for very little (relatively) money $800-$1200 getting a combo thickness and jointing planer makes sense. Planing to thickness can be done electrically and then trued up in seconds with an antique smooth plane. Buying stuff stops you from building and discovering- and the discovery that you can hand tool or use a shopmade jig in 10 minutes for very little investment, versus 5-7 minutes with a high-investment machine puts money in your pocket and doesn’t make your work outcomes machine dependent. Another discovery with my now 30-year-old too small delta tablesaw is that with nice blades I consistently work and produce quality and précis way past the capabilities of that saw. Just buying jigs often keeps your work from being its best because tools and gizmos generally keep you producing at the performance limits of the tools. I learned that principle- not in those exact words- from Mike Dunbar in the 1990’s. Thanks, Mike!

You do good work! Excellent communicator

Getting a cheap-ish makita tracksaw was a complete game changer for me for diy builds

Thanks for sharing your insight and opinions. I’m about to purchase a belt driven sander for the my shop. It has more uses than you mentioned and will be very helpful in the projects I build personally. I also feel of all the tools I’ve purchased, the one that increased the quality/precision of projects the most is without a doubt the used 8” jointer I picked up. Thanks for talking about buying used tools. I think people feel overwhelmed and discouraged from this craft due to the cost when it can actually be fairly cheap if you are patient and willing to drive a bit. Thanks again for all the information. Great video.

Ive been meaning to find a good table saw safety video. Thank you for the recommendation

This was excellent work! Finally a popular RU-vidr is doing what we need to see

Interesting video. I like this better than a standard tool review.

I use plastic chopping boards for tablesaw sled runners - just cut a strip (or two) and sneak up on the correct size as you wuld for wood. They are pretty frictionless, eliminate the problems of wood movement and they are cheap and easily obtainable. The only drawback might be the length if you want long runners, but they are perfect for jobsite saws and you can always use two in one slot if you want longer runners, of course . . . or, I guess any plastic would work if you can get longer lengths.

The no nonsense approach tou have......so refreshing....and useful!

A very interesting commentary. I think the last 10 seconds are the most important. Good job. Thanks for sharing.

For push sticks I don't think the microjig is a replacement for a shop made. It's also useful to use at other saws and jointers depending on how much dust has accumulated on the pads. For a lot of cuts I use a hand made shoe for that bit of edge grip or support without worrying about chipping into my work holder. The microjig is for those awkward cuts, stuff that is tall needs to be dead square, repeated strips or other areas where the fingers and adjustments shine. I also will use the microjig occasionally as just a bit more grip on wider rips to hold the work down to the table.

As the person who bought your old router table, I must say that I love using it. I've been redoing the cabinet section, but I've had to put that project on pause many times. Overall, the router table is fun, scary as hell (router), and a lot of work to redo the cabinet section to meet my needs

As always- great job!

Grripper I cannot recommend enough, literally saved my hand at least once when I screwed up my setup. Push sticks are still better for some situations but for most situations it gives so much more control and separation from the blade. Good featherboards are another thing that I can't recommend enough and had no idea how much of a difference they made until I needed to make a cut I couldn't manage to do safely without getting them and it opened my eyes. Safety and quality of my cuts went way up on my job site saw.

I got a great deal on the Makita 36V cordless track saw and used it with a cheapo Wen track when rebuilding my deck. Definitely one of those "why didn't I buy this sooner?!?" purchases.

Good vid. For budget pressured hobby woodworkers, safety gear (like the Microjig Grrripper) make great gift ideas. Don't want to spend bucks on a Magsafe featherboard? Ask for one for your birthday! Same for jig gear like mitre sled runners, hold-down clamps, etc.

Great video :-)! If I might add an extra bonus to the dedicated tracks shown at the beginning - at least when it comes to Festool - it is that you can use other tools with the same track, like routers, e.g., which may require high accuracy. Here the track has a shining extra advantage over the home made edges. Matter of price and need, though, obviously.

I recommend building the GRipper as well. It's a very simple thing to replicate in functionality. I made mine from scrap wood and 1/4-20 hardware with nothing else special to it aside from the EPDM I used for the foot rails.

I made my work bench from scrap construction wood, pallets, and a thrown out bunk bed that had crazy flat MDF boards.

Goood channel and I actually get most of your humor (I’m a bit slow sometimes)- which leads me to my question- As a beginner, how hard is it to keep from getting screwed over buying a used tool? Big thanks for your input & keep the humor going.

Hi. I highly recommend a Festool track saw and a PARF jig instead of a table saw. A track saw is safer, dust collection is cheaper, it is more accurate, gives a better cut and is portable. For a workbench built a portable Moravian bench. You can customize it to fit your needs and budget. You can make one 4' or bigger, just don't make it bigger than you can move. It breaks down into 6 components. And there is no need to make it out of hard maple.

This man speaks the truth.

Agree with almost everything. I am an outlier because I use my router table A LOT lol. Good video sir.

Solid man. I agree with literally everything you said. Good work buddy.

Or try a jointer planer combo, like the Hammer and safe floor space. Great video!