12/03/2022
Merry Christmas friends!! 🎄🎄
For a few years now, I’ve been asked to put together a list of quality tools for a student who shows a long term interest in woodworking. I’m sure this will evolve over time, but at least it’s a start.
The first think a student needs is a place to work. The garage is a first logical choice but an unused bedroom could work. Just know that sawdust will likely be prevalent so the dining room table is likely out. 🤣
Next, a semi-sturdy workbench is needed. But this doesn’t have to be anything fancy. There are home built workbenches that pop up on Facebook marketplace frequently for $40 or you could build your own simple one. A plastic folding table from Costco could work, but is likely on the light side.
Once you have a place and a workbench, you need something to hold your workpiece while sawing or drilling. Ideally, your workbench can have an actual vise on it. If you’re buildi or modifying a home built workbench, you could add something like this quite economically: IRWIN Woodworking Vise, 6-1/2-Inch (226361) https://a.co/d/edIOvVT
While not as easy to use, 2-4 clamps could work to clamp the wood to the workbench edge while sawing.
So far, all those items are fairly necessary to safely work with wood but don’t make a great gift in the traditional sense. But I would suggest figuring out the above before you move on to these tools.
We’ll start with the fun ones: saws. I really like the Japanese saws, specifically the Ryoba: Gyokucho 770-3600 Razor Ryoba Saw with Blade https://a.co/d/1wPFDc9
It’s small and comfortable, very sharp and quite versatile.
If they want to cut curves, they need a coping saw, the Stanley Fatmax isn’t bad. Stanley 15-104 Fatmax Coping Saw https://a.co/d/9tGAbZu
Finally - kids love drilling holes. It’s for about the fun factor than truly boring an accurate hole. But this is a fun one: Fiskars Crafts DIY Precision Hand Drill, Grey, White/Gray https://a.co/d/j1t2yjD
A small hammer, square, tape measure and pliers are handy as well.
If your budget allows, a scroll saw is about the safest power saw for young woodworkers. I got my first scroll saw about 10 years old, but I was pretty contentious. The Dewalt is an excellent tool and Amazon has them on sale at the moment for $400 new. Limited-time deal: DEWALT Scroll Saw, Variable-Speed, 1.3 Amp, 20-Inch (DW788) https://a.co/d/cyOVLOj
They show up occasionally on FB marketplace, but it’s not consistent. Cheaper brands are fine as well as long as they have tool-less blade changing.
Another fun kid power tool is a Dremel tool. They’re fun for carving but can also double as a tiny drill press for accurate holes (making cars, etc)
I could go on but hopefully this is a start. Don’t hesitate to ask any questions!!
The IRWIN Woodworker's Vise ensures a firm grip on workpieces with toe-in toward top jaws. With a square body for easy under-bench mounting, it has a provision for installing wood cheeks to protect workpieces. Constructed of durable forged iron, it has a 4-1/2" jaw capacity perfect for hobbies an...
