NEW – Premium Plans
Premium Plans starting at only $1.99. These Plans come with a 3D diagrams, step by step instructions and they are PDF Download and AdFree. See full list at My Shop.
1. Pocket Hole System
Most of my plans use pocket hole joinery, as it is a quick and strong method to join two pieces of wood together. The following pocket hole jigs are durable, quick to adjust and very easy to use, starting with the Mini jig up to the Foreman, you can select the product that best suits your needs and budget. I personally consider the K5 offers the best cost benefit ratio.
Pocket Jigs
Kreg R3 Jr. Pocket Hole Jig System
- Requires clamp
- For small projects
Kreg Jig K4 Pocket Hole System
- Built-in clamp
- For medium projects
Kreg K5 Pocket-Hole Jig
- Built-in clamp
- For medium and large projects
- The pocket hole jig I have myself and I recommend for an average DIY-er
Kreg Foreman Pocket-Hole Machine, Blue
- Built-in clamp
- For extra-large projects with lots of pocket holes
Pocket Screws
Beside the jig you will need screws for joining wooden components together. When joining 1 by x slats together you will have to use 1 1/4″ screws. When joining 2 by x lumber you have to use 2 1/2″ screws. Have this in mind and you will join wood easily and you will create strong frames.
Kreg Pocket-Hole Screw Kit in 5 Sizes
- For joining wood planks of various thicknesses
Kreg 1-1/4-Inch No. 2 Coarse Screw (1000-Pack)
- For joining 3/4″ thick wood planks
Kreg Pocket Screws 2 1/2-Inch, #8 Coarse, Washer Head, 2000 Count
- For joining 1 1/2″ thick wood planks
Kreg PREMIUM Face Clamp
- Ensures perfectly flush joint lines
- Holds projects in place
2. Basic Tools
Accuracy is a key aspect when building projects, as well as safety. Therefore, I recommend you to get yourself a good ruler, pencils as well as ear protection and safety glasses. Even if you are not serious about woodworking, any homeowner should have a kit with the basic hand tools, for small repairs.
Bon 7-Inch Carpenter Pencil, Black Hard Lead with Red Casing, 12-Pack
- Making marks with a pencil will help you get accurate cuts
Stanley Premium Quick Square Layout Tool, 7″
- Ideal for checking corners for squareness
- Can be used to mark lines and to make straight cuts with a saw
Stanley 25-Feet FatMax Tape Measure
- You know how they say: Measure twice and cut once
DEWALT Folding Retractable Utility Knife
- This is one of the most versatile tools
- Ideal for cutting all types of materials
Stanley 65-Piece Homeowner’s Tool Kit
- Ideal tool kit for an average woodworker
- Contains pretty much all the hand tools you need to build projects
Dewalt TRIGGER CLAMP 4 PACK
- Clamps are needed when joining components together
- You need clamps of different sizes for most projects
ClearArmor Safety Ear Muffs 34dB NRRÂ
- 34dB – Highest NRR (Noise Reduction Rating)
- Adjustable to Fit All Sizes
3M Tekk Virtua Anti-Fog Safety Glasses, Clear Frame, Clear Lens
- Use safety glasses when cutting the wooden boards
3. Tools for Woodworking I use and recommend
Now that we have cleared the easiest way to make strong joints, I will show you the other tools you need to have in your shop for building my projects. If you have these tools in your shop, you will be able to build almost anything. As you can see you don’t need expensive tools or investing thousands of dollars in your hobby. With under 500 dollars you will be able to have the basic tools and be ready for any woodworking challenge.
Drill &Â Nail gun
You need a good drill to make pilot holes and an impact driver for inserting the screws accurately and without damaging the wood. These tools are a must have, as they save you time and they help you joint wood properly.
If you will build larger structures, such as sheds or tiny houses, you should consider buying a nail gun. In addition, the finish nailer is ideal for inserting brad nails, when installing trims. If you buy the nail guns you also need the compressor.
DEWALT 20V MAX Lithium-Ion Compact Drill/Driver Kit
- Compact, lightweight design fits into tight areas
- High performance motor
Makita 18V Compact Lithium-Ion Cordless Combo Kit, 2-Piece
- For drilling pilot holes and inserting screws
- You need a drill for almost any woodworking project
DEWALT Pneumatic 18-Gauge 2-Inch Brad Nailer Kit
- For driving in brad nails
DEWALT 1-Inch to 2-1/2-Inch 16 Gauge Finish Nailer
- For finishing nails (trims, decorative elements)
DEWALT 6-Gallon 165 PSI Pancake Compressor
- For the nail guns
Saws
You also need to adjust the size of the boards to suit you needs when building woodworking projects. There are several types of saw you can buy and each one excels in some areas. The miter saw is the most versatile, as it makes regular cuts, as well as angle cuts.
A circular saw will help you have more mobility when making the straight cuts, while a jigsaw is ideal for making curved cuts. If you are serious about woodworking, then a table saw will give you the most freedom and help you cut saw in all directions. For example you could dimensions 2x4s to 1x4s and so on. The table saw is also ideal for cutting large sheets of plywood and for making dados.
If you are a beginner and you have to buy just one saw , I would personally go for the miter saw.
Hitachi 15 Amp 12-Inch Dual Bevel Miter Saw with Laser
- For cutting accurately wood planks or for making miter cuts
- A must have tool for any DIY-er, as it saves you time
DEWALT 20-Volt MAX Li-Ion Circular Saw, Tool Only
- Battery not included
- For making long straight cuts
DEWALT 20-Volt MAX Li-Ion Jig Saw
- For making curved cuts or for cutting out holes
DEWALT 10-Inch Compact Job Site Table Saw with Guarding System and Stand
- For complex cuts (dados)
- For small cutting plywood sheets
- It’s a portable table saw
SawStop 1.75-HP Professional Cabinet Saw Assembly
- If you are serious about woodworking, this table saw will help you make accurate cuts
- Accurate fence system
Sander & Router
You will also need a sander to even out surfaces and to smooth the edges. The router will help you make rabbets and mortises, as well as rounding the edges. The benchtop planer mills rough stock lumber to size in a matter of seconds (it basically speeds up the sanding part). Once again, if you have to buy just one tool go for the sander.
DEWALT Amp 5-Inch Variable Speed Random Orbit Sander Kit with Cloth Dust Bag
- For smoothing wooden edges
- For evening out a surface
DEWALT 1.25 HP Max Torque Variable Speed Compact Router Combo Kit with LED’s
- For making rabbets and mortises
- For rounding edges
Bosch Benchtop Router Table
- Includes mounting hardware for a variety of routers
- Easy to use and durable materials
DEWALT 15 Amp 12-1/2-Inch Benchtop Planer
- Mills rough stock lumber to size in a matter of seconds
- Ideal if you use recycled or pallet wood for your projects
Other tools
There are other tools you should have in your shop, if you will build project regularly. Therefore, a great investment will be to buy a dust collector. Inhaling dust has bad effects on your health on the long run, so if you afford a collector you shouldn’t have second thoughts.
Central Machinery 2 HP Industrial 5 Micron Dust Collector
- Dust Collector
- Health should be you priority, so buying a dust collector is a wise investment
4. Concrete tools
If you want to experiment with concrete projects or you just need to pour footings, these tools would help you. The concrete mixer saves you from a lot of work and is ideal for pouring slats, footings and even countertops. The polisher helps you bring the natural beauty of concrete to surface.
Pro-Series Electric Cement Mixer, 3.5 Cubic Feet
- A solid concrete mixer for small projects
Variable Speed Polisher 5 Inch Concrete and Stone Wet Polishing Kit with Diamond Pads
- For polishing concrete, such as countertops or other surfaces
Diamond Hand Polishing Pads STADEA for Stone Concrete Granite Marble – Set of 7 Pcs
- Works great for Granite, Concrete, Marble, Terrazzo, Travertine, artificial stone, Tile, Glass, and natual stone polishing