Although his home may be his castle, a man’s workshop is worth his weight in gold- provided he has stocked it properly.  Certain tools should be in every workshop in order to make every task possible without a trip to the store to purchase a specific tool. 

Basic hand tools are essential simply because many repair jobs require them.  Power tools are necessary for projects that are more involved.  Clean up tools are essential to the proper running of the workshop.  Too much mess means less space to work.  Handy lists of the most important tools to have in your workshop are included below.

Ideally, you have a workbench or a workstation of some sort.  At the very least, invest in a couple of simple benches to use for your projects.

Hand Tools

• Assorted screwdrivers- different sizes
• Claw hammer
• Assorted screws and nails
• Utility knife- several spare blades
• Wood chisel
• Tape measure
• Marking pencils
• Circuit tester
• Locking and needle-nose pliers
• Torpedo level
• Hand plane
• Trowel
• Wire stripper
• Wire cutter
• Clamps

Power Tools

• Electric drill:  An electric drill can create holes in metal, wood, and tile.  Select a model that has both reversible and variable speeds.
• Drill press:  If you plan on making vertical holes, nothing can beat a drill press.  Purchase either a tabletop model or a floor standing model according to your personal preference.
• Power miter box:  This tool is handy if you are cutting molding and prefer accuracy.  It is capable of cutting boards that have more width as well as bevels.
• Circular saw:  Circular saws can shorten the time needed to complete almost any task that involves wood.  This type of saw is handy for creating crosscuts and angled cuts.
• Angle grinder:  This tool only comes in handy if you are working with metal.  It is great at smoothing and cutting metal, however, if you only work with wood, then you don’t need it.
• Orbital sander:  An orbital sander can smooth out the roughness of wood with relative ease and in a short time.  This type of saw finishes wood with relative ease.  Moreover, they are less likely to gouge the wood than a belt sander, which is a heavier sander.
• Belt sander:  Belt sanders are essential if you plan on using extremely rough wood.  It works more quickly than an orbital sander, but it is also more expensive.
• Contour sander:  The contour sander is a handy tool for smoothing and shaping pieces with relative ease.
• Table top scroll saw:  A good scroll saw is an excellent tool for cutting curves particularly on smaller pieces.
• Band saw:  This type of saw is a bit more expensive than a scroll saw, but you don’t need both.  Buy either the scroll saw or the band saw, not both.
• Jigsaw:  A jigsaw adds a bit of flexibility to your work since it can be handheld.
• Table saw:  This is one tool that you won’t want to replace frequently.  Therefore, select a good model.  A table saw can do a lot of important work, so you’ll reap the benefits as you use it.
• Combination miter saw:  This particular type of saw can create cleaner cuts that are more precisely angled.
• Router:  The router is an excellent tool to have if you are into decorative cuts and edges.  If you can afford it, the addition of a router table makes it even easier to use.

Clean Up Tools

• Shop vacuum:  A clean workshop is simply nicer and safer to work in.  Additionally, it can motivate you to replace your tools in their proper location so that you can find them.
• Rags:  Keep these easily accessible and well stocked. 

Proper Care of Your Tools

Once you have your workshop properly equipped, take the time to maintain it.  Properly maintained tools will perform better and make your job easier.

Clean your tools after each use.  Never allow the tools to sit with moisture on them as this can damage the functionality of the tool.  Sharpen the blades on a periodic basis, infrequently if the tools are rarely used, and more frequently if they are used quite a bit.  Properly lubricate any tools that necessitate it.

Even if you know little or nothing about woodworking, introducing your child to this craft can be a great way to help your child acquire new skills and develop new ways of thinking about the objects around them. Children who are introduced to woodworking can practice their motor skills, enhance their own creativity and sense of self-esteem, and express themselves in a medium that sophisticated, tactile, and three-dimensional. In addition, woodworking is almost mess-free and can be done in an outdoors environment.

Woodworking might seem like play to children who love pounding nails into wood. However, this simple task not only prepares a child for an important life skill, but can also lead to creation. A piece of wood and a nail will logically follow with two pieces of wood held together by nails, which will, in turn, lead to simple constructions forming boxes and other shapes. With a little help from a supervising adult, the child can realize a huge sense of accomplishment as their new-found skills and goal-setting lead to the creation of recognizable, usable objects – like hooks, shelves, or even a fort.

Other children might like the more delicate – and often more laborious – practice of sanding. While children should not be given carving tools, sanding down cubical or cylindrical pieces of wood can allow imaginative forms and shapes to emerge. Children who are exposed to this type of three-dimensional artwork can develop their appreciation for sculpture and begin to understand how objects inhabit spaces. A sanded form may be faceless until the child is given paint, markers, or glue, but even if the wooden figure is unrecognizable to the adult supervisor, the child may have just created what they see as a doll, action figure, toy, or likeness of the family pet.

Woodworking requires minimal materials and equipment, but children who practice woodworking can develop both creative and practical skills for life. With supervision, support, assistance, and encouragement from an adult, children can become sophisticated artists with this sculptural medium.