Tools #1: 10 Handheld Power Tools Ever Shop Should Have

biscuit joiner

impact driver

battery drill

nail gun

compressor

and on

and on

and on

-- "Good artists borrow, great artists steal”…..Picasso

R.O. sander, belt sander , biscuit joiner ,battery drill another router another router shop vac

-- gagewestern

I’ll make the biscuit cutter unanimous. One overlooked so far is the skilsaw. Also, jig saw (especially if you are like me, bandsaw-less), router, drills (corded or not), multiple sanders, and chop saw (is that a hand tool?).

-- Wish I were Norm's Nephew

Only 10?

-- I GIVE UP!!!! I've cut this @!&*!% board 3 times.... its still too short!

2 Drills (One to drill, one to drive)
2 Routers (One for the table)
1 Laminate Trimmer
1 Bosch Jigsaw
1 Pin Nailer
1 Brad Nailer
1 Circular Saw
1 ROS

-- -John "Do I have to keep typing a smiley? Just assume it's a joke." www.flickr.com/photos/gizmodyne

What is an ROS?

Tha is for all the responses. Hand power tools to me is anything not a floor mounted unit. So I guess a benchtop drill press could be in the list.

-- Brian, Fort Collins, CO

Hmmm. . .
1 Router
2 Drill
3 Router
4 Circular Saw
5 Router
6 Pin Nailer
7 Biscuit Jointer
8 Router
9 Jig Saw
10 Router

-- "All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, and then Success is sure." Mark Twain

Just look at a1Jim’s profile to see how important routers are. He has 34

-- "All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, and then Success is sure." Mark Twain

Besides hand tools, consider:
GOOD table saw (not direct driive!!!) with a GOOD after market fence system!!!!!!
Bandsaw for resawing and cutting (10” throat with atl ease 3/4” blade capacity
Thickness planer
Shaper that uses 1/2” router bits (router tables are too noisy and hard to use)
Dual compound SLIDING miter saw
Trim router with tons of carbide bits!
CORDED tools (batteries are OK if you like re-investing in new batteries every couple of years !)
(your discression) – nailers? – I never use nails – glue, dowels, biscuits, splines, even pocket screws, are far better…unless you are into furniture mass production.
Good bag-style dust collection system (not a shopvac)

Any idea of what type of work you’ll be doing? That affects what tools to choose.

ROS- random orbital sanders
Routers 1 for table, 1 hand held
Bosch Colt
Bench top drill press
Planer
Sliding miter saw
Drill
Biscuit joiner
Finish sander

-- Karen - a little bit of stupid goes a long way

KayBee, what is a Bosch Colt?

-- Wish I were Norm's Nephew

Nevermind, I see it is a palm router. Do you use it for laminate trimming? From the way you listed it, I will take that as a GOOD reference.

-- Wish I were Norm's Nephew

Routers….and more routers…..I use them ALOT….a good powered screwdriver…I have several…a good drill, circular saw…a cutsall….and sanders…lots of them…And best of all chisels, planes and a dremel for detail work….my dremel is always hot…from use….and a good hammer….(I also have a set of pnuematic hammers for tacking and quick repairs)....Thats only the hand tools….

I would also recommend a pockethole system….I use it alot for framework on my projects….I have a bisquit joiner…but don’t see to much use…..I also have a track saw for breaking down sheet goods it gets used a bit…but it depends on what you plan to do too….I only listed the general use stuff…if you have specific plans for specific projects you might want to ask the pros on those….

-- Woodworking.....My small slice of heaven!

IMO it’s the best of the laminate/small routers. Mostly it gets used for any small routing. I tend to use it for hinge mortises and edge treatments. Think I used it for laminate trimming once. You can use it with 1 hand so it’s very easy to control.

-- Karen - a little bit of stupid goes a long way

Hey, Brian….

In addition to all the excellent responses you’ve gotten here …. I bought a couple dozen used reference books on woodworking. Several of them cover just what you’re talking about, give specific advice, and explain the reasoning.

Welcome to borrow…..

-- -- Neil