Attn woodworkers: what are your most-used tools?

[arcas]

I have limited space in my garage so it's not practical to have a lot of tools that rarely get used. What are your most-used or most versatile tools?

I currently have a variety of hand tools and small power tools (drills, dremels, jigsaw, etc) but my only larger power tool is a Ryobi BT3100 table saw. I use it as a makeshift work table when it's not in use. It also has holes for mounting a router though I currently don't have one. I suppose I could also turn it into a disc sander by replacing the saw blade with a sanding disc.

Is it safe to assume that a router would be among the most versatile tools in a workshop?

 

[Drakkon]

Bandsaw or jigsaw would be nice tools to have around when working wood (after the table/router of course)
Drill press is also a good one

 

[WildHorse]

Is it safe to assume that a router would be among the most versatile tools in a workshop?

Definitely!

Just remember the router bits are expensive for the high quality ones, which is the only kind I'd buy, and you always need/want more. If you're like me, soon you'll have a couple thousand $ just in router bits. Eventually get a good router table with a long bed.

1) Good workbench
2) Lots of clamps
3) Movable lights, always seem to need more light.
4) Good shop vac to clean up sawdust & shavings
5) Face mask/respirator, hearing protection
6) Table saw (space hog) with combination blade, dado cutter, kerf spitter, high quality aftermarket rip fence, good safety guard, and extension tables on the outfeed side and right side, or at least rollers on stands

7) Jointer with a wide bed, say 8" + so you can face-plane with it too.
8) Surfacer (surface planer, aka thickness planer)

Haitachi has a single machine with both a jointer and thickness planer all in one.

9) More clamps
10) Band saw
11) Sliding chop saw (miter saw)
12) Drill press with sanding drums, other accessories.
13) Good shop dust collection system
14) Hand held: drill, jigsaw, belt sander, oscillating sander, maybe a biscut cutter
15) Some place flat to store work in process. Flat!

 

[PELarson]

First aid kit and finger splints.

 

[elektrolokomotive]

My hands.

 

[Jugernot]

I'm not really a woodworker really, but I'm renovating my house (completely new kitchen, bathrooms, new home theater, new laundry room, etc.) and I find that I use my miter saw more than anything else.

 

[legoman666]

Band saw, miter saw, random orbit sander, hand drill, table saw (good as workspace also), jointer, planer, jig saw.

To a lesser extent; drill press, router, scroll saw, belt sander, dremel.

Lots of clamps and good light.

 

[HardcoreRomantic]

Originally posted by: scott

Is it safe to assume that a router would be among the most versatile tools in a workshop?

Definitely!

Just remember the router bits are expensive for the high quality ones, which is the only kind I'd buy, and you always need/want more. If you're like me, soon you'll have a couple thousand $ just in router bits. Eventually get a good router table with a long bed.

1) Good workbench
2) Lots of clamps
3) Movable lights, always seem to need more light.
4) Good shop vac to clean up sawdust & shavings
5) Face mask/respirator, hearing protection
6) Table saw (space hog) with combination blade, dado cutter, kerf spitter, high quality aftermarket rip fence, good safety guard, and extension tables on the outfeed side and right side, or at least rollers on stands

7) Jointer with a wide bed, say 8" + so you can face-plane with it too.
8) Surfacer (surface planer, aka thickness planer)

Haitachi has a single machine with both a jointer and thickness planer all in one.

9) More clamps
10) Band saw
11) Sliding chop saw (miter saw)
12) Drill press with sanding drums, other accessories.
13) Good shop dust collection system
14) Hand held: drill, jigsaw, belt sander, oscillating sander, maybe a biscut cutter
15) Some place flat to store work in process. Flat!

Just to add on to the hand held, cabinet scrapers are great. And also, a good chisel set and a grinder are good ideas (although you probably already have this). Along with a router, get a really good straight edge. That way you don't have to worry about dado blades for your saw. Get a variety of clamps (bar clamps, hand screws, c-clamps, etc.)

What kind of things do you make? Depending on the types of projects you work on, you might be able to cut out a few things from the above list.