Woodworking tools & supplies
Tools and supplies that match the calculators on this site. Buy for the projects you are actually doing — a few good tools beat a wall of cheap ones. These are the kinds of tools each job needs, not products we have lab-tested; links go to Amazon search results so you can compare brands.
Measuring & layout
Accurate measuring is most of woodworking. These are the tools used by nearly every calculator on this site.
- 25 ft tape measureBudget price
A 25 ft tape with a stiff blade and a readable 1/16 in scale covers everything from cut lists to deck layout.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Speed square (7 in)Budget price
Marks square and angled crosscuts and doubles as a saw guide for a circular saw. The degree scale is handy for rafters and stair angles.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Combination square (12 in)Budget price
Checks 90° and 45°, sets depths, and transfers measurements. Check a new one against a known square edge before trusting it.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Digital calipersBudget price
For measuring actual board and plywood thickness to the thousandth — useful for sizing dadoes and checking planed stock.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Digital angle finderBudget price
Reads angles to a tenth of a degree — blade-to-fence, blade tilt and existing corners — so saw settings match the calculator.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Chalk line reelBudget price
Snaps long straight lines on sheathing, subfloor and decking — framing lines, cut lines and layout in seconds.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Wood moisture meterMid-range price
Tells you whether lumber is dry enough to build with and firewood dry enough to burn. Readings vary by species — check the meter’s correction settings.
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As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links to products are affiliate links — they cost you nothing extra and help keep these calculators free.
Saws & cutting
A circular saw or miter saw covers most first projects; a track saw earns its place once you cut a lot of plywood.
- Circular saw (7¼ in)Mid-range price
The most versatile first power saw: crosscuts framing lumber, rips boards and, with a straightedge, breaks down plywood sheets.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Compound miter sawPremium price
Fast, repeatable crosscuts, miters and bevels for trim, frames and cut lists. A sliding model handles wider boards.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Track sawPremium price
Rides on a rail for straight, splinter-free cuts in full sheets — a space-saving alternative to a table saw for plywood.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Japanese pull sawBudget price
Cuts on the pull stroke with a thin kerf. Good for joinery, flush-trimming and cuts where a power saw is overkill.
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As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links to products are affiliate links — they cost you nothing extra and help keep these calculators free.
Milling & hauling
Buying rough lumber is usually cheaper per board foot — if you can surface it and get it home.
- Benchtop thickness planerPremium price
Planes rough or cupped boards to an even thickness, so you can buy rough lumber and mill it to size yourself. Pair it with a way to flatten one face first.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Ratchet tie-down strapsBudget price
Holds a load of lumber on a roof rack, trailer or truck bed. Strap long loads at two points and flag the overhang.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Plywood panel carrierBudget price
Hooks under a 4×8 sheet so one person can carry it on edge without spreading their arms wide. Worth it once you are moving more than a sheet or two of 3/4 in plywood.
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As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links to products are affiliate links — they cost you nothing extra and help keep these calculators free.
Joinery & assembly
- Pocket-hole jigMid-range price
Strong, quick joints for face frames, cabinets and shelving without complex joinery. Uses special self-tapping screws.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Bar clamps (set)Mid-range price
You can never have too many clamps. A set of four to six 24–36 in clamps covers most glue-ups and panel work.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Band clamp with cornersBudget price
Pulls all the corners of a frame, hexagon or octagon together at once — the easiest way to glue a mitered ring.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Wood glue (PVA)Budget price
Standard yellow glue for joints and panels. Choose a water-resistant type for outdoor projects and check the open time on the label.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Cordless drill/driver kitMid-range price
Drills pilot holes and drives screws for decks, fences and furniture. An impact driver is a worthwhile add-on for long deck screws.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - 18-gauge brad nailerMid-range price
Fixes trim, battens and moulding with small nails that are easy to fill. Cordless models skip the compressor and hose.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Shelf pin jigBudget price
Drills evenly spaced shelf-pin holes in cabinet sides so adjustable shelves sit level.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Tabletop fasteners (figure-8 or Z-clips)Budget price
Hold a solid-wood top to its apron while letting it expand and shrink across the grain.
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As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links to products are affiliate links — they cost you nothing extra and help keep these calculators free.
Sanding & finishing
Surface prep decides how a finish looks more than the finish itself does.
- Random orbit sander (5 in)Mid-range price
Leaves a swirl-free surface ready for stain or finish. Hook-and-loop discs make grit changes quick.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Sanding discs, assorted gritsBudget price
A pack from 80 to 220 grit covers most work. Go through the grits in order — skipping leaves scratches that stain highlights.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Interior wood stainBudget price
Penetrating stain for furniture and trim. Test on an offcut of the same wood — color varies a lot between species.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Polyurethane (oil or water-based)Budget price
A durable clear topcoat for tables, shelves and cabinets. Oil-based ambers slightly; water-based stays clearer and dries faster.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Finishing brushes & lint-free ragsBudget price
A good brush for oil-based finishes (synthetic for water-based) and lint-free rags for wiping stain.
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As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links to products are affiliate links — they cost you nothing extra and help keep these calculators free.
Framing, decks, stairs & fences
- Framing squareBudget price
The tool for laying out stair stringers and rafters: rise on one leg, run on the other.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Stair gaugesBudget price
Small brass or steel buttons that clamp to a framing square so every rise and run you mark is identical.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Framing nailerPremium price
Drives framing nails for walls, floors and roofs far faster than a hammer. Check the nail type your local code and inspector expect.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Exterior deck screwsBudget price
Coated or stainless screws rated for treated lumber. Match the screw to your decking — composites often need their own.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Deck board spacersBudget price
Keeps every gap the same as you lay boards. Cheaper than it sounds and saves a lot of fiddling with nails as spacers.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Exterior deck & fence stainMid-range price
Semi-transparent stain protects while showing the grain. Coverage on weathered wood can be much lower than the label’s best case.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Deck stain pad applicatorBudget price
A pad on a pole spreads deck stain evenly and quickly, and works it into the gaps between boards. Keep a brush for rails and edges.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Post hole diggerMid-range price
The clamshell digger digs and cleans out post holes with straight sides. For many holes, rent a power auger and use this to finish.
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As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links to products are affiliate links — they cost you nothing extra and help keep these calculators free.
Firewood & logs
- Splitting maulMid-range price
A heavy, wedge-shaped head that splits rounds rather than cutting them. Wear eye protection and keep your stance wide.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Firewood log rackMid-range price
Keeps wood off the ground so it dries and stays measurable — an 8 ft rack 4 ft high is exactly a face cord.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Log scale stickBudget price
A graduated stick that reads board feet directly from a log’s small-end diameter. Check which rule it is printed for.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Cant hook / log peaveyMid-range price
A long lever with a swinging hook for rolling and turning logs by hand — for measuring, bucking and loading without a tractor.
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As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links to products are affiliate links — they cost you nothing extra and help keep these calculators free.