Bring the tool to the project instead of the project to the tool! Portable power tools open up endless opportunities for woodworkers.
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Portable Woodworking Power Tools
Hand held power tools strike a balance between traditional woodworking tools and industrial machines found in furniture factories. More efficient than the former, and lighter and less expensive than the latter, hand held power tools are the essential middle ground.
Most of these tools come in corded and cordless versions. Battery technology has brought power and longevity to a level I could have never imagined! My first 9.6-volt cordless drill needed to be recharged every hour, but the batteries in contemporary tools last considerably longer. These tools enable the user to do serious woodworking without plugging in.
Drill
One of the first tools a woodworker should acquire. Today’s cordless drills offer great features, and you’ll need one for support tasks like building jigs and sleds. Most cordless drills come with two batteries, a charger and a keyless chuck, so you can easily change bits.
Battery technology has made it possible for manufacturers to pack 12 volts into a small, lightweight drill, like the Bosch PS31-2A Drill, perfect for mounting cabinet hardware. Larger versions like the Milwaukee M18 Drilloffer significantly more power and bore large holes with ease. However, it may feel too heavy for delicate tasks.
Driver
Sure, a conventional drill can drive screws, but not with the ease of a cordless impact driver. Coming with a lot more torque than a drill and a clutch mechanism that virtually eliminates stripping screws, drivers like the Makita 18V LXT Sub-Compact Driverfit into tiny spaces and last all day.
Note: It’s wise to commit to one brand of cordless tools (one charger and battery type). It’s inconvenient to manage multiple chargers and batteries for various tools.
Router
One of the most versatile tools in the shop is a router. Spinning cutters or bits at rates between six to 24,000 revolutions per minute (rpm), a router can make slots and grooves, or shape edges in a variety of profiles.
Full-size routers are powerful, between 1-3/4 and 3-1/4 horsepower (hp). They come with 1/4-inch and 1/2-inch collets for bits with different sized shafts. Add a fence and the router tracks along the edge of a board, and a plunge base allows the user to cut to precise depths.
The Makita RD1101 Routeris a mid-size router with 2-1/4 hp and a comfortable D handle for extra stability.
Palm Router
Smaller with less power than a full-sized router, the palm router excels at beveling, rounding edges or other lightweight tasks. Early versions were called trim routers and used exclusively by cabinetmakers trimming laminate on countertops.
But the utility of a one-handed lightweight router became obvious almost immediately. With a small base plate, visibility is better, and lower torque makes the tool easier to control. Originally a spartan tool, current models like the Bosch Coltoffer every feature, including an edge guide and separate fixed and plunge bases.
Sander
Every shop needs a tool for smoothing wood planks. Random orbit sanders (ROS) are available in five- and six-inch diameter. Abrasives stick to the sanding pad with hook-and-loop or less expensive sticky adhesive.
The Bosch ROS20VSK Sanderhas a soft body to reduce vibration, and takes hook-and-loop abrasives with EIGHT holes for dust collection. Also available are conventional orbital sanders that use 1/4 sheet of sandpaper. While slightly less efficient at removing material than a random orbit sander, these sanders and the sandpaper are less expensive.
Planer
Handheld power planers aren’t necessary for every shop. But for folks who work with rough wood from a sawmill, nothing compares.
There’s an old adage, “Bring the material to the tool, or the tool to the material,” and this is definitely the latter! Large pieces of wood are heavy and too bulky for stationary tools in the average shop.
Traditional hand planes require patience and lots of elbow grease, but a tool like the Dewalt Portable Hand Planer, spins at 36,000 rpm and can take up to a 1/16-inch-deep cut. When the blades go dull, they’re inexpensive to replace.
Jigsaw
Cutting curves is always a challenge, but the humble, affordable jigsaw simplifies this task. The Bosch Top Handle Jigsawhas an adjustable base for cutting angles and a quick clamp for blade changes without tools.
With a wide array of blade options, the jigsaw can cut wood, medium density fiberboard, aluminum, steel and PVC. And it’s affordable: A 50-piece assortment that includes blades for rough and precise cutting of wood and metal goes for about $20!
While under-powered for some tasks that require a bandsaw, the light weight and accurate jigsaw shines on large projects where it’s easier to bring it to the workpiece.
Biscuit Jointer
Nothing beats a biscuit jointer for aligning boards for a glue-up. A handheld tool with a small blade that spins horizontally, this tool notches a small, crescent-shaped slot in two pieces of wood.
A fence makes the slots match perfectly, and a compressed flat, football-shaped ‘biscuit’ is inserted, bringing the parts together. Glue swells the compressed biscuit, making an extremely strong joint. The Makita PJ7000 Biscuit Jointerhas a comfortable D handle, a fence that accurately adjusts, and an adjustable depth of cut for different sized biscuits.
Track Saw
Made popular by German manufacturers, track saws are engineered for safety and accuracy. Cutting perfectly straight was historically the domain of the table saw. However, track saws, like this Makita 6-1/2-inch Plunge-Cut Saw with 55-inch Guide Rail, utilize a lightweight aluminum track to guide the saw.
Rather than wrestling a large sheet of plywood to the table saw, simply align the track to your cut measurements on top of a board. The saw smoothly follows the track. When paired with a tool-actuated vacuum, track saws have great dust collection — always a plus.
Oscillating Tool
For that random shop task that no other tool can do well, the oscillating tool fills the bill. With a spindle that vibrates side-to-side, the universal attachment takes a variety of blades, sandpaper and other assorted cutters to access hard-to-reach spots. It’s good for sanding those tough corners, or trimming a broken nail inside a cabinet.
The corded Porter-Cable PCE605K Oscillating Toolcomes with a storage case and a variety of cutters for various projects. You’ll reach for the oscillating tool more often than you think!
All prices and links were current as of publication.
