Woodworking is one of the oldest professions in the world. The art of woodworking can be enriching in terms of personal satisfaction and monetarily. However, to master the art of woodworking, you need patience, practice, the right tools, and proper guidelines. Like any other profession in the world, you need to take baby steps before walking with pros. The best way to master woodworking is to start your journey at the beginning with simple DIY woodworking projects.
Is DIY for me?
There are 100s of woodworking ideas that you can practice as a beginner, after which you can proceed to more complex and larger projects. These DIY wood projects can enhance the versatility of your living or workspace and increase the aesthetic value of your home, shop, or office. DIY projects can also be a means of income. With the use of simple handheld tools such as a measuring tape, chisel, handsaw, hammer, power drills, and battery-operated screwdrivers, you could start a thriving home business.
Let’s check out some of the simplest and coolest DIY woodworking projects for beginners.
Key Stand
You can start your woodworking journey with simple and basic DIY projects like a key stand. You can even make a key stand with scrap wood and some hooks to keep your keys in one place and make sure you never lose them again.
Wood Tray
A wood tray is another excellent option for beginners to master their woodworking skills. You will not need any expensive tools or complex measurements to make a wooden tray for your guests.
Wall Rack
Another challenging but straightforward and motivating DIY wood project is a wall rack. A wall rack is a great addition to your home, and you can use it to keep your books organized and place picture frames, decoration pieces and showcase your achievements. You will need essential hand tools and some wood polish to complete a wall rack.
Jewelry Boxes
Jewelry boxes come in various designs, but if you are a beginner, you might want to use a simple layout to make yourself or your spouse a jewelry box. You can finish a simple jewelry box in under an hour with the help of essential woodworking tools like a handsaw, vise, chisel, glue, and a couple of tools.
Step Stool
You can also make a simple step stool with basic woodworking tools. It may seem like a complex project, but it is not. You can use a simple DIY step stool to rest your feet while sipping a cup of coffee after a long tiring day. It can also serve as a work table for your toddlers.
Window Box
A window box adds a lot of curb appeal to your home. You will need screwdrivers, nails, a hammer, a handsaw, measuring tape, and joinery skills. However, the project can get hectic if you have a lot of windows in your home.
Birdhouse and Bird Feeders
Birdhouses and bird feeders are also simple DIY project ideas to place on tree branches in your home. You will need a plan layout, hammer, power drills, screwdriver, handsaw, nails, and T-squares. Depending on the size and design of the house and feeder, it may take some time, but you can quickly complete these two structures with basic woodworking tools.
Picture Frames
We all love pictures; why not give them a good home to keep them safe. A picture frame is another easy and simple DIY project. You don’t need any costly or advanced woodworking tools to make picture frames. Once you know how to make picture frames, you can create as many as you like and that too according to the size you want.
Sofa Sleeve and Cup Holder
You can make yourself a cup holder for your sofa. It can come in handy while having coffee or placing your drinks while watching a movie, eliminating the spillage risk. You will need plywood, sandpaper, steel wool, wood polisher, glue, clamps, pencil, power drill, and a drill bit for making a hole in the sheet.
Wooden Media Box
No, we are not talking about big media boxes with drawers and locked compartments. Instead, you can make a simple media box with a base and legs with the woodworking tools you have in your garage. It can be a cool DIY woodworking project to gain some experience. In addition, it can serve as a stand for your TV and provide some space underneath to place a remote, CDs, or a couple of magazines. You will need a hand saw, clamps, wood sheet, sandpaper, polish, and wood glue.
Address/Name Plate
A DIY nameplate is a great way to increase the aesthetics of your main door. You can make a simple nameplate with a small pot for a couple of fresh flowers using tools like a drill, hand saw, wood stain, and metal address numbers/alphabets.
Tree Swing
You can bring an invaluable smile to your kid’s faces by making them a simple tree swing out of plywood. You can get the plywood cut from a carpenter’s shop and use your power drill to make some holes in it and smooth the surface with sandpaper and a polisher. Now insert and tie the ropes and hang the swing on a sturdy tree branch. Make sure you don’t put extra weight on the swing.
Equipment Needed for the DIY Woodworking Projects
There are countless projects that you can try and succeed as a beginner woodworker. First, however, you need some tools to start your career/hobby as a woodworker. The problem here is that not every beginner is aware of the tools they need and where to find them. It can get pretty challenging and confusing to locate a complete list of the tools a novice woodworker will need to kick start the woodworking journey. We have heard many such complaints from our readers after they wasted their hard-earned money on costly and advanced level tools. Our thoughts are with them.
We don’t want this to happen to you. This is why we decided to dig out the most affordable and versatile tools a beginner woodworker needs. We also care about your safety and hence included essential protective gear to go with these tools. We researched and tested 100s of tools and filtered the best ones for you. Then, we went through the features, customer reviews, specifications, and other relevant details to give you a detailed insight into the shortlisted tools.
Most woodworking projects for beginners don’t need advanced and costly tools. However, you will need protective gear, manual tools like a chisel, a handsaw, a screwdriver, a hammer, and sandpaper. You will also need power tools like jigsaws, cordless drills, screwdrivers, hammer drills, and impact drivers. Yes, you can complete the basic projects with manual tools, but it will take a lot of time. Moreover, handheld power tools give greater accuracy than manual tools. You can finish a day’s work in 3 hours with the help of power tools. Let’s help you take your first woodworking step!
Protective Gear for Woodworking Projects
Either you are a beginner or a pro, safety is a must for all. You will need protective clothing, safety goggles, and work gloves while working on basic woodworking projects. You may also need hearing protection depending on the nature of the tools you are working with.
Apron for women: Jeanerlor Waxed Canvas Work Apron
A work apron keeps you safe and your tools handy. The Jeanerlor apron for women is made from 100% waxed and waterproof cotton canvas. The apron offers eleven pockets with shoulder pads and extra-long cross-back straps for neck comfort. You get one large pocket, six small pockets, one towel hanger, one protective pocket for cell phone, one chest pocket, and two pencil pockets.
It is an ideal safety apron for pro woodworkers as well. You don’t need to worry about the stitch quality as 500D high-strength threads are used for sewing the apron. The straps are attached to the canvas with a combination of webbing. Manufacturers have paid great attention to tiny details so that you can use this apron for a long time, and it will still be your work partner when you have a successful career in woodworking or you are a pro-DIYer.
It is a versatile product used by woodworkers, garage workers, hairstylists, bakery workers, electricians, blacksmiths, and barbecue grills. It is lightweight to wear and weighs only 16 ounces.
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Apron for men: Waxed Canvas Heavy Duty Work Apron With Pockets
The protective apron for beginner woodworkers is designed to save you and your clothes from stains, paints, debris, dust, and any other unwanted element that may come in contact while working on your projects.
The apron offers four tool pockets with toe 7×7-inch pockets, a cell phone pocket, a pencil pocket, and dual hammer loops to keep all your tools with you. It is made from water-resistant and spill-resistant waxed canvas to keep your clothing safe. So you can wear it and get to work without the need to get into your old clothes.
The apron also features pocket closure flaps, double stitching for durability, an entry assist device, shoulder pads, a quick release buckle, and steel grommets and rivets. It is made from 16 oz waxed cotton canvas for maximum durability and long-lasting use. You also get a 30-days return guarantee, so you have peace of mind while buying it.
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Goggles: RK Safety Heavy duty Industrial Protective Chemical Splash Safety Goggles
You can’t make any compromises when it comes to your eyes. You simply need the best of the best. RK’s safety goggles are heavy-duty industrial-grade safety devices. You can use it for woodworking, dealing with acids, chemicals, and any DIY or industrial project.
The best thing about them is that they are anti-fog, scratch and impact-resistant, and have an indirect ventilation hole. The goggles have a clear spherical PC lens for a wide viewing angle, and you never feel obstructed or limited while wearing them. These goggles are ANSI, and CE EN certified.
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Gloves: Safety Work Gloves
You will need safety gloves while working with woodworking tools and handling sheets. Safety gloves not only protect your hands from harsh elements but also enhance the gripping strength. RK’s safety gloves are the epitome of breathability and superior gripping. They are coated with micro-foam nitrile coating, which provides abrasion resistance and an impressive grip. As a result, the tools, sheets, and other equipment held in your hand will not slip.
The gloves have been designed keeping in view different hand structures, and 3D design makes them a universal fit. The liner and spandex are seamless assure maximum comfort and minimum fatigue. The knit wrists prevent dirt and debris from entering the gloves and provide maximum comfort to your hand.
Please note that these gloves must not be washed in water hotter than 104F or 40C for a maximum 5-10 minutes wash cycle with a non-ionic detergent. You can use these gloves for handling power tools, general maintenance, automotive component handling, and various other tasks.
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Tools for Simple Woodworking Projects
A beginner must learn to work with manual tools first before they can switch to powered tools. However, there are no replacements for tools like a jigsaw because its work cannot be performed effectively with a hand tool. Even if you try to use some other tool, you will not get accurate results, and the process will take a lot of time. So let’s check out these tools.
Chisels: Woodworking Chisels
A chisel is a tool used for dressing, shaping, or working with a solid material such as wood, stone, or metal. The sharpened edge of the tool is driven with a mallet or hammer into the material to remove some material and reduce the size of the workpiece.
As a beginner woodworker, you will need a chisel in various projects, and there is nothing better than Narex’s 6 piece chisel set. The 6 chisels with a size of 6, 10, 12, 16, 20, and 26 millimeters are enclosed in a wooden presentation box that protects the tools from rust, dust, and water. It is also a great option for gifting someone.
The tool handles are made from stained European Beech, and the steel part is forged from high-quality Cr-Mn steel alloy. The chisels are heat-treated up to 59HRc for durability and long-lasting service. All the chisels are fully grounded and sharpened when packed. In addition, the tools have been stained and waxed for durability and reliability. You also get an ergonomic grip with an oval cross-section. Each chisel comes with a steel ferrule and hoop to withstand vigorous mallet work.
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Handsaw: GreatNeck 74004 20 Inch Aggressive Tooth Handsaw
A handsaw is used to cut wood pieces into different shapes to join them together. A handsaw often works like a table saw and track saw, but its application is limited because it needs time and strength to cut large pieces and make repetitive cuts. However, a beginner must master a handsaw before he can move to advanced saws.
GreatNeck’s handsaw is a feasible option for working on small projects. It is an aggressive tooth handsaw for quick cutting. The saw features an aluminum frame with a composite handle. The induction hardened tri-ground tooth design provides efficient and faster cutting. It uses an SK-5 steel blade which delivers the toughness and edge retention. The preventive coating keeps the blade safer and prevents drag while cutting. Hence, enabling the blade to go a long time before you can sharpen it.
The heavy-duty aluminum frame with an anti-slip ergonomic handle provides a comfortable grip and reduces hand fatigue. The tool comes with a built-in 45-degrees and 90-degrees angle marking for guided cutting. Please note that it is suitable for only making quick rough cuts. The 11 teeth per inch/12 points per inch configuration will not provide a smooth finish to your workpiece. You will then need to use a hand plane for smoothing out the edges.
You can use this handsaw for cutting wood, tree branches, PVC pipes, and shrubs/hedges in your garden.
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Screwdriver set: Magnetic Screwdriver Set
A screwdriver kit is not only required for woodworking; it is a must-have item for all households, car owners, and everyone who aspires to tighten a screw themselves instead of calling for help.
FTI’s screwdriver kit is a perfect toolbox for all beginner woodworkers. It consists of 26 screwdrivers with 14 screwdrivers and 12 precision screwdrivers. In addition, you will find 6 Phillips: PH0*75mm, PH1*75mm, PH1*100mm, PH2*38mm, PH2*100mm, PH3*150mm drivers, 6 Slotted: 3*75mm, 5*100mm, 6.5*38mm, 6.5*150mm, 8*150mm, 10*150mm and 2 Torx: T15, T20 screwdrivers.
The 12 precision screwdrivers consist of 2 Phillips: PH00, PH0, 4 Slotted: 1.5, 1.8, 2.0, 2.5, 3 Hex: 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, and 2 Torx: T5 and T6 screwdrivers.
Please note that there are 26 screwdrivers, and the 27th piece is the storage box.
All the drivers are made from 6150CRV material, which can withstand the test of time through its water-resistant and durable properties. The tips of the tool are magnetic and non-slip. The grip is soft, comfortable, and ergonomic for fatigue-free working for long hours.
All pieces are stored in a water-resistant storage case for easy access, storage, and management.
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Hammer: Thor – 712R Soft And Hard Faced Hammer
A hammer is also a critical tool for households. This model, Thor 712R, is a versatile tool. It comes with a soft and hard face. You can use the soft side to generate driving force without damaging the surface and the hard side where you need more force.
The soft side-impact reduces the force transmitted back to the hammer and makes the operation fatigue-free. The handle is made from polished wood, and the striking material is nylon. It is best to use this hammer with gloves. The face diameter is 38 millimeters, and the tool weighs 1.2 pounds (560 grams).
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Jig Saw: BLACK+DECKER Jig Saw
A jigsaw is used to cut shapes and curves in wood. Being a beginner woodworker, you will need a jigsaw for various tasks. You may have to curve cut a shape for your rack design or make a stylish and curved jewelry box for your loved one. Overall, it is a great tool to have in your arsenal. Though it is not a must-have, it can certainly make your work easy.
The best thing about this tool is its low price. Its affordable price makes it easier for beginners to buy. Black+Decker is offering a variety of features at an amazing price. You get a 5.0 amp motor that may not be very powerful compared to bigger jigsaws, but it works for beginners. The motor has a curve control feature which means that you can adjust the speed and power according to the desired cutting application. It makes your tool versatile and allows you to cut through various wood, metal, and plastic materials.
The tool can be operated at 4 different settings; 1 being the slowest and 4 being aggressive. The saw accepts U and T shank blades and comes loaded with one T-shank wood blade. Another amazing feature of this machine is that you can bevel the shoe for making angled cuts. It can make bevel cuts up to 45 degrees.
Black+Decker has improved the wire guard design compared to the previous model, which provides a clear line of sight for precise cuts. The variable-speed motor can generate a maximum speed of 3000 strokes per minute. In addition, it comes with a 6-foot cord length which reduces your dependability on a power extension.
It has a variable trigger that allows you to control the tool’s speed. In addition, it comes with a lock to hold down the trigger at a constant speed for smooth cutting. The shoe of the tool is made from solid and sturdy metal. The tool comes with everything you need to get started right away.
The Black+Decker jigsaw comes with a 2-year warranty and a 30 days money-back guarantee. It is an impressive warranty compared to industry standards, where you usually get a 1-year warranty at such a low price.
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Sandpaper: Boxed Multi-Roll Assorted Abrasive Rolls For Wood Turners
Sandpapers are used for smoothing the surface of the wood when it is ready for finishing. You can also sand down uneven joints, miscalculated edges, and round the edges for touching and working. Beginners and experts need sandpaper to smooth the edges even after cutting with high-precision tools or handsaws.
Peachtree’s 5 roll abrasive pack is a dispenser box sandpaper with sandpapers with grits you’ll need for various woodworking projects. It consists of 150 grit, 240 grit, 320 grit, 400 grit, and 600 grit sandpapers. With this box, you will not need to buy sandpapers for a very long time. Moreover, the best thing about the box’s design is that you can replace the roll after it ends and use sandpaper in the most hassle-free way. Each role is 1-inch by 20 feet. However, the width of the roll is small, and you’ll need a lot of elbow grease to get your work done. Therefore, it is ideal for smaller objects, and as a beginner woodworker working on basic projects, you will need small-width sandpaper.
It is an easy-to-use dispenser, and you can just tear off the desired length of sandpaper without needing additional tools because of the metal top installed for tearing off sandpaper strips. One thing to worry about a bit is the plastic box. It can easily get damaged. But, wait a minute, you can make a wooden enclosure for your sandpaper dispenser as one of your baby projects and amaze your fellow woodworkers with your creativity.
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Power Tools for Woodworking
Power tools make work quick, accurate, and safe. You can complete a long tiring project in a few hours with power tools that would otherwise take a couple of hours to complete. Just think of driving 50 screws in wood manually, and then imagine driving 50 screws/nails with a power tool. You can very well understand the difference. So let’s review the best power tools for woodworking. Beginners and experts can benefit from these tools alike.
Cordless Drill: Makita XFD131 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless Drill Kit
A drill is used to make round holes and drive fasteners in the wood. Being a beginner woodworker, you will need a power drill for various projects. Makita’s XFD131 is an ideal tool for all beginner woodworkers. It is economically priced and offers the perfect power output, and features a simple woodworking project requires.
The brushless motor generates 440 inches/pounds torque and a 2-speed mechanical transmission (0-500 & 0-1900 RPM) facilities for various applications. The 18V lithium-ion battery provides ample runtime for all your projects. One full charge will complete almost all day’s work for beginners. The chuck size is ½ inches, and it is a keyless chuck that is easy to operate and ideal for beginners.
The drill weighs only 3.6 pounds, and you can work with it in tight places. For example, you don’t need to worry about hanging picture frames when you have Makita in your hands. With only 6-5/8 inches in length and a dual-LED feature, you can eliminate dark spots and work in confined spaces without any trouble.
The rubberized soft-grip handle gives a fatigue-free working experience, and all-metal gears and housing protects your machine from dust and water. In addition, Makita’s Star Protection Computer Controls
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Cordless Drill: DEWALT 20V MAX Cordless Drill / Driver Kit, Brushless, 1/2-Inch (DCD791D2)
DeWalt offers another top-of-the-line cordless drill and driver combo. The brushless motor in this tool delivers 57% more power than brushed motors and keeps the battery alive for a longer time. The machine works on a 2-speed model with speeds of 0-550/0-2000 RPM. Thus, its top speed is a bit higher than Makita’s. Though it doesn’t make much of a difference, it comes in handy when dealing with thicker wood.
The tool features 3-mode LED lighting, a compact and lightweight to facilitate working in tight and dark spots. The LED has a 20 minute delayed shutoff which increases the tool’s usability. It also helps keep your work table clear of any operational hazards. The drill uses 20V XR® lithium-ion batteries with a fuel gauge and provides 33% more runtime in one single charge over other batteries. The package includes a cordless drill/driver, two 20V batteries, a charger, a kit box, and a belt hook. In addition, DeWalt offers a 3-year warranty on its power tools.
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Electric Screwdriver: Bosch GSR12V-140FCB22 Cordless Electric Screwdriver
An electric screwdriver is used to drive screws in the wood. Without a powered screwdriver, woodworking would become laborious for hobbyists and DIY individuals. Bosch’s GSR 140FCB22 is an ideal tool for all woodworkers looking for a high-quality and powerful electric screwdriver.
A 2.0 Ah 12V battery powers the brushless motor. One full recharge delivers enough power to deal with a day’s work without any downtimes. The 5-in-1 system delivers outstanding power and workability in a compact size. The kit comes with a ¼-inch keyless chuck, a locking bit holder, an offset angle, and a right angle to attach to the tool with a one-click interface. This feature makes the machine easy to use and beginner-friendly.
The right-angle attachment is for tight space and is compatible with all three other adapters. The offset angle attachment is best for driving screws close to the edges of the workpiece. You can rotate both attachments to 16 different positions without the need to remove them. The locking bit holds work bits securely for high-speed drilling, and the keyless chuck provides stability during standard drilling.
The unit produces 265 inches/pounds torque, and variable speed settings can deliver a no-load speed 0-400/0-1300 RPM speed. The package contains the drill driver tool, keyless chuck attachment, locking bit holder, right-angle attachment, two 12V lithium-ion batteries, one charger, and a carry bag.
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Hammer Drill: DEWALT 20V MAX XR Hammer Drill Kit (DCD996P2)
DeWalt’s DCD996P2 is a powerful and versatile machine. You can use it for drilling in wood, masonry materials, and hammer drilling in wood. DeWalt’s brushless motor delivers 75% more power than an ordinary brushed motor. Its XR® Li-Ion batteries are 33% more powerful than standard lithium-ion batteries. The batteries have a fuel gauge to keep you updated about the battery life.
The machine comes with a ½ inch metal ratcheting chuck for a quick bit replacement. The tool delivers 0-450 / 0-1300 / 0-2000 RPM in drill mode, 0-38250 BPM for fast drilling in masonry materials, and 0-500 / 0-1500 / 0-2250 RPM in hammer drilling mode. Its speed makes it one of the most powerful cordless drills. The 3-speed metal transmission system optimizes tool-to-task speed for fast applications in tough materials.
The LED light with a 20-minute delayed shutoff feature allows extended work time in dark places. The package includes a hammer drill, two 20V batteries, a battery charger, belt hook, 360-degrees side handle, and a kit box for storage. DeWalt offers a 90-days money-back guarantee, 1-year free service, and a 3-year limited warranty on all its products.
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Impact Driver: PORTER-CABLE 20V MAX Impact Driver Kit (PCCK647LB)
Impact drills, commonly known as impact drivers, are tools used to drive screws quickly. An impact driver comes in handy when you have to drive in a lot of screws. It uses rotational motion to drive the screws and uses power bursts when it feels resistance in the wood. An impact driver works where a power drill fails.
Porter-Cable’s 20-volt maximum impact driver is an ideal tool for projects like a treehouse or other projects involving many screws, and you want to get the work done quickly. The tool uses a brushless motor and provides 50% more power than brushed motors. The motor produces 1400 inch/pounds torque for large fastening applications. The maximum RPM generated by the machine is 2700. A ¼-inch keyless provides quick and tool-free bit replacement.
The 20V lithium-ion batteries keep the tool running for a long time. So your fastening applications will go as smoothly as you have planned. The tool comes with a 90 days money-back guarantee, 1-year free service, and 3-year limited warranty. Please note that the battery and charger are sold separately.
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FAQs
Things made out of wood have a huge market all over the world. Projects like wooden toys, coat racks, wooden trays, fruit bowls, picture frames, plant boxes, wall shelves can be great ideas to make money.
You will need wood sheets, safety gear, basic woodworking tools, and project layouts. However, you don’t need any technical knowledge to start and finish basic woodworking projects.
All the project ideas listed and discussed above are easy to make and don’t require advanced tools.
You will need to use already laid out guidance if you are a beginner. However, once you get the hang of the process, you can make your work plans.
You can sharpen woodworking hand tools manually with a file or use a tool.
Woodworking hand tools are available at home improvement stores, online retailers, and you can also buy them at woodworking exhibitions.
Final Word
You need time and patience along with the right tools to master the art of woodworking. We have presented you with the best tools, some practical and easy DIY woodworking ideas for beginners. You can now try your luck with woodworking. Who knows, you earn a big name here.
All the best!
