I am often asked what tools do I need to get started with crafting. The answer to this will depend on what it is you want to make. If you are looking to get into making wooden signs or are you looking at crafting by crocheting. The answer to this question really depends on what you want to make and sell. I personally got into wood crafting so I will talk about some tools I started with and what I wished I had started with.

First off, there is no real right answer to this question. It is all a matter of opinion what you want to start with or what you want to wait on purchasing. It is going to depend on your budget and what you can afford at the time you start. You can always start small and work your way up. That is probably how I should have started. So, lets tackle woodworking projects with this article. Later articles we can discuss other crafts. It is all going to depend on what it is you want to build.

First tool I feel is a necessity is a power drill. You could either purchase a battery powered drill or electric. I would recommend a battery powered drill. This can double as a screw driver too. This will also come in handy around the house for those do-it-yourself projects that, we as home owners, come up on a regular basis. Make sure you have drill bits to go along with your drill. You can get these in a set that will come with all different sizes.

Next item I think is important is a scroll saw. This is great for cutting out those small and intricate items. You can make some pretty sharp turns using a scroll saw. They also have some blades that are spiral in cutting. You don’t even have to turn the wood to cut sharp angles with these blades. Depending on how much you want to pay for a scroll saw, you can usually find a good deal on a used one. Don’t forget to get that package of assorted blades too.

A table saw can come in handy for cutting larger and longer boards. If you can purchase larger or longer boards, it is usually cheaper by the foot, the larger the board is. If this is not an option in your budget at first, some lumber stores will even make complimentary cuts for you. I have gone to a few and purchased an 8 ft section of plywood and had them cut it into thirds for me.

If a table saw is not in the budget you could also look at a miter saw or chop saw. The only disadvantage of one of these is it can’t cut wider boars, such as sheets of plywood. The one that I have, the widest board I can cut is 5 1/2″. There are some that have a sliding blade that can go wider than this. Shop around and see what works for you and what is in your budget.

Another option is the circular saw. This will help you with cutting larger, wider boards that the miter saw can not. I use mine a lot but I am still trying to master the straight cut with it. I have some tricks for this, which I will discuss in future writings. For now, it does what I need it to do.

One item I would like to mention is that you really need to have a work bench of some type. I have been know to take 2 saw horses and put a piece of thick plywood across them to use as a work bench. This works great because it is easy to take down and move to another spot.

Now for some of the small items. Of course you are going to want to get a tape measure. I would make sure you get one that is retractable and is long enough for you. I have a couple and I always hate when I go to measure something and I have my short tape measure.

So, as I discussed in one of my other articles, I started out with a scroll saw and then immediately purchased a Shop Smith. For those who don’t know what that is, it is basically an all in one power tool. This had a table saw, disc sander, drill press, planer and a band saw all in one. It also came with an industrial size shop vac. This was my tool of all tools. While I loved this machine, it was a very expensive starting tool. I will say I probably made my money back and then some with everything I made with it and sold, but unless you have the money to spend on that, I would start small. Sometimes I wish I still had it though.

I hope this sheds some light on the subject. If you have any questions or comments please leave them in the comments section below. As always, please subscribe to my blog and check out my social media pages. Hope you enjoyed reading this and I look forward to writing my next piece. Until then, keep those crafts coming!!!