With the set of perfect tools, newbie carpenters can go a long way for any task quite smoothly. But it may seem challenging for beginners to find out the must-have carpenter tools easily. Since there are a range of tool types and each type of tool comes in lots of variations. That’s why newbie carpenters must choose their tools wisely.

To make the hectic process easy and less time consuming, we will mention the most basic tools from various categories like hand tools, power tools, and so on.   

Must-Have Carpenter Tools List for Beginners

We can breakdown the carpenter tools into different types. For the sake of easy understanding, we will mention the most necessary tools under some broad categories.

Carpentry Hand Tools

Hammer

Hammer is one of the most basic tools while you are doing simple or critical woodworking. Hammers are available in different forms and types like a claw hammer, framing hammer, mallet hammer, etc. You can choose any of them depending on your preference. If you are not so sure, we will recommend you to start with a claw hammer and a framing hammer. 

Tape Measure

The tape measure is another must-have tool to do carpentry with precision and perfection. From beginners to experts, everyone needs this tool now and then. The retractable metal tape is the perfect match in this regard. 

It will be great if the measuring tape has a belt clip for instant access and comes with both inches and feet metric. You can also consider the laser tapes but they are costly and not perfect for beginners. Try to arrange your small tools within a carpenter tool belt for easy access and findings.

Levels

For carpentry, you may need multiple levels but at least one of them is a must. Levels help you acquire the horizontal lines and vertical ones correctly. You will find bubble reading for level and plumb. Generally, a 2-foot level will do most of the tasks. For framing the 4-foot level is used. 

Screwdrivers

Screwdrivers are one of the most essential hand tools. There are various types of them like Phillips and slot, flathead, star drivers, and Torx drivers. Each of them has a specific purpose and you will need them all for different tasks.  

Carpenter’s Pencil

Carpenters need a pencil to mark specific points and parts of the wood. You can choose any basic pencil according to your choice. For better productivity, you can sharpen both ends of the pencil. This way you can save some time from sharpening the pencil frequently. 

Chalk Line and Chalk Line Clamp

Sometimes you need to mark a long and flat area. Chalk lines come into play in this regard. It is better to keep two different color chalks. 

Chalk line clamp is the latest addition which is used to eliminate the necessity of two people to draw a line. 

Utility Knife

A utility knife is a perfect multipurpose tool. It will help you sharpen the pencil as well as open various boxes and packets whenever it is necessary. You may also use it to smoothen the rough end of a piece just before finishing the wood. There are various forms of utility knives. You should choose one that comes with multiple blades, a clipping belt, and a sturdy finish. 

Hand Saw

Hand saw is one of the most traditional tools for carpentry. It is handy and you can completely control the cut. But hand saws are not a replacement for power saws. You can always think of a power saw but it is better to have a good hand saw as well. You will need some practice and expertise to use the hand saw perfectly. 

Hand Drill

The hand drill is another traditional yet good to have tool. It will help you driving nails easily. 

Speed Square

The speed square is a great guide for carpentry. It will help you acquire both 45 and 90 degrees cut precisely while making basic measurements very easy. It is a perfect combination of try square, framing square, and square.

Wood Chisel

Wood chisels are essential for a precise clean cut. They are available from ¼ inch to 2 inches long. With them, you can easily chip out the wood for door hinges. There are corner chisels that can be used as a hole punch. 

Nail Puller

While woodworking, you will have to pull nails for different reasons. A quality nail puller can easily do the task. 

Clamps

Clamps will help you out whenever you need an extra hand especially for repairing furniture. There are various types of clamps like bar clamps, miter clamps, c-clamps. For emergency tasks, you can rent some additional clamps for larger projects. 

Essential Power Tools

Power Drill

Very often you may need to make lots of holes or drive fasteners. Power drills can solve the issue like magic. They come with various sized drill bits so that you can make a range of hole depending on the task. You can choose either the electric ones or the battery-powered ones. The cordless power drills come with great versatility and ease of use. But you have to maintain the battery charging properly. 

Circular Saw

A circular saw can be a great replacement for any hand saw for beginners. To operate hand saws properly, you will need a certain skill. For circular saws, that is not the case. Beginners can easily operate circular saws with proper care. There are blade variations for a circular saw. You will have crosscut, ripping, or combine blade options. The ripping ones cut following the grain while crosscut ones cut across the grain and combine types provide both of the cuttings.  So, you have to choose according to your preference. 

Jigsaw

Jigsaws are great for versatile purposes and will help you out wherever you need to cut boards to a rough size. You can easily cut a circle from a wooden piece. These saws are useful for DIY projects. But you should never rely on them for a straight cut. 

Planer

You can use hand planes but it is tiring and time-consuming. On the other hand, electric planers are easy to use and will provide great finishing. Moreover, quality planers are designed to be adjusted to evenly smooth surfaces. 

Extension Cable

Extension cables play vital roles whenever you need to cover a longer distance. These cables easily extend the power source. You can use the cables and put them back into a safe place without any hassle. Moreover, the cables are designed to be used outdoors, in sunlight, and in wet areas. 

For Storage and Organization

Work Bench

A perfectly built workbench will add a great dimension to your entire tools list and workshop. Generally, most of the workbenches measure from 32 to 34 inches high. But you can build your own custom sized workbench. 

Scrap Bin

After finishing any project, you will have a great amount of wood scrap that you should never throw away. You never know when wood scrap will help you out. So always grab a medium to a large-sized bin to store the wood scrap.

Tool Belt

While working on a site or around your own house, you must wear a well-designed carpenter’s tool belt. A carpenter’s tool belt will help you organize the most necessary tools easily while giving you instant access to the tools. 

Protective Gears

Respirator

You may wonder why you need a respirator. In a wood workshop, a significant amount of sawdust and wood particles remain in the air. Inhaling them for short period may not cause any problem but long-term inhalation will cause respiratory issues. So, you should get a good respirator, whenever it is convenient for you.  

Hair Ties

Those who have long hair should take extra protection while using any power tools. It is safer to tie the hair otherwise, dangling hair may result in fatal injury. 

Eye Protection

No one should ever any power tools without any eye protection. If you can’t afford quality goggles or a face shield, you should at least get safety glasses. 

Ear Protection

When you are using power tools in a noisy environment it is better to use ear protective gears. We will suggest using safety rated headphones. You may also consider the in-ear plugs but keep in mind that they provide less protection.

Maintenance of The Tools

Whether you are an expert or beginner in carpentry, you need to take proper care of your tools. Having the perfect set of tools is not enough. Without taking proper care, you cannot use the tools for a long time. 

You have to clean and organize your tools regularly. For hand tools, you will have to sharpen them properly. For power tools, take care of the cords and recharge the batteries accordingly. 

As a carpenter, your skill and sincerity also depend on your care and maintenance of the tools. Try this Tool Organized blog to learn some basic tool organizing tips and tricks.

The Verdict

We have mentioned only the very basic carpenter tools that every beginner should keep in their collection. With time and the development of skills, new tools are to be added to one’s workshop. Hopefully, beginner carpenters will find the above list handy as a starting point. Good luck with your carpentry!