Woodworking on a Budget (And How It’s Actually Possible)

Woodworking on a Budget (And How It’s Actually Possible)

When you’re woodworking on a budget, the most important thing is to prioritize the most important things.

If you try to cut costs on everything, you’ll end up with a load of rubbish that you don’t even want to use, and that’s the worst possible outcome.

What you want to do is cut costs on the less important things so that you have more room in your budget for the things that really matter.

That way, you’ll be able to make something great that you’ll be proud to show off, and it won’t put a massive dent in your wallet either.

What’s important to you will change from person to person, so I’ll walk you through the different things you can cut costs on and give you the pros and cons of each method.

That way, you can choose the one that’s right for you, and get the best possible results for your budget.

By the way, if you’re looking for the absolute cheapest options, I’ve got you covered. I’ve written a whole section at the end of this post about how to do woodworking on an extremely tight budget.

Woodworking on a Budget: The Basics

There are two basic things you’ll need to start woodworking on a budget: a saw and a drill.

The reason is because you’ll be doing a lot of cutting and a lot of joining. That’s what woodworking is all about. Once you’ve got a saw and a drill, you’re ready to get started.

A Drill

A drill is one of the most versatile tools you can own. You’ll be using it for absolutely everything. You’ll definitely need a drill at some point, so you might as well get one now.

I’d recommend getting a cordless one. They’re not much more expensive than corded ones, and you’ll get a lot more use out of it because you won’t have to worry about being near a power outlet.

A Saw

There are four main types of saw you’ll be using when woodworking on a budget:

• A coping saw
• A tenon saw
• A dovetail saw
• A panel saw

You don’t need all of them. The only one you’ll really need is either a coping saw or a tenon saw. I’ll explain why you need one of them and why you might want the other three in the next section.

Woodworking on a Budget: The Advanced Version

The advanced version of woodworking on a budget is to buy tools that are extremely versatile. That way, you’ll be able to do a lot more with fewer tools.

These are the tools that you’ll be able to do that with:

• A brace
• A set of auger bits
• A set of screwdriver bits
• A set of countersink bits
• A set of spade bits
• A set of forstner bits
• A coping saw
• A tenon saw
• A dovetail saw
• A panel saw

That’s pretty much all of the tools that you’ll ever need when woodworking on a budget. You can choose which ones you want to buy based on what you’re going to be working on.

A Brace

I’ve put this one first because it’s the most important tool in the entire list. You won’t be able to do anything at all without one of these.

A brace is a tool that holds screwdriver and drill bits. It’s the only drill you’ll ever need.

A Set of Auger Bits

Auger bits are the bits that you’ll be using most often when drilling. They’re used for making holes, duh, and come in a huge range of sizes.

You’ll want to get a set of these if you want to be able to drill holes of different sizes. You can get a set of these bits for a lot cheaper than buying each size individually.

A Set of Screwdriver Bits

These are used for screwing things together. A set of these bits will also come with a bit holder that you can put in your brace to turn it into a screwdriver.

You can get a set of these bits for a lot cheaper than buying a screwdriver itself, and you’ll be able to do a lot more with them than you’d be able to with a normal screwdriver.

A Set of Countersink Bits

Countersink bits are for making conical holes in wood for screw heads to fit in. That way, the screw heads sit flush with the surface of the wood.

If you’re looking for a way to make your woodworking look more professional, then getting a set of these bits is a must.

I recommend getting a set of these bits that come with screwdriver bits and a bit holder, because that way you’ll be able to use the countersink bits in your brace.

A Set of Spade Bits

Spade bits are used for making large holes in wood. They’re perfect for drilling holes for dowels.

If you’re looking for a way to join wood together without needing to use screws or nails, then getting a set of these bits is a must.

A Set of Forstner Bits

Forstner bits are used for making large, flat-bottomed holes in wood.

The difference between forstner bits and spade bits is that forstner bits make flat-bottomed holes, whereas spade bits leave a point in the center of the hole.

Forstner bits are mainly used for making holes for washers and other things where a flat-bottomed hole is required.

A Coping Saw

A coping saw is one of the most versatile saws you can own. It’s perfect for making tight curved cuts that other saws can’t make.

You can use a coping saw to cut out any shape you want, which makes it perfect for making decorative wooden objects like models or ornaments.

A Tenon Saw

A tenon saw is just like a normal saw, but it’s a lot more precise. You can use it for making straight cuts or angled cuts, thanks to the 45-degree angle on the handle.

There’s nothing special about a tenon saw, other than its precision. That’s what makes it a worthwhile investment if you’re looking for a saw that’s more accurate than a coping saw.

A Dovetail Saw

A dovetail saw is just like a tenon saw, but it’s a lot narrower so that it can fit into tight spaces.

Dovetail saws are used for making dovetail joints, which are a type of joint that’s used for making drawers and other things where strength and aesthetics matter.

To be honest, you won’t need to get a dovetail saw unless you’re going to be making dovetail joints. That’s why I recommend getting a coping saw or a tenon saw instead. They’re a lot more versatile.

A Panel Saw

A panel saw is basically a huge tenon saw. It’s used for making really long cuts, like when you’re cutting a piece of wood in half.

I’ve put this one last because it’s the least useful. You can always use a coping saw for this, and save yourself the expense of buying a panel saw.

Woodworking on a Budget: The Absolute Cheapest Options

The absolute cheapest way to do woodworking is to use hand tools. That way, you won’t have to worry about the cost of power tools at all.

Here’s a list of the tools you’ll need to do woodworking on an extremely tight budget:

• A coping saw
• A set of chisels
• A mallet
• A good quality tape measure
• A steel square
• A good quality pencil
• A sanding block
• A set of sandpaper

These tools are good enough for making absolutely anything you want. They’re the essentials, and that’s all you need to get started.

A Set of Chisels

You’ll need a set of chisels if you’re going to be using a coping saw. That’s because you’ll be using a coping saw for cutting out shapes, and chisels for fine-tuning your work and making sure it fits together properly.

You can pick up a set of chisels for next to nothing, so they’re definitely worth getting. They’ll save you a lot of time and effort.

A Mallet

You’ll need a mallet for whacking your chisels with. That way, you’ll be able to get the chisel’s cutting edge into the wood properly, without damaging the handle of the chisel.

You can get a mallet for next to nothing, so there’s no point in not getting one. It’ll pay for itself in no time.

A Good Quality Tape Measure

You’ll need a tape measure for measuring things. You’ll be using it a lot, so it’s best to get a good quality one.

I’m guessing you already have a tape measure, but if you don’t, then it’s definitely worth getting one. It’s the cheapest thing on this list, and it’s the most useful by far.

A Steel Square

You’ll need a steel square for marking out right angles. You can use it as a fence for making straight cuts too, so it’s a useful tool to have.

You can get a steel square for next to nothing, so there’s no reason not to get one. It’s worth it for the time you’ll save alone.

A Good Quality Pencil

You’ll need a pencil for marking out your work. That way, you’ll know where to make your cuts, and you’ll be able to see your work as you go along.

You can get a pencil for next to nothing, so there’s no reason not to get one. It’ll save you a lot of time and effort.

A Sanding Block

You’ll need a sanding block for smoothing out your work. You can use sandpaper by itself, but it’ll take a lot longer and it won’t be as neat.

You can get a sanding block for next to nothing, so there’s no reason not to get one. It’ll save you a lot of time and effort.

A Set of Sandpaper

You’ll need sandpaper for smoothing out your work. You’ll need a few different types of sandpaper for getting the best results.

You can get a set of sandpaper for next to nothing, so there’s no reason not to get one. It’ll save you a lot of time and effort.