What's After The Basic Tools?

Although the $500 basic tools will go a long way towards making some very worthwhile and structurally sound projects, they have their limitations. Woodworking is a continuing education where one has to gradually move up to develop new skills and techniques. There is only so much one can do with the miter saw and pocket hole joinery tool. Additional tools add to additional capabilities and more varieties on future projects. That's going to be your story and you are going to stick with it if their is a spouse to whom you have to sell the idea of a new expenditure. The next set of tools will depend on your budget. There is the gradual build up of tools budget and there is the sky-is-the-limit budget. This is not about the latter.

Your next tool if you only have $300 to spend is the router. For $200 you can buy a very good router with 2-1/2 hp. There are a number of brands at this price level that will give you both the fixed base and plunge capabilities. The balance of $100 can be spent on router bits and it is best to spend it on good quality bits (carbide tips) and better to just buy two to three good bits than a dozen of mediocre ones.

I'd encourage you to read up on routers before buying one and the web is the best source. I recommend a 2-1/2 hp. router because I consider that a good mid-range size that is very manageable to use free-hand and yet has enough power to use under the table if and when you decide to build a router table. This increases the capability of your router but there is no need to do that right now unless you have another $300-400 extra.

This is one of the largest routers available for home use - 3.5 hp. Although this has handles for free hand use, I'd recommend that it is used in a router table, where it is fixed upside down while the work piece is run across the bit above the table.

This is the medium sized 2.5 router with plunge capability - meaning, you can bring the running bit down gradually into the work piece by actuating a lever and pushing down on the handle. A spring will bring it up as soon as you relax the downward push.

Another 2.5 hp router with two different bases. Both these routers have dust collection capabilities. Note that they're typically located along the circular base, while one is located at the top of the base handle on the left of the picture below.

For light work and easy control with one hand for delicate routing, this 1.0 hp router is the ideal tool.

The 2.5 hp router here is installed to a lift mechanism for under the table configuration with above the table adjustment capability. More on this detail later on "The Router Table".