You get to a point in your woodworking journey where you’re inevitably faced with a tough question — does it make sense to buy the best woodworking tools? Is it okay to get whatever is cheapest? Which approach makes the most sense?
At Long Island Woodworking Supply, our mission is to supply woodworkers with the essential woodworking tools they need to complete any project. That’s why we’re breaking down the approach that we believe is best in today’s post. Keep reading to learn more, or shop our full selection of woodworking equipment today.
As a woodworking supply company, we know that different people have different needs. Of course, there are different skill levels as well. So which approach is right for you? Do you need to spend a lot of money to be happy? Will a more expensive tool do the job better? Let’s take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of each approach.
There are a handful of must-have woodworking tools that belong in every shop. Some of these items include hand tools such as hammers, chisels, and screwdrivers. Other times you may need a particular tool such as a bandsaw, table saw, or lathe.
The advantages of basic tools is often that they’re less expensive. This is perfect for the vast majority of woodworkers, and that’s especially true if you consider woodworking a hobby or you’re just starting out. In fact, many people can get by for years with just the basics, only upgrading when they have a genuine need or a tool breaks.
If you’re an advanced woodworker or you’re incredibly passionate about your craft, sometimes it makes the most sense to get the best woodworking tools you can. Not only are these tools made better, but in many instances, they’ll last for much longer than their less expensive counterparts.
When you depend on your tools to make a living, it’s important to ensure that the must-have woodworking tools you need for your job can stand up to everyday use. One of the best things about these tools is that if you care for them properly, they’re designed to last a lifetime — and then some!
Every person will prefer a different approach, but our advice if you’re just starting out is to get the basics. Learn about each tool, learn how to care for it, and put it to good use. Over time, you’ll learn what you like and dislike about the tool, allowing you to better shop for a replacement when the time comes.
Of course, there’s also an argument to be made for starting with the best tools you can get. Not only will this make your woodworking experience that much easier, but there’s also less of a chance that you’ll ever need to upgrade.
At the end of the day, the best approach is probably somewhere in the middle. For example, if you know you’re going to use your bandsaw every day, it makes sense to spend a bit more money to get a quality bandsaw and then upgrade your bandsaw blades, keeping a variety of sizes in stock to accommodate different resawing needs. If you know you’ll only be using screwdrivers occasionally, it’s probably going to be just fine to pick up a set from the hardware store.
In other words, if it makes sense to get the best tools you can right out of the gate, that’s probably the route to take. If you’re unsure of how much you’ll use a tool, you can probably spend less upfront knowing that you may never feel the need to upgrade. Ultimately, it’s a personal decision, and the best thing you can do is to be informed. Spend time doing research about the tools you’re likely to use and choose something that fits your specific needs.
At Long Island Woodworking Supply, we strive to be the best online tool supplier in the business. That’s why if you have questions about our products, our representatives would absolutely love to chat with you. We feel incredibly honored to be able to do what we do for a living and nothing gives us greater joy than helping our fellow woodworkers to get the products they need to complete any project. Whether you’re just starting your woodworking journey or you’ve been at it for decades, we believe that you’ll find everything you need to bring your next project to life right here at Long Island Woodworking Supply.
We’re proud to offer a great selection of wood burning kits, wood turning tools, hand tools, blades, clamps, vises, sharpening supplies, safety and protective gear, Japanese tools, power carvers, finishing supplies, adhesives, and more. In other words, whatever you need, we have it here.
Have questions about the woodworking tools and supplies we offer? We carry only the best brands in the business and as we mentioned above, we’d be happy to chat with you to ensure you get the right tool for the job. Learn more about who we are, get in touch with a member of our team, or shop our entire selection of products. Either way, we think you’ll be pleased with the experience we offer. We look forward to making your tool-buying experience a pleasure!
