HUB 02

Woodworking Power Tools

Routers, planers, jointers and saws — ranked for a home shop, priced live, and framed around the decision you're actually making.

Power tools are where a woodworking budget gets serious, so this hub is organized around the decisions that cost the most to get wrong. A routeris the single most versatile machine most shops own, which is exactly why the "best router" question splits into three real questions — a compact trim router, a mid-size combo, or a big fixed unit for a router table. A benchtop planer and a jointer look similar and do opposite jobs; buying the wrong one first is the most common milling mistake, which is why we put a comparison page next to both roundups.

The saws follow the same logic. A track saw and a table sawoverlap enough that a small shop rarely needs both on day one — and which one you should buy first depends on whether you break down sheet goods or rip solid stock, not on which is "better". We wrote the head-to-head so you can make that call in a paragraph instead of a week of forum threads.

Amazon carries the bulk of this category — benchtop planers, jointers, routers, track saws, sanders — at prices a home shop actually pays. The exceptions are the big cabinet-class machines (industrial table saws, large jointers) that live in a different budget and usually ship from specialist dealers; where a premium alternative matters, we name it and explain the jump without leaving you a dead buy button.

Every roundup here segments by shop size and budget, because a jobsite table saw that is perfect for a one-car garage is the wrong answer for someone building a dedicated shop — and vice versa. Start with the router or planer roundup if you are filling gaps, or read jointer vs planer first if you are about to spend on milling and want to spend once.

The saws and machines each have their own ranking now: table saws, track saws, bandsaws, benchtop jointers, random orbital sanders and router tables. If you are choosing between ripping and crosscutting first, read table saw vs miter saw.

Also in this hub: the best miter saws ranked for a wood shop rather than a framing crew, the best drill presses and oscillating spindle sanders, and the two consumables that improve a machine more than replacing it would — the best table saw blades and the best router bits. If you are still working out what a router actually needs, start with router bit types explained and plunge vs fixed base.

Two accessories that change what a machine can do rather than the machine itself: the best miter gauge for a table saw— the stock gauge is the weakest part of most saws, and the fix is indexed angle stops plus a bar that does not rattle in the slot — and the best Forstner bits, ranked on steel and rim design rather than on how many pieces are in the box.

Also ranked here: the best wood shapers— five single-phase machines that are genuinely in stock, ranked on the power your shop can actually supply, spindle and speed range, and table size. It opens with the answer most readers need first, which is that a router table does a large share of this work for a fraction of the money.

Before that, on routers specifically: a straight answer to which router you should buy— trim, fixed base or plunge, decided by what you make — plus two reference pages, the router bit speed chart with manufacturer-published maximum RPM by cutting diameter, and 1/4 vs 1/2-inch shanks, which is the collet decision that outlives the router itself.

Also here: the best cordless drills — ranked for a wood shop rather than a framing crew, on the chuck that actually holds a Forstner bit, the clutch resolution that stops a screw stripping in hardwood and how slowly first gear will turn. Before that: the best brad nailers— the third hand that holds a glued joint closed so you need three clamps instead of eleven — and the best scroll saws, the one machine here that cuts a closed shape out of the middle of a panel.

Four pages settling comparisons this hub kept inviting: track saw vs circular saw (one cuts the finished edge, the other cuts an edge you clean up later), bandsaw vs scroll saw— which turns on whether the cut starts at the edge of the board or in the middle of it — drum sander vs planer, and the sanding grit progression that every machine on this page eventually hands off to.

Also here and easy to miss: table saw vs band saw, the best wood lathes for the one machine in the shop that cuts round, the best CNC machines for woodworking at the hobby end of the market, and helical vs straight cutterheads — the planer decision that costs the most to change your mind about.

New this round, all on sanding: the best sander for refinishing furniture (where the criteria invert, because you are removing a coating rather than wood), how to use a random orbital sander — the seven rules that decide the surface — and why your sander leaves swirl marks, which is a diagnosis page rather than an excuse to buy another tool.

Two pages here are about what goes wrong rather than what to buy: how to sand end grain, the surface that makes stain go blotchy and sanders burnish, and how to prevent tearout, which covers the saw, the planer and the router together because the cause is the same in all three.

Added this round, both about what you feed a machine rather than the machine itself: the best bandsaw blades— a fresh blade changes more about how a bandsaw cuts than a new saw would, and length is a fit specification before width or pitch are preferences — and brad nailer vs finish nailer, where the whole decision comes down to nail diameter and whether there is glue in the joint.

Two more are new. The best circular sawfinally ranks the tool this hub has been comparing other machines against for a year — the saw that makes a sheet of plywood small enough to handle, decided on the flatness of its shoe rather than on amperage. And the best wood turning tools is the tooling page the lathe roundup never had: four tools do almost all the work at a lathe, and handle length matters more than the piece count on the box.

Added this round: the best oscillating multi-tool, the last common power-tool category with no page here. It opens with the honest gate — a jigsaw, a sander and a chisel each beat it at their own job — then ranks six tools on the one specification that predicts how fast they cut and that most makers do not publish at all: the oscillation angle.

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The Best Woodworking Routers

The word 'router' covers three tools — a trim router, a mid-size combo, or a table router. We rank six and tell you which job each one is really for.

Top pick: Bosch 1617EVSPK Router Combo$230.00 · Amazon

Read the guide →

Everything in this hub

All power tools guides

Roundup
The Best Woodworking Routers
The word 'router' covers three tools — a trim router, a mid-size combo, or a table router. We rank six and tell you which job each one is really for.
Top pick: Bosch 1617EVSPK Router Combo$230.00 · Amazon
Roundup
The Best Benchtop Planers
Three-knife heads cut clean and cost less; spiral heads tear out far less on figured wood and run quieter. We rank five and tell you which head your stock needs.
Top pick: DeWalt DW735X 13-in Thickness Planer$754.99 · Amazon
Roundup
The Best Table Saw for a Small Shop
Rip capacity and fence quality decide a table saw. We rank five jobsite and contractor saws on those two things and say which one your shop actually needs.
Top pick: DeWalt DWE7491RS 10-in Jobsite Table Saw$649.00 · Amazon
Roundup
The Best Track Saw for Breaking Down Sheet Goods
A track saw turns a sheet of plywood into cabinet parts on the floor, with a jointed edge. We rank six and show what the rails really add to the price.
Top pick: Festool TS 55 FEQ-F Plunge-Cut Track Saw (Plus-FS)$818.00 · Amazon
Roundup
The Best Random Orbital Sander for Woodworking
Six random orbital sanders ranked on finish, dust capture and comfort — and the honest note that your grit sequence matters more than your sander.
Top pick: Bosch ROS20VSC 5-in Random Orbit Sander$69.00 · Amazon
Roundup
The Best Benchtop Jointer for a Small Shop
A benchtop jointer flattens a face and straightens an edge in a shop with no room for a floor machine. Five ranked, with the bed-length limit stated plainly.
Top pick: WEN JT630H 6-in Spiral Benchtop Jointer$273.83 · Amazon
Roundup
The Best Bandsaw for a Home Wood Shop
Curves, resawing and joinery a table saw cannot touch. Four bandsaws ranked from 9-inch benchtop to 14-inch resaw, with the frame-rigidity story explained.
Top pick: Woodskil 10-in Dual-Speed Band Saw with Stand$303.05 · Amazon
Roundup
The Best Router Table for a Home Shop
A router table turns a handheld router into a small shaper. Five ranked on flatness, fence precision and dust capture — plus what a lift does and does not buy you.
Top pick: Bosch RA1181 Benchtop Router Table$289.00 · Amazon
Roundup
The Best Router Bits
Buy a cheap set to find out which profiles you use, then buy those three properly. We rank the sets and the individual bits worth upgrading to.
Top pick: Whiteside 401 Basic Router Bit Set (7 pc, 1/2 in shank)$141.35 · Amazon
Roundup
The Best Table Saw Blades
A better blade improves a cheap saw more than a better saw improves a cheap blade. Tooth count, grind and kerf explained, with six blades ranked.
Top pick: Diablo D1050X 10-in Combination Blade (50T)$42.97 · Amazon
Roundup
The Best Miter Saws
Slider or chopper, 10 inch or 12, single or dual bevel — the three decisions that set the price. Six saws ranked for a home wood shop.
Top pick: DeWalt DWS779 12-in Double-Bevel Sliding Miter Saw$605.73 · Amazon
Roundup
The Best Drill Press for Woodworking
A drill press buys you one thing: a hole that is exactly perpendicular, every time. Five benchtop machines ranked on swing, speed range and real woodworking use.
Top pick: SKIL DP9505-00 10-in Benchtop Drill Press$219.00 · Amazon
Roundup
The Best Oscillating Spindle Sanders
Oscillation is what stops the sleeve burning a track into your curve. Five benchtop sanders ranked, plus the two-in-one machines worth considering in a small shop.
Top pick: Triton TSPS450 Cast-Iron Oscillating Spindle Sander$313.27 · Amazon
Head to head
Jointer vs Planer: Which Should You Buy First?
A jointer flattens and straightens; a planer thicknesses. They do opposite jobs — and for most home shops the planer is the smarter first buy. Here's why.
Top pick: DeWalt DW735X 13-in Thickness Planer$754.99 · Amazon
Head to head
Table Saw vs Track Saw: Which for a Small Shop?
A track saw breaks down sheet goods in a tight space; a table saw rips solid stock fast. A small shop rarely needs both first — we tell you which to start with.
Top pick: Makita SP6000J Plunge Track Saw$628.64 · Amazon
Head to head
Table Saw vs Miter Saw
A table saw rips along the grain; a miter saw crosscuts across it. Which one comes first depends on your work — here is how to decide in a paragraph.
Top pick: DeWalt DWE7491RS 10-in Jobsite Table Saw$649.00 · Amazon
Head to head
Plunge vs Fixed Base Router
A plunge base starts cuts in the middle of a board; a fixed base is steadier for edges and lives in a router table. The honest answer for most shops is a combo kit.
Top pick: Bosch 1617EVSPK Router Combo$230.00 · Amazon
Roundup
The Best Drum Sanders for Woodworking
Drum sanders sized by two-pass width and horsepower, with the honest warning that a planer does thicknessing better and cheaper. Live prices on every pick.
Top pick: JET JWDS-1632 16-Inch Drum Sander, Open StandCheck price →
Roundup
The Best CNC Machines for Woodworking
Desktop CNC routers ranked on work area and frame rigidity, with a straight account of the software and setup time. Live prices on every pick.
Top pick: Genmitsu PROVerXL 4030 CNC Router$949.00 · Amazon
Roundup
The Best Wood Lathes for a Home Shop
Mini and midi lathes ranked on swing, bed length and speed control, with a clear warning about the tool and sharpening budget nobody quotes. Live prices on every pick.
Top pick: JET JWL-1015VS 10 x 15 Variable-Speed Wood Lathe$714.99 · Amazon
Roundup
The Best Jigsaws for Woodworking
Jigsaws ranked on cut squareness, grip style and blade change, with the blade guidance that matters more than the tool. Live prices on every pick.
Top pick: Bosch JS470E Top-Handle Jigsaw, 7.0 A$179.00 · Amazon
Head to head
Table Saw vs Circular Saw
The table saw takes a repeatable cut; the circular saw goes to the work. Which to buy first, decided by shop size and what you build, in a paragraph.
Top pick: Makita 5007MG Magnesium 7-1/4-Inch Circular Saw$189.90 · Amazon
Head to head
Table Saw vs Band Saw
Straight and repeatable versus curved and resaw-capable. The two machines overlap far less than people assume — here is how to choose between them.
Top pick: DeWalt DWE7491RS 10-in Jobsite Table Saw$649.00 · Amazon
Roundup
The Best Scroll Saws for Woodworking
Scroll saws ranked on arm geometry, vibration, throat depth and blade change, with the pinned-vs-pinless blade advice that decides how fine you can cut. Live prices on every pick.
Top pick: DEWALT DW788 20-Inch Variable-Speed Scroll Saw$499.00 · Amazon
Roundup
The Best Brad Nailer for Woodworking
Brad nailers ranked on nose geometry, depth consistency and jam handling, with the gauge and compressor advice that decides which one you should own. Live prices on every pick.
Top pick: Metabo HPT NT50AE2 18-Gauge Pneumatic Brad Nailer$59.00 · Amazon
Roundup
The Best Cordless Drill for Woodworking
Five cordless drills ranked for a wood shop on chuck quality, clutch resolution and how slow first gear will go — plus the honest case for a 12V drill as your second one. Live prices on every pick.
Top pick: Bosch GSR18V-400B22 18V Compact Brushless 1/2 in. Drill/Driver KitCheck price →
Roundup
The Best Wood Shapers
Five single-phase shapers ranked on the power your shop can actually supply. Plus the buyer-first answer most home shops need first: a router table does a large share of this work for a fraction of the money.
Top pick: JET JWS-35X3-1 3 HP Spindle Shaper$3,816.51 · Amazon
Roundup
The Best Belt Sanders for Woodworking
Belt sanders ranked on belt width, speed control, tracking and dust, handheld and benchtop, with the honest advice about when a random orbital or a plane is the better tool. Live prices on every pick.
Top pick: Makita 9403 4 x 24 in. Belt SanderCheck price →
Roundup
Best Miter Gauge for a Table Saw
The Incra Miter 1000SE is the miter gauge to buy, with the Kreg KMS7102 the better choice if your crosscuts are mostly square. Five gauges ranked on indexed stops, slot fit and fence, with live prices.
Top pick: Incra Miter 1000SE Miter Gauge (18–31 in Fence)$165.95 · Amazon
Roundup
Best Forstner Bits
The Freud PB-107B is the Forstner set to buy for furniture work, with the Irwin Marples 14-piece the one to get if you need size coverage first. Five sets compared on steel, rim design and sizes, with live prices.
Top pick: Freud PB-107B Forstner Bit Set (7 pc, 1/4–1 in)$92.97 · Amazon
Head to head
Track Saw vs Circular Saw
A track saw cuts a finished, splinter-free edge and a circular saw cuts a rough one you clean up later. Six saws ranked across both families — the Makita SP6000J for cut quality, the Makita 5007MG if a rough edge is fine. Live prices on every pick.
Top pick: Makita SP6000J Plunge Track Saw$628.64 · Amazon
Head to head
Bandsaw vs Scroll Saw
A bandsaw has a continuous loop blade and cuts from the edge inward; a scroll saw takes a blade you thread through a drilled hole and cuts enclosed shapes. The JET JWBS-14SFX if you need capacity, the DEWALT DW788 if you need detail. Live prices on four saws.
Top pick: JET JWBS-14SFX 14-in Bandsaw$1,549.00 · Amazon
Head to head
Drum Sander vs Planer
Buy the planer first: it removes stock an order of magnitude faster and costs less. Buy the drum sander when figured wood, thin stock or glued-up panels start tearing out. The DeWalt DW735X and the JET JWDS-1632 compared, with live prices on four machines.
Top pick: DeWalt DW735X 13-in Thickness Planer$754.99 · Amazon
Roundup
Best Sander for Refinishing Furniture
A 5 in. random orbit sander with real speed control is the right tool for refinishing furniture, and the Bosch ROS20VSC is the one to buy. Six sanders ranked for stripping, flattening and final passes, with live prices.
Top pick: Bosch ROS20VSC 5-in Random Orbit Sander$69.00 · Amazon
Roundup
Best Bandsaw Blades
Leave a 1/2 in. 3 TPI blade on the saw and it will do almost everything — the Olson All Pro is the one to buy. Six 93-1/2 in. blades ranked for resawing, curves and scrollwork, with live prices.
Top pick: Olson APG72693 All Pro PGT Bandsaw Blade (1/2 in., 3 TPI, 93-1/2 in.)$23.71 · Amazon
Head to head
Brad Nailer vs Finish Nailer
Buy the brad nailer first: 18-gauge holds trim while glue cures and leaves a hole you can ignore. Six nailers across both gauges, with the one job each is genuinely better at and live prices.
Top pick: Metabo HPT NT50AE2 18-Gauge Pneumatic Brad Nailer$59.00 · Amazon
Roundup
Best Circular Saw for Woodworking
The Makita 5007MG is the one to buy: a magnesium shoe that stays flat, light enough to control at the end of a long rip. Six saws ranked for sheet goods, framing stock and cordless work, with live prices.
Top pick: Makita 5007MG Magnesium 7-1/4-Inch Circular Saw$189.90 · Amazon
Roundup
Best Wood Turning Tools
Start with the PSI Woodworking LCHSS8: eight M2 high-speed-steel tools for less than one premium gouge. Six turning tools ranked on steel, bar size and handle length, with live prices.
Top pick: PSI Woodworking LCHSS8 8-Piece HSS Wood Lathe Chisel Set$84.95 · Amazon
Roundup
Best Oscillating Multi-Tool for Woodworking
The Dremel MM50-01 is the honest buy for a furniture shop: a complete corded kit at a price that matches how rarely you need one. Six multi-tools compared on oscillation angle, blade mount and vibration, with live prices.
Top pick: Dremel MM50-01 Multi-Max Oscillating Tool Kit$94.99 · Amazon
Buyer's guide
Router Bit Types Explained
Straight, spiral, flush-trim, edge-forming, rabbeting and joinery bits — what each family is for, why 1/2-inch shanks cut steadier, and the speed rule for large bits.
Buyer's guide
Helical vs Straight Cutterheads
What a helical cutterhead actually changes: tear-out in figured wood, noise, and a knife change that becomes a screwdriver job. Plus who genuinely needs one.
Top pick: Cutech 13-in Spiral Planer$499.99 · Amazon
Buyer's guide
Which Router Should You Buy?
Trim, fixed-base and plunge compared head-on, decided by what you make rather than by horsepower. Plus the collet and table-mount details that decide it for you.
Buyer's guide
1/4 vs 1/2-Inch Router Bit Shanks
Doubling shank diameter multiplies stiffness far more than twofold, which is why big profiles chatter on 1/4-inch shanks. When the small shank is fine, and why adapters disappoint.
Top pick: Yonico 17150 Router Bit Set (15 pc, 1/2 in shank)$49.95 · Amazon
Buyer's guide
Router Bit Speed Chart
Published max RPM from a named manufacturer for seven bit diameters, the computed tip speed for each, and how to set your router when the bit has no marking.
Buyer's guide
Sanding Grit Progression for Wood
The grit sequence that works: start at the coarsest grit the defect needs, step up without skipping more than one grade, and stop at 150-180 before stain or 220 before film finish. Includes a grit chart and three random orbital sanders.
Top pick: Bosch ROS20VSC 5-in Random Orbit Sander$69.00 · Amazon
Buyer's guide
How to Use a Random Orbital Sander
Let the weight of the tool do the work, move about an inch per second, overlap half a pad, and never start or stop the sander off the wood. The seven rules that decide the surface, plus what to buy.
Top pick: Bosch ROS20VSC 5-in Random Orbit Sander$69.00 · Amazon
Buyer's guide
Why Your Sander Leaves Swirl Marks
Swirl marks have six causes: loaded abrasive, too much pressure, a skipped grit, trapped dust, a tilted pad, or one stray coarse grain. How to tell which, in diagnostic order, and what actually fixes it.
Top pick: Bosch ROS20VSC 5-in Random Orbit Sander$69.00 · Amazon
Buyer's guide
How to Sand End Grain
Sand end grain one or two grits finer than the face, keep the sander moving, raise the grain with a damp cloth before the final pass, and seal it before stain. The full sequence, plus the tools that make it quick.
Top pick: Bosch ROS20VSC 5-in Random Orbit Sander$69.00 · Amazon
Buyer's guide
How to Prevent Tearout
Read the grain, take lighter cuts, back the exit and keep the cutters sharp. The causes of tearout on a planer, router and table saw, the fixes in the order worth trying, and the tools that help most.
Top pick: Diablo D1080X 10-in Fine Finish Blade (80T)$65.71 · Amazon