Synopsis: What tools are on the must-have list for Fine Woodworking editors? Depends who you ask. We polled our pool of expert woodworkers to find out their picks for the best tool values on the market.

From Fine Woodworking #209

 

It never fails. Put a few woodworkers in the same room for an hour and, almost certainly, the talk gravitates toward favorite tools. And at Fine Woodworking, there are always a few woodworkers in the same room, so the discussion happens daily. With that in mind, we thought readers might like to know which tools are our favorites. We asked staff editors, contributing editors, and regular contributors to tell us about the tool they’d hate to lose. We had only two rules: The tool had to be a relatively new one, so readers could find it easily in a store or online. And, because our current economy is less than robust, we asked them to make sure the tool was also a good value.

Go-anywhere featherboard
Ripcuts, especially narrow ones, can be dangerous because you have to hold the workpiece firmly against the fence while pushing it through the blade. One slip-up, and the blade can catch the piece and kick it back at you, potentially pulling your hand into the blade. A featherboard makes the task safer and easier. Positioned just in front of the blade, a featherboard keeps the workpiece firmly against the rip fence. With the featherboard on duty—and with a splitter behind the blade—there’s no need to put your fingers anywhere near the blade. A featherboard can be made in the shop without much fuss. But clamping it to the top of the tablesaw is always a challenge. You can buy versions that lock into the miter-gauge slot, but they can’t be used when the workpiece is narrower than about 2½ in. My favorite featherboard option, by far, is the relatively new Magswitch Magnetic Tablesaw Featherboard. It features a pair of powerful magnets that hold the featherboard anywhere on the tabletop (it doesn’t work on aluminum or granite). Place the featherboard where you want it, then turn the two knobs clockwise to lock it in place in an instant. Removing the featherboard is just as quick. The Magswitch Magnetic Tablesaw Featherboard sells for about $55. Go to www.magswitch.com.au for more information. It is available from numerous woodworking retailers, including Woodcraft (www.woodcraft.com).
Tom Begnal recently retired from Fine Woodworking

Small parallel clamp works great
Whenever I needed a short clamp, my first choice used to be a small bar clamp or a onehanded, Quick-Grip-style clamp. Either one got the job done, but the pads could be a problem. The small pivoting pad on my bar clamp would sometimes shift out of position as I tightened the clamp, or it would mar the workpiece.

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Fine Woodworking Recommended Products

Dustopper Pro

The Dustopper attaches to a five gallon bucket, and collects 99.9% of dust before it reaches the vacuum. This saves the life span of your disposable vacuum bags and filters.

Buy at Amazon

Compass

An essential tool for drawing circles and curves accurately. Also good for layout.

Buy at Amazon

Jorgensen 6 inch Bar Clamp Set, 4 Pack

Small light-duty clamps are best bought in quantity. These clamps are a great balance of affordability and quality—so stock up!

Buy at Amazon

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