What tools changed the quality of your woodworking?

Not a tool; and also not to lay it on too thick, but what you guys have taught me about setting up tools correctly and accurately.
It's been a huge leap from renovation construction to 'woodworking'.

In my case, I would say 1/4" graph paper, I already had a pencil and ruler.

Another vote for calibration equipment, I made my own dial indicator holder for both the tablesaw and drill press, and I love my Wixey gages and calipers.

The explosion of educational resources (YouTube, Forum, my Router Workshop videos) has been a godsend. There are so many guys who show you what to do (and what not to do), what is possible, how many different ways to do the same thing with different tools, etc. Before then, all my learning was from Magazines and books, which pretty much only showed one way to do things.



PS- another tool that has improved the quality of my woodworking is my magnifying glasses and new shop lighting. If you can't see well, you can't work well!

The plunge rail saw, combined with a good quality vacuum. But then I install a lot of stuff

without question: "Knowledge'............

I think I agree with Bill. It's not so much which tool but how to use them. And that applies to my hand tools too. Maybe especially to using my hand tools.

I have also learned so much from our Experts & until joining the Forum I didn't know what a digital angle gauge or a saw gauge was.To answer the original question,it has to be my router table.Love that thing.

Has to be my Router Table.Love that thing.

buying better - is what helped me. One example is the Incra V27 miter gauge - it really improved my cuts.
A better quality bandsaw blade is another example as well as buying a higher quality table saw.

Climate controlled environment. No, seriously. The wood and tools are stable and consistent.

I like it, too. :wink:

David

dirt_dobber said:

buying better - is what helped me. One example is the Incra V27 miter gauge - it really improved my cuts.
A better quality bandsaw blade is another example as well as buying a higher quality table saw.

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Similar for me. Went from a well tuned but under powered Delta to the Laguna Fusion also made a big difference to me, that and switching to higher quality,
full kerf blades.

jj777746 said:

Has to be my Router Table.Love that thing.

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Totally agree. That and a chainsaw, the two mostest funnest tools in the shop.

Quality tools. From a ruler to a table saw. Without quality and close tolerances you're doomed from the start.

all power tools.
never enjoyed working with wood untill I could turn a switch and see something else doing all that hard work.

Router table and bandsaw are joint firsts.

My drum sander changed the accuracy of my pieces. It made my end grain cutting boards *much* better. Great tool.

For quality of life, though, my greatly improved dust collection system (Oneida V3000) - along with a Festool Dust Extractor - have made the shop much, much cleaner and the Mrs a bit more tolerant of my ability to walk into our house from the shop.

I had been working with wood for many years before embarking on the Fine Woodworking band wagon. When I turned 50 I gave myself a present, a course with a local fine w/w guru that taught me so much. From how use and select hand tools and building projects with only hand tools to learning how to sharpen chisels and cutting beautiful dovetails.
I also increased my accuracy when I bought a jointer and planer and a few table saw accessories. So I agree with what many previous comments stated about knowledge, but there are certain tools that you acquire along the way that also improve your skills, and of course practice makes perfect.

Learning to use Sketchup.

Upgrading my table saw from a 1983-vintage Craftsman to a brand new Grizzly. Increased my precision by an order of magnitude. Now I need to upgrade my miter saw similarly.

Having the time now to actually spend more time in the shop. Staying in tune just makes the next project better than the last.