Tablesaw (Saw) – A tablesaw has a circular blade mounted under a flat surface. The blade is driven by a motor and wood is pushed over the surface table through the spinning blade.
Drillpress (Drill) – A drillpress is a stationary drill that bores down vertically giving the operator mechanical advantage and consistent results.
Router (Routing) – A router is a versital machine that can make persice plunge cuts and a variety of shaped edge cuts. When combined with a plunge base or a router table, this tool is extremely useful for a variety of tasks. Routers can be further extended with a wide variety of bits, jigs, and template guides.
Bandsaw (Saw) – A bandsaw features a continuous blade that tracks between two larger wheels. Depending on the blade width, a bandsaw allows for some curves and detailed cuts.
Jigsaw (Saw) – A jigsaw is a handheld saw that provides a vertical reciprocating blade. (Note that at one time the term jigsaw was used by some for scroll saws)
Reciprocating saw (Saw) – A reciprocating saw provides a horizontal reciprocating blade. It is generally used more for carpentry and demolition rather than woodworking.
Scroll Saw (Saw) – A scroll saw makes very detailed cuts and intricate curves. The blade cuts with a vertical reciprocating motion and allows the operator to insert the blade through a pre-drilled hole making interior cuts without an entrance cut.
Lathe (Lathe) – A lathe is a tool used for woodturning that sits in a class all to it’s own allowing the creation of round objects such as spindles, candlesticks, bowls, and much more. A lathe spins the material allowing the woodworker to carve using a variety of chisels, gouges, and scrapers.
Belt Sander (Sander) – A belt sander drives a continuous strip of sandpaper along between two wide wheels. A belt sander can take off a large amount of material very rapidly. It can be stationary or handheld.
Orbital Sander (Sander) – Orbital Sander / Finishing Sander / Quartersheet Sander / Palm Sander
Random Orbit Sander (Sander) – A Random Orbit Sander is similar to a handheld orbital sander with the difference being extra chaos and variance in the sanding pattern. This helps prevent noticeable sanding marks and patterns.
Disk Sander (Sander) – A Disk/Disc sander consists of an abrasive disk attached to a motor.
Oscillating Spindle Sander (Sander) – A Spindle Sander (sometimes called a drum sander) works great for smoothing over curved edges. A spindle is mounted vertically above a table allowing the operator to work around it. The oscillating spindle sander provides an up and down motion presenting more abrasive surface, reducing the risk of burns, and removing more material.
Straight Line Sander (Sander) – A Straight Line Sander vibrates back and forth without any orbital motion. One of the convenient uses is to attach a custom block molding that mates with the piece to be sanded.
Miter Saw (Saw) – A miter saw allows the user to make quick and accurate crosscuts.
Circular Saw (Saw) – While a circular saw can be used to describe any saw with a circular blade (tablesaw, mitersaw, etc) it is commonly used to describe a handheld saw that is moved along the material.
Drum Sander (Sander) – The drum sander consists of a spinning cylinder covered in sandpaper. A conveyer belt that moves the wood under the drum.
Planer (Plane) – A planer trims boards to a consistent thickness along the face. The tool will make the faces parallel by following the opposite edge. This tool is best paired with a jointer.
Jointer (Plane) – The Jointer (sometimes referred to as a surface plainer or flat top) is used to make a completely flat surface along a board’s length. It can be used to surface 2 sides of the board with accuracy. It works well with a thickness planer to create true and parallel boards.
Biscuit joiner (Saw) – The Biscuit Joiner uses a small circular blade to cut out matching semicircular mortises. A ‘biscuit’ is basically a floating tenon that swells up after contact with the wet glue for a solid joint.
Radial Arm Saw (Saw) – A radial arm saw consisting of a circular saw mounted on a sliding horizontal arm that moves across the top of the material. This type of saw is less common due to the associated dangers. It is mostly replaced by the compound miter saw.
Panel Saw (Saw) – A panel saw is a large circular saw that allows the operator to easily make long cuts on sheet goods such a plywood. Often times hardware stores and lumberyards will operate one for customers purchasing boards.
Bench Grinder (Grinder) – A bench grinder is basically a motor that drives an abrasive wheel. This can be used for many grinding operations, but for the woodworker it will primarily be used to sharpen or shape hand tools. It can also be used with wire wheels or a cloth buffing wheel.