Are you looking for the perfect gift for the woodworker in your life? Whether they're a seasoned pro or just starting out, a new tool can be the perfect present. In this gift guide, we've rounded up some of the best woodworking tools on the market, from hand tools to woodworking jigs and everything in between. From beginner-friendly options to more advanced choices, there's something for every skill level and budget. So whether you're shopping for a birthday, Christmas, or any other special occasion, you'll find plenty of great gift ideas here. So, let's get started!
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Gifts for Wood Workers Under $10
Gifts for Wood Workers Under $25
Gifts for Wood Workers Under $50
Gifts for Wood Workers Under $100
Gifts for Wood Workers Under $200
Woodworking Gifts Under $10
Center Punch Tool
A center punch marks the spot for drilling by putting an indention into the wood. With a spring loaded mechanism, using the punch is as simple as firmly pressing it down into the wood until you hear the click of the internal hammer jabbing your workpiece.
What makes it great: Drill bits tend to wander off the mark as it spins in the drill. A small indention on the mark give the bit a place to nest into the wood preventing it from wandering off your mark - a great tool when precision is a must. For about $10, this makes a great stocking stuffer. Find it on Amazon
Center Finder/Scriber
Quickly divide a board in half and draw a line with its center scriber. It is a simple tool that can save a lot of time while eliminating mistakes made dividing fractions. Stick your pencil in the center hole and snug the posts to either side of your board and drag along the length marking the center.
What makes it great: Where precision and speed are necessary, this handy tool takes the time and math out of dividing a board in half. It even has built-in notches at common fractional distances off center for easy marking. Find it on Amazon
Woodworking Gifts Under $25
Flush Cut Saw
Every wood shop needs a flush cut saw. It allows you to trim excess wood protruding from your work piece. Most commonly used for trimming dowels flush when joining two pieces. The SUIZAN flush cut saw is a great entry-level trimming saw that will get used over and over again.
What makes it great: The "pull" action cuts as you pull the saw towards you enabling more control as it rides across your workpiece without marring the surface. With teeth on both sides designed for hard or soft woods, this will quickly become your go-to trimming too.
Premium Upgrade: Upgrade to the larger 9.5" Japanese Pull Saw for larger woodworking projects.
90° Corner Clamp
Every woodworker since the history of woodworking has wished they had more clamps. It doesn't matter how many you have - more is always better! This is especially true if you are working in your shop by yourself. Creating a box or a picture frame involves marrying two pieces at 90° from one another - a difficult task with only one set of hands. A set of 90° corner clamps will hold the pieces together while the glue dries, keeping them perfectly set in place.
What makes it great: Unlike other woodworking clamps, these are built specifically for holding two pieces 90° to one another. Spring-loaded pressure constantly holds the wood in place while your glue is drying. Find them on Amazon
Premium Upgrade: Heavier duty and increased panel thickness capacity with WETOLS corner clamp
Japanese Pull Saw
A pull saw differs from "push" saws in that the teeth are oriented facing back toward your hand. The "pull" cutting action requires less energy and results in a cleaner cut. SUIZAN is a popular Japanese brand that has been making pull saws for over a century.
What makes it great: Slim kerf (the thickness of the blade) profile and "pull" action results in a better and more efficient cut. The blades can even be changed out when dulled. Find them on Amazon
Woodworking Gifts Under $50
Hedgehog Spiral Featherboard
There are 65,000 table saw injuries in the US every year. Keeping a board firmly against the rip fence through the cut will drastically reduce the occurrence of kickback - when a board comes in contact with the rear of the blade, flinging it back at you. A featherboard fits into the table saw miter slots and can be adjusted to the board width to keep constant pressure against the the board into the rip fence.
What makes it great: The Hedgehog's spiral design makes it a cinch to adjust - with one hand. This is the number one tool I wish I had gotten sooner. There are many featherboard designs out there, but this is so easy to set up making it our top choice. Find it on Amazon
Kreg Concealed Hinge Jig
There are a few Kreg tools on this list and for good reason: their jigs make frustrating tasks a breeze. Their concealed hinge jig helps to place the hinge mounting pockets and screw holes into cabinet doors. The Kreg Hinge Jig takes all of the guess work out of mounting cabinet doors. Gift this to the woodworker on your list and they just might return the favor and build you that cabinet you've been asking for! Find it on Amazon
What makes it great: Built in scale and indexing tabs ensure accurate positioning every time. The kit includes a carbide-tipped drill bit, so all you need is the drill and some clamps.
Premium Upgrade: Upgrade to the Hardware Installation Jig Kit to get the concealed hinge jig + knob/pull installation jig + pocket hole jig. It also includes a hold down clamp to secure your jig to the cabinet.
Moisture Meter
Wood expands and contracts across its grain as its moisture content changes. Using wood with a high moisture content is asking for trouble. Furniture makers only desire wood between 6-8% moisture. A moisture meter will tell you if your wood is ready to use in a project or if it needs more time to dry out. Find it on Amazon
What makes it great: This model is pinless - which means it does not require the user to jab it into the work surface in order to determine moisture levels. This is better as it does not leave pinholes in your wood.
3M WorkTunes Hearing Protection Bluetooth Headphones
The sound level of a normal conversation is about 60dB. Exposure to sounds at 85dB or louder for 8+ hours a day will damage hearing or lead to hearing loss. The typical table saw noise level ranges from 100-120dB. However, many woodworkers do not use hearing protection out of discomfort or nuisance putting ear plugs in. That is where WorkTunes Bluetooth Headphones come in. Not only do they reduce noise levels by 24db, they are comfortable and will bluetooth to your phone to play music while you work.
What makes it great: They connect to your phone through Bluetooth very quickly and automatically sync when you turn them on. You can take phone calls through the microphone and they protect your hearing - all for about $50. Find them on Amazon
Klein Tools Digital Gauge
No matter how expensive your saw is, over time, it can work itself out of square. Making a cut with the blade even 1 or 2 degrees off can quickly degrade the quality of your finished work. A digital gauge ensures accurate blade angles and a perfect cut.
What makes it great: Klein Tools Digital Gauge is magnetic, so you can stick it to your blade as you adjust the angle. It even has a zero calibration feature so you can set the angle relative to your table, not your unlevel floor. Find it on Amazon
Woodworker's Apron
Stop searching for that pencil you just set down and give it a home where you won't lose it. Keep your most common tools nearby while protecting the cloths beneath. Find it on Amazon
What makes it great: Heavy duty, waxed canvas wears in not out over time. It fits snug and has padded shoulder to keep it comfortable all day long.
Circle Compass Scribe
There are several tricks woodworkers employ to create perfect circles, such as a nail on a string. That's what makes this such a great gift - there's a low probability the woodworker already has this in their shop. It enables you to create a diameter of any size up to 42". Find it on Amazon
What makes it great: It is adjustable and provides metric and standard measurements along the side. Compact and durable, it will definitely outlast a string and nail.
Milescraft Dowel Jig Kit
Mating boards with dowels is a common joinery method, but one many are afraid to tackle. Dowel holes need to be perfectly lined up on each board to ensure a flush fit. Think about a table surface - more than likely, it isn't one single slab of wood. It is composed of multiple strips of boards joined together. It is likely they are joined with dowels perfectly placed to ensure the top surface is smooth creating the appearance of a solid slab of wood. Milescraft makes lining up the dowel holes on each piece of wood a piece of cake. Now your loved one will not have an excuse for not building that new kitchen table you've been asking for! Find it on Amazon
What makes it great: The jig has multiple functions ensuring you drill your dowel holes into the exact center of the board. Using the hole just made, it will line up the opposite matching spot on the board you wish to join it to. It can be used for parallel or perpendicular joinery. Plus, this kit comes with a ton of extra various sized dowels.
Dust Deputy Cyclone Dust Collection
Dust is the silent killer in the wood shop, though there's a hundred reasons why people don't mess with it. Dust collectors are expensive. They fill up their shop vacuum too quickly and clog the filters. They wear a mask. A cyclone dust collection solves these problems. They are inexpensive and attach to a shop vacuum and, if set up right, can prevent even the smallest particles from entering the shop air - particles that your mask won't prevent from entering your lungs. A cyclone dust separator separates the large chip and dust particles sending only the fine stuff to your vacuum to be scrubbed by the shop vacuum filter. The large particles fall down the cyclone into a bucket - never to reach your vacuum or clog your filter. Its an inexpensive way to keep your shop air clean and save your lungs. Find it on Amazon
What makes it great: Compared to full dust collection system, cyclone separators are cheap. They can be mounted to any container such as a 5 gallon bucket and are compatible with nearly any shop vacuum.
Digital Calipers
Digital calipers are typically not found in the standard woodworker's tool kit, but come in quite handy when precision measurements are required. I've found them handy when trying to determine the outlet sizes of the dust ports to hook up dust collection hose fittings as every brand is slightly different. Find it on Amazon
What makes it great: The digital readout that allows you to flip between inches or millimeters and can accurately measure inside (ID) or outside diameters (OD).
Roller Stand/Pedestal Roller
Another tool I wish I'd have gotten sooner. Working in the shop alone means you don't have enough hands to catch a board outfeeding from the wood planer or provide additional support at the miter saw. A pedestal roller can be adjusted to whatever height you need to provide those extra hands you don't have.
What makes it great: Bora's stand has two functions: the typical roller bar and a flip up ball bearing rollers to allow multi-directional support. Find it on Amazon
Kreg Drawer Slide Jig
Speaking of not having enough hands, this drawer slide jig makes installing drawer brackets and the drawer box itself simple and without the need for measuring. Using the built-in indexing tabs, and a clamp, these jigs affix to the inside of the cabinet to mount the slide brackets. They also flip to the outside to support the drawer to mount it to the brackets. If the woodworker on your list makes cabinets, this jig is a winner.
What makes it great: The jig eliminates the need for measuring and remeasuring to ensure you have the slide brackets mounted evenly for a smooth sliding drawer. Find it on Amazon
Woodworking Gifts Under $100
Home Right Electric Paint Sprayer
An electric sprayer will save a boat load of money compared to buying spray cans that cost over $5 each. The downside is having to clean the gun after each use, but the Home Right sprayer is simple to use, adjust and clean. It is great for beginners - there's nothing complicated about it. Set your spray pattern and adjust the spray volume to your need and you're set. This electric sprayer is especially great if you have a large project such as cabinets or doors to paint.
What makes it great: Its all electric, so no need to lug around an air compressor or have to wait for the air tank to fill up before spraying. This model comes with a quick clean kit that routes water through the spray nozzle for quick cleanup. Find it on Amazon
Bora Edge Clamp Guide
Breaking down plywood sheets to a manageable size to fit on your table saw is a chore. A clamp guide makes that job much easier by giving your circular saw or jigsaw a fence to ride along during the cut. It ensures a perfectly straight cut. Even the best free-handers cannot compete with the straight edge this tool provides. Find it on Amazon
What makes it great: It comes with two pieces that slide together allowing 100" of total length, meaning you can cut a 4x8 sheet of plywood longways. The clamp edge ensures it won't move on you during the cut.
Premium Upgrade: For $30 more, this kit from Bora includes a saw plate that attaches to your
saw and rides on top of the guide. Without the guide, the edge clamp must be offset from your cut mark to allow room for the saw to ride along the edge. With the saw plate, the saw rides on top of with the blade along the edge, meaning you just set the edge guide on your cut mark and the saw blade lines up perfectly with your mark.
WEN Scroll Saw
For making those intricate, tight cuts, this entry-level scroll saw is the perfect low-cost option to add to the shop. Sometimes a jig saw just cannot make a tight corner or inside cut without chewing up your work piece. That is where scroll saws excel. WEN is a reputable shop brand making quality products - even on the lower end of the price spectrum.
What makes it great: A flexible light and built-in air pump to keep your work piece illuminated and clear of sawdust as you make the cut. Find it on Amazon
Micro Jig Grr-ripper
With 65,000 table saw accidents every year in the US, keeping your hands and fingers away from the spinning blade is paramount. Though any push block is better than no push block, not all are made the same, . If you want to keep your woodworker safe, this is the best push block to do just that. The handle position ensures your hands are far away from the blade at all times. The grr-ripper pads on the underside keep the block firmly against your workpiece as you move it through the blade. Find it on Amazon
What makes it great: The whole body is adjustable. You can set up the Grr-ripper to straddle the blade as you push it through. This allows you to maintain pressure on your workpiece against the rip fence which is vital to avoiding a major injury from kickback.
8" Dado Stack
A dado blade is a set of blades that are installed on a table saw that enables a thick groove cut in one pass rather than having to make multiple passes with a standard 1/8" blade. Dado grooves are a common joinery method for bookshelves and cabinets. Find it on Amazon
What makes it great: Many woodworkers starting out in the hobby don't own a dado stack. It is a luxury item as the same can be accomplished with a regular saw blade, though much more time consuming. The dado stack can cut widths from 1/4" to 13/16" in 1/16" increments in one pass.
Note: if buying this for a Sawstop table saw, a dado cartridge is required.
6" Starrett Combination Square
There is no other measuring tool in the wood shop that I use more than my combo square. There are so many uses: quick measurements, scribing a straight line, finding a 45° angle, checking the squareness of the wood stock and more. There are many cheap variants of the combo square which may be fine for rough woodwork, but fine woodworking requires precision - that's what you get from Starrett. You'll spend a little more here, but with care, this will provide dead-accurate measurements for more than a lifetime. Find it on Amazon
What makes it great: the cast iron head moves up and down the rule and can be tightened in place for repeatable measurements. There are scribe marks along the rule to make drawing a straight line down the wood easy.
Premium Upgrade: 12" Rule Length. Twice as long as the 6" for a few bucks more.
Gifts for Wood Workers Under $200
Kreg Pocket Hole Pro
Another jig from Kreg makes the list with its Pocket Hole Pro. This tool isn't appreciated until you've drilled hundreds of pocket holes without it. Before I purchased this, I was skeptical on how much easier it could possibly make it. Now, I can't tell you how I've lived without it. With a regular pocket hold jig, you have to set it to the wood thickness, clamp it down to your work piece and drill. This jig auto adjusts to the wood thickness cutting the time to drill pocket holes down by 75%. Find it on Amazon
What makes it great: It auto adjusts to the wood thickness and includes its own dust extraction port to hook up to a shop vacuum keeping your work space clean. This kit includes everything you need to get started drilling pocket holes.
48" Parallel Clamps
As I mentioned before, you can never have too many clamps. Parallel clamps are perfect for clamping several glued boards together to make table tops, cutting boards and more. They add even pressure to make sure the boards don't cup and create an uneven or unlevel surface. At 48" in length, you can fit a 4' table top in between these clamps.
What makes them great: They are 48" long and are comparable to Bessey clamps in quality but without the price tag. Find them on Amazon
Dust Right Dust Separator
Using similar technology to the Dust Deputy cyclone separator, Dust Right includes the whole package - cyclone and mobile container. This keeps your vacuum filters from getting clogged by keeping the heavy particles from ever reaching your shop vac. Find it on Amazon
What makes it great: It keeps dust out of your lungs and away from your shop vacuum filters prolonging their life. The mobile base tugs along with you as you move it about the shop.
Woodworking is a growing hobby and a great way to earn money or just build gifts for those close to you. Some tools have been around for hundreds of years while new jigs and gadgets are introduced all the time to improve accuracy and efficiency. Comment below on what you'll be purchasing for the woodworker in your life or let us know of a great product you've found!