Tools We Love
The right tool makes any task easier
We only review and link to tools we actually use. We tell you what we like, what we don’t like, and where you can buy them.
Some links are affiliate links. If you buy through one, we receive a small percentage of the sale — at no extra cost to you. It helps us keep the workshop running. It does not change what we recommend.
Coming shortly
The reviews are being written
We’re putting the list together properly rather than padding it out with tools we haven’t used. It goes live in the next few weeks.
In the meantime, ask us directly. If you’re deciding on a tool right now, we’ll tell you what we’d buy — and what we’d skip.
How we review
Four rules we hold ourselves to
We own it and we’ve used it
Nothing goes on this list from a spec sheet. If it’s here, it has been through real projects in our Austin shop — not a weekend test.
We say what we don’t like
Every tool has something. A review that lists only strengths tells you nothing, so each one names the thing that annoys us.
We tell you when cheap is fine
Plenty of jobs don’t need the expensive version. Where the budget option is genuinely good enough, we say so — even though it earns us less.
Affiliate links never change the verdict
We earn a small share when you buy through our links. We don’t accept payment for reviews, and no manufacturer sees one before it goes up.
What we cover
The tools a small shop actually needs
Our reviews span the kit we use week in, week out:
- Hand tools — planes, chisels, saws, mallets
- Power tools — bandsaws, routers, sanders, drills and drivers
- Measuring and marking — squares, gauges, rules and calipers
- Workholding — clamps, vices, bench dogs
- Finishing — oils, waxes, brushes and abrasives
- Safety — eye and ear protection, dust extraction, push sticks
Starting out and not sure what to buy first? Ask us — we’d rather talk you out of a purchase than watch you waste the money.
Want to use these tools yourself?
Our workshops put the good stuff in your hands, with someone beside you who has used it a thousand times.