You know the feeling of getting some new toy that is easy to use, or solves a problem for you, or makes typical tasks much faster? That’s how I feel when I use a lot of these items. Today, I wanted to share the joy by sharing some of my favorite workshop items. I’m not listing everything here, down to my drill. I’m only sharing those items that stand out, make me do a little jig, and that I would highly recommend to anyone.
This post is NOT sponsored by any of these brands. But these products are the ones I would recommend to family and friends.
I’m certainly not the first and definitely won’t be the last to sing the praises of a Kreg Jig. I started with this K4 system but recently upgraded to the K5 which has a few advanced features, including faster clamp settings and a dust collection port. This port really comes in handy as it keeps the sawdust off the work surface, whereas before I had to blow it off every time I reclamped my wood. Whether you start with just the basic single jig or move on up the scale, this is probably the most used item in my shop besides my drill.
These not only go hand in hand with the Kreg jig, but also come in handy whenever I need to clamp. Although I have a few manual adjustment clamps, I will always buy Automaxx in the future as they automatically adjust to the thickness of the wood, taking a lot of frustration out of the process.
Every time I pull this cord down I get a little excited! Is that sad? This is perfect for people like me who don’t have the patience to wrap up an extension cord each time. I have it mounted right over my workbench, which helps keep cords right within reach, but I”m not tripping on them laying tangled on the ground.
This is the tool that started me on the Ryobi line. It is still fun to use after all these years! I lost my first one on a jobsite and quickly replaced it as I knew I wouldn’t be able to live without it.
I never know if I’m really spelling that right! My brother showed me this one, and making cuts on a table saw became much safer, and more fun, for me once I started using this. You can cut pieces down to 1/4″ wide, and even down to 1/8″ with the leg. Grab a second one to cut longer pieces.
When my workshop was still in my garage, I had my miter saw sitting on top of my workbench. It was far from ideal, not only because I had to move it to use the workspace, but also because it was hard to fit and support long pieces of wood. I love the adjustability of this stand, and the fact that it is mobile.
I certainly can’t justify high end pieces of machinery in my workshop. I’m an amateur, make no bones about it. I began with a basic Hitachi 10″ miter saw that served me well until I was enticed with this beauty at a jobsite. One of our contractors had it on site, and I needed to make a cut. The thing I loved the most about it was the XPS cutline light. I haven’t found this feature on any other brands, and it’s only available on certain Dewalt saws. The light not only illuminates your workpiece, but it ingeniously shows your cutline more accurately than any laser. It simply makes a shadow where the saw is, so you know exactly where your cut will be time after time, without needing recalibration. Further, the shadow appears on the front of your piece, too, so there’s no need to transfer marks to the top of the piece if you made it on the side.
The only problem with this saw was its cost: $600. I couldn’t justify it when I had a perfectly functional saw already. But after a couple of years and some diligent shopping, I was able to get it at a steal on Black Friday for $310. I still get excited over that!!
It has increased my accuracy so much, and exponentially so when it comes to miter cuts. I can’t say enough about it.
If you love the idea of the XPS light at a lower price point, try the DWS 716XPS, which is a 12″ double bevel compound miter saw without the sliding mechanism. It retails for $375 – $400. Trust me, the LED light is so worth it!
If you don’t love using a table saw (I certainly don’t!), but you need to rip down larger pieces, this will help you get the accuracy you need with a circular saw. I actually have the Kreg Rip-Cut also, but I found it’s versatility just wasn’t robust enough for me, and I still had trouble keeping it straight. The ACCU-Cut is surprisingly easy: easy to line up, easy to cut. No more measuring or clamping cut guides (my clamps always ended up in the way of my saw!). This just lays on top. I love it so much, I’m hoping to add another expansion kit to my shop soon.
When few cordless compressor-free nailer options existed, my Ryobi airstrike came to the rescue. I’ve been a Ryobi brand fan since, and having this multi-point charger is no longer a luxury now that I’ve added to the pack a blower, a sander, a driver, a drill, and a jigsaw.
I’m embarassed to admit that these gloves haven’t just been used in my workshop – they are also great gardening gloves! My current pair has been put through the ringer! They are so comfortable and flexible, but will definitely protect your hands from splinters. If only I could remember to take them with me when I go lumber shopping. Maybe I need an extra pair for my purse 😉
This comes in handy in both landscaping clean up and shop clean out. Getting sawdust covered cob-webs out of my shop has never been so quick and easy.
So may uses! Great for detailed measuring, and I love the built-in level. Just check out the reviews!
This makes quick work of big jobs. Not only is each coat much quicker, but you don’t need to wait as long in between coats. A huge time saver!
I have two pairs of these. They are lightweight and easy to move and set up, but super sturdy. They also fold flat to save valuable shop space.
If you love any of these products, or happen to get one and love it like I do, please share below!
This post contains affiliate links.
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