Top 10 Best Woodworking Tools of 2017 for Every Craftsman

Chopping It Up: A Woodworker’s Journey in 2017

You know, there’s something magical about the smell of freshly cut wood. It’s like this warm, earthy hug that wraps around you, transporting you back to childhood. I remember when I was just a boy, my old man would be out in the garage, the air thick with that scent, whirring tools dancing around him like they were his best friends. Fast forward a couple of decades, and here I am, trying to keep that family tradition alive, with a cup of coffee and a half-finished rocking chair staring me down.

So, let’s talk tools, shall we? 2017 was the year I really started diving into woodworking. I mean, sure, growing up I would mess around with hand saws and hammers, but this was different. I wanted to take it up a notch, and boy, did I learn a thing or two.

The Electric Awakening

First, let me tell you about my first encounter with a power tool that changed the way I worked. I’ll never forget the day I unboxed that Ryobi cordless drill. I was practically vibrating with excitement. I ripped through the packaging like a kid on Christmas morning. There it was, shiny and compact, just begging to be used. Now, I’d always been skeptical about going electric. I loved the old-school feel of a manual drill, the simple whoosh of the handle turning. But man, let me tell you, when I set that Ryobi down on my workbench and drilled my first hole—all the way through a beautiful piece of oak—I was hooked.

Then came the moment where I thought, "I’m sure I can drive a screw in without pre-drilling." Spoiler alert: I was wrong. The wood split like my dreams when I thought I’d taken on too much. I almost gave up, staring at the disaster on my workbench, but I remembered my dad’s words: "When it breaks, you’ve just discovered a new way not to do it." So, I picked up that drill again, pre-drilled the holes, and watched the screws go in like butter. I laughed when it actually worked, feeling like I’d conquered a mountain.

The Table Saw Chronicles

But, oh, if only my adventures ended there. The real turning point for me was when I decided to invest in a table saw. I mulled it over for weeks, weighing the pros and cons, until finally I splurged on a DeWalt. That saw felt like pure destiny. Lifting that box out of the back of my truck was a workout on its own! I set it up right there in my garage, and the moment I fired it up—well, it felt like a scene out of a movie. The roar of the blade was like music, a symphony of cutting and carving that called to me like a siren.

I remember this one day—it was chilly outside, and the smell of sawdust lingered in the air. I was trying to cut down a length of plywood. Easy-peasy, I thought. I lined it up, focused, and then bam! I didn’t notice that the blade guard was all wonky. Suddenly, I was standing there staring down a board that looked like someone had taken a bite out of it. The sight was almost comical, and I could hear the universe chuckling at my blunder.

After that, I learned to respect my tools. I mean really respect them. Knowing the table saw was powerful enough to take off a finger if I wasn’t careful kept me on my toes. I read the manual (yes, the dreaded manual), and slowly got into this rhythm where I felt like the saw and I were in sync—like we were a team, working together to create something beautiful.

Embracing the Mess

A few months later, I tackled a bigger project: building a rustic coffee table. I had a vision in my head of reclaimed wood, a mix of pine and oak, textures mingling just right. I picked out this weathered pine at the local lumberyard that smelled like sunshine and rain—one of those wonderful moments when you find exactly what you didn’t know you were looking for.

But, and here’s where it gets funny, I thought, “I can do this without plans or any sketches.” Ha! You could probably hear my friends laughing from the other end of town when I ended up with this haphazard structure that looked less like a table and more like modern art gone horribly wrong. I stepped back and, for a minute, I was filled with doubt—wondering if I should just cut my losses and stick to buying furniture. But as I ran my fingers over the rough wood, I remembered that this wasn’t just about perfection; it was about the process.

So, I kept at it. I patched it, sanded it, spilled coffee on it (a real testament to its soon-to-be purpose), and embraced the little quirks that popped up along the way. I learned that imperfections are what make a piece truly yours, telling its story as much as the wood itself does.

A Toast to the Journey

So here I sit today, with unfinished projects all around me, a table that holds a lifetime of memories, and a coffee that’s long gone cold. If there’s one takeaway I wish someone had told me earlier, it’s this: woodworking isn’t just about the final product. It’s a journey filled with mistakes, laughter, and maybe a few splinters.

If you’re on the fence about trying this out, just go for it. Grab a tool, any tool, and make something. Who knows? Maybe you’ll end up with a creation that tells your own story—one of triumph, resilience, and a bit of messy fun. You’ll feel that sense of accomplishment wash over you, the kind that only comes from crafting something with your own two hands. And trust me, it’s a feeling worth chasing!