The Stumpy Nubs Woodworking Journal facility is really three workshops in one:

• Our “Main Workshop” is where most of our woodworking tutorials and project courses are built and filmed. It contains the tools we use every day- our favorites. In the back you will also find our office with much of the computer and camera equipment we use to make our videos, and you can meet the SNWJ team!
• Our “Budget Workshop” (also known as the “corner workshop”) is a specially reserved space that’s roughly the size of a one-car garage (14X14 feet). This is the sort of shop I worked in for many years and that many of our viewers work in every day. It includes some great recommendations for relatively inexpensive tools that are still of good quality. It also contains many of the homemade tools we have designed and built over the years.
• Our “Hand Tool Workshop” is a small area on the east side of the main workshop. This is where all of the old-timey tools are kept. If you are looking to go wireless, you really should check this area out!

The shops are always changing, so come back and visit frequently. This is a great place to “sit back and have a cold one, because you’ve earned it, my friend!”

And for more tool reviews and recommendations, check out our “Cool Tools” series!

Now, let’s take a tour of…

THE BUDGET WORKSHOP

Click on any of the links below if you wish to add one of the tools we use to your shop. Some of these products are from our sponsors. Others are affiliate links, which means we may receive a small commission when you make a purchase using them. Stationary & Benchtop Machines-

• SawStop contractor’s table saw (not cheap, but won’t cut my fingers off. Cast iron wings and upgraded fence are a must. For a budget option, see the Craftsman below)
• Restored Craftsman “113 series” table saw (these are prolific on craigslist and can be tuned up to work very well)
• 6-inch Delta jointer (the 1990’s and earlier Deltas are pretty nice if you can find them used
• Dewalt DW735 portable planer with extension wings (the best portable planer on the market. For a budget option I recommend looking for a good, used Dewalt or Delta rather than a cheap new planer.)
• Ridgid oscillating belt/spindle sander (This is a very versatile sander for straight and curved surfaces)
• Central Machinery 13-inch drill press (A very good value)
• Jet 14-inch Band Saw (I have the Jet, but Grizzly, Porter Cable and Delta are the same saw. They aren’t good for re-sawing, but do a decent job for day to day curve cutting, etc.)
• Rockwell Blade Runner (good alternative to a band saw for curve-cutting)
• Ridgid 10-inch miter saw (one of the best values for a miter saw. Accurate and has decent dust collection.)

Homemade Tools & Machines-

• Visit our “plans” section for our homemade tools selection

Small Power Tools-

• Ridgid brushless 18v cordless drill/driver set (good mix of quality and price)
• Ridgid corded drill (A great drill for when you need lots of reliable power)
• Skil 15-amp circular saw (I can’t bring myself to go any cheaper on such a potentially dangerous tool. Skil is a proven brand.)
• Wen 33606 jig saw (I can’t believe how inexpensive this saw is, but it works very well)
• Rockwell Oscillating multi-tool (A relible but not too pricey version of a very handy tool.)

Air Tools-

• Senco 1HP air compressor (I can’t believe how small and quiet this is. Runs nailers, inflates tires, blows stuff off)
• Freeman brad nailer/pin nailer set (Mid-priced but high quality. Won’t jam on you.)
• Porter Cable 18-Gauge brad nails (I use various sizes)
• Grex 23-Gauge headless pins (I use 1/2″ and 1″ inch)
• Good, tangle free rubber air hose

Mechanical Tools-

• Stanley quick-change utility knife
• Allen wrench (hex key and Torx) set with ball ends
• Irwin wire stripping tool (also good for nipping off the ends of screws for door/drawer pulls)
• Irwin 16ox hammer (great value for the price)
• 25pc screwdriver set (Good quality, includes handy pick set)
• 7pc pliers set (covers most of your needs for a good price)
• 3pc locking pliers set (for those stubborn fasteners, and for holding small parts at the grinder)
• 4pc adjustable wrench set (gotta have these!)
• 22pc SAE and metric wrench set (Very good quality for the cost)
• SAE and metric socket set (A good, inexpensive, basic set for the shop)

Marking and measuring tools-

• Pentel Graphgear 1000 mechanical pencils (Best on the market! I keep one of each lead size in my apron pocket)
• My favorite digital caliper (inches, metric, rounded fraction, decimal)
• 6″, 12″, 18″and 36″ stainless rulers (rulers are more accurate that measuring tapes)
• Komelon 16 foot Measuring tape (Inexpensive, includes fractional scale for easy reading)
• General Tools square-head protractor (for measuring angles)
• General outside protractor (for measuring outside angles)
• iGaging sliding bevel square (for transferring angles)
• 12-inch iGaging combination square 
• iGaging Wheel Marking Gauge

Chisels and Other Hand Tools-

• Narex Bevel-Edge Chisels (I really like Narex tools. They are the best value for the price out there. The “premium” versions have nicer handles, but the same steel as the “Profi” versions.)
• Japanese mini Dozuki pull saw (For delicate cutting and trimming of dowels, etc.)
• Thomas Flinn PAX 10-inch Gents Saw (A good, affordable option for fine dovetails)
• Eclipse coping saw
• Japanese flush-cut saw (Nice, flexible blade)

Saw Blades-

• Freud Diablo 10″ 50-tooth combination blade (A decent, affordable blade for most table saw cuts)
• Freud Diablo 10″ 24-tooth rip blade (A decent, affordable blade for heavy rip cuts)
• Freud Diablo 10″ 80-tooth crosscut blade (A decent, affordable blade for fine table saw crosscuts)
• Freud Diablo 10″ 60-tooth NON-SLIDING miter saw blade (A decent, affordable blade for miter saws that don’t slide because this blade has a 15-degree POSITIVE hook)
• Freud 10″ 60-tooth SLIDING miter saw blade (A decent, affordable blade for SLIDING miter saws because it has a less aggressive NEGATIVE hook to prevent climbing on top of the board.)
• Diablo 7-1/4 inch 24-tooth circular saw blade (Good quality for most circular saw cuts)
• Diablo 7-1/4 inch 60-tooth circular saw blade (Good quality for PLYWOOD cuts)
• Good quality budget  band saw blades for everyday cutting

Drill Bits-

• 29pc titanium drill bits for metal (Serviceable starter set with lots of sizes. As they dull, replace the sizes you use most with better bits.)
• 25pc brad-point drill bits for wood (Serviceable starter set with lots of sizes. As they dull, replace the sizes you use most with better bits.)
• Self-centering drill bit set (for hinges and brackets)
• Amana carbide countersink bit (with a clever depth stop)
• Irwin Speedbor spade/paddle bits
• Freud Precision Shear forstner bits (not as good as Fisch Wave Cutters, but better than most)

Safety Devices-

• An inexpensive and versatile featherboard set (I still prefer Hedgehog, though)
• Bench Dogs pocket push stick (Keep it in your apron. Also good for the band saw)
• Magnetic push stick (sticks to your table saw fence so it doesn’t walk away)
• Good, inexpensive ear muff hearing protection
• Push-paddles for table saw, router table and jointer
• Safety glasses that go over eyeglasses (also protects on all sides for folks without eyeglasses)

Clamps-

• Inexpensive F-style bar clamps that will get you buy (6-inch to 36-inch sizes)
• Bessey 4-inch F-style bar clamps (For when you need a lot of small clamps)
• 3/4-inch pipe clamps (more affordable option for panel glue-ups and heavy-duty clamping. Pipe not included)
• Aluminum bar clamps (light weight and affordable for panel glue-ups)
• Table saw fence clamps (for attaching fence jigs)
• Spring clamps (really cheap, very versatile)

Dust Collection-

• Central machinery single-stage dust collector (Upgrade to a Wynn canister filter for the best value in small shop dust collection)
• Inexpensive 4-inch dust collection hose
• 4-inch self cleaning blast gates
• Dust-Right 4-inch quick-connect fittings
• Clearvue mini cyclone (attach to shop vacuums to eliminate clogged filters) (Use discount code NUBS5)
• Large Ridgid shop vacuum

Continue your tour or the Stumpy Nubs Woodworking Journal Facility:

• Our “Main Workshop” is where most of our woodworking tutorials and project courses are built and filmed. It contains the tools we use every day- our favorites. In the back you will also find our office with much of the computer and camera equipment we use to make our videos, and you can meet the SNWJ team!
• Our “Budget Workshop” (also known as the “corner workshop”) is a specially reserved space that’s roughly the size of a one-car garage (14X14 feet). This is the sort of shop I worked in for many years and that many of our viewers work in every day. It includes some great recommendations for relatively inexpensive tools that are still of good quality. It also contains many of the homemade tools we have designed and built over the years.
• Our “Hand Tool Workshop” is a small area on the east side of the main workshop. This is where all of the old-timey tools are kept. If you are looking to go wireless, you really should check this area out!

The shops are always changing, so come back and visit frequently. This is a great place to “sit back and have a cold one, because you’ve earned it, my friend!”

And for more tool reviews and recommendations, check out our “Cool Tools” series!