Take A “Tool Tour” of The Stumpy Nubs Workshop!
Below you will find many of the tools I use in my workshop. Browsing through them is a great way to gather ideas to better equip your shop and make the time you spend more efficient and enjoyable. Since these are things I actually use, they have all tested and approved in my workshop. If you decide to add one to your shop, you can have confidence that you are making a wise choice!
While all of these certainly qualify as “Cool Tools,” only some have appeared in our popular video series and those are identified below by a “Cool Tools Review” link which will take you to the corresponding YouTube video where you can see the tool in action. If you click on any of the tools you can find the current pricing on Taylor Toolworks, Amazon, etc. Some are affiliate links, and I may earn a commission if you use them.
NOTE: I am still working through the shop and will be adding much more as I go including the tools I use for measuring and layout, gluing and clamping, sanding and planing and much more. Stay tuned!
TABLE SAWS CUTTING & MILLING ROUTERS & RELATED TOOLS DRILLS, DRILL PRESS, DRILL BITS, ETC
TABLE SAWS
Other Saws I’ve Reviewed:
SawStop ICS Cabinet Saw
SawStop Contractor’s Saw
SawStop Jobsite Saw
My Table Saw Fences, Miter Gauges & Sleds:
Harvey BigEye Rip Fence (The best I’ve ever seen!) - Cool Tools Review
The “Dubby” sled (for very precisely angled crosscuts) - Cool Tools Review
My Table Saw Jigs & Accessories
Bridge City Kerfmaker - Cool Tools Review
Milescraft table saw fence clamps (for attaching fence jigs) - Cool Tools Review
My Table Saw Safety Gear:
My Table Saw Blades:
I use Ridge Carbide exclusively because they are the best I have even owned. I’d put them up against any other premium blade. And they come from a small business (Everlast Saw) that has made blades in the USA since 1947. They aren’t cheap, but they are lifetime blades you will pass down to your kids someday. You will save 10% if you use coupon code- SNWJ10.
Ridge Carbide 40-tooth everyday combo blade - Cool Tools Review
Ridge Carbide 80-tooth fine crosscut & veneered plywood blade (It says for miter saws, but it’s also for table saws)
Ridge Carbide dedicated box/finger joint dado set - Cool Tools Review
OTHER CUTTING AND MILLING MACHINES
Band Saws & Accessories:
I have owned band saws from Harbor Freight (junk), Jet (almost as bad) and Rikon (worked, but had annoying features). Several years ago I switched to Harvey bandsaws and never looked back. They are absolute beasts. The build quality is exceptional, the features are wonderful, and they are very user friendly. Plus, they have nickel-plated tables and inner components so they won’t rust. I would put them up against any other brand.
Harvey C14 3HP 14-inch band saw (for day to day work) - Cool Tools Review
Harvey HW615 15-inch band saw (for resawing lumber) - Cool Tools Review
Laguna Resaw King carbide re-saw blades (expensive but worth it!)
Good quality budget blades for everyday cutting
Convex curve cutter (a unique box making jig) - Cool Tools Review
iGaging Bandsaw Companion (setup tool) - Cool Tools Review
Blade Brush (great for cleaning the blade) - Cool Tools Review
Jointer, Planer, Sanding Machines:
I bought my Grizzly jointer and thickness planer machines several years ago and I think they are imperfect, but still an excellent value. I bought them both with standard cutterheads, then I upgraded to carbide helical heads because I prefer them over the heads Grizzly was putting in their machines.
Dewalt DW735X “Portable” thickness planer (the best 12-inch machine out there)
Jet 18-36 drum sander rolls
Helical head upgrades for jointers and planers (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!) - Cool Tools Review
Grizzly G0564 108X6″ edge sander (with spindle sander attachment)
Grizzly G1071Z - 1 HP Variable-Speed Oscillating Spindle Sander
iGaging EZ View planer DRO (for stationary machines) (for smaller machines) - Cool Tools Review
Miter Saw & Accessories:
I use my miter saw station for boards that are too long for the table saw. It is a modular station that may be adapted to your shop space, it includes excellent dust collection and room for lots of storage. Plans for the workstation will be available soon!
Miter Saw Workstation Plans (Coming Soon)
Ridge Carbide premium miter saw blade for fine crosscuts (use discount code STUMPY10)
FastCap miter saw work holding stick (must have safety accessory) - Cool Tools Review
Miter saw zero clearance throat tape (eliminates splinters on underside of boards)
ISOtunes Bluetooth Hearing Protection (10% discount applied)
ROUTERS & RELATED TOOLS
Router Table & Accessories:
I have several router tables in the shop, a real luxury when you are working on several projects at once. My favorites are from Harvey- I have a standalone version and a version that attaches to the wing of the table saw. Both are cast iron and have amazing fences. I wish I had them years sooner.
Harvey cast iron router table system (Can fit on a table saw, or add legs. I have both.) - Cool Tools Review (Table Saw Version)
Chipsfly router table system (A great value with lift included) - Cool Tools Review
MLCS Ultimate Power-Lift Pro computerized router table - Cool Tools Review
BORA 3-1/4HP router motor (Very similar to MLCS above) - Cool Tools Review
iGaging digital EX check router table gauge - Cool Tools Review
ISOtunes Bluetooth Hearing Protection (10% discount applied)
Handheld Routers & Accessories:
I have several handheld routers in the shop, as well. Below are just a few that are still available in stores. It’s nice to have multiple routers because you can install various jigs, fences, bases and bits without swapping them around during a project. Some routers are for small jobs, others for big jobs. I wish I had a router for every bit!
Trend T8 3HP Plunge Router (Has integrated lift feature for router tables)
Triton TRA001 3-1/4HP plunge router (I love how the plunge mechanism works) - Cool Tools Review
Bosch Colt trim router (compact, easy to balance, great for small jobs.) - Cool Tools Review
Bosh colt plunge base (makes a great little router even greater) - Cool Tools Review
Bosch micro-adjustable edge guide (great accessory for the above router)
M-Power CRB7 router base (An AMAZING router upgrade) - Cool Tools Review
Yoga Mat (a great alternative to a router mat) - Cool Tools Review
Trend router pod (sit your router on it while it spins down) - Cool Tools Review
Specialty Routing Jigs & Machines:
I own, and occasionally use a couple specialty routing machines. I think there are better ways to do the same tasks, but they are interesting… I also have some miscellaneous jigs that I do find useful.
Pantorouter Pro (A patten-based router joinery machine) - Cool Tools Review
Router Boss 470 Digital (All-in-one routing machine for those who like gadgets) - Cool Tools Review
Leigh 18-inch Super Dovetail Jig (great when you have a lot to cut but want a hand-made look)
Mortise Master Jig (invented by an independent woodworker) - Cool Tools Review
Router Bits:
I’m not going to list every router bit I own, just the few that I have made videos about. I buy Whiteside bits whenever possible because they are a small, family business in North Carolina that make the best bits I’ve ever used.
Whiteside lock miter bits (the big one is more versatile) - Tutorial Video
Whiteside Ultimate Flush Trim Bits (For serious template routing) - Cool Tools Review
Homemade router bit cabinet (This holds all my bits)
DRILLS, DRILL PRESS, DRILL BITS, ETC.
Drill Press & Accessories:
Nova voyager DVR drill press (have to see it to believe it.) - Cool Tools Review
Central Machinery drill press (much less expensive) - Cool Tools Review
Grizzly Mortising Machine (Like a drill press, but makes square holes.)
Taylor Toolworks Drill Press Sharpening System (sharpen chisels and stuff) - Tutorial Video
NOTE: I am still working through the shop and will be adding much more as I go including the tools I use for measuring and layout, gluing and clamping, sanding and planing and much more. Stay tuned!