The One Tool Every Shop Needs First

The One Tool Every Shop Needs First

New woodworkers obsess over table saws and routers. Expensive tools, steep learning curves. There’s a better starting point.

The Answer: A Quality Combination Square

Nothing happens in woodworking without accurate measurement and layout. A cheap square lies. A quality square becomes your reference for everything else.

What Makes It Essential

Check square on machine setups. Mark cut lines. Set depths. Transfer measurements. Verify assemblies. The combination square does it all.

What to Look For

Machined blades that sit flat. Heads that lock solidly. A square that’s actually square—test before buying by drawing a line, flipping the square, and checking alignment.

Spend fifty dollars here. Starrett makes the gold standard. PEC offers excellent value. Avoid hardware store generics.

Skip These First

Expensive power tools can wait. Learn hand skills with minimal investment. A square, a handsaw, some chisels, and clamps build real projects while teaching fundamentals.

The flashy tools come later. Start with accurate measurement.