Beginner Tools & Guides

Free tools to help beginners get started in woodworking without wasting money on the wrong equipment.

Beginner Tool Budget Planner

Tell us about your woodworking goals and we’ll recommend the essential tools you actually need to get started. No fluff, no unnecessary purchases.

function tbInit() { tbRenderProgress(); tbRenderQuestion(); }

function tbRenderProgress() { const container = document.getElementById('tb-progress'); container.innerHTML = tbQuestions.map((q, i) => { let cls = 'tb-dot'; if (i < tbCurrentQuestion) cls += ' done'; else if (i === tbCurrentQuestion) cls += ' active'; return '

'; }).join(''); }

function tbRenderQuestion() { const q = tbQuestions[tbCurrentQuestion]; const container = document.getElementById('tb-question-container');

let html = '

';

container.innerHTML = html;

const btn = document.getElementById('tb-next-btn'); btn.disabled = !tbAnswers[q.id]; btn.textContent = tbCurrentQuestion === tbQuestions.length - 1 ? 'See My Toolkit' : 'Next Question'; }

function tbSelectOption(questionId, value, el) { tbAnswers[questionId] = value; document.querySelectorAll('#tb-question-container .tb-option').forEach(opt => { opt.classList.remove('selected'); }); el.classList.add('selected'); document.getElementById('tb-next-btn').disabled = false; }

function tbNextQuestion() { if (tbCurrentQuestion < tbQuestions.length - 1) { tbCurrentQuestion++; tbRenderProgress(); tbRenderQuestion(); } else { tbShowResults(); } } function tbGetRecommendations() { const { goal, budget, space, style } = tbAnswers; const recommendations = { essential: [], recommended: [], optional: [] }; // Always include safety recommendations.essential.push(tbTools.safety_glasses); recommendations.essential.push(tbTools.dust_mask); // Basic measuring recommendations.essential.push(tbTools.tape_measure); recommendations.essential.push(tbTools.square); recommendations.essential.push(tbTools.pencil); // Based on tool style preference if (style === 'hand' || style === 'both') { recommendations.essential.push(tbTools.handsaw); recommendations.essential.push(tbTools.chisel_set); recommendations.recommended.push(tbTools.block_plane); recommendations.recommended.push(tbTools.mallet); } if (style === 'power' || style === 'both') { recommendations.essential.push(tbTools.drill); recommendations.essential.push(tbTools.ear_protection); if (goal === 'small' || goal === 'furniture') { recommendations.essential.push(tbTools.sander); recommendations.recommended.push(tbTools.jigsaw); } if (goal === 'furniture' || goal === 'outdoor' || goal === 'home') { recommendations.essential.push(tbTools.circ_saw); } if (budget === 'serious' || budget === 'full') { recommendations.recommended.push(tbTools.router); if (space !== 'none') { recommendations.recommended.push(tbTools.miter_saw); } } if (budget === 'full' && space !== 'none') { recommendations.optional.push(tbTools.table_saw); recommendations.optional.push(tbTools.planer); } } // Clamps and workholding recommendations.essential.push(tbTools.clamps_basic); if (budget !== 'minimal') { recommendations.recommended.push(tbTools.clamps_more); } // Work surface if (space === 'none') { recommendations.essential.push(tbTools.sawhorses); } else { recommendations.recommended.push(tbTools.workbench); recommendations.essential.push(tbTools.sawhorses); } // Hammer and screwdrivers recommendations.essential.push(tbTools.hammer); recommendations.essential.push(tbTools.screwdrivers); return recommendations; } function tbShowResults() { document.getElementById('tb-questions').style.display = 'none'; document.getElementById('tb-results').classList.add('show'); const recommendations = tbGetRecommendations(); let essentialTotal = 0; let recommendedTotal = 0; let optionalTotal = 0; recommendations.essential.forEach(t => essentialTotal += t.price); recommendations.recommended.forEach(t => recommendedTotal += t.price); recommendations.optional.forEach(t => optionalTotal += t.price);

const minTotal = essentialTotal; const maxTotal = essentialTotal + recommendedTotal + optionalTotal;

document.getElementById('tb-total').textContent = '$' + essentialTotal + ' - $' + (essentialTotal + recommendedTotal); document.getElementById('tb-range').textContent = 'Essential: $' + essentialTotal + ' | With Recommended: $' + (essentialTotal + recommendedTotal);

let toolkitHtml = '';

// Essential tier toolkitHtml += '

';

// Recommended tier if (recommendations.recommended.length > 0) { toolkitHtml += '

'; }

// Optional tier if (recommendations.optional.length > 0) { toolkitHtml += '

'; }

document.getElementById('tb-toolkit').innerHTML = toolkitHtml;

// Advice based on answers let advice = 'Money-Saving Tips: '; if (tbAnswers.budget === 'minimal' || tbAnswers.budget === 'starter') { advice += 'Check Facebook Marketplace and estate sales for used tools. Quality vintage hand tools are often better than new budget options. '; } if (tbAnswers.space === 'none') { advice += 'Consider a folding workbench that stores flat. Look into community workshops (makerspaces) for access to big tools. '; } advice += 'Start with the essentials and add tools as specific projects require them.';

document.getElementById('tb-advice').innerHTML = advice; }

function tbToggleTier(header) { const content = header.nextElementSibling; content.classList.toggle('show'); }

function tbRestart() { tbCurrentQuestion = 0; tbAnswers = {}; document.getElementById('tb-questions').style.display = 'block'; document.getElementById('tb-results').classList.remove('show'); tbRenderProgress(); tbRenderQuestion(); }

tbInit();