- Here we go again. Mike stay way from the cheaper crap even though the price might seem great.You will hear allot of name brands here but the choice will in the end be yours.I have always bought Delta brand tools and am quite happy with them.

-First, don't buy any tools now.

Second, get thee down to a library and figure out what type of woodworking you wish to do. Learn the tools which are used with the style you choose. See if you know anyone who has those tools and try them out. You might not like physically doing what sounded pretty neat in a book. I like (but dont' have the patience for) inlay work. I like carving and am finding that I do have the patience for that. It's a fit. Find your fit, or weed out the non-fits.

Third, don't necessarily buy large power tools. There are a lot of us out here who don't use power tools (or use a few as needed) and we get along just fine. Figure out if you're a Normite or a Neanderthal woodworker and go from there. Power tools allow you to make larger pieces more quickly. Hand tools and rubbing finishes allow you to get to know the wood a whole lot better. Woodworking by hand puts me in one of my meditative states while giving me (much needed) exercise.