Whether you're setting up a home workshop in Sacramento or outfitting a finish carpentry operation, the tools you buy now will shape every project you take on for the next decade. Here's what woodworkers and carpenters in Sacramento are actually using, and where to find professional-grade tools at a real discount.
The Foundation: Cordless Drill and Impact Driver
Every woodworker needs a reliable cordless drill/driver and impact driver before anything else. For woodworking specifically, the drill matters more than the impact driver — you need precise speed control for driving screws into hardwood without stripping or splitting.
Makita's 18V LXT drill/driver is the most popular choice among finish carpenters and hobbyist woodworkers we see in our store. It's lighter than Milwaukee and DeWalt equivalents and offers better variable speed control for detail work. DeWalt 20V MAX is a strong alternative if you already own 20V MAX batteries.
Cutting Tools Every Woodworker Needs
Circular Saw
A circular saw handles straight cuts in sheet goods, lumber, and hardwood panels. For woodworking (as opposed to framing), a blade quality matters as much as the saw itself — a fine-tooth blade on a mid-range saw will outperform a framing blade on a premium saw for furniture and cabinet work.
Jigsaw
The jigsaw is essential for curved cuts, interior cutouts, and any shape that a circular saw can't follow. Makita and DeWalt both make solid jigsaws in the 18V/20V MAX platform that handle most woodworking cuts cleanly.
Random Orbital Sander
No woodworking shop is complete without a random orbital sander. It's the tool that turns rough-cut wood into finished surfaces. Most serious woodworkers own at least two grits of pads — 80 or 120 for material removal, 220 for finishing before stain or paint.
Miter Saw (if budget allows)
A sliding compound miter saw is the most transformative tool a woodworker can add after the basics. For trim work, furniture frames, and accurate crosscuts, nothing replaces it. We periodically carry miter saws through our liquidation channels — calling ahead when you're ready to buy is the best way to catch one at a good price.
Hand Tools No Woodworker Should Skip
Power tools do the heavy lifting, but hand tools finish the work:
- Chisels — for mortises, cleaning joints, and detail work that power tools can't reach
- Hand plane — for final surface flattening and edge cleanup
- Marking gauge and combination square — accurate layout is the foundation of clean joinery
- Clamps — you can never have enough; bar clamps and F-clamps are the most versatile starting points
- Mallet — for driving chisels without damaging handles
Which Cordless Platform for Woodworking?
If you're starting fresh and woodworking is your primary use:
- Makita 18V LXT — first choice for most woodworkers. Lightest tools, best speed control on drills, widest battery compatibility for adding specialty tools later
- DeWalt 20V MAX — strong second choice, especially if you also do general construction or remodeling where DeWalt's broader lineup is useful
- Milwaukee M18 — excellent platform but heavier tools than Makita, better suited for trade work than precision woodworking
Find Woodworking Tools at Tools For Less
We carry Makita, DeWalt, Milwaukee, and RYOBI tools sourced through retailer returns, inspected before sale, and priced 40–65% below retail. We also regularly carry clamps, sanders, jigsaws, and hand tools through our liquidation channels.
Inventory changes week to week, so calling ahead or stopping by is the most reliable way to see what's currently available for your workshop.
We're located at 4907 Auburn Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95841.
Store Hours:
Monday–Friday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday: Closed
Phone: (916) 287-0496
Buy Online, Pick Up In-Store: Order from toolsforless.com and your order will be ready within 2 hours.
Not all products are listed online. Visit us in person to see our full in-store inventory.
