Multimaster tool. Used for sanding, scraping, cutting, sawing and polishing with a high degree of control, this hand tool won't tear your arm off. It hasn't been around for ages like the other big guns listed here. Your father or grandpa never had one of these. (It might be a good gift for him!) Used by professionals or hobbyists, it's versatile and manageable, though the blades can get expensive.
Router. The extremely versatile router has a spinning bit that works as a blade for finishing edges, shaping, cutting holes, and making contours and grooves. Details like a raised panel or dovetails on cabinets are possible with a router. The wide variety of bits can create almost any kind of precise finished edge for molding trim, as well as cut circles and make mortise holes, dados, rabbets, bevels and rounded edges.
Air compressor. Powerful bursts of compressed air supply energy for many tools and applications. Even a small one like this model can pump up bike tires, manage delicate paint airbrushing, blow sawdust from tight spaces, and manage strong pneumatic tools such as finish nail guns, staple guns, wrenches and sanders. A pneumatic nail gun sets tiny finish nails instantly without awkward hammering or dents on the surface of your project.
Planer. A planer shaves thin slices of wood off to make surfaces thinner, flatter or smoother. Houses shift with age and temperature. If you have doors that don't fit or windows that won't close, this tool is much faster than trying to sand it down by hand and more gradual than cutting with a saw. It also cuts corners off wood, scribes, and can remove thick paint or varnishes when you don't want your sandpaper gummed up.
Palm sander. One of many in a family of sanders — including random-orbital and belt sanders — the palm sander is infinitely faster and more even than digging in with a block and sandpaper. It has a bag to catch the sawdust but still puts out a lot of dust — everywhere. But sawdust is your new friend, right?
Table saw. Whereas a chop saw "chops" small pieces of wood across the grain, a table saw "rips" lumber lengthwise along the grain — and can make some chop cuts and angle cuts as well. Set the depth and angle of your blade, and push the wood through, using an adjustable guide to help you feed it straight. While you shouldn't attempt sheets of plywood on this, it is portable and can be used on the ground, a workbench, or even a set of sawhorses.
Circular saw. More often called a Skilsaw, this workhorse is portable and has endless uses. It cuts softwood, hardwood, concrete, stucco, wood, glass, ceramic tiles, brick and metals. Cut your wall openings, holes for skylights, wood beams, plywood and tops of fence posts with this tool. Be sure to use the correct blade for your project. Blade types are steel, high-speed steel (HSS), diamond, carbide-tipped and abrasive, and each has its own ability.
How-to: Rough up the wood with a copper or brass brush to allow the whitewash to adhere better. Sandpaper and then vacuum the surface or wipe the dust away. To lighten the wood, you can use liming wax, liming wash or a solution of primer and water, working it in with a rag. If you're using wax, remove excess wax with fine steel wool and seal the surface with clear wax. If you're using primer or liming solution, wipe off the excess with a rag. Once the piece is dry, seal it with a coat of polyurethane.
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