The most important woodworking tool in your arsenal is the jointer. Wait, it’s the table saw. Sorry sorry, it’s the radial arm saw. Nope no hold on it’s the surface planer. There’s one tool in your workshop that is undoubtedly the most critical.
We all have a favorite power tool, hand tool or other piece of great gear that brightens our day when we get to use it. A tool you know exactly how to use, the results are exactly what you expect and the world is just dandy when it’s helping you create your project. I get it.
For me my favorite power tool is the jointer. It makes wood square and ready to be worked with into the creation in my mind. I always enjoy jointing a piece of wood knowing it will turn out ready to go. My favorite hand tool is the surform/rasp plane. It sounds a little funny but it’s a simple device and using it to scrape certain spots or glues seams is just super satisfying.
But do either of these really matter if I’m not using them correctly? If I didn’t set the tables correctly on the jointer or the reference fence isn’t square? What about the rasp plan? If I slam it across the grain and tear-out chunks of wood aren’t I just wasting time and timber?
You might already see the point I’m getting at here. It’s not the normal “go to” when you think of tools, sure. It’s cliché, sure. The most valuable tool in your workshop is YOU. Your knowledge, skills, experience and abilities are all part of the greatest possible tool you can possess – YOU!
A simple way to picture this is by thinking about the most expensive fancy tool imaginable. Let’s say it’s a $100,000 CNC router machine. You can create nearly ANYTHING with it simply by sticking a slab of wood in and letting it carve away, right? Not if you don’t know how to use it or program it. The same is true for a jointer, a drill press or a set of chisels. If the user of any tool has no idea how to use it OR lacks experience using it, what good is it really?
One thing I’ve learned over many years of woodworking, fabricating and essentially engineering projects is that my knowledge and skillsets are critical and the most valuable thing I possess. While owning well built tools and machines in your workshop can be super important, never overlook the importance of self improvement and learning. Always be learning and expanding your craft.
“Change is inevitable. Growth is a choice”