10 Best Tools at Lowe's Right Now for Woodworking and Shop Work
Most people walk right past the best tools at Lowe's without ever slowing down. I pulled ten of them off the shelf and put them to work in my shop. Some are brand new, and a few have been hiding in plain sight for a while.
The headliner is the new Bosch Glide 12-inch Miter Saw, which has the smoothest slide I have ever used. Below that you will find the Kobalt Router Table with Router, a Kobalt Air Compressor with Nailer Combo, and a Bora Edge Clamp that can stand in for a track saw. Each one gets a real explanation of what it does and who it is for.
10 Best Tools at Lowe's Right Now for Woodworking and Shop Work
1. Kobalt Air Compressor with Nailer Combo for Trim and Woodworking
This is the fastest way to go from owning zero nailers to owning the three you actually use. The kit pairs a six gallon compressor and hose with a 16 gauge nailer, an 18 gauge nailer, and a 23 gauge pin nailer. Buying those pieces separately usually costs quite a bit more.
Here is how I use each one. The 16 gauge drives the biggest nail of the three, so it is my pick for baseboard, trim, and anything that needs real holding power. The 18 gauge is the workhorse in a woodworking shop, especially when glue is doing most of the work. The 23 gauge leaves a tiny headless pin that acts like a thumb tack while glue dries.
If you build furniture, shop fixtures, or planters, this covers almost every fastening job you will run into. It is also a solid starting point for someone doing trim work around the house. Check the current price, because this kit moves in and out of sale pricing.
See the Kobalt Air Compressor with Nailer Combo at Lowe's Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
2. Bosch Glide 12-inch Miter Saw Review for Small Shops
This might be the most anticipated tool release of the year, and it earns the attention. It is a 12 inch dual bevel sliding compound miter saw built on Bosch's glide arm instead of traditional rails. That design lets you push the saw flush against a wall, which is a big deal in a garage shop or a miter station.
The slide itself is butter smooth. So are the miter detents, which are the smoothest I have felt on any saw. It bevels 47 degrees both directions with a turret style depth stop on each side for common angles. You can also switch the positive stops off, glide to any angle you want, and lock it down with the front handle.
A few details stood out in real use. The shadow line is very bright, which matters to me since I am red green color blind and cannot see some lasers. Each extension wing has a flip up stop block for repeat cuts without setting up a separate stop. Dust collection is genuinely good on chop cuts, though sliding throws more dust like every slider does.
Fully collapsed it measures about 25.25 inches wide, 34 inches deep, and just over 29 inches tall. That is compact for a 12 inch saw. The knocks are minor. It is not a lightweight saw, and I wish it had a soft start motor.
See the Bosch Glide 12-inch Miter Saw at Lowe's Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
3. CRAFTSMAN VERSASTACK Socket Sets for Shop and Truck Storage
These are the sets I grab constantly and never think twice about. I picked them up a couple months back and they have earned a permanent spot. All of the cases lock together, so a small stack lives in the shop and another rides in the truck.
The two smaller sets cover you both ways. One is SAE and one is metric, and each comes with a quarter inch ratchet, an extension, and a run of driver bits. If you want a little more reach and a few more sockets, the 20 piece set steps that up.
All three sit right around the 30 dollar mark or under. At that price, buying the pair was an easy call for me. If you only own one, get the set that matches the fasteners you touch most.
See the CRAFTSMAN VERSASTACK 24pc SAE Tool Set at Lowe's Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
See the CRAFTSMAN VERSASTACK 24pc Metric Tool Set at Lowe's Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
See the CRAFTSMAN VERSASTACK 20pc Tool Set at Lowe's Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
4. Kobalt Electric Screwdriver for Low Torque Shop Jobs
There are jobs where an impact driver is simply too much tool. Mounting a router base into a soft aluminum plate is the perfect example. Over torque it once and you strip that hole, and now you have a real problem.
A small electric screwdriver gives you speed without the muscle that ruins parts. This one has forward and reverse, an LED that fires when you press the trigger, and a magnetic extension that stores bits inside. It also takes any standard quarter inch driver bit you already own.
This is one of Lowe's hottest selling items right now, with thousands going out the door weekly. That tracks, because the value is a little silly for what it costs. Keep it on the bench and you will reach for it more than you expect.
See the Kobalt Electric Screwdriver at Lowe's Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
5. Kobalt Router Table with Router Combo for Small Parts and Edge Profiles
This combo gives you a fixed base router and a compact router table together. The router works fine as a standalone handheld unit with a micro adjust depth knob and an edge guide included. The table brings an aluminum top, an aluminum fence with sacrificial inserts, a bit guard, and legs.
Where a table like this really shines is small and narrow parts. Trying to run a handheld router around a tiny workpiece is awkward and, honestly, not very safe. Putting the bit under the table and sliding the piece across gives you far more control and support.
Setup is quick and there are some smart touches. The router mounts with three screws, and you adjust bit height from the top using the included tool, which most budget tables make you do from underneath. There is a power switch on the table plus a removable safety key, which is worth having if kids are around the shop.
Two honest complaints. Adjusting router speed means reaching behind and underneath the table, and the top is a little sticky out of the box. A coat of board butter fixes the second one. Clamp or bolt it to your bench, since aluminum and plastic will slide around otherwise. This is not a precision lift and fence setup, and it is not trying to be.
See the Kobalt Router Table with Router at Lowe's Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
6. CRAFTSMAN Ratcheting Screwdriver Set for Around the House
If a powered screwdriver is not your thing, this is the manual answer. The ratcheting collar flips one way for tightening and the other for loosening. Center the switch and it works like a plain fixed screwdriver.
That ratchet function saves more time than it sounds like it would. You stop repositioning your hand on every turn, which matters on long screws or in tight corners. The bit selection covers Torx, flathead, Phillips, square, and just about everything else you hit around a shop or house.
It ships in a VERSASTACK case, so it stacks with the socket sets above. I accidentally ordered two of these online, which tells you how simple the buying decision felt. One lives in the shop and the other went in the house.
See the CRAFTSMAN Ratcheting Screwdriver Set at Lowe's Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
7. Wiha GoBox Bit Set with Ratchet for Tight Spaces
This little kit fits in a shirt pocket and solves a problem I did not know had a fix. It has an impact ready adapter that locks bits in place so they cannot be pulled out. Small bits normally fall out or get knocked loose constantly, and that stops here.
To release a bit you pull the collar back. Everything else stays put no matter how you carry it. The kit also includes a tiny ratchet for tight spaces, plus a thumb wheel for when there is no room to swing a ratchet at all.
The drive is a standard quarter inch, so your regular driver bits work in it. It all packs into a slim metal case. This is the kit for detail work, small projects, and anywhere your full size drivers will not reach.
See the Wiha GoBox Bit Set with Ratchet at Lowe's Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
8. CRAFTSMAN Inflator and V20 Cordless Tools Worth Owning
I think CRAFTSMAN is one of the most underrated cordless brands on the market today. I bought the CRAFTSMAN Router about a year ago and it has been fantastic, especially for what the kits cost. Since I already had batteries, adding the inflator was an easy call.
The inflator ships with different nozzle attachments on the top. That covers sports balls, gym gear like slam balls, and pool floats. It also airs up tires, which turns a low tire in the driveway from a trip into a two minute job.
If you are not on the platform yet, the V20 Starter Kit is the cheapest way in. Get a battery and charger first, then add the router or the inflator depending on what you need. The value across that lineup is what keeps pulling me back.
See the CRAFTSMAN Inflator at Lowe's Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
See the CRAFTSMAN Router at Lowe's Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
See the CRAFTSMAN V20 Starter Kit at Lowe's Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
9. Bora Edge Clamp for Straight Plywood Cuts Without a Track Saw
If you want dead straight plywood cuts but a track saw is not in the budget, start here. This is an aluminum clamping straight edge that spans a full sheet of plywood. You square it up, clamp it down, and run your circular saw base right against the edge.
The clamp slides easily and locks down snug. Because the aluminum is formed rather than flat stock, it does not flex or bow in the middle. You just hold light pressure toward the edge while you cut and let the guide do the work.
The clamp head also moves inboard, so you can grip narrow pieces or open it all the way out to four feet. There is a matching sled available for your circular saw, though I skipped it. Sometimes you just want to clamp it, cut it, and be done.
This is not a track saw and it will not leave a track saw edge. What it will do is save you several hundred dollars while still giving you straight, repeatable cuts. For a lot of garage shops, that is the right trade.
See the Bora Edge Clamp at Lowe's Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a 16 gauge, 18 gauge, and 23 gauge nailer?
The lower the gauge number, the bigger the nail. A 16 gauge nailer drives the thickest nail of the three and gives you the most holding power, so it is the one for baseboard and trim. An 18 gauge brad nailer is the most used nailer in a woodworking shop because it holds well and leaves a smaller hole. A 23 gauge pin nailer shoots a headless pin meant to tack parts in place while glue dries, not to hold on its own.
Is the Bosch Glide miter saw worth it?
If you want the smoothest slide on the market and you need to save shop space, yes. The glide arm lets you push the saw flush against a wall, which matters in a small shop or a miter station. The miter detents are the smoothest I have used, and the shadow line is bright enough to see in daylight. The tradeoffs are the weight and the lack of a soft start motor.
Do you need a track saw to cut plywood straight?
No. A clamping straight edge like the Bora Edge Clamp will give you dead straight cuts with the circular saw you already own. You square it up, clamp it down, and run your saw base against the aluminum edge. A track saw is nicer to use and leaves a cleaner edge, but the clamp edge does the job for a fraction of the cost.
Is a small router table worth buying for a home shop?
It is, as long as you buy it for the right reason. A compact router table shines on small and narrow parts that are unsafe or awkward to profile with a handheld router. It is not a precision setup, and it will not replace a proper lift and fence system. For edge profiles on small work in a tight shop, it earns its space.
Why use an electric screwdriver instead of an impact driver?
Because an impact driver is often too much tool for the job. When you are mounting a router base or working with soft aluminum threads, an impact can strip the hole in a second. A small electric screwdriver gives you speed without the torque that ruins parts. It is also lighter and easier to control one handed.
Is CRAFTSMAN a good cordless tool brand for woodworking?
I think CRAFTSMAN is one of the most underrated cordless brands out there right now. The V20 router has held up well in my shop for about a year, and the kit prices are hard to beat. It is not a professional daily driver platform for a jobsite crew. For a garage woodworker, the value is very strong.
Prices and availability were accurate at time of publishing and may change. Always click through to confirm current pricing. Some links in this post are affiliate links. 731 Woodworks may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
