Best Compact Tools for Small Woodworking Shops
Most folks think you need a big shop to own serious tools. You do not. I have worked out of garages, sheds, and even a driveway, and the tools below are the ones that actually earn their footprint in a small shop.
This list covers compact table saws like the DEWALT 8-1/4 and SKIL 10-inch, track saws that can replace a table saw, a router sled that replaces a planer, and a Shapeoko 5 Pro CNC that acts like a first employee. Every tool on this list is one I use or recommend to the folks inside my Sawdust Startups community.
Best Compact Tools for Small Woodworking Shops
1. DEWALT 8-1/4 Inch Compact Table Saw for Tight Spaces
If your shop is really tight, the DEWALT 8-1/4 is my favorite tiny table saw. It is small enough to live on a shelf or under a bench and still has a rack and pinion fence and plenty of power for everyday work.
I built a little sled for mine and it cuts way above its size. A lot of people do not realize how much quality work you can do on a small table saw once you build a few jigs around it.
Price usually runs $300 to $350 and stays under $400. That makes it a solid first saw for a garage or a shed where a full-size contractor saw just will not fit.
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2. SKIL 10-Inch Table Saw for Small Shops Under $500
The SKIL 10-inch is the table saw I recommend most often under $500. You get a full size blade, a rack and pinion fence, and enough power to handle anything a small shop will throw at it.
You can also run most of a dado stack on it, which is not something you can say about every saw in this class. I did a full review of this saw on the channel and it has held up in real shop use.
At $300 to $329 most days, nothing else in this price range gives you this much saw. This is the one I point new woodworkers to when they ask for one contractor style saw that will not break the bank.
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3. Evolution Table Saw for Compact Workshops
The Evolution table saw went viral last year and sold out for a while. It is a full size saw with a sliding table and a slide out outfeed support on the back, which is rare at this price.
Those two features matter in a small shop. A sliding table helps with crosscuts and the outfeed support pulls out only when you need it instead of eating floor space all the time.
It runs around $475, which is about $75 more than when I first reviewed it. Still a fair value for what you get, though the SKIL edges it out on pure dollars if you do not need the sliding table.
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4. Wahuda Benchtop Jointer for Small Shop Milling
I have had the Wahuda benchtop jointer for about five years. It is hard to find an 8 or 10-inch benchtop jointer in this price range that actually holds up over time.
For a small shop this is the sweet spot. You get real jointing capacity without giving up half your shop to a floor standing jointer.
If you only have room for a benchtop jointer, this is the one I would buy. It has paid for itself several times over in my shop.
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5. WEN Benchtop Drill Press for Everyday Shop Work
The WEN benchtop drill press has been in my shop for a long time and drilled a lot of holes. At around $200 it is one of the better benchtop drill presses you can buy.
It does what a drill press needs to do. Runs true, holds its settings, and does not take up the footprint of a full floor model.
If you are outfitting a small shop on a budget, this is the kind of tool that pays for itself in the first few projects. Nothing fancy, just a dependable press.
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6. Best Benchtop and 15-Inch Planers for Small Shops
Planers get a little muddy because the right one depends on your budget, your space, and what you plan to plane. I will break down three that work for different small shop setups.
For best budget, the CRAFTSMAN benchtop planer is the one I would buy. Mine had a little snipe out of the box, but the infeed and outfeed tables let me dial that out. It is a solid performer for the money.
Step up from there and the DEWALT DW735X is the shop workhorse that has been a staple for decades. It comes with three straight knives and can be upgraded aftermarket with a helical cutter head if you want a quieter cut and better grain handling. That upgrade might void the warranty so check before you swap.
If you have room for a bigger machine, the Grizzly 15-inch planer is a beast. It uses a spiral cutter head where the teeth sit square to the wood. Less expensive than the Oliver and likely built in the same factory based on the look.
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7. Rockler Router Sled for Slab and Cutting Board Flattening
If you do not have the room or the budget for a planer, a router sled can fill that job. The Rockler slab flattening jig fits almost any router and lets you flatten one face, flip the board, and surface the other side.
The smaller version is perfect for cutting boards, charcuterie boards, and serving trays. The larger version handles slabs when you start working with bigger material.
I used a 2-1/4 horsepower DEWALT router with mine and it flattened boards dead flat across the full width. For a small shop with no planer or jointer, this is a real answer, not a compromise.
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See the Rockler Slab Flattening Jig Large at Rockler Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
8. xTool Lasers for Small Shop Customization and Revenue
Lasers are one of the biggest changes I have seen for small shops in the last few years. Inside the Sawdust Startups community, the folks with lasers are the ones adding customization and selling more product at higher margins.
I met with the xTool team at a convention this year and they make models for every size shop. Small desktop units fit on a bench, and larger models handle bigger projects and production work.
If customization is a path you want to explore, a laser can open up a real revenue stream without taking over your whole shop. It pairs well with the Dremel Blueprint miter saw below for cutting small parts and blanks.
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9. Dremel Blueprint Miter Saw in a Box for Small Spaces
This is the miter saw that does not look like one. The Dremel Blueprint system folds out of a case to reveal a guide that the included 12V cordless circular saw rides on. You get angle cuts and square cuts without a dedicated miter station.
A friend of mine uses his alongside a laser and cannot put it down. It handles small signs, blanks, and parts that you would hate to run on a big saw.
I have heard from folks using these in apartments, small garages, and tight utility rooms. You can even cut flooring with it. For a small space, it is genius.
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10. Track Saws for Small Shop Sheet Goods and Repeatable Cuts
Track saws are the most underrated tools in woodworking. For a lot of jobs they can flat out replace a table saw, and they store against a wall instead of taking up floor space.
Budget pick is the Kreg track saw. Corded, comes with a track, and stays under $500. It has been the best budget track saw on the market for a long time.
Step up and the Milwaukee M18 is my personal favorite out of every track saw I have tested. I keep it in reach when I want to grab a track saw without thinking about it. Makita makes a great corded model and two cordless options, and the 40V outperforms the 36V in my testing. Festool is excellent across the board, including the TS55 and the deeper cutting TS60 with anti-kickback tech.
For repeatable cuts, add the TSO guide rail square and TSO parallel guides. The guide rail square turns your track saw into a giant speed square, and the parallel guides give you dead accurate repeats for drawers, boxes, and cabinets. In those situations a track saw can actually beat a table saw.
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Bonus Small Shop Upgrades: Drum Sander and CNC
JET Benchtop Drum Sander for Cutting Boards and Panels
If you do a lot of cutting boards, a drum sander is a game-changer for final surfacing. The JET benchtop drum sander lives around $1,000, and I caught mine on sale for about a hundred off.
Important caveat. This is not a planer. It will not take heavy passes. If you try, the internal breaker will flip on you. Light passes only.
For final sanding cutting boards, charcuterie boards, and small panels, it is a solid tool. Just do not buy it thinking it will hog off material.
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Shapeoko 5 Pro CNC for Small Shops and Small Businesses
A CNC is one of the biggest upgrades a small shop can make. I call mine my first employee because it batches templates and product while I work on something else. More product in the shop means more profit in the business.
I run the 2 foot by 4 foot Shapeoko 5 Pro because it fits my small shop perfectly. Carbide 3D also makes a 4x4 for bigger footprints and a 2x2 if you are really cramped. New this year, they added a leg kit so you can run it freestanding with storage underneath.
If you get the Shapeoko 5 Pro, upgrade to the spindle. I run the 65mm and it has been excellent. The 80mm is more power and efficiency if you need it. Everything else you need, the table, work holding, and starter bits, comes in the box. Carbide 3D will even replace a starter bit if you break one in the first 30 days, which you probably will. Before you buy, run through the free courses at my.carbide3d.com to see how it works.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best table saw for a small shop under $500?
The SKIL 10-inch contractor style table saw is the one I recommend most often under $500. You get a full 10-inch blade, a rack and pinion fence, and enough power for real work. It usually sits around $300 to $329. If you have even less space, the DEWALT 8-1/4 job site saw is my favorite tiny saw under $400.
Can a track saw replace a table saw in a small shop?
In a lot of cases, yes. A track saw breaks down sheet goods more accurately than most compact table saws and stores flat against a wall. Pair it with the TSO guide rail square and parallel guides and you get repeatable cuts for drawers, boxes, and cabinets. For those tasks it can actually beat a table saw.
What is the best benchtop planer for a small shop?
If you want the best budget planer, the CRAFTSMAN benchtop is a strong pick after a quick snipe adjustment. If you want a step up, the DEWALT DW735X is the workhorse that has been in shops for decades. If space and budget allow, the Grizzly 15-inch is a beast with a spiral cutter head at a good price.
Is a CNC worth it for a small woodworking shop?
For a small shop or small business, a CNC is one of the biggest upgrades you can make. I call mine my first employee because it batches product while I work on something else. The Shapeoko 5 Pro in the 2 foot by 4 foot size fits a small shop well and comes ready to run out of the box.
How do I flatten a slab without a jointer or planer?
A router sled is the answer. The Rockler slab flattening jig holds your router and rides over the top of a shimmed board. Flatten one face, flip it, and surface the other side. You end up with a dead flat board without buying a jointer or a planer.
What is the Dremel Blueprint miter saw in a box?
The Dremel Blueprint system is a 12V cordless circular saw that folds out of a case with a built in guide. You can make square cuts and angle cuts on small parts. People use them for laser signs, flooring, and projects in apartments or tight garages where a real miter saw will not fit.
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