Woodworking is popular all over the world as both a profession and a pastime. There are a wide range of woodworking tools, however, when you're first starting out you should only need a handful of them and you certainly don't need to go out and spend loads of money.

The best advice anyone can give you is to start out buying only those tools you feel comfortable using and to add tools later on as you need them. Also, while it may be tempting to go for the cheaper tools, it's the sturdier the tool is, the longer it will last. So if you want to save money, check for tool sales or you can even buy them second hand. If it's a good tool, it will often last for many years.

When it comes to woodworking tools, the basics include drill bits, hammers, hacksaws, levels, pliers, safety glasses, sandpaper, screwdrivers, tape measures and wrenches. Make sure you are familiar with how to use the tool, as well as what it's used for, before you even pick it up. Being overly confident about a tool before you learn about it is a good way to get injured.

If you are a beginner woodworker, you should always start with soft woods such as pine or spruce, as they are much easier to work with than harder woods. Once you become more comfortable, you can then move on to more exotic woods like cherry or Baltic birch.

Once you become more experienced, you can move on to power tools. Circular saws, power drills, jigsaws, random orbital sanders, table saws and compound miter saws are excellent tools to work with if you wish to create more complex woodworking projects.

No matter what woodworking tools you're using, however, you should always put safety first. You should always wear the proper safety equipment. Safety goggles, ear protection if you're using power tools, and gloves are necessary so as to prevent injury.

You'll also want to pay attention to the clothing you wear. Loose fitting clothing should be avoided and instead you should choose thicker materials such as denim. This will protect you from heat as well as flying wood chips. You should also refrain from wearing any jewelery that can get snagged by any of the tools you're using.

Woodworking can be a lot of fun as long as you educate yourself on the proper procedures and you put safety first.