W

e test a fair number of tools and machines here at Popular Woodworking, but some years generate a different crop of "Best New Tools" than other years.

In 2005, we actually didn't get to test as many of the serious cast-iron machines as we usually like. This wasn't part of some plan, it just worked out that way. Look for us to make up some time in that department in 2006. But as a result, you aren't going to see any table saws, planers or band saws on this year's list.

The other thing fertilizing this particular harvest of new tools has been the undeniable bumper crop of high-quality hand tools. For years, this sleepy side of the tool-making world was dominated by big corporations that weren't investing in innovations in quality hand tools.

And as these tools slipped in quality, many woodworkers became uninterested in using them. But thanks to Veritas, Lie-Nielsen Toolworks and other small manufacturers, we are officially in a second golden age of hand-tool manufacturing. Many of the hand tools available today are as good (or even better) than those produced during the creative apogee of our craft.

If you've ever been frustrated by your dime-store chisels or flea-market planes, I urge you to try again. Purchase a small block plane or a chisel from one of these new companies and I bet you'll find that it will flip a switch in your head. These tools really work.

As always, the hand-held power tool market is highly competitive, and the new crop of these tools has some big surprises. Who knew that you could make a lami-

Best

New

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nate trimmer this powerful (Bosch did), or that you could make a jigsaw that cuts right up to a wall (DeWalt found a way).

One last note: We've tested all these tools in our shop. You might not agree with our preferences, but they are real and they're based on some real shop time by woodworkers just like you.

— Christopher Schwarz, editor

The Winners

Bosch DeWalt Festool

Grex JessEm Jet Lie-Nielsen Powell Manufacturing Ray lies Veritas

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