In 1922, Raymond DeWalt invented the first radial arm machine, which allowed a saw to be raised, lowered, angled to any degree or tilted to any bevel. In 1924, he formed his own company, producing an electric universal woodworking machine known as the DeWalt 'Wonder-Worker.' Today, DeWalt is a major manufacturer of woodworking tools, with more than 200 products and 800 accessories.

With all those products to choose from, how do you know which ones you really need? Woodworking tools fall into five basic categories, according to function. There are tools for measuring, cutting, shaping, assembling and finishing.

Among the measuring tools, DeWalt offers self-leveling rotary lasers, which are accurate to 1/8 inch per 100 feet. Cutting tools are a DeWalt specialty. They make highly respected jigsaws, scroll saws, table saws and miter saws for woodworking, as well as reciprocating and circular saws. (A miter saw is used for cutting angles; a jigsaw is used to cut curves.)

Shaping tools include planes, routers, lathes, jointers and drill presses. The most important assembly tools are nailers, drills and drivers, and clamps. DeWalt has one of the most innovative collections of cordless hand tools in these categories. Finishing tools include sanders, such as a belt sander, palm sander, disc sander or random orbital sander. The random orbital sander is particularly useful, since it prevents gouging, as you might get from a belt sander, or circular marks that you might get from a disc sander.