Before undertaking any woodwork project, it’s essential to have all the tools required for the job. You don’t want to be halfway through a cut, only to realize that the saw you have is not incisive enough, or that your initial calculations turned out to be incorrect.

Assembling the tools you need can require a few trips to hardware stores and a toolbox large enough in which to store them all. It would be rather nice to have a way of cutting out the back-and-forth to the store and lightening the load of your toolbox; guess what, there is a way. Many common tools of the woodworking trade are now available as smartphone apps, enabling you to get portable versions for little or no cost without needing to leave home. If you’re worried about the quality of the virtual tools being compromised, there are plenty of apps which are definitely up to standard.

It isn’t just the digitalization of tools that makes a visit to the App Store or Play Store so worthwhile for carpenters and DIY lovers. There are apps which catalogue hundreds of amazing pallet ideas from woodworkers all over the world and are sure to whet your creative appetite. Then, once you’ve finished with your project, you can upload it so that it will be showcased to the world and serve as inspiration to like-minded folk!

Crowe Sawmills produced this infographic which picks out some of the best woodworking apps, categorized by digitalized tools, measurement apps, apps for inspiration and tutorials and tips for beginners. All these certainly promise to make life easier for carpenters or DIY enthusiasts, so if this sounds like you, check out the infographic below.