How Do I Get Started for Under $100?
Here's the good news before you spend a cent: you do not need a workshop full of gear to start restoring vintage furniture. You need a handful of things, most of them last for years, and the whole lot comes in under $100. Here's exactly what to buy — and, just as importantly, what not to.
🌀 An orbital sander (~$43)
Almost every restoration needs sanding at some point, so this is the one tool worth buying properly. A simple one like a Black & Decker does the job — takes off plenty of material, easy to use, light, not too noisy, and cheap. One heads-up: the little dust bag on these isn't great, so work outside or in a shed where you don't mind mess. You do not need a big benchtop machine to start — save that for later, if ever.
🧻 Sandpaper (packs, a few dollars)
Two things matter here. First, get it velcro-backed so it actually sticks to your orbital sander — if it hasn't got the fuzzy Velcro backing, it won't attach and it won't work. Second, keep a few grits in your armoury: 120, 180 and 220 will cover you for most jobs. If you're starting on oak, you've picked the most forgiving timber there is — you'll be fine.
🧴 Wood glue (~$18)
For anything loose, wobbly or broken, a basic wood glue is all you need. Buy a small pot — a little goes a long way, and you don't need a giant bottle for a small repair.
🪛 A screwdriver set (~$15–$20)
A cheap adjustable magnetic handle with a set of bits is perfect. Honestly, you'll only ever use a few — a cross-head, a flat-head, a square-head and maybe one or two others. Ignore the dozen fancy attachments you'll never touch.
😷 A dust mask (~$5 a pack)
The simple ones aren't perfect, but they're a lot better than nothing, and you should never sand bare-faced. Start here; a proper respirator is a sensible upgrade later if you get serious.
🪵 Oil + cloths (~$11)
For a simple refinish, a bit of natural linseed oil and a few microfiber cloths will bring tired timber back to life. Cheap, and it lasts.
💰 The Money Bit
That's everything, under $100. And here's how to think about it: some of these are consumables you'll replace (sandpaper, glue, oil, masks), and some are buy-once, use-for-years (the sander, the screwdriver). So your real ongoing cost is tiny. The rule: buy what the job in front of you actually needs — not the big, impressive machine that just sits in the background.
📈 When to Buy More
As you get deeper, there are other tools worth having — but only buy them when a job genuinely calls for it, not before. We talk through those (and when it's worth investing) inside Find.Restore.Love.
💬 Got a question about kit? Drop it in the community discussion and I'll do my best to help — and if it's a good one, it might become the next video.