What tools should I start with for cabinets and shelves?

For cabinet work, I’d put a track saw or a circular saw with a good guide ahead of a mitre saw. Breaking down sheet goods accurately is the main job here. Add a reliable square, tape measure, pencil or marking knife, and enough clamps to hold a guide and assemble parts.

Melamine and MDF are both useful materials. Choose based on the job and what’s available locally, and pay attention to edge finishing and the material’s suitability for the room. You don’t need to buy a whole workshop before making the first project.

Spend some thought on dust control before spending on premium tool branding. MDF and melamine dust need to be captured at the cut, so look for a saw that can connect to an extractor and use suitable respiratory protection as well. Eye and hearing protection belong in the setup too.

A precise measuring and marking kit, a flat work surface, and clamps can make a bigger difference to cabinet results than adding more machines. For sheet cuts, make a test cut on scrap and check the edge before committing to the project pieces.

Keep the first purchases boring and useful: a guided saw for panels, a drill you already have, a decent sander for exposed solid wood, and clamps. A mitre saw is handy for trim and repeated crosscuts, but it won’t replace a way to cut full sheets. A table saw can be useful later, though it takes space and deserves careful planning around safety.

Also, corded tools can be a sensible choice in a home workshop. Battery tools are convenient if you’ll move around a lot, but they’re not automatically the better buy. Start with the first cabinet and add tools when you know what’s slowing you down.