Last Updated on November 7, 2025 by teamobn
Looking for the most reliable ToolsToday brands? Start with Amana Tool (industrial router/CNC cutters), Vectric (approachable CNC CAM), Microjig (safety/workholding), Fisch (precision drilling), A.G.E. (clean-value saw blades), Donek (drag-knife cutting on CNC), Milescraft (accessible jigs), and XFasten (double‑sided woodworking tapes).
Match the brand to your job: cabinetmaking and sheet goods (Amana, A.G.E., Microjig), CNC signmaking and inlays (Amana, Vectric, XFasten), drilling clean hinge cups and shelf pins (Fisch), and templating without creep (XFasten, Milescraft). Shop curated lines with fast shipping and expert support at ToolsToday: Shop reliable branded tools.
Contents
Key Takeaways
- Amana Tool: Industrial carbide CNC/router tooling with advanced coatings for long edge life.
- Vectric: Fast, accurate CNC CAM (VCarve Pro) with previews and robust post library.
- Microjig: 3D pushblocks and jig hardware for safer, cleaner table-saw/router setups.
- Fisch: True-ground brad-points and Wave Cutter Forstners for flat-bottom holes and clean exits.
- A.G.E.: Value-driven ATB/TCG blades (thin/full-kerf) with anti-vibration features for clean cuts.
- Donek: Drag knives/creasing tools to cut films, veneer, cardboard, and more on standard CNCs.
- Milescraft: Smart, budget-friendly guides/jigs (e.g., DrillMate) to boost drilling accuracy.
- XFasten: Double-sided woodworking tapes with strong hold and clean release for templating/CNC.
Why ToolsToday is a Reliable Source
- Curated catalog focused on cutting, CNC, power tools, and shop supplies
- Expert support for specs and setup
- Fast shipping; same‑day on select lines when eligible
- Shop the curated selections: ToolsToday
Best Tool Brands by Job
- Cabinetmaking and sheet goods
- Amana Tool: compression/spiral bits, premium saw blades
- A.G.E.: value ATB/TCG blades for rip/crosscut
- Microjig: GRR‑RIPPER for safe, narrow rips
- CNC signmaking and inlays
- Amana Tool: V‑groove, O‑flute, and spirals for acrylics/aluminum
- Vectric: V‑carve, inlay, pocketing toolpaths with accurate preview
- XFasten: double‑sided tape for templates/workholding
- Template routing and small parts
- XFasten: secure hold without creep, clean peel
- Milescraft: edge/circle guides, universal bases and bushings
- Precision drilling and hardware installs
- Fisch: Wave Cutter Forstners, brad‑points; clean hinge cups and shelf pins
- Milescraft: DrillMate for straight/angled holes on site
- Packaging, veneer, and thin‑stock cutting on CNC
- Donek: drag knives, creasing wheels, diamond-drag engraving
Tool Brands Guide
Here are eight proven names stocked today. Each adds value in the shop, from CNC software to jigging and cutters. Scan the list, match to your workflow, and upgrade confidently.
Amana Tool
Amana Tool builds industrial-grade cutting tools for wood, plastics, and non-ferrous metals. Core strengths include solid-carbide and carbide-tipped router bits, CNC tooling, and premium saw blades. The catalog spans spirals, compression bits, V-groove, dado, and panel-raising profiles tailored for cabinetmaking, signmaking, and furniture work.
Precision grinds, micro-grain carbide, and balanced bodies support clean cuts at high RPMs. Advanced coatings like Spektra reduce heat and resin buildup, extending edge life. Replaceable-insert tooling covers surfacing, rabbetting, and grooving, while specialty “O-flute” geometries excel in acrylics and aluminum.
A standout favorite is the Spektra-coated solid-carbide spiral upcut. It delivers fast chip evacuation, crisp edges, and long service between sharpenings on both handheld routers and CNCs. Sizes like 1/4-inch shine in hardwood, plywood, and MDF, leaving tidy mortises, dados, and through-cuts. Users reach for it when cut quality matters on edge banding, joinery, and sign outlines.

A.G.E. Series
A.G.E. Series delivers dependable cutting performance for shops needing clean results at fair prices. The line centers on saw blades engineered for cabinetmaking and light production.
You’ll find rip, crosscut, and combination options that stay sharp and track straight. This tool brand focuses on practical geometry and durable carbide rather than flashy extras.
Key designs include thin-kerf and full-kerf plates with precision grinds that leave crisp shoulders. Expansion and anti-vibration slots stabilize cuts. ATB, TCG, and high-ATB patterns cover hardwoods, plywood, melamine, and non-ferrous stock. Dado sets round out the range for grooves and rabbets.
A go-to blade is the 10-inch 40-tooth general-purpose ATB. It rips 4/4 hardwood without burning and leaves crosscuts for finishing with minimal tear-out. Thin-kerf keeps jobsite saws on speed, while a stiff plate holds lines on cabinet saws. Many crews keep it loaded for sheet-goods and glue-line rips. One blade that does most tasks well.

Donek Tools
Donek Tools turns standard CNC routers into capable knife cutters. The company specializes in drag knives that swivel to follow toolpaths, creasing wheels for packaging folds, and diamond-drag tools for scratch engraving. These add-ons let shops cut films, veneers, cardboard, leather, foam, and gasket sheet cleanly without an oscillating head.
Designs focus on CNC-friendly shanks, precise depth control, and replaceable blades that hold tight radii. Spring loading helps ride over surface variations. CAM setup stays simple. You post a path like a typical tool, then control feed, depth, and blade choice to match the material. The result is crisp curves, square corners with lead-ins, and minimal fuzz on fibrous stock.
A go-to pick for many shops is the D2 drag knife. It fits common collets, handles everyday thicknesses, and makes accurate cuts in vinyl, veneer, chipboard, and thin plastics. Users rely on it for sign work, inlay patterns, packaging mockups, and template making.

Fisch
Fisch is a European maker known for drilling tools for wood. Core strengths include Brad-point drill bits, Forstner bits, and augers. The brand serves furniture shops and cabinetmakers. Edges stay sharp through heat treatment and tight tolerances. Clean entry and exit holes are a hallmark.
Brad-points arrive ground true for centering and straight tracking. Sets cover metric and imperial sizes, plus long-series lengths for deep bores. Forstner offerings include high-speed steel and carbide-tipped lines with Wave Cutter geometry that lowers heat and tearout.
Matching countersinks, plug cutters, and mortising chisels round out bench and drill-press work.

A standout favorite is the Wave Cutter Forstner bit. Its undulating rim shears fibers, clears chips, and runs cooler at lower feed pressure. The result is flat-bottom holes with crisp rims in hardwood, plywood, and end grain. It also excels when reboring hinge cups or overlapping holes. Resharpening restores life for long service.

Microjig
Microjig builds safety and workholding solutions that give you control on table saws, router tables, and band saws. The focus is on keeping hands away from blades while holding small parts flat and tight. Designs aim for predictable feed, precise positioning, and fewer kickback risks.
Core tools include the GRR-RIPPER family of 3D pushblocks, MATCHFIT Dovetail Clamps and hardware for building clampable jigs, ZeroPlay miter bars for slop-free sleds, and the MJ Splitter for thin-kerf rips. Accessories like GRR-RIPBLOCK for jointers, BladeClean kits, and deflector shields round out the system. Parts adjust without fuss, and the non-slip polymer soles stick to stock even when dusty.
The GRR-RIPPER 3D Pushblock is the flagship. Independent legs straddle the blade, apply downward, inward, and forward pressure, and keep cutoff and keeper pieces under control. The adjustable heel grabs short offcuts. You get narrow rips, cleaner edges, and safer routines on day one.

Milescraft
Milescraft designs clever jigs and guides that boost accuracy for hand tools and benchtop machines. Core strengths cover drilling, routing, measuring, and layout. The range includes dowel and pocket-hole jigs, drill blocks, countersinks, hinge-boring aids, corner clamps, and sanding accessories. Products feel approachable for DIYers yet precise enough for cabinet work.
Router users get circle-cutting kits, edge and mortising guides, universal base plates with bushings, and sign-making letter templates. Saw users get straight-cut guides and edge clamps that steady sheet goods. Many pieces share quick adjustments, scales, and dust-minded design, which shortens setup time and improves repeatability.
A standout favorite is the DrillMate drill guide. It turns a handheld drill into a mini drill press for straight or angled holes. The base has V-grooves for pipe, a fence for edges, detents from 45° to 90°, and a depth stop. Shelf pins, dowels, and hardware installs line up clean and square.

Vectric
Vectric develops approachable CNC design and CAM software for routers. The focus is fast, accurate toolpath creation with previews that match shop results. Woodworkers, signmakers, and cabinet shops use it to move from sketch to cut without wrestling with settings. You get clean vectors, tidy nodes, and reliable output that matches your machine.
Key titles include VCarve Desktop and Pro for 2D and 2.5D work, Aspire for full 3D relief modeling, plus Cut2D, Cut3D, and PhotoVCarve for specialized tasks. Core tools cover V-carving, profiling, pocketing, drilling, inlays, nesting, fluting, and molding toolpaths. A broad post-processor library supports common controllers, while the tool database, templates, and a robust preview help catch mistakes before you hit Start.
VCarve Pro is the crowd favorite. It balances price and capability, handling most jobs a router sees daily. You can lay out text, logos, parts, and joinery, then preview chips, tabs, and ramps. The result is predictable cuts, clean edges, and fewer reworks.

XFasten
XFasten focuses on adhesive solutions that make shop work faster and safer. The lineup covers double-sided woodworking tapes for templating and fixturing, painter’s and masking tapes for clean edges, carpet and mounting tapes for installs, plus gaffer, duct, anti-slip, reflective, and drywall joint tapes for daily site tasks.
Engineering centers on reliable tack, clean release, and stable grip under heat and dust. Thin carriers keep parts flat during routing. Strong cloth and polymer backings resist tear yet conform to curves and stair treads. Painter’s tapes pull clean after multi-day schedules. Foam and film mounting options handle signs, trim, and fixtures. Contractors, cabinet shops, and makers use these to secure work without clamps, avoid surface damage, and speed setups.
A standout favorite is the Double-Sided Woodworking Tape. It locks patterns, jigs, and small parts without creep, even on resinous hardwoods. The tape peels clean, saves sand-out time, and keeps CNC or router work consistent.

Quick Comparison: Which Brand for Which Job?
| Brand | Best for | Materials | Standout product/example | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amana Tool | CNC/router cutting, saw blades | Micro‑grain carbide, balanced bodies, and coatings reduce heat/resin for clean cuts | Spektra-coated spiral upcut | Micro‑grain carbide, balanced bodies, coatings reduce heat/resin for clean cuts |
| Vectric | CNC design/CAM (VCarve Desktop/Pro, Aspire) | 2D/2.5D/3D routing | VCarve Pro | Reliable toolpaths, accurate previews, big post library |
| Microjig | Safety and workholding | Table saw, router, band saw | GRR‑RIPPER 3D pushblock | Hardwoods, plywood, plastics, non‑ferrous metals |
| Fisch | Precision drilling | Wood (hard/soft), ply, end grain | Wave Cutter Forstner bits | Cooler-running, flat-bottom holes with crisp rims |
| A.G.E. | Value saw blades | Wood, sheet goods, melamine, non‑ferrous | 10″ 40T general-purpose ATB | Thin/full‑kerf options; anti‑vibration slots for straight, clean cuts |
| Donek | Knife cutting on standard CNC | Films, veneer, cardboard, leather, foams | D2 drag knife | Accurate curves/corners without oscillating head |
| Milescraft | Jigs and guides | Drilling, routing, layout | DrillMate drill guide | Downward/inward/forward pressure; safer narrower rips, cleaner edges |
| XFasten | Workholding/installation tapes | Wood, laminates, plastics | Double‑sided woodworking tape | Strong hold, clean release; prevents creep in template/CNC routing |
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which ToolsToday brands are best for CNC signmaking?
- Amana Tool for spiral/V‑carve bits, Vectric for reliable toolpaths, and XFasten for template/CNC workholding tapes.
- What router bit coatings last longest on resinous hardwoods?
- Advanced PVD coatings (e.g., Amana’s Spektra) help reduce heat and resin buildup, extending edge life and maintaining cut quality.
- Is A.G.E. a good alternative to premium saw blades?
- Yes — practical geometry, thin/full‑kerf options, and anti‑vibration features produce clean cuts at a fair price point.
- How can I rip narrow strips more safely on a table saw?
- Use Microjig’s GRR‑RIPPER to apply downward/inward/forward pressure, controlling both keeper and cutoff pieces.
- Can a standard CNC router cut vinyl, veneer, or cardboard accurately?
- Yes — Donek drag knives allow standard CNCs to make accurate cuts in thin, flexible materials without an oscillating head.
- Which Forstner bits run cooler and leave flat‑bottom holes?
- Fisch Wave Cutter Forstners shear fibers, clear chips efficiently, and run cooler for crisp, flat‑bottom results.
Conclusion
Start with the jobs you do most and match the cut, hold, or layout tools to those tasks. Compare specs you’ll feel on the bench, like carbide grade, plate stiffness, coating, and support. Check compatibility with your machines and materials, then read application notes or cut charts.
Buy once, test on scrap, and keep notes so you can repeat wins and avoid duds. When a tool brand proves clean results and reliable service, standardize on it and build your kit around those strengths.
These tools are great for home workshops. Check out our guide on turning your garage into one next!





