A big part of learning electronics for me was reading Gordon McComb’s Robot Builder’s Bonanza. His first robot platform is just 1/4″ plywood with motors attached to the bottom. But I quickly realized I had zero saw skills.
Nine months later (after moving and building my first shop), I had bought my first desktop power tool, a MicroLux Variable Speed Mini Band Saw. I also realized that I should design the shapes on a computer where I could guarantee straight lines and symmetric angles. I printed and pasted those designs onto my materials and was able to cut much nicer platforms from woods, plastics, and even soft metals.