I’m always going on about how much I love a minimal tool kit, but in this post I’m going to rant on a bit, and give you a few pointers if you feel limited by the length of your hand plane. A Number 5, or Jack plane, will comfortably see you through most jobs, but as you get more experienced or … [Read more...]
Used Hand Tools – What’s Worth Buying Old?
I truly believe that most people quit woodworking because they don't ever get started. Obsessing over the perfect workbench and buying too many used hand tools can lead to this problem. You should dedicate a weekend to build your workbench. Get it done and stop over thinking. And then another … [Read more...]
Saw Horses – Do You Need A Set?
Saw horses are a clat to get out and I'll only use them if I have to (perhaps I'm lazy). But of course they are extremely useful, and it’s nice to know there’s a couple stashed away ready to grab if needed. Whether you need something cheap and nasty, or a sturdy work of art will depend on how … [Read more...]
Which Hand Tools Do I Need To Get Started?
It’s a question that we’re asked weekly, and whilst I’m often babbling on about specific tools, I wanted to use this post to bring together a list of the essential stuff that will get a beginner going. You probably know that I like to use minimal tools throughout my woodworking. It’s an … [Read more...]
Choosing The Best Mallet
I'm the most untraditional woodworker who came to traditional woodworking. I just can't stand wooden mallets. To get any sort of clump from them they have to be massive; these huge cumbersome things. And on top of that, they absorb everything. It doesn't matter how hard you hit it, nowt … [Read more...]
Drill Bits For Hand Drills
I'm always whinging about something. So the thing this blog is good for is that someone always has an answer. And it shuts me straight up. When I was moaning about drill bits in the marking knife post, we got plenty of suggestions for bits that you find overcome my problem. You weren't … [Read more...]
Dead Expensive Dovetail Saws…
... and why you need one. Most of you will know that the vast majority of my tools are what I would call good quality 'workman like' tools. I have a few modern posh things, but they're not in daily use. It's nothing against them, but my old friends are like comfy old work boots. They let in … [Read more...]
Tools That Need No Box
I don't know if this is just me. Whenever I have a jolly good tidy up, I find there's the same old handful of tools, and odds and sods that I don't bother to put away. This is because if I put them away, I'd get them straight back out... again. Off the top of my head, these are things like … [Read more...]
The Best Woodworking Marking Knife
All my tools are fairly rough and basic. I've never had much bother finding tools that work, although two things have always troubled me. The first; finding drill bits that don't rag out the work in slow hand powered drills. And finding a good marking knife. The drill bit hunt is still … [Read more...]
How To Set A Wooden Plane
Twat... ...nothing happens. Twat….nothing happens. Slightly harder twat... ...And the iron's sticking half inch out of the sole of the plane. Wooden planes look good. They are good. But they ain't half got awkward sod written all over them. Since hand tools became a thing … [Read more...]
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