Today I want to talk about basic hand tools, which are new, cheap and practical. There's been a huge interest in the second hand tool market in recent years. Second hand prices are variable, but on the whole they're popular because they're cheap. Cheap is an awful word, easily taken to mean … [Read more...]
Choosing Your First Hand Plane
Which Hand Plane Should I Buy First? That's a question I get asked a lot. If you're getting in to woodworking by hand then I can't recommend the No 5, or equivalent jack plane length of plane enough. It's the most versatile plane and can cover all of your needs of a bench … [Read more...]
More On Buying Hand Tools
Advice on buying hand tools is always an interesting and provocative subject that has the ability to either enlighten or confuse those new to woodworking. On the surface there are many contradictory approaches to planning your first tool kit, dig a little deeper and this becomes tenfold. Ultimately … [Read more...]
Tool Haul
All I'm missing now are a few chisels, apparently. I had expected Richard to find me a little saw, and perhaps a plane to show willing. But between conversations at Mr Arnold's recent charity sale, he filtered through boxes and tables and kept adding to his stash. By the end of the day a … [Read more...]
Hear, Hear To The Modern Tool Maker!
Today I wanted to give a big hat's off to our modern tool makers. They come in all shapes and sizes and whilst they're products are highly respected and admired there's a lot more good they do besides which can easily be over looked. We're all used to living in a commercial world. Everyone has a … [Read more...]
Wooden Plane Makers
This years European Woodworking Show (a couple of weeks back) was definitely the busiest one yet. Saturday in particular was heaving which was fantastic to see and great for all, but you can trust me to still have a moan because it meant I didn't find much time to have a good neb around. As ever we … [Read more...]