Hand tools are the core of what we do and how we build.
There’s many ways to approach your woodworking, but I’ve always believed that a minimal tool kit is the best.
Fewer tools means we get to understand each one that bit better. We learn how they work, and build up skill with less confusion.
And in all honesty, woodworking by hand is simple. So you really can be minimal.
Below you’ll find all our posts on hand tools.
From saws to hand planes, & drills to marking tools.
There’s thoughts on buying, videos on setting up, and ideas for building you own…
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...
... 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...
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,...
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....
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...
https://youtu.be/8rlsL-e15d4 Watch The Full Video in our Members' Site. It's available to all For FREE! Login Now if you already have an account. OR Create a Free Account Here So... Why Build Your Own Wooden Plane? When you can get a smashing Stanley No 5 for...
...why can't you make thick irons laminated? Why is it that my Grandad doesn't grind. My Dad doesn't have a grinder. And up until me buying swanky tools, I never had to grind? Hard steels and thick irons. It's a combination which wasn't found in my Grandad's workshop....
I first bought my bevel up Jack for planing end grain on thick workbench tops. I'd always been a normal steel, conventional plane kind of chap before building workbenches, but hand tools can moan and groan a bit at certain woods and I was building workbenches with a...
No matter how quick and functional a build may be in everything we make, we should be aiming at clean, tight joints. I don't like excuses for shoddy joinery. For the most part my Marples bevel edge chisels are up to this task. But some joints demand a bit more...
Chisels are a simple tool. Simple but useful. For hand tool woodworking, we really can't be without them, so your skills with a chisel should be built up early. But which chisels do you need? Traditionally, there was a different chisel for just about every job. But...
Related Posts:
https://youtu.be/8F3WqXVmSIk [Video Post] The router plane is one of those rare tools that seems to always be in my hand despite not really being an essential in my minimal tool kit.In doesn't quite have the versatility of a chisel which can pretty much come in for...
Many of you have pointed out my shoddy array of straight-ish, straight edges. I'm often asked if there's a reason why I favour these home made things over something more posh. This is one of those questions where I really wish I had a good answer. I don’t, but I'll...
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...