Beginner's Hand Tools

Re: Beginner's Hand Tools

Patrick Gibbons, Houston, TX

>You need lay out tools. A square, marking knife, ruler, mortise guage, etc. Get a set of bench chisels with four or five sizes. Get a tenon and a dovetail saw. Get an all-purpose plane like a big smooth or maybe a jack. Buy your wood from the mill S3S for the first few (or many) projects while you get the hang of planes. Get sharpening stones or a system; scary sharp, oilstones, diamond stones, waterstones, pick one way and try to get good at it then change if you feel the need. Take some courses if possible. Attempt to do some simple projects; a dovetailed box, a small mortise and tenon project. As you need tools for various operations buy them. If you learn how to make mortise and tenons, dovetails and rabbets and grooves you're able to do about anything. Be prepared. You will buy things you don't need and will later regret. You will not buy things that were a good deal and regret. You will buy the right thing and wonder why it took you so long to figure it out and regret. You will eventually run up to a precipice and slip down the slope never to be seen again. Have fun.

Re: Beginner's Hand Tools

David Miller from Iowa

>Kevin - welcome to the quieter, more therapuetic side of woodworking.

Your list is a good start, I might add a jack plane at a minimum (resisting the urge to bankrupt you - you'll be sliding down the slippery slope soon enough).

As far as brands, I'd suggest you start with classic Stanley, off of eBay. You should be able to get a #4, 5, and adjustable throat block plane for maybe $70 including shipping. The scrub plane, while maybe not needed in the fundamental kit, is worthwhile but will run you maybe $50 for a Stanley #40.

Suggest you get Garret Hack's "Handplane Book".

With regards to saws, I think you can get some real value with classic used, but it's probably not a good idea to be learning to tune both a plane and a saw while you are trying to get ramped up. Maybe someone can comment on some new saws (I don't have any late models).

Welcome. David

Re: Beginner's Hand Tools

Bob Smalser, Seabeck, WA

>Here's an answer I've provided before to boatbuilders where hand tools are imperative:

Here's a couple answers I've provided in the past to pick from, ask questions, and stimulate input from others...the difference between a boatbuilder and a furniture maker is almost moot, except boatbuilders are forced to use hand tools more, as many pieces are done in place:

Minimal Tool Box (Boatbuilder who'll stick with the hobby)

Large Riggers Bag or Carpenter�s Box

B&D Workmate

2 Saw Horses made on site

Crosscut Saw � Disston D8 minimum

Rip Saw � Disston D8

Coping Saw

Small Bowsaw

Dovetail Saw

Hacksaw

Jointer � Stanley 7 or 8

Smoother � Stanley 3 or 4

Rabbet/Shoulder Plane � Stanley 90

Compass Plane � Stanley 113

Block Plane - Stanley 60

Sweep Brace and Irwin bit set

Hand drill, eggbeater-type and bits

4 Paring Chisels

4 Mortise Chisels

2 Gouges

2 Rasps

3 Arkansas or Water Stones (or Scary Sharp)

4-8 Hand Screw Clamps

2 Door Clamps

Wood Mallet

16oz Claw Hammer

4oz Warrington Hammer

Combination Square

Framing Square

Bevel

Machinist�s Depth Gage

Marking Awl

Trammel Points

Chalk Box

Mason�s Twine

8� Folding Rule w/brass extension

2� Folding Rule

25� Measuring Tape

Boatbuilder�s Divider/Compass

Cabinet Scrapers

Spokeshave

Drawknife

Small Yankee Screwdriver/bits

Large Yankee Screwdriver/bits

Minimal Tool Box (for a specific one-time home boatbuilder)

Workmate

4 Large Hand Screws...come by sometime with a handful of 1" hardwood dowels and we'll make those together.

Sawhorses....we'll make those, too.

7 1/4" Skilsaw and combo blades

Framing and Combo Squares

Small Japanese Saw (dovetails and joints)

Block Plane...Stanley 60 w/ adj mouth from Ebay.

Wood Rasp...flea market.

Cordless Drill/Driver and bits...DW or Makita

16oz Claw Hammer

8' Folding Rule w/brass extension (inside measurements)

Marking/Mortise Gage

8" Bevel Square...used from Ebay

Chalk Box

Cabinet Scrapers

Bit brace and bits(optional, but very handy)

Medium and fine sharpening stones

Hand powered grinder

Four paring chisels 1/4 to 1 inch

1/4 and 1/2 inch mortise chisels

Something to whack the chisels with other than a hammer.

Clamps, including a range of C-clamps and some spring clamps, but especially a few bar clamps maybe four foot long

Sanding block

Minimal Power Tools:

10" Contractor's Saw

6" Jointer

12" Thickness Planer

7 1/4" Skil Saw

Bosch Saber Saw

Cordless Drill...14-18v...DeWalt or Makita

Selected Hand Tools from Ebay above.

Major Shop machines from Grizzly or Jet (Grizzly shipping is cheap).

Power Tools from Amazon.com Toolcrib.

Hand Tools (older Stanley, etc) from Ebay, Lee Veritas and Highland Hardware. Run the numbers on each purchase....fine common Stanley prewar planes and Disston saws can be dirt cheap on Ebay but some collectors items...Stanley 92 shoulder planes, for example...can be bought new for similar money.

Re: Beginner's Hand Tools

Jim in Burlington Ontario

>I'd pick up the LV jack plane and the high angle blade. I recently bought David Charlesworth DVD I'd cetainly recommend both but if you have to pick get the first one. I'd certainly get a few backsaw's, pick up any old wrasps and files you find.

Re: Beginner's Hand Tools

Ernie Miller Topeka

>you are going to need a squair and some measuring tools. I e-mailed you as I am close buy and willing to help when ever possable.

The most important tool

Dan Donaldson

>Is some method for sharpening, and some practice on how to use it. Doesn't matter if you use waterstones, scary sharp, oilstones,or a cinder block, but you will be very frustrated trying to use hand tools if you don't learn to sharpen them. (Maybe you already know how, if so, you can ignore my ramble;-))

If you have never used a truly sharp plane or chisel, doing so is an experience that you will never forget;-)

Don't go overboard - YET!

Terry in Denver

>Kevin:

For help in planing, start out with an inexpensive book like Sam Allens (sp?) "Plane Basics". In his book Sam goes through the basics of planes, their use, sharpening, etc. The last chapter of the book leads you through building a cupboard. Its well done, and like I said - inexpensive.

After that refer back to what everyone stated above and listed. Just remember - it's easy to go overboard with planes. I'm a perfect example of that!

You'll have to get some ideas from the others here on books to lead you through the basics of saws, etc.

Good job getting the whole family involved.

Have fun!

Terry

Very important tool *LINK*

Matti Kuikka

>Start your slope by making a simple cheap workbench from common materials that you dont hesitate to modify or make into firefood later. Get the tools you need for that and you will have a basic set and the immense satisfaction of having made yourself the most basic tool ie. the Bench. I made mine modified from Bob Keys simple bench and haven't looked back with regret yet.

Matti Kuikka


beginners bench

Re: Beginner's Hand Tools

Steve Kubien

>Hi Kevin,

I am pretty new to this as well (about 3.5 years on and off as a hobbiest). Others have mentioned layout tools (engineers square, marking knife, marking gauge etc) and a sharpening system which you learn well. I agree wholeheartedly. Dull tools are awful to use. Dull tools used to hack up inaccurate measurements and markings? That's pointless.

Other than the tools you have listed, I would add a jointer plane of some type. It could be a re-habbed Stanley #7 or #8, an old woodie, or a newer Knight, C&W, Lie Nielsen or whatever. You will need a well tuned jointer to make what should be one of your first projects...a workbench. Do not underestimate the value of a good bench in handtool work.

Have fun and welcome to the slope.

Steve Kubien

Ajax, Ontario

Re: Beginner's Hand Tools

Tom Ryan

>You could look at the list of "required" tools for some woodworking schools. Take a look at conoverworkshops.com or rosewoodstudio.com. By the way, I took the handtools course at Conover Workshops, and it was really great. I recommend taking a good course somewhere very highly. You could take it alone, or with your wife.

Another approach

Dave (Arlington, VA)

>Hi Kevin -

You've been getting great suggestions. Here's another approach - if you subscribe or have access to Fine Woodworking.

In the "Tools and Shops - Winter 2001/2002" issue (#153)(pp. 62-65), Mario Rodgriguez lists his "shop on the go" tools - i.e. the tools he packs up when he has to leave home and teach or demo woodworking. These are his "essential" tools.

Anyway, more food for thought.

Regards -

Dave

Re: Beginner's Hand Tools

Alan Hamilton

>Kevin,

Knowledge is what you need to acquire first--before you buy your first tool you should know why you NEED that tool, and how it is used. For example, on your list you have a scrub plane--which means you want to do some dimensioning--but you don't have a long-sole plane like a #7 or #8 to flatten your stock after you've gotten it the right size; niether do you list a bench, which is essential when you're using hand planes. (Don't confuse "smoothing" with "flattening." They are very different and require different tools to do easily and well.)

Woodworking clubs, magazines, local community college courses and books are all resources you might want to investigate.

Like others, I have my favorite books. All of the Woodwrigth's Shop books by Saint Roy of Underhill are great. They are fun to read, and are an excellent source of information and inspiration about hand tools. A big plus for someone in your position is that Saint Roy takes you one step at a time, one tool at a time, from project to project until you can "build a house and everything in it"

Alan

Re: Beginner's Hand Tools

Jonathan Peck - N.Y.

>I don't think there's any such thing as a beginner's handtool. Any tool you will buy should last generations if cared for. With that in mind, I would buy the best tools that you can afford. You will need to figure out for yourself what that means - ie. new makers or vintage tools.

One of your very first projects might be a workbench, so with that in mind, start thinking about designing your bench and what tools you'll need for layout, stock prep, joinery and clamping and make your beginners handtool list.

Hope this is helpful

Regards

Jonathan

Re: Beginner's Hand Tools

Cornelis

>Don't buy tools.

Video and Dvd are the way to go; Tage Frid, Rob Cosmos, Leonard Lee etc.

Next a sharpening system.

Do hands on courses (there are a lot in the US). It will cost you money, but you will buy less tools.

C

Re: Beginner's Hand Tools

Gretchen Leonhardt

>I too have elected to use hand tools exclusively, and am inclined to agree with Patrick. I think it's best to start with simple projects to build skills, and to add tools as you need them.

It's one thing to use hand-tool processes to supplement machine tools, and quite another to use them exclusively. For the person who relies on hand tools alone, the list is even larger than some of those given, since machine precision is not a given, and the hand-tool enthusiast cannot rely on the power tools that our era has come to take for granted.

Rather than become overwhelmed trying to start with a large project like a workbench (do you realize how much hand cutting that is?), build skill, coordination and especially endurance with smaller projects such as birdhouses and stools.

They require only basic tools if pre-planed stock is used. Save the plane knowledge for later when your skills become more advanced. Or begin with simple planing techniques using scrapers and block planes.

I also recommend woodworking books that are written with children in mind, because children are not usually taught with power tools. Taunton Press has a good book for teaching woodworking to children: especially since you want to include your children in your hobby. Look for books that use more hand-tool processes than machine processes, and buy as many of these as you possibly can find.

I welcome e-mails from others out there who choose to use hand tools exclusively. Please put "hand-tool woodworking" in the subject line.

Happy handtooling,

Gretchen Leonhardt