Hand Tools for Woodworking – A Detailed Guide

Posted by Dave the How To guy | do it yourself | Posted on May 23rd, 2010

A very popular and relaxing hobby today is woodworking. When you start getting into woodworking, you will need a variety of woodworking tools . But don’t be afraid you don’t need to spend a fortune to get started. If you shop for used or discount tools you can build your collection without spending a fortune.

Used hand tools don’t lose their quality over time. Yes you may have to sharpen them but once they’re sharp they are as good as new.

Below you will find a list of tools that you should have in your tool box. Some of them are no brainers like below.

- 16 ounce claw hammer - tape measure - hand saw - screwdrivers
- level - pliers - wrenches - hack saw
- sand paper - and don’t forget safety glasses

Squares are important for making things square and accurate. You will need a framing square or a carpenter square for larger projects. A try square is for smaller projects and is often used in furniture making. These come in sizes from three to twelve inches. A combination square has two pieces: a head on a steel blade. Squares that are marked in inches and metric are very useful. Squares are great tools for measuring 45 or 90 degree angles, straight edges, setting pitches and angles etc.

Chisels are used for many projects like setting hinges and making notches etc. You should look for high quality, durable chisels, as these will get a lot of use. You will also need a variety of chisels in sizes from ¼ to 2 inches wide, for use on different projects. You can use chisels by hand or you can tap them with a wood mallet.

Clamps are needed for gluing projects together and just being an extra hand when needed. A wide variety of sizes and types are available. There are bar and pipe clamps for large jobs. C clamps and quick grips are used for smaller jobs and pinch clamps for very small jobs. These are generally inexpensive, so pick them up whenever you find them. These can often be found in good condition “used”. Pick them up whenever you find them cheap and build your collection as you never know when you will need one.

Hand planes are made of steel or wood and are used for a variety of purposes. A jack plane is used for rough shaping and comes in twelve to fifteen inch sizes. Smoothing planes are good for fine cuts and are eight or nine inches long. A block plane is used for trimming and small project or places.

Drills are an important tool to have for many different tasks. Though you can buy hand or manual drills this is really a tool of the past. Today they come in corded or cordless models. Though these are power tools they are still hand tools and an important part of your tool box. Corded drills not only work great but are also less expensive. You need to look for ones with features including reverse, variable speed controls and keyless chuck. If you want to buy a cordless drill, look for high voltage batteries and name brands if you want to be happy with your purchase. You also want to look for a model with two batteries, so one can be charging while you work with the other. You will never stop buying accessories for your drill (drill bits etc.) in order to complete your many woodworking projects.

Next time we’ll talk about Where to Find Your Woodworking Tools.

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