Best products from r/handtools

I'm new to hand tools after growing up building rough construction around a farm with power tools. So it's a challenge for me to translate my thoughts over to hand tools as well. I was recently in a hand tool workshop and asked the instructor if I could just go rip something on the table saw real quick then continue with cutting the joinery. I got a dissapointed head shake from the instructor followed by a quick lesson on ripping to the line with a sharp D8 and understanding that the ripped edge didn't need to be perfectly square for what we were doing.

With practice I'm getting better at thinking through how to accomplish tasks with hand tools, but it takes time. Every time I encounter a new mental block I learn a new way to overcome it.

If YouTube is your preferred way of digesting infromation check out Wood by Wright. If you like RWW you'll definitely like James Wright. And of course Paul Sellers and Frank Klaus are must watch material.

For me, my local library and the woodworking guild I'm a member at both have a ton of woodworking books.

There are tons of great detailed plans in them. I've been renting books then scanning the plans I'm most interested in to keep a little archive for myself.

Of the hand tool focused books I've gone through so far all of Christopher Schwarz's books are great (more books from his and his publishing company). I also really love The New Traditional Woodworker by Jim Tolpin. It's fantastic for shop project plans and also succinctly describing what tools are necessary/recommended in a hand tool shop. He simplifies things a bit more than Christopher Schwarz, which is actually kind of nice. His Toolbox Book is pretty fantastic as well for ideas and plans. After how much I've enjoyed these two books I'm definitely going to check out more of his stuff.

I also bought a book on making canoe paddles that describes how to make them with power tools, modern hand tools, or 3 simple hand tools in the Native American tradition. I'm definitely finding that the more specific the subject of the book the more detailed the instructions are.

I've been wanting to check out The Minimalist Woodworker and Tom Fidgen's books ASAP, but I have to wait until someone else returns them. Such is the downfall of relying on libraries.

But even when I'm reading books that seem focused on power tools it seems most of the plans in books basically just describe layouts and cuts and maybe suggest ways of making the cuts. With the detailed drawings and explanations you can really just use them as a guide then follow the steps with whatever tools you have. Ie. It will tell you to dovetail the sides of a box and show you a diagram. But you can cut them with a router, table saw, bandsaw, hand tools, cnc machine, or whatever else you can dream up. Most people that write plans understand that hobbyist woodworkers all own different tools and posses different skills. So they leave it open to making cuts however it works for you.

Honestly, even the hand tool based plans and videos were intimidating to me at first. I thought I would need every special chisel, joinery plane, marking tool, saw in every potential set up, etc. before I even got started. Then I went to a couple hand tool workshops and realized I could accomplish most things reasonably well with just a couple chisels, basic saws, and a plane or three. All the extra tools just increase efficiency, accuracy, and maybe give you the ability to make some shapes and designs that look nice, but aren't completely necessary. So it's up to you to adapt a plan to what tools you have available.

I highly recommend seeing if you have access to a source of free or cheap woodworking books near you. Then just look for books written by writers that have a hand tool focus. That way you'll have to do a little less mental conversion from power tool focused instructions over to hand tool use.

Also, for me it's actually nice to have physical copies of plans in front of me. That way I can really dissect the drawings and think them through at my own pace rather than constantly pausing, rewinding, and fast forwarding a video. This is especially helpful when you're having to think through and convert cuts to the tools and skills you posses.

Here’s my system. Not the cheapest but not the most expensive either.

Shapton Glass Stones

1000 $55
4000 $59
8000 $89


DMT Duo Sharp 10” X-Course/Course $126


I use the DMT for initial sharpening, fixing dings in blades, and most importantly, flattening the water stones. 10” size is important because it makes flattening the stones easier.


There are other brands of waterstones that I’m sure will work equally well like oishi from Lie Nielsen but I think those 3 grits work great. At 8000 I can already shave my arm so not sure you need to go higher.

You can also get a DMT Dia Flat which will last longer than the duo sharp but it costs more.


Lastly, I prefer to use jigs to sharpen. So I’ve spent more money on that. The Lie Nielsen is pricey but works the best. Kell honing guide works well for pig sticker chisels. I have a Veritas guide but don’t use it often.

Used this list for a couple posts, its about $200ish in all to get you started. This list uses chisels in lieu of say a router plane for dados and doesn't have an option for grooves but that's later down the road. I've got a big enthusiast list as well if you'd be interested.


> Crosscut/Ripsaw: Irwin Double Sided Pullsaw https://www.amazon.com/IRWIN-Tools-Double-Edge-9-5-Inch-213103/dp/B0001GLEZ8
> Joinery Saw - I think this is the one Japanese saw I own? works okay https://www.amazon.com/Z-saw-Dozuki-Z-Saw/dp/B001DSY7G6/ref=pd_sbs_469_3?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B001DSY7G6&pd_rd_r=RBVEGF6TKKCZHVCH7WSH&pd_rd_w=16INj&pd_rd_wg=gFI50&psc=1&refRID=RBVEGF6TKKCZHVCH7WSH
> Chisels https://www.amazon.com/Narex-Republic-Woodworking-Chisels-863010/dp/B00GPC74ZQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1499302108&sr=1-1&keywords=narex+chisels
> Marking Gauge https://www.amazon.com/Crown-135-Marking-Gauge-Beech/dp/B00EC9AOZQ/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_469_lp_t_4?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=ZBYMV8TF850C6M5JDGDG
> Bevel Gauge https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XC2NYKS?psc=1
> Mallet - I'd personally make one or buy a used one (of heavier wood, good grain and quality construction.) Amazon has some though. https://www.amazon.com/Narex-gram-Beech-Carving-Mallet/dp/B00L7BQL54/ref=sr_1_11?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1499302341&sr=1-11&keywords=mallet
> Combination square -does the work of several sizes of squares for the price of one - https://www.amazon.com/IRWIN-Combination-Square-Metal-Body-1794469/dp/B005XUHIBG/ref=sr_1_2?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1499302407&sr=1-2&keywords=square
> A No 4 or 5 sized plane - I buy old Stanley's/Bailey's because they're great, and usually cheap for bench planes - Flea Market/Antique stores/ebay -$20 ish --- Amazon also sells new (I give no guarantee on quality however) - https://www.amazon.com/Stanley-12-404-Adjustable-2-Inch-Cutter/dp/B000FK3WI2/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1499302507&sr=1-1&keywords=stanley+plane
> "Workbench" - temporary thing to hold pieces while you make dovetails - https://www.amazon.com/WM125-Workmate-350-Pound-Capacity-Portable/dp/B000077CQ0/ref=pd_cart_vw_2_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=CA9X21QD5D7QAXKMGE6S
> Woodscrew clamp, used to clamp peice to workbench while chiseling waste - https://www.amazon.com/ATE-Pro-USA-30143-Handscrew/dp/B0006A4A5U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499303583&sr=8-1&keywords=wood+screw+clamp
>
> Other than clamps, glue, mortice gauge, etc, this is good enough to get you started making carcass (dovetailed) pieces of furniture, like a shoe cubby or bookshelf. (Currently making a chimney bookshelf for myself)
>
> Thats around $200 for getting you started. Add a mortise chisel and mortise gauge and you can start mortise and tenon work. Invest in pipe clamps when you reach a glue up point.

I can't comment on the ones in your pic, but I bought the ones above it (you can just barely see the bottom of them) and it was not worth the $10 or whatever I spent. They are softer metal and now essentially garbage for me. I next bought the Stanley Sweetheart 4 piece set for $75 and they are outstanding. (If that's too much for you FWW says these are really good for like $40.) So like I said, can't comment on these but in general, with tools, you pay for what you get. I'd rather spend $75 on something that will last my lifetime than $1 on something that will cost me time to replace, will fail when I need it, doesn't do the job quite as well.

Stanley Sweethearts - https://smile.amazon.com/Stanley-16-791-Sweetheart-Socket-Chisel/dp/B004TK0IG8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1488082816&sr=8-1&keywords=stanley+sweetheart

$82 any day of the week. . . best bang for your buck.

That being said, I use Lie Nielsen chisels and I wouldn't trade them for anything. . . a good set of Japanese chisels would be tempting but they run upwards of $900. . . and they're typically metric.

I own a set of Narex mortising chisels and I've see some of their bench chisels. They are ok. . . but pretty brittle. . . and when I held a Lie-Nielsen mortising chisel I immediately wanted to sell my Narex set for just that one chisel. . . however, they're not very easy to sell since they are so cheap to begin with. . . so I'll just save up.

Idk, I wouldn't say that. I still think you can get a good deal, if you look around.

The chisels I bought off of Harbor Freight actually seem pretty good after I spent an entire afternoon tuning and sharpening them. They were complete shit out of the box though. Forget a flat back, the edge wasn't even square.

These vintage planes were relatively cheap too.

I am also considering buying this saw, as I heard it was quite good after you tune it up.

Also, I sent that piece of junk gauge back, so I didn't really lose anything.


------------------------------------

I was looking at the crowns on amazon.

What do you think about this one?

https://www.amazon.com/Silverline-868503-Mortice-Gauge-230mm/dp/B000LFTQ72/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1485138295&sr=8-9&keywords=Marking+gauge

EDIT : Nvm, according to UK reviews, it's crap. Ohh wow, the UK has way better choices than we do in the states...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Silverline-868503-Mortice-Gauge-230/dp/B000LFTQ72/ref=sr_1_4?s=diy&ie=UTF8&qid=1485139275&sr=1-4&keywords=Mortice+gauge

I had one when I first got into hand tools and it worked ok but only after adding the wide blade attachment and corresponding table while using a traditional honing jig (this one: https://us.amazon.com/Work-Sharp-3000-Blade-Attachment/dp/B001EPR9I6 .....looks like they may have discontinued it?).

Eventually I got fed up with the unit and bought some diamond stones. And then I was disappointed in those so ended up doing what I should have done in the beginning and picked up some Shapton stones.

Long story short, if you're a serious hand tool user you're going to be disappointed in the unit. If you're just trying to get chisels acceptably sharp it will work fine.

These are solid: https://www.amazon.com/Bessey-KR3-550-50-Inch-Parallel-2-Pack/dp/B001HSO6TU/ref=sr_1_50?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1519866448&sr=1-50&keywords=bar+clamps

You've probably heard the first law of clamps is that you can never have too many clamps.

The corollary to that is you can never have too many bar clamps of exactly the same model and dimensions because it is a massive pain to try to get panels aligned for glue-up when you you have two or more different sizes of clamps sitting at different heights from the workbench.

For light duty, I love these: https://www.amazon.com/IRWINQUICK-GRIPOne-Handed-Mini-Clamp-Pack-1964745/dp/B001NP9S7M/ref=sr_1_4?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1519866799&sr=1-4&keywords=irwin+quick+grip. Super fast and easy to apply even one-handed.

I made the mistake of buying a lot of this style clamp when I was starting out: https://www.amazon.com/Bessey-GSCC2-524-2-5-Inch-24-Inch-Economy/dp/B000FA0BMC/ref=sr_1_4?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1519866845&sr=1-4&keywords=bar+clamp

When you use them to span more than a couple of feet, they bow and that throws the jaws out of square with the work-piece. I eventually just threw them away.

Oh - I have never used these, but I've fiddled with them at the store and they seem solid and a bit better than pipe clamps: http://www.rockler.com/surefoot-aluminum-bar-clamps

theyre OK but not great. I still use one of the larger ones (2") since I haven't found a decent old one yet.

at 9-10 bucks each; you are better getting a set like these. https://www.amazon.com/Narex-Republic-Woodworking-Chisels-863010/dp/B00GPC74ZQ

I got mine by picking up 1-2 vintage ones at a time from ebay

Yep—that's the one. I use the same one and love it.

You are orders of magnitude better off with the 4 piece Narex set for the same money. Irwin cheapened up those marples. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GPC74ZQ/ref=psdc_553148_t1_B000RG2Y56

> These are solid: https://www.amazon.com/Bessey-KR3-550-50-Inch-Parallel-2-Pack/dp/B001HSO6TU/ref=sr_1_50?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1519866448&sr=1-50&keywords=bar+clamps

$130!?!!

I'll stick with my $20 pipe clamps.