It’s a question that we’re asked weekly, and whilst I’m often babbling on about specific tools, I wanted to use this post to bring together a list of the essential stuff that will get a beginner going.You probably know that I like to use minimal tools throughout my woodworking.It’s an … [Read more...]
Choosing The Best Mallet
I'm the most untraditional woodworker who came to traditional woodworking. I just can't stand wooden mallets.To get any sort of clump from them they have to be massive; these huge cumbersome things. And on top of that, they absorb everything. It doesn't matter how hard you hit it, nowt … [Read more...]
Drill Bits For Hand Drills
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 problem.You weren't … [Read more...]
Dead Expensive Dovetail Saws…
... 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 work boots. They let in … [Read more...]
The Best Woodworking Marking Knife
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.The drill bit hunt is still … [Read more...]
Chisels For Dovetailing
No matter how quick and functional a build may build, 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 refinement and more … [Read more...]
Chisels For All Needs (Almost)
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 like a lot of areas with … [Read more...]
ECE Hand Plane Review
We don't do many reviews. That's because I'm human and that makes me biased. But sometimes, something comes along that's quite special, it's then that I find it hard to shut up.I discovered this hand plane when looking at commercially made frame saw blades for some future planned...plan? I ended … [Read more...]
Basic Hand Tools List, For Getting Started
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...]