Over the years, I have learned the hard way that an inferior tool not only has a short life span, resulting in having to invest in the same tools all over again, but can also be very dangerous to use. I have had chisels splinter and break; cutting tools lose their edge after a couple of passes on a piece of wood; and other tools break within minutes of coming out of the package. Taking the time to invest in well made and a well cared for tools can literally save you thousands of dollars in the long run and will give you a life time of enjoyment.
To start a viable woodshop, there are some essential tools needed to complete most of your wood projects.
Hand Tools for Shaping Wood
· Clamps: You will need a variety of types and sizes. I would recommend purchasing clamps as you need them. Within a few short years you will have an extensive collection.
· Bench chisels: You will need about a half a dozen of these in a variety of sizes from ¼ to one inch.
· Stiff, wire brushes
· Saws: You will need a back saw, tenon and dovetail saws. These get used often in woodworking. A danger in buying any of these saws used can be damaged teeth. In all cases make sure that you keep your saws sharpened.
· Planes are used for smoothing. Get a few different planes, at least a block plane and jointer to start with.
· Scrapers are needed for a variety of projects. Look for a paint scraper and a hand scraper to get started.
· Files: Get good size, sturdy files in a ten inch size. Look for smooth and bastard mill files to start with and add others later.
Other Hand Tools You’ll Need
· Hammer: get a good quality hammer. A 16 ounce hammer is a good, versatile hammer.
· Mallet for driving chisels
· Allen wrenches in a variety of sizes
· Screwdrivers in Phillips and flat heads. Get a good set in several sizes of each
· T bevel
· Tape measure
· Steel rulers
· Level
· Squares
· Awls: marking and scratch
· Pliers: channel lock and needle nose
· Putty knife
· Utility knife
· Protractor
Before you spend money on inferior tools, take a moment to order the "Traditional Hand Tools for Woodworkers” catalog from Traditional Woodworker Corp. It’s free with free shipping and will provide you with a selection of the highest quality tools.
