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What would YOU add? (Patreon)

Published:
2019-08-20 12:28:14
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2026-06
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Friends: 

I've got a buddy who is about to get into hand-tool woodworking. He even got a little grant money to get him going. (I know, I wish I had gotten a grant to get going.) 

Anyway, I made up a list of my basic kit. This isn't the SUPER-basic, Woodwork for Humans kit; more like an average hand-tool kit for a person with a little money to spend. 

Of course, I tried to think of everything, but I've been doing this for so long that I cannot see the forest for the trees. I'm sure I missed important stuff. 

Who can help me with this list? 

Why, all of YOU, of course. 

The list is attached as a PDF. Feel free to have a look, and include your additions and suggestions in the comments. Keep in mind that this is a basic kit. I know I can add a bunch of specialty tools, but I want the list as lean as possible. 

Thanks in advance for your help!

--Rex

Comments

Shanni Marmen

Gloves nitrille to keep hands clean when applying finish.

Robb Curtice

Sadly, not only do I not have anything to add, I've got several things to buy!

Frans van Ballegooijen

If he wants to get some powertools as well, you might want to recommend a drillpress and a bandsaw. And maybe a Dremel tool...

Rex Krueger
>>25965332

I believe I put one under "marking and measuring" but I'll double-check. That one's essential!

Rex Krueger
>>25965630

I'm right there with you on the bandsaw and the drill-press, but a Dremel in the essential kit? That one surprises me.

Shanni Marmen

The best one so far glue! I can't believe you missed that one. Wood glue and CA glue. Spray glue is good too.

Howard Tuckey

A froe, and/or a riving knife would be/is on my list, And clamps. Many clamps. Also as many 18-20 volt power tools as you can afford, i.e. nailer, saw, driver, drill, etc. And a bow saw.

A1BASE
>>25965630

If he’s really going for low tool impact a scroll saw can replace a band saw for most small to medium things. It takes a bit longer but takes up MUCH less space, can be hidden in a cupboard and allows you to cut inside shapes.

A1BASE

It would be interesting to add a key that lists a couple of small power tools that indicates what hand tools it would replace. A small router, for example, can replace a number of hand tools. Jointers, rabbiting planes etc.

Frans van Ballegooijen
>>25965630

You are absolutely right about that. I completely overlooked that one. And maybe he could even get by with a jigsaw...

William Allen

Planes: what need is: #1 scrub plane. You cannot quickly 6 square a board without a scrub plane. You need a smoothing plane, but you don't HAVE to have a 4and 5, just one of them. A jointer is nice to have. And, mega handy is an apron plane of some sort. I have a $25 Japanese 40mm plane. It is quickly and easily adjustable by tapping the nose and tail on the workbench.

William Allen

Hammers: I own three: claw hammer, soft hammer, ball pane hammer.

William Allen

Saws: I started with a Ryoba (14tpi Cross 10tpi rip) and a Dozuki (24tpi). I added a 12" Ryoba (12tpi cross 8tpi rip) for a total of $100cdn. with a 12" you can dimension plywood in a reasonable time. I've since added two Disston Saws I picked up in rough condition, 12tpi cross cut and 8tpi crosscut.

William Allen

Sanding, I hate the rubber sanding blocks and all the fancy ones too. They pretty much drive me crazy. I use a Richard metal sanding block. They come in two sizes: 2.5" and 4". One side is square, the other beveled. the paper is held in place by the screw top, the body is absolutely 100% flat. And they are the least expensive, you can often find them used for next to nothing. They literally last forever.

William Allen

Sharpening: such a personal thing really. I use a double sided diamond stone I bought from LeeValley by DMT (800 and 1200). It cost $140. If you add in a home made leather strop glued to and old 2x4 and a stick of green compound. You can use the compound on both the wood side and the leather side of the 2x4. For gross sanding I use 220grit wet dry sand paper spray glued to and old ceramic tile. Thing with diamond stones is that they are a once in a lifetime expense. They use only water, and clean with a paper towel in about 1 sec.

Dick Edie

I know you say hand tool working but a basic thicknesser will save him a great deal of money and let him rejuvenate old wood.

Kris Towson

One to add to the saws to get later list: a flush cut saw. + 1 to the suggestion to add glue to the consumables list.

Christoph Schmitz

My first halfway decent plane was a #9 block plane, and I still find a million uses for it. Also, I'd rather have a shoulder plane (think #92 or something) than a rabbet plane, because it is more versatile and less cumbersome, e.g. when trimming joinery.

Todd Fox

Rebate plane (doubles as a shoulder plane) , brushes and cleaner, and clamps, clamps, clamps

Rex Krueger
>>25968165

That's a fine idea! This guy is interested in hand tools specifically, but this might be a reference for a lot of future people.

Rex Krueger
>>25973016

I forgot GLUE? Where is my head. You can flush-cut with the ryoba. Should I add a dedicated flush-cut saw?

Charles Hamm

I find I use my 3ft and 4ft straight edges a bunch — or a level could be used as well. Digital micrometers are now pretty cheap and come in handy for all sorts of things.

James Casalino

You could add some Taps to do threaded holes. They should work with the bit brace and make better than IKEA knockdown furniture.

Nic Beurskens

Make or buy a big framer's square and go for a 25' tape measure. We would all rather be making furniture, but sometimes you gotta fix the deck or build a swing set for the kids. Also, nail set/punch. Great for locating drill bits/ brace snails AND sinking bail heads!

Michael Riese

Can't see it on the list: - block plane, adjustable mouth preferred, second hand will do just fine - Honing/ sharpening guide. Why spend lots of time learning to sharpen by hand when you don't have to. He's here for the wood working. Not the sharpening. - polished granite off-cut from a memorial/ tomb-stone maker to flatten oil stones. Works better than float glass and is often cheaper. - Fret saw. I love my Knew Concepts saw, but it's a bit pricy.

Anthony Henderson
>>25984034

The honing guide is a good idea if you are just getting started. I use a guide less and less these days but it was invaluable when I was learning how to sharpen.

Mark L

Rex, it’s a good list. Three things I would add: 1) a 4 1/2 in lieu of a #4 smoothing plane. I have fairly large hands and I find my 4 1/2 to be more comfortable. 2) a 3/8” bench chisel. 3) tung oil.

Kris Towson
>>25973016

Hmm... forgot that about the ryoba. I think the only real advantage then of a dedicated flush cut would be its size. I'm thinking of one of these: http://www.leevalley.com/us/wood/page.aspx?p=32928&cat=1,42884 I bought the single sided one ages (15+ years?) ago and absolutely love it. Because it's small it's real handy in tight spaces, but that's starting to get pretty specialized for a list intended as a starting point! Leaving it with the ryoba is probably a good call.

James Boatright

Under consumables you have shellac but not denatured alcohol. Also steel wool in two or three grades but absolutly oooo

matthew hilberts

A 10 metre tape (33ft) in case of jobs round the house, my 3mtr tape was never long enough for anything.

Rex Krueger
>>25977094

I don't know if these are basic tool, but I own all of them and I use them all the time. Excellent tools!

Jacob Norton

Didn't see a carcass saw in there, and I'd make sure there's chisels suitable for dovetails and mortises. I've found both tasks more difficult with the wrong style chisel.

Jim Williams

Because we all need one sooner or later, a first aid kit. If it's in the shop, then you won't gross the family out when you come inside to fix your boo-boo.

A1BASE
>>25970453

A thicknesser, bandsaw and router are the 3 power tools I couldn't do without.

Rex Krueger
>>26001827

I've always found the standard tenon saw good for crosscuts. You really think the carcass saw is needed in the basic kit?

Matthew Leigh

An awl or other pointed tool for starting holes

Jim Williams

Rex, have you seen the Morakniv Chisel Knife? I have found it to be a useful tool and it's less than $20.

Alex Larson
>>26036994

Second Commoner: Truly, sir, all that I live by is with the awl: I meddle with no tradesman's matters, nor women's matters, but with awl. I am, indeed, sir, a surgeon to old shoes; when they are in great danger, I recover them. As proper men as ever trod upon neat's leather have gone upon my handiwork.

crister eriksson

im new in this discussion but i newer leave my swedish “inchstick” behind. its great for alot of things. google “tumstock” to see pictures.

Matthew Leigh
>>26078790

They're so useful that the word yardstick itself has made it into the English language as "a standard used for comparison".

Brad Stein

I would add nothing, looks like everything a guy or gal needs

Frans van Ballegooijen

This one just hit me. One tool I often use is a folding ruler. I don't know how that is in the USA, but here it's a standard woodworking tool. They are available in aluminium, wood and plastic...

Jim Williams
>>26054989

I would not call it essential, but it certainly is mighty handy on a regular basis.

Frans van Ballegooijen
>>26199660

Well, actually they have a different name here. I had to make a google search to find out the English name for it. We call it a "Duimstok", which translates to English as a "Thumbstick". But I thought that sounds a bit silly. The name we use comes from the time before the use of standardized sizes. Back than a standard size were named "duim" (thumbs) and that came from the size of an actual thumb and is now standardized to 25mm which is also the size on an inch. I've been told that in those times a different measurement was used wherever you went, because thumbs had a different size on different people, and they (must have) made there own measuring sticks. That name (duim) is still used on (industrial) pipes and plumbing materials. Hmm, maybe a bit too much information here...

Pierre-Olivier Fineltin

Keep all the boxes you can find to keep things in the shop. I keep drill beats in tea boxes, screws in spice dispensers, paint brushes in tin cans. Sometimes I try to improve my skill by building a box to replace a recycled one. It's a good way to start and see improvements!