Woodworking with Hand Tools

(Page 2 of 4)

Oct. 16, 2008
By Troy Griepentrog 
Article Tools
Print
Comments
RSS
Bookmark and Share

Just start slowly. And be reasonable about it, so you don’t get frustrated. Instead of using jigs and machines, try making some joints by hand.

RELATED CONTENT

It doesn’t have to be extreme right from the start. There are different flavors of woodworking, just like there are vegans or vegetarians. If you have to fell the tree from the beginning, that’s hardcore stuff. Many people just take it from the stage where they get the lumber from a mill and do the planing, joinery and finishing by hand

But you need to have good quality tools. Make sure you know how to sharpen, if you’re not working with sharp tools, you’re not there. If you have a violin, you need to know how to tune it. Working with a synthesizer, it’s digitally done; you don’t have to have that extra sensitivity. You do have to know how to tune these hand tools like you have to know how to tune a violin.

What tools should a beginning woodworker start with?

The real basics are a good set of chisels, a nice jackplane and a hand crosscut saw. But the second step is important. Five tools will open up that next level:

  1. A fillister plane, which is like a rabbet plane that has a guide, a fence, that allows you to cut a shoulder on the edge of the wood. It’s a great tool to have.
  2. An American-style hand ripsaw for dimensioning stock (cutting it to width). A lot of people have a crosscut saw to cut pieces to length, but a ripsaw opens up another world.
  3. A double-tooth mortising gauge. This way you can lay out mortise-and-tenon joints.
  4. A set of mortising chisels that have the thicker shanks and bevel for chopping mortises, for making mortise-and-tenon joints.
  5. A jointer plane, which is a long hand plane to true edges.
Page: << Previous 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Next >>
Bookmark and Share
RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print
FEATURED ARTICLES
MOST POPULAR


Subscribe Today - Pay Now & Save 66% Off the Cover Price

First Name: *
 Last Name: *
Address: *
 City: *
State/Province: *
 Zip/Postal Code:*
Country:
 Email:*
(* indicates a required item)
Canadian subs: 1 year, (includes postage & GST). Foreign subs: 1 year, . U.S. funds.
Canadian Subscribers - Click Here
Non US and Canadian Subscribers - Click Here

Lighten the Strain on the Earth and Your Budget

Mother Earth News is the guide to living — as one reader stated — “with little money and abundant happiness.” Every issue is an invaluable guide to leading a more sustainable life, covering ideas from fighting rising energy costs and protecting the environment to avoiding unnecessary spending on processed food. You’ll find tips for slashing heating bills; growing fresh, natural produce at home; and more. Mother Earth News helps you cut costs without sacrificing modern luxuries.

At Mother Earth News, we are dedicated to conserving our planet’s natural resources while helping you conserve your financial resources. That’s why we want you to save money and trees by subscribing through our Earth-Friendly automatic renewal savings plan. By paying with a credit card, you save an additional $4.95 and get 6 issues of Mother Earth News for only $10.00 (USA only).

You may also use the Bill Me option and pay $14.95 for 6 issues.