What Hand Tools Should I Buy?

you have the right answer for your question. yeap, those are the best to start with…....is just a matter of personal taste, in my opinion I would change that #5 for a #4, sometimes is more handy. I use a Bevel up Jointer, it’s a better tool over the traditional stanley type when working with figured woods. I have been wanting also a set of Japanese chisels, they are realy sound chisels, but they are pricey too.

-- Francisco Luna, San Francisco Bay Area.

A good Dozuki saw.

-- John

Yeah, I’ve been pricing some out and they seem to be quite expensive but from what I’ve heard, they are worth it…

If you have any other suggestions please share… (ie. where to buy, read reviews, etc.)

-- -Spencer, Gilbert Az (http://www.azwoodshop.com)

Hey Spencer
It will depend on what kind of work you want to do. If your going with all japanese tools I’m not the guy to help out. But if you want to get a long lasting planes check out Lie Nelson and I would start with there low angle plane that will be close to $300 . If that’s tough on the budget check out some of the planes Woodcraft sells. I would think about some good measuring tools . squares.,t bevels,marking gauges,and more. It really depends on your budget. It’s hard to say with out knowing what your going to build.

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon

Called “Z” and it is $42 at the woodworking store with the “blue” sign.

-- John

I go along with woodspar but a Ryoba saw

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

Ryoba saw for sure, the Gyokucho replaceable blade saws at japanwoodworker.com are a great performer for the money. I wouldn’t recommend the more expensive hand made saws until you have destroyed a couple of the replaceable blades though. That would really suck on a $250 saw. $250 card scrapers shudder. #4 over the #5 probably. As far as chisels are concerned, the Japanese chisels come with a hefty price tag before you see any marked improvement over western makers. I have some Matsumura blue steel chisels that are $50-65 a pop, and they are actually not as good as my Sorby chisels (about the same price). Those Sorbys are amazing, highly recommended. Hirsch are pretty decent also if you tend to beat the hell out of normal handled mortise chisels. Grab some card scrapers from LeeValley, and a spokeshave or four from pecktool.com, Also consider a bit and brace (the original cordless screwdriver) you can really put some torque on those. Japanese kana are nice, but hard to find a decent cost/performance ratio. I have a really tiny Hong Kong style plane that comes in handy when the normal block plane is a little much for the task (flushing up veneer splines, doweling plugs, etc.). I’m sure I could think of more things, but I’m starting to fall asleep at the keys. Have fun doing handwork, I sure do. Something more organic about the way projects turn out.

-- Ooo, er.

I use the $15 dovetail saw on Amazon.com (I think its’ 2 Cherries)... requires some work but after you tune it up, it cuts real nice.
As far as planes go, it really depends on what you’re building.
If you’re building small sized projects, I would get a block plane and a #3. Anything larger requires a #4 and #5. I don’t own a bevel up plane (well aside from my normal block planes) so I can’t comment on those.
I would also get a coping saw. They come in pretty handy and some chisels.
I prefer old tools… they are far cheaper and in my opinion, they are a better value.

Haveing just started the hand tool thing a couple of points came up. One is that we spend a large amount of time talking about planes when in fact a good set of chisels and hand saws are far more important to your toolkit. If you can,t cut a straight line or pare down to one then all that lovely work you just did with your mega buck handplane ain,t worth jack. Check my workshop and you,ll see what i,m working with. When I upgrade the first thing I will replace are the saws then the chisels with the handplanes third. I,m totally enjoying the hand tool experience, hope you do to.

-- if the hand is not working it is not a pure hand

I’m with Kiwi, planes are neat, and I love them but you get far more use out of chisels and hand saws.

Good rip and cross cut back saws make hand cutting dove tails, and tenons enjoyable.

Chisels are a must to clean up those joints, A decent shoulder plane would be good if you do a lot of tenons.

If I had to start over I would get a nice dovetail saw, a nice small (12 Inch max) cross cut back saw then all the chisels I could find. Standard bench style, the tougher square style and several mortise (1/8, 1/4, 3/8)

Card scrapers fall in there somewhere, but any of those will do no need to be really picky.

I’ve also found my recently picked up scrub and spoke shave to be extremely useful. They’re the type of tools that you don’t know what you would do with them until you have them. Like a bandsaw what I actually do with them is very different from what I saw myself needing it for.

Then get a jointer plane, a No 3 or 4 smoother and a low angle block, a 60 1/2 is a great small block.

I’d add another vote for the #4 over the #5. it’s lighter , and for smoothing boards will be easier on your arms.

as far as saws – I’m a fan of japanese pull saws, a duzuki for dovetails and ryoba for ripping/crosscutting lumber are a good combination.

as far as chisels – it depends on what you’re going to use them for.

-- When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.

Let’s put it this way:

Handtools I can’t live without:

1. Starret 6” combination square. Love this tool!
2. Set of “Beveled” chisels and a couple of “Mortice” ones
3. Wooden Mallet. we need to strike the chisels, right?
4. Sliding Bevel.
5. Mituyoto Caliper
6. X-ACTO knife
7. Saws. Rip & Crosscut. I like Gyokucho too.
8. Marking Gauge. I like the Veritas.
9. Brace with bits
10.A big square, Japanese style, I like Shinwa BRand.

Planes:
1. Block Plane. I have found $10 Block Planes at Ebay that performs great. I also have the LN Low Angle.
2. Scrub plane. Love this plane, in many situations, speed up the work progress.
3. #3 or #4…..In US we tend to use TOO BIG planes like the mounstrous and popular #4 1/2!
4. Rabbet plane. This tool is esential. Mines? Ulmia 270mm and Record 076 (Bull Nose Rabet)
5. Jointer. Another esential tool.
7. Scraper plane, Stanley 212 like. One of my favorite tools ever!
8. Card Scrapers and Burnisher, look for HOCK tools.
9. Honing Guide
10. Stones or Sand paper sticked on a granite or glass block.
11. A couple of Spoke Shaves.

All this work poorly without a sound workbench with a Vise.

-- Francisco Luna, San Francisco Bay Area.

Thanks Guys!!! I see that I need to do some more research…

-- -Spencer, Gilbert Az (http://www.azwoodshop.com)