Hand tools, where have you been all my life?

[Vanquish]

I'm a power tool guy. I never really thought much about hand tools, and never really had much use for them except for your basic job site tools like hammers, cheap FatMax chisels and coping saws for installing trim. I remember my dad watching the Woodwright's Shop on tv back when I was a kid and thinking, why would anyone choose to do all that by hand when you could use a real man's power tool?

Well, I had no idea what I was missing out on! A couple weeks ago I was cutting off some wooden dowels with a saw that was not meant for that, and decided it was probably time to get a flush cut saw. I had also been toying with the idea of picking up a hand plane as well, so I ordered a few things from Lee Valley. After my stuff came in, I played around with everything and I got so excited I placed two more orders with them.  [big grin]

So I was wondering, for those of you that use a lot of hand tools, which ones do you find the most useful and would recommend to someone as a must have tool for general woodworking? As of right now, I have a Veritas low angle jack plane, low angle block plane and a #4-1/2 smoothing plane. A Veritas dovetail saw, Ryoba, Dozuki and a flush cut saw. A couple of the smaller Narex chisels and some regular Stanley's. Assorted scrapers in various thicknesses. A file and burnisher for the scrapers and the Veritas Mk.II honing guides and some water stones for the planes and chisels.

I do not have a jointer, and probably won't be getting one any time soon because of my somewhat limited space, so I was thinking about getting a Veritas bevel up jointer plane as well.

Anything else that I should look into? I feel like I've discovered a whole new world of woodworking, it's amazing! The scrapers have been the biggest surprise. I had no idea you could get wood so smooth with a simple piece of metal. I don't think I'll ever replace my power tools with hand tools, since ripping an 8' long piece of 8/4 maple with a hand saw is not very appealing to me, but they make a great addition to my work shop.

 

[bdiemer]

Sounds like you did some research. The Veritas low angle jack plane is a great starter.It's a very versatile tool. You can joint with it, finish with, use it across the grain to rough out ( preferably with a spare cambered blade ) and down the road it makes a great shooting plane. Your next plane should be a block plane (Veritas or Lie Nielsen ). You might want to invest in a diamond stone to keep your water stones flat. Sharpening skills are everything with hand tools.

 

[jbasen]

I mostly use power tools but have a good selection of hand tools as I beleive each has their place.  There are definitely times when a hand tool is the best tool for the job. The one tool I use all the time for mortice and tenon joinery, that I don't see on your list, is a shoulder plane.

I have a Lie Nielsen medium shoulder plane and it is a great tool.

 

[Kev]

Nice hand tools can become a little addictive.

Some tend to develop a bias towards tradition or Japanese style hand tools. I do like my Japanese chisels, but they're honestly overpriced for what they are.

Specialised chisels can really start to stack up in a collection, but there's no point investing in them unless you have a specific need.

Fine marking tools for dovetails and other joints compliment the various specialised saws you'll use ... but again, only great of you have the need.

A coping saw can be a very useful tool. Buy something of high quality that can maintain blade tension ... the cheap ones tend to put people off ever using them again!

 

[Holmz]

I got a 90 degree corner chisel, but I had no idea what I would use it for.
I use it a lot now, as there is always a corner like a hinge plate that needs a whack.

 

[mo siopa]

Since you already have  dovetail saw, I'd suggest  mortising chisels.  If money is an issue, I'd start with 1/2 and 1" and then add 1/4 and 3/4"

As Kev alluded to- cheap tools create frustration.  Don't go cheap.

 

[Daver]

As of right now, I have A Veritas dovetail saw, Ryoba, Dozuki and a flush cut saw.

Anything else that I should look into?

A great saw to round out your japanese set is the Azebiki. You'll get it thinking its use is for starting cuts in the field (which it excels at) and then you'll be surprised at how many other times it's your go-to saw.

Congrats on taking the plunge.

Dave

 

[Kev]

I got a 90 degree corner chisel, but I had no idea what I would use it for.
I use it a lot now, as there is always a corner like a hinge plate that needs a whack.

These are handy for that specific need ... cheap and easy to use.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/70mm-Corner-Chisel-Hinge-Fitting-Spring-Loaded-Woodwork-Carpenters-Cutting-U130-/301662051495?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item463c759ca7

 

[Holmz]

Exactly Kev.

I just didn't realise that I would use it so much... I always had just banged away twice with a straight one.
So I would say one needs a 1/2" and a corner one at a very minimum.

 

[Michael1960]

Another to consider is a router plane.  Veritas make a large and a small one.  Second hand ones are readily available.  Great for cleaning out dados or inlays.  I don't use them all the time but a neat addition to any hand tool collection.

 

[gippy]

My 2 favourite hand tools so far:

1) Lie Neilson block rabbet plane. Lovely to look at, cuts extremely well.
2) Old Stanley spokeshave. Bought on eBay, one of my all time favourite tools. I use it for mallet handles, smoothing curves, making spoons and so on. I might get a Lee Valley spokeshave at some point but my old Stanley model does an excellent job (the new Stanley ones are junk)

 

[Kev]

My 2 favourite hand tools so far:

1) Lie Neilson block rabbet plane. Lovely to look at, cuts extremely well.
2) Old Stanley spokeshave. Bought on eBay, one of my all time favourite tools. I use it for mallet handles, smoothing curves, making spoons and so on. I might get a Lee Valley spokeshave at some point but my old Stanley model does an excellent job (the new Stanley ones are junk)

To me a spokeshave is almost (maybe) the tool of an artisan ... I know they're good, but I'm still a way from mastering it [embarassed]

 

[jbasen]

Another to consider is a router plane.  Veritas make a large and a small one.  Second hand ones are readily available.  Great for cleaning out dados or inlays.  I don't use them all the time but a neat addition to any hand tool collection.

This is a perfect example of when a hand tool is the only way to go to accomplish the task.  I wouldn't want to route a whole dado with a router plane but if you need to do a little cleanup it is perfect. 

 

[bigjonh]

Edge trimming plane for scribing and taking saw marks off ripped lumber and butt mortice plane for hinge mortice work are my two favorites.

 

[Vanquish]

There are a number of tools mentioned so far that I am not familiar with. I'm definitely going to check them out.

I found a coping saw made by Knew Concepts, but it's $150. Do any of you have one, and is it worth the money?

 

[Ed Bray]

There are a number of tools mentioned so far that I am not familiar with. I'm definitely going to check them out.

I found a coping saw made by Knew Concepts, but it's $150. Do any of you have one, and is it worth the money?

I have the Knew Concepts 5" Fret Saw with Lever tension and Swivel Edge Clamps, its about $100 and although quite pricey is a great bit of kit, especially if you are planning to start to cut your own through dovetails by hand. It used standard scroll saw blades available pretty much anywhere.

 

[b.hog]

I wouldn't buy the knew concepts for that kinda money.
Older Stanley or others block planes are great to have on hand. I have probably 30 of them from skews to low angles and use a lot of them. Different setups for different needs.
  A good marking gauge will change your woodwork too.

 

[Kev]

There are a number of tools mentioned so far that I am not familiar with. I'm definitely going to check them out.

I found a coping saw made by Knew Concepts, but it's $150. Do any of you have one, and is it worth the money?

I have the Knew Concepts 5" Fret Saw with Lever tension and Swivel Edge Clamps, its about $100 and although quite pricey is a great bit of kit, especially if you are planning to start to cut your own through dovetails by hand. It used standard scroll saw blades available pretty much anywhere.

Straight to the sweet stuff ... check out their titanium birdcage fret saws, drool !!

 

[PA floor guy]

I too, own every festool tool, yet a few years back became obsessed with hand tools.  You NEED-
spokeshave,
scorp,
every old chisel you can find,
old Stanley planes, I own a ton of them, but get yourself a few different style and size planes. 
Draw knifes
There are a plethora of older tools that are a must to own, but the biggest is making your own workbench with numerous vises and dog holes.  It becomes an obsession. Visit the neanderthal section at sawmill creek.

 

[Vanquish]

Where is a good place to look for some of the older chisels and hand planes? Is that the sort of thing you can find at flea markets?