A Hand Tools List for the Beginner

Every woodworker needs hand tools. Here's a list of tools for the woodworker just starting out. This list is by no means exhaustive - its only meant to be a guide.

There are woodworkers who work exclusively with hand tools and there are those that use almost none. Just judge your selection of hand tools based on the degree to which you want to use them. Of course, doing a project that "requires" a tool you don't have is always a good excuse to buy one!

Beginner Hand Tools

• Layout Tools
  • Marking Awl or Scratch Awl
  • Combination Square (I use my 6 inch much more than my 12 inch)
  • Engineer's Square -- 3, 6, and 9 inches are all useful
  • Marking Gauge
  • Pencils -- #2 or HB, white (for dark woods, like walnut)
  • Pencil Compass
  • Pencil Sharpener
  • Protractor
  • Sliding T-Bevel
  • Steel Rules -- 6 inch and 12 inch
  • Tape Measure -- 12 feet or 5 meters (16 feet)
• Edge and Shaping Tools
  • Bench Chisels -- Bevel-edge, socketed (Set of 4, 5, or 6 -- 1/4 inch to 1 inch or 6 mm to 25 mm)
  • Mortise Chisels -- 1/4 inch (6 mm) and 3/8 inch (9 mm)
  • Bastard Mill File -- 10 inch (250 mm)
  • Smooth Mill File -- 10 inch (250 mm)
  • File Card with Integral Brush -- or Stiff Hair & Wire Brushes
  • Block Plane -- low angle, adjustable mouth
  • Smoothing Plane -- #3, 4, or 4 1/2
  • Jointer Plane -- #7 or 8
  • Patternmaker's Rasp -- Nicholson #50
  • Back Saw -- cross-cut teeth
  • Dovetail Saw -- rip teeth
  • Hand Scraper -- rectangular
  • Paint Scraper -- for glue removal
  • Scraper Burnisher
• General Tools
  • Bar Clamps -- 6 inch (150 mm), 12 inch (300 mm), and 24 inch (600 mm) pairs
  • C Clamps (G Cramps) -- 4 inch (100 mm) and 6 inch (150 mm) pairs
  • Pipe Clamps -- for 3/4 inch (18 mm) diameter pipe
  • Pipe Couplers -- to extend the length of pipe clamps
  • Hammer -- 16 ounce, smooth face
  • Putty Knife -- 1 1/2 inches (38 mm) -- for glue removal
  • Retractable Utility Knife
  • Magnifying Lens -- for us old geezers who can't see
  • Mallet -- for driving bench chisels
  • Nail Sets -- Set of 3
  • Long Nose (Needle Nose) Pliers
  • Channel Lock Pliers
  • Vise Grip Pliers
  • Screwdrivers -- Flat, Phillips, and Square Drive in #1, 2 & 3 sizes
  • Workbench with vise(s) -- absolutely necessary to do work
  • Allen Wrench Set

Tips

• Buy the best tools you can afford. They require less tune-up, are easier to maintain, and are easier to use.
• Consider old/antique tools that are in good condition. Often the quality of an old tool is better than that of a new tool of equal or greater cost.
• All tools need to be tuned up -- whether you spend $25 or $250. Its just how much time you have to spend doing it, and the result you get once you are using the tool.