Are you prepared to advance to the next level of woodworking, but your budget prevents you from investing in a toolkit? Incorporating a few hand tools and hand skills into your work is exactly what you need to multiply your woodworking projects by a factor of ten, but boutique tools are costly and there is so much information available that it can be difficult to know where to begin. On a recent trek to my home workshop, I purchased several items, some to test how well they performed compared to their much more expensive boutique tool counterparts, and others simply to restock. Here are nine inexpensive items that, with practice, will elevate your woodworking without ruining your budget.
You want to start woodworking but don't have the money to buy the most expensive woodworking instruments on the market... not even you! When you're first starting, uncomplicated hardware store tools will suffice. A few hardware tools will suffice for the remainder of your existence.
Here are my nine indispensable woodworking tools:
1. Wet/Dry Sandpaper
2. Marking Knife
3. Handsaw
4. Quick Release Clamps
5. Chisels
6. Sliding Rule
Continue reading to learn why these woodworking tools are on my must-have list and get expert advice on the many various applications for which I use them.
1. Wet/Dry Sandpaper
Wet/dry sandpaper (automotive paper), adhesive spray, and other miscellaneous products for creating custom sharpening/detail sanding equipment are game changers. It's what I use to make spoon-knife sharpening kits and woodworking and blacksmithing detail sanding blocks. If you don't already have a sharpening system, this is a wonderful and inexpensive location to start building one up.
PRO TIPS: If you don't already have a sharpening setup, this is a wonderful, low-cost place to start. Sharpening your tools, even if you don't know what you're doing yet, will almost certainly have an immediate impact. If you need help sharpening, check out these blog posts on how to sharpen a hook knife and how to sharpen a chisel.
Even though Workpro sells this, I've noticed that auto mechanic shop cut-offs in packs like these are WAY cheaper from Workpro distributors globally.
2. Marking Knife
You can get a long way with a box cutter as a marking knife before you need to upgrade. The convenience of sharpening your WORKPRO knife will make your early woodworking days considerably safer and more fun.
Use tips:
• Multiple strokes prevent lines from meandering. Take one mild pass, then make successive passes to deepen the line.
• Stick the point of your knife in the precise location where you want your line to be, and then slide your square against the knife to prevent shadows and viewing angles from causing placement errors.
• Chisel width trick - when making mortises or dadoes, mark the top of your dado or mortise, place your chisel just alongside that line, and mark the bottom of your dado/mortise using your chisel width for an exact, no-measurement, no-hassle location for your bottom scribe line.
3. Universal Handsaw
My WORKPRO saw is fantastic because...
• It has a "hybrid" file, which means it makes clean cuts both rip and cross.
• Compact and easy to carry around
• can reach areas that a standard saw, such as a circular saw, table saw, mitre saw, etc.,
• You would be surprised at how quickly you could become used to using it.
*NOTE: These saws have teeth that are exceptionally hard and tricky to hone. I usually don't recommend people buy low-quality items that can be easily replaced, but my old WorkPro saw has served me well for years despite being quite inexpensive. Compared to my hand-restored, handsharpened ancient saws, this one allows me to take more chances, can get wet, and requires less attention.
Consider these suggestions:
• Keep your body out of the way of the saw blade when using a handsaw. The hand is dropped to the side, and the arm is swung like a windmill. You need to be able to make this motion when sawing. You should be somewhat above your job, standing to one side, and your arm should be free to swing.
• Don't waste your time sawing by not properly clamping the piece. There are many names for the clamping action of gravity: knee, clamp, arm lean, buddy. Save yourself a lot of time and aggravation by not moving that part.
• If you put your finger on the handle facing the direction you want to cut, you can better control the saw's motion.
• If you need to cut across and down a sheet of paper, focus on just one line at a time. First, position your saw so that you can cut straight down; then, as you progress down the cut, lengthen your stroke and reduce the saw's angle.
• If your cut strays and you need to modify it, it will be difficult to lengthen your board.
4. . Quick-Release Clamps
WORKPRO Quick Release Bar Clamp
Quick-release clamps are invaluable, especially when working alone! Take a look at my quickrelease clamps photo above. I ADORE THEM!
5. Chisels
WORKPRO Wood Chisel Set
Pro Tip: Instead of spending money on a large set, choose three or four items that you can purchase separately. If you're working with home centre timber, the most frequent sizes are 1/4", 1/2", 3/4", and 1". For faster trash removal, I frequently bypass the 3/4" chisel in favour of an extra-wide 1- 1/2" or 2" chisel.
6. Sliding Rule
Because of how useful they are, you should probably buy multiple sliding rules.
WORKPRO SLIDING RULER
Pro Tips: When making repeated measurements, such as when setting hinges, the slide-lock feature will save you time (and mistakes!).
The slide-lock feature allows you to copy the dimensions and joint positions from one board to another without having to look at the data. How long is this ledge here on my side of the desk? The same overhang must be slid, locked, and repeated on the other side.
