Best Woodwork Tools for Beginners
Best Woodwork Tools for Beginners
In this video I am answering the most commonly asked question I receive; what tools should I get as someone who is looking to start hand tool woodworking. This video briefly lists out the essential tools and what they are used for.
– Vice
– Pencil / Marking Knife
– Square
– Sliding bevel
– Dividers
– Marking gauge
– Set of bevel edge chisel
– Mallet (make your own)
– Jack plane
– Block plane
– Spoke shave
– Rip cut saw
– Cross cut saw
– Tenon saw
– Gents / dovetail saw
– Flat head screwdriver
– Sharpening. Oilstone / Diamond Stone
– Leather Strop
– Triangular file (sharpening saws)
– Hand crank drill
– Brace and bit
Well lad what brand are your saws? I’d love to look around for a few similar.
Tip for anyone strapped for cash wanting to get into this, you don’t need any fancy marking gauges, at least not just starting out. A tape measure, a pencil, and something to write on, and you can transfer measurements and mark boards just fine
My old man and also my old woodworking teachers reckon that it’s best to learn the skills w hand tools first before you go on to using power tools on the regular. I’m inclined to agree.
Plus hand tools are just so much more therapeutic and relaxing to use
Ever since I discovered wood working Youtube channels I thought "Well I kinda wanna get into wood working but, not until I have my own place…. and if I have my own place.. it’d be an apartment. So I can’t use power tools, they’re too loud… Well maybe I can do all wood working with hand tools?"
I’d see certain wood workers on youtube use planes or chisels occasionally. But 9 times out of 10 the work was done on a table saw or something similarly loud and big.
I’m surprised it took me like a year to find this channel. I’ll have to remember this video once I get an apartment.
"*Bore*ing tools for the *bit*ter end"
Hats off to you, mate 😂
👏👏👏👏 Very good. I am a very proud Texan but DANG I wish we had y’all’s accent here🤣🤣🤣
What a wondeful man
Couldn’t you just use a big square for every piece of wood?
Really helpful.. thanks for this.
Tara (Niagara area Canada) – Greetings. I inherited a lot of tools from my dad and can’t wait to set them into my shop and get back to the more manual side of the craft.
The fact you are this accomplished in only 2 summers with no generational knowledge is truly amazing. I envy you so bad.
hate slots with a passion
I hate using a rip cut saw. I feel comfortable with chisels, planes, routers and tenon saws but I just can’t saw straight for any length with a rip saw. Fortunately, I can clean up the horrible mess I’ve made with a plane but it’s a waste of wood.
I took a construction class years ago in high school and it was me and another girl and I didn’t care. I loved it. I got to build myself a CD case holder. I still have it and I am proud of it. I am into nostalgia and I hope to one day get myself an antique 1920 Singer Sewing Machine with the foot pedal. He f course there many other things I enjoy. This is just one of them.
Keep the videos coming. By the way, this is truly a hobby for you that took off. You have been doing this for about 2-3 years now and are this professional. Wow! Thank you for sharing your knowledge to the world. It is very precious.
-Audrey Meyer
Great stuff
Great advice. Wish I saw this video 5 years ago. I have a spare room full of hand tools. I went a bit nuts buying them.
Do you have a flattening stone for your whet stone?
2 years! I genuinely thought you came out of the womb with a spokeshave in your hand
My grate grandfarther had a hand crank drill bit it n3eds a bit of tlc. Dont feel co fide t taking it apart cos im scaired i won’t be able to remember how to put it back together
I live in the states and do construction work so power tools, skill saws, nail guns, and impact drivers are in my hands every day, but these hand tool woodworking videos you make are super cool and interesting to watch, got me wanting to try it out on the side lol
just got the no 7 plane…. jesus, for ppl without workshop this thing is a must have.
You could read me the most boring book, and I’d still be entertained.
Lots of great advice here. But where to find a 12 quarter lump of wood for a mallet head?
My dad 3d printed a hand drill
For a second when you said “boring tools” no thought you meant boring as in dull rather than boring holes
You know, that sliding bevel probably originally came with a brass sort of wingnut to lock it down at angle -I’ll bet you could find a replacement online — no need for a screwdriver to set it.
A good axe is also a good one, i bought a simple "kitchen axe" years ago, and when combined with a mallet and knowing how woodgrain works you can do a lot of the rough work with it, and the more experienced you get with it the finer work you can do with it. Ofcourse, dedicated tools make everything a lot easier and are invented for a reason but in "ye olden days" many traveling people didn’t have all those tools, not because they didn’t exist but because experience and a good eye weights nothing and tools tend to have some weight behind them.
Another important tool to have is a sturdy workspace, good tools is all well and good but if your workstation wobbles or isn’t level it can really affect what your doing. Having a level is also a handy thing and something you can easily make yourself: gravity is the OG measurer of if something is level. Heavy thing on rope wants to go straight down. Townsends made a good video about how it was done in the 18th century but the design goes back to the ancient civilizations. In my country a modern level will at most set u back €15, so it won’t break the bank if you buy one.
I have watched you latly as a 55 year old mason from kilkenny all i can say is if u keep interested you will be an artist soon you are a class act
On the Neary side of my family, who all came over to the states from County Mayo, had a love for woodworking and brought that skill set with them. You’re from a different era, my friend. It’s nice to see someone so young keep these traditions alive.
Great video! Thank you
I love this and love using the hand tools as it really helps to have that knowledge before starting in with power tools. Less mistakes
You FORGOT to refer to all tools are guys or fellas.
Have a question Have you read Adules Carpenter & Builder’s guide???
😍
Thanks!!!
No 30-minute intros. No yelling at us to "LiKe aNd sUbScRiBe aNd hIt tHe bElL IcOn". No umms and ahhhhs. Just a man who loves his craft, does it well, and wants to share it with the world in an entertaining format that’s a joy to listen to. 😀 Well done sir. 😀
Good list! There are several tools folks can make instead of buying beyond just a mallet. Squares and marking gauges are both things that can be made fairly easily and quickly. You can also make squares fairly easily.
Do you have a website?
Yeah I don’t work with any wood that’s not in my pants and I gotta say watched the whole thing through.
Every woodworker youtuber i wash always say you dont need fancy tools to make something. And this one just proves it!
ONLY 2 SUMMERS AGO?! I’ve been assuming you’ve been doing this since you were a young lad! Your work is amazing and inspiring ^_^
Our woodwork teacher in high school also pushed us to always use non-mechanical tools, pick up the principles etc. and it was a great approach
I like to use the 400 grit diamond stone to flatten my whetstone after each use to prevent the curving over time 😉
Ah nice mate. I definitely wouldn’t have thought you were a greenhorn. Excellent segway into a great activity
I’ve built 3 or 4 mallets, & recently made a couple handles for small ball peen hammers. There’s definitely something about making your own simple tools.
Great video, very helpful
I think this is the only “10 tools you need for woodworking” video I’ve ever seen that dmmdntiins anything to do with sharpening and looking after your tools!
Finally a video on this topic that actually has any relevance and good info.
Shame on all this “big name” and “popular influencer”
Channels that are now just infomercials and a waste of time!
Omg you are so hot and perfect Irish men … Love your videos 💖💖💖
Where do you find that diamond stone? It looks like a decent one and a better size than many others
THANK YOU. You made this very simple and easily digestible.
I believe I can manage to forge a fair few of these myself. Got some pretty decent chisels made up already!
I was getting RIGHT confused looking into what I need for a basic tool set. Thanks a ton, cheers!
I asked about this particular video. I found it. Thanks!
2 summers ! Surely you jest my man! Well clearly you found something you love to do. The passion is infectious. Also love the shorts and the focus on hand powered tools! Gives your videos a uniqueness in a space filled with people making stuff. Also the accent doesn’t hurt! I’m not going to be surprised if Eoin ends up on Tv with a show or something! 😅