Hand Tools

My Introduction to Wooden Boats

December 29, 2015 By Mark Pugh & filed under Hand Tools, Joinery.

For the past four summers I have made the trip from my Upper Michigan summer home out east to take classes at the famous WoodenBoat (not a spelling error) School in Brooklin, Maine, which is just a stone’s throw south of Acadia National Park on the Atlantic coast. I’ve been a woodworker all my life…

Hand Plane Starter Kit: 4 Planes for Hybrid Woodworking

February 11, 2014 By Paul Mayer & filed under Buying Advice, Hand Tools, Skill Building.

While hand planes are alluring to many woodworkers, getting started can be confusing since there are so many options. If you ask 100 hand plane enthusiasts which planes to start with, you might receive as many answers. Based upon my 15 year love affair with hand planes, the following is my suggested approach to help…

Refurbish a Classic Apron Plane

August 9, 2012 By Seth Keller & filed under Hand Tools, Skill Building.

Few tools are as simple and utilitarian as an apron plane. I had a $100 Lie-Neilson Apron Plane years ago, and it disappeared in my co-operative shop. Chamfering, trimming tenons and cleaning up tear-out are just three of the myriad uses for this little tool. I always wanted to replace it, but just never got…

Get That Chisel Sharp!

October 19, 2010 By George Vondriska & filed under Hand Tools, Skill Building.

Anybody who shaves knows that a dull cutting tool is more likely to do damage than a sharp one. Same goes for woodworking chisels. You’ve got to get those chisels sharp if you want to them to work well, and be safe to use. It might surprise you to learn that brand new chisels aren’t…

Cut Leg Flutes Without a Chisel

March 23, 2010 By David Munkittrick & filed under Hand Tools, Skill Building.

A well turned leg can make an ordinary leg extraordinary. To put the icing on the cake, just add flutes. Flutes are a decorative element that’s been around for thousands of years. Think of all those fluted columns scattered about ancient Greek and Roman ruins. The fact that fluting is still used today is a…

Utility Blade Scraper: Make Your Own Cabinet Scraper

August 28, 2008 By David Radtke & filed under Hand Tools, Skill Building.

I came up with this nifty tool out of necessity while doing a custom cabinet installation. I had to fabricate some pieces on the job and noticed that there were milling chatter marks and tool burns on some boards that I had to finish and get installed that day. I didn’t have a cabinet scraper…

Wood Carving for Beginners: Tim’s Journey to Get Started as a Carver

August 26, 2008 By Tim Nyberg & filed under Blog, Hand Tools, Member Tips, Skill Building.

One hundred years ago, the north shore of Lake Superior was overrun with fisherman throwing out large nets and pulling up lake herring by the ton. These rugged men lived a hard life, pulling in their nets from the great lake. Now and then, one of the nets broke loose and the floats that held…