Geoff's Woodwork 


for Students of Woodwork                                                       

My recommendation for a basic tool kit   with pictures     

To get together a good toolkit takes time and I'm afraid, somewhat expensive.  However if one is prudent with the selection you can buy some good basic tools leaving the less used and sometimes more expensive tools for when you can afford to buy them.    My priorities are tools for a semi-mechanised workshop for craftsmen who use the full range of available tools.  I expect however that the novice would start with hand tools and learn how to use them properly to full advantage and safety.   You do need the tenon saw, some chisels, a drill and marking out tools.   The mortise and cutting gauges may be bought later.    

Portable power tools and woodworking machinery are not excluded from my inventory.   All craftsmen need and use machinery to a greater or lesser degree and so do I.   This list and my other tutorials are providing the information for the hand tool part of the workshop.   I do believe that the hand tools and techniques are important and should not be considered redundant even in today's mass market.  A hand tool may often be used for a process accurately and certainly quicker than setting up a machine.   On the other hand machinery cuts out a lot of the repetition and drudgery out of production and produces accurate and consistent products.  Some notes on the selection at the bottom of this page.  >>>

If I have missed your favourite tool, perhaps you could let me know and I'll add it in or perhaps say why I decided to omit it.   I haven't included all the tools I have in my toolkit because it is a 'basic kit'.  I don't want to frighten off everyone with too much expense just yet.   It is however as complete as I dare 'basic kit'.   Some craftsmen would no doubt differ;  I could even re-arrange the order of buying some of the tools,  but this is a good start and discussion point to start you off.    There is also something in the saying  'there are more things sold to catch anglers than to catch fish'!  Perhaps it is similar situation for some woodworkers..............   

**  Available from : LV ~ Lee Valley    HH ~ Highland Hardware     WC ~ Woodcraft     LS ~ local  hardware store     AS ~ local antique, etc market.     Pictures are not the highest resolutions for uploading speed.   Quality depends on your grafics card but if you pull the frame out about 50 - 100 %  the resolution improves.      You may need to enable Pop-Up windows to view these pictures.   Close the frame (using ALT/F4) before opening another or else the frame disappears underneath.   If this happens just click on the tab on the lower bar to bring it back on top.

Basic Tool  description

sets may be offered with different sizes

Approx price  £ (BPS)

Picture reference    North American  equivalent Approx price US $ where Avail **
Portable power tools to enhance this selection would be at least:  12V Battery Drill, 150mm (6 inch) circular saw and Orbital Sander.   I would make some jigs to cross cut boards with the saw.

Tenon back saw 12 inch x 10 - 12 tpi

  tenon saw     LV

AT

Coping saw

coping saw   LV

Dovetail saw 8 inch 16 – 22 tpi

  dovetail saw     LV

AT

Or  Gents 8 inch 19 tpi saw

gents saw   LV

Smoothing plane Stanley No 4 or 4 ½

smoothing plane   LV

Block plane low angle Stanley No 60 1/2

  block plane low angle     LV

Shoulder plane Stanley No 92

shoulder plane   HH

Chisels, bevel, 6, 12, 18 and 25 mm

bevel chisels   HH

Drill bits, morse set 1/16 to ¼ inch

  LV

Fortsner bits set ¼ - 1 inch

fortsner pat drill   LV

Flat bit set  10 – 22 mm

spade or flat bits Spade bits LV

Countersink rose, and

  LV

Countersink snail

   

Bradawl  (square blade)

bradawls Flat LV

Marking Gauge

marking gauge   LV

 Marking Gauge  (to make pencil gauge)

pencil gauge    

Mortise gauge (with brass screw mechanism)

  mortise gauge     LV

Cutting gauge

cutting gauge   LV

Trying square,  6 inch

trying squares   LV

Mitre square 9 inch or

mitre square  

Combination Square (incls. 45 °)

  combination square     Stanley

Adjustable bevel 7 ½ inch

adjustable bevel 3.5 inch LV

Hammer Warrington type 8 ozs only

hammer warrington type   LV

Mallet beech 5 inch only

mallet   LV

Pincers 8 inch

Nail pullers LV

Screwdrivers, Flat, 3 and

screwdriver flat   LV

Screwdrivers, Flat, 5 inch blade

  LV

Screwdrivers Posi-drive No 2 point

posidrive screwdriver Philips No 2 LV

Rule steel 300 mm

  LV

Oilstone, box and honing guide

honing set up   LV, WC

Nail punches, 1/16  and

nail punches   LS

Nail punches, 1/8 inch

  LS
 Portable power tools I would consider next is; Router, Jigsaw and Belt Sander.   Machinery: consider a Table circular Saw min 200mm (8inch) with slides to accept tooling and perhaps a  Bench hollow chisel Mortiser 
Next buy these:        

Plough plane  Stanley 10 blades

plough plane Clifton multiplane WC

Rebate Plane  Stanley No 78

shoulder plane   LV

Cork blocks  qty 10 (extra for profiles)

cork block cork sheets  

Marking knife  Sabotier

Lee Valley LV

Scraper, rectangular and

scrapers   LV

Scraper,  gooseneck