Woodworking involves the activity or skill of making useful and functional products from different types of wood. It combines art and science as woodworkers create chairs, cabinets, fine tables, decorative items, and instruments.
Woodworkers use different woodworking techniques, such as wood carving, joinery, carpentry, and woodturning. Humans first used wood as one of their earliest materials.
This craft reflects the development of human aspirations. Our ancestors carved and made products with their limited tools, and their creations remain relevant today.
Modern individuals need woodworking skills and craftsmanship to rejuvenate their curiosity and creativity. Building things by hand can provide fulfillment that even an expensive car cannot match.
Technology has introduced new machines and tools for woodworking, but the fundamental aspects have remained unchanged. And as beginners one has to choose woodworking tools precisely.
Woodworking hand tools still hold significance for professional carpenters and artists, granting them the control and freedom to turn ideas into products.
Image by Graham Hobster from Pixabay
In this article, we will discuss common hand tools used for woodworking.
Carpenter’s Pencil
At the top of the list is the carpenter’s pencil. This essential tool plays a critical role in any carpentry or woodworking task.
Unlike ordinary graphite pencils, which are soft and easily snap when you work on rough surfaces, carpenter’s pencils are sturdier and designed for durability.
These pencils feature a larger size for a comfortable grip and a strong lead core, making them easy to mark on rough surfaces such as stones and wood.
Woodworkers commonly use them for drawing lines, marking areas for cutting, and creating notches in the material for measuring and planning. They typically come in hexagonal or flat shapes, preventing them from rolling away.
Claw Hammer
The claw hammer stands out as one of the most visible tools for carpenters, often found on the workbench. Its versatility allows carpenters to remove nails and use it as a pry bar for wood boards.
Carpenters should choose a claw hammer with a handle that fits comfortably in their hand, and the length should allow for easy elbow motion.
They should avoid heavy heads, as they can strain muscles after prolonged use. However, hammers with round heads serve better for driving nails and provide safer usage. If you need a hammer for home woodworking, opt for claw hammers for their versatility.
Retractable Measuring Tape
A retractable tape serves as an essential tool for woodworkers. Taking precise measurements stands as a fundamental part of woodworking, as any variation in measurements can lead to accuracy problems later on.
Woodworkers often use a retractable aluminum meter across all areas of the project, from wood pieces to the spaces where the finished product will reside.
When purchasing a retractable measuring tape, choose one with a large hook or tab at the end. This feature enhances convenience for carrying in your pocket or allows it to attach to a belt.
Chisel – Set of Chisels
Chisels consist of sharp metal blades attached to wooden or metal handles, enabling woodworkers to carve wood into various shapes.
Their variety of shapes corresponds to their specific uses, with most chisels breaking parts and shaving away extra wood materials.
Woodworkers should use a mallet rather than a hammer to drive the chisels. They can also use chisels for making circular shapes on lathe or woodturning machines.
Highly skilled professionals typically possess sets of chisels for creating carved paintings, sculptures, and figurines.
Level – The Level
Every professional carpenter requires a level. This simple instrument helps carpenters determine whether a surface is level or plumb (vertical). Levels rank among the most critical instruments for carpenters, masons, and other blue-collar workers.
Various types of levels exist, but the most commonly used are bubble or spirit levels. You can check the level and plumb of your woodwork with ease. Here, level refers to horizontal, while plumb indicates vertical.
Reading the level is straightforward; you should check whether the bubble sits exactly between the lines to verify the level or plumb surface. Carpentry demands precision, and even a fractional discrepancy can hamper results.
Screwdriver
A set of screwdrivers serves as an important tool in woodworking. Other tasks, such as furnishing and construction, require driving screws. While power drills can facilitate this process, some manual screwdrivers excel in detailed work.
Carpenters should purchase sets of both Phillips head and flat head screwdrivers, as these represent the most commonly used types. Moreover, using matching screws and screwdrivers is advisable, as wider screwdrivers may damage the screws.
Additionally, opt for longer shanks between the metal blade and the handle to help apply more torque when turning screws. If you’re on a budget, consider buying a wall holder for the screwdriver set.
Block Plane – Hand Plane
Hand planes represent some of the most visible and oldest tools of the trade. Woodworkers must have them as they serve both rough work and detailed finishing tasks in wood shaping.
Using this tool, woodworkers can remove thin shavings of wood to level the surface of the wood plank. Generally, hand planes help reduce wood thickness, flatten surfaces, and create smooth finishes on rough timber.
Typically, hand planes feature metal blades fastened to a long, flat, firm body with a diagonal handle for easy pushing. Dragging them across a wood surface creates a flat surface by removing thin wood shavings.
Various sizes of hand planes are available on the market. Carpenters generally select lightweight, easy-to-carry hand planes for narrow planks, while they use heavy planes for beams and thick wood.
Workbench
A workbench serves as a specialized table where woodworkers carry out their tasks. Most workbenches feature a flat surface with cabinets for hand tools, accessories, vises, clamps, and other power tools.
Many professional carpenters prefer to build their workbench according to their specific requirements, with options available online.
Quick Clamps
Clamps act as fastening devices that hold objects tightly together to prevent separation or movement. The inward pressure of clamps helps secure and grip objects.
Carpenters find clamps very useful, as they allow them to free their hands for other tasks like sawing, cutting, or performing other duties more efficiently. Various shapes and sizes of clamps exist, enabling use for different tasks.
Sanding Blocks
Sanding blocks hold sandpapers used to sand pieces of furniture, walls, or other surfaces. They facilitate a smooth finish for painting, varnishing, or other resurfacing tasks. Using sanding blocks makes gripping the sandpaper and maneuvering it in any direction easier.
Layout/Measuring Squares
Measuring squares serve as devices to check the correctness of right angles while drawing lines on materials for cutting or making holes.
They consist of two straight-edge metals connected at right angles. Carpenters and machinists predominantly use them in their work.
18-Inch Metal Ruler
Rulers represent essential tools for drawing and marking lines on flat surfaces. They also help make precise measurements.
Metal rulers often rank as the first choice for students, artists, architects, and woodworking professionals due to their weight and durability.
They come in lengths ranging from 6 to 18 inches and display both millimeter and inch markings. Woodworkers primarily use them for making accurate measurements and laying out lines for cutting purposes.
Center Punch
A center punch creates a dent or hole in a wood surface, facilitating easy drilling. The dent or hole generated by the punch allows the drill machine to remain steady at one point without slipping.
Woodworkers commonly use center punches on hard surfaces. Quality punches consist of metal rods featuring a narrow tip on one end and a broad flat “butt” on the other. Woodworkers typically use a ball peen hammer to drive the punch.
Hand Saw
One of the most frequently used tools in woodworking is the hand saw, also known as a panel saw. Woodworkers rely on hand saws to cut pieces of wood into different shapes.
Hand saws include two parts: a wooden handle and a steel blade featuring a series of sharpened teeth.
Hand saws remain irreplaceable in traditional woodworking.
Learning to use a hand saw proves simple, as it is not a precision tool and serves well for cutting larger pieces of wood.
Utility Knife
Utility knives are not exactly knives; however, they constitute an essential part of a carpenter’s toolbox. These versatile cutting devices serve for scribing marks on wood, cutting boxes, opening cans of wood paints, and handling various other cutting tasks.
A good utility knife should be lightweight, easy to grip, and feature a locking mechanism. Seek knives with metal casings and replaceable stainless steel blades for safety and convenience. The best part is that you can carry them in your pocket.
Sliding Bevel
A sliding bevel, also known as a bevel gauge, helps set and transfer angles. This tool differs from a square gauge, which remains fixed at a 90-degree angle.
The uniqueness of a sliding bevel lies in its ability to set any angle and transfer it to another piece. The device consists of two parts: the stock and the blade.
The stock features wood or plastic, while the blade comprises hardened tempered steel. Woodworkers can mark a variety of angles by adjusting the blade’s position, making this tool useful for marking lines on wood.
Nail Set
Nail sets, also known as nail punches, prove indispensable for carpenters, woodworkers, and metalworkers. They primarily assist in driving nails so that the nail head sits just below the wood surface.
In carpentry, carpenters drive nails with one or two strikes of the hammer to bring them level with the wood’s surface, then they use the nail set to finish driving the nails.
Nail sets help prevent hammer marks from marring the wood surface. Additionally, woodworkers employ them for poking small holes for screws and drill bits in woodworking and metalworking.
Mallets
Mallets function similarly to hammers, but they excel at tasks like jointing. Carpenters use them effectively with a chisel set, driving the sharp heads for creating designs in wood pieces.
Chisels and other tools require force; therefore, driving them with mallets is preferable. Furthermore, the wood or rubber head of the mallet will not damage the chisel handle.
Using a mallet for furniture assembly is also advisable, as it will not mar the wood’s surface when driving or pushing. When buying mallets, choose ones with comfortable handles that provide a firm grip.
Backsaw
A backsaw serves as a type of hand saw for woodworking projects. It differs from a typical handsaw because of its specific use. Backsaws cut precisely, for example, when creating joints or grooves in wood or performing simple cutoffs.
Most backsaws are shorter in length with hardwood or plastic handles. Typically, a metal-reinforced back edge enhances control and allows for more precise cutting. This stiffening rib keeps the blade from bending while cutting but also limits the depth of the cuts.
Curve Cutting Saw
Coping saws, known for making curved cuts on various types of wood, represent specialized curve-cutting tools. They allow for cutting unusual shapes and curves.
Woodworkers frequently use coping saws to create molding for coped joints. Although they are not designed for intricate cuts like a fretsaw, coping saw blades are thicker and can struggle with detailed woodwork.
Experienced carpenters or woodworkers typically use coping saws, as handling them tests the user’s skills. Controlling these saws can occasionally prove challenging and requires extensive practice.
Sharpening Stone
Sharpening stones, or whetstones, consist of simple blocks shaped from stone that sharpen the edges of tools such as chisels, knives, and plane blades. Grinding or honing the tool edges against the abrasive surface of whetstones sharpens them.
Sharpening stones come in various sizes, shapes, and material compositions. Stone designs can be flat for flat edges or other shapes for complex edges used in woodworking or woodturning.
Most stones manufacturers craft from natural and artificial materials featuring varying abrasion levels. Thus, sharpening stones remain essential for any carpenter’s toolkit.
Hand Drill
Manual hand drills help woodworkers create holes using manual power through hand motion. Depending on the type, these drills can transfer hand motion into torque, which spins the gears or drill bits.
Currently, only a few professional carpenters still use manual hand drills, as power drills have largely replaced them. Hand drills present the best solution for simple drilling tasks, providing the extra control necessary for delicate or precision drilling, especially when pre-drilling or working with wood prone to splitting.
Despite their limitations, manual drills remain popular because they are affordable and do not require electric power—only your hand. Furthermore, they typically ensure greater safety than power drills while offering more control for drilling tasks that require accuracy.
Marking Gauge
A marking gauge, often referred to as a scratch gauge, proves useful in woodworking and metalworking for marking lines intended for cutting and other purposes.
The gauge utilizes a reference edge or surface for drawing lines parallel to the edge. Most importantly, marking gauges facilitate exact measurements for cutting, making them a favorite among professional carpenters.
Spoke Shaves
A spokeshave serves as a handheld tool for shaping and smoothing the surface of wood. Woodworkers use spokeshaves for shaping cartwheel spokes, chair legs, paddles, bows, and arrows.
This tool consists of a blade fixed to the body of the tool, which includes handles for both hands. Since spokeshaves are small tools, they are not suitable for large wood surfaces and are either pushed or pulled based on the surface of the wood.
These tools represent some basic woodworking hand tools for anyone interested in carpentry or other forms of woodwork. To learn a new skill, you must jump in and explore the area. I hope this list of tools helps you take the first step.
Best of luck!