Start here
Basic Hand Tools List for Every Home Workshop
A practical basic hand tools list for a home workshop: what to buy first, what each tool does, and how to add woodworking tools as your projects grow.
Hand Tools
5 guides, starting with Basic Hand Tools List for Every Home Workshop.
Start here
A practical basic hand tools list for a home workshop: what to buy first, what each tool does, and how to add woodworking tools as your projects grow.
Learn how to inspect hand tools before use: what to check on handles, heads, edges and jaws, when to repair or retire a tool, and a simple checklist.
How to find the ideal workbench height for hand tools: starting rules of thumb, how planing, sawing and assembly differ, and how to test a height before you build.
Compare utility blade types, including standard trapezoid, hook, rounded-tip, serrated, concave and snap-off blades, and learn which job each one suits.
Why sharpening your tools matters: safer, cleaner and easier cuts, longer tool life, how to tell when an edge is dull, and what to know before you start.
Related topics