Mar 10 2008
Tooling up
Back in early February 2008, an interesting thread was started on Woodnet.net. Bob Feeser, rfeeser to those who may look for his writings, was asked by a friend to ”provide a list of what tools a well-equipped small, machine-free shop might have”. So he consulted some texts he had on hand and “enhanced” it. Turned out, the list is quite good. On Internet forums, one good turn deserves another, and so the feedback began. …And the list grew. People came up with some great additions for the list. I know, I know, the list is a huge bugger, and there are a lot of things on it you do not need, and can get by without, but Bob was asked to go for ‘well equipped’, So he put in the initial time, and by the end of the thread, many other great tool additions for the list were suggested. I went through the thread and edited further, adding what all was suggested by others. For the most part, I tried to be as inclusive as possible. Depending on your methods of work, there is likely something on there for everybody. So without further adieu, here is Bob’s “Gratuitous list of hand and small electric woodworking tools”, and thank you Bob! – MEASURING & MARKING – - CUTTING TOOLS – - CHISELS – - HAND PLANES – - BORING TOOLS – - RASPS & FILES – - CLAMPS – - HAMMERS – - SCREWDRIVERS – - WRENCHES – - PLIERS – - MISCELLANEOUS – - PORTABLE POWER TOOLS – - BENCHES - - SHOP MADE ACCESSORIES – - SAFETY EQUIPMENT -
Awl, scratch, brad, birdcage
Marking knife(s)
Center punch
Transfer punches
Chalk line
Combination squares
Try or engineering squares
Double square
Framing square
Saddle Square
Plastic drafting squares
Bevel gauges
Protractors
Inclinometers
Retracting tape measure
Folding rule w/ sliding extension
Steel 4R graduated rules
Steel 4R hook rulers
Center finder rulers
Golden ratio rulers (phi)
Ruler stop
Precise straight edge
Plumb bob with string
Marking gauge
Mortise gauge
Panel gauge
Dowel centers
Sliding bevel
Dovetail Markers
Compass
Beam compass
Trammels
Pantograph
Drawing bow
Level(s) torpedo, beam
Dividers
Calipers
Dial or vernier calipers
Depth gauge
Pencils (black & white, and/or mechanical)
Crayons
Crosscut saw
Ripsaw
Coping saw
Fret/jewelers saw
Bow saw
Backsaw
Tenon saw
Dovetail saw
Keyhole saw
Drawknife
Hacksaw
Utility knife
Folding knife
Misc. knives
Carving tools
Paring chisels – a set of five or more common sizes is useful
Chopping chisels – (aka butt chisels, may be thicker, shorter, sharpened at higher angle)
Skew chisels, fishtail chisels, dovetail chisels, corner chisels
Mortise chisels – commonly 1/4th inch and 3/8′s inch sizes
Low angle block plane
Bevel up or down planes
Jackplane
Jointer plane
Smooth plane
Shoulder plane
Rabbet plane
Router Plane
Plough Plane
Spokeshaves
Scrub plane
Cabinet scraper or scraper plane
Card scrapers
Scratch Stock
Eggbeater drills
Bits (twist, brad point)
Ratchet brace
Auger bits
Archimedes push drill with bits
Forstner bits
Vix bits
Smooth, Second cut, Mill Bastard, Double Cut
Flat rasps and files
Half round rasps and files
Triangular files
Forming tools (i.e. Sureform, Microplane)
Riffler rasps and files
Needle files
File handles
File cards and brass/nylon brushes
C-clamps
Pipe clamps
Bar clamps
Parallel clamps
Deep throat clamps
Clamping cauls
Hand screws
Web clamps
Claw hammer
Soft-faced hammer
Dead blow hammer
Tack hammer
Wooden mallet
Flat bladed
Philips head
Square tipped
Ratchet screwdriver
Push screwdriver
Screwdriver bits & adapter for brace
Right angle (offset) screwdrivers
Stubby screwdrivers
Screw holding screwdrivers
Jeweler’s screwdrivers
SAE / Metric
Adjustable wrenches
Set of box wrenches
Set of open-end wrenches
Set of combination wrenches
Ratchet socket set
Allen/hex wrenches Regular/ball end
Slip jaw pliers
Diagonal pliers
Needle nosed pliers
Channel lock pliers
Wire strippers / Crimpers
Pencil sharpeners
Drafting supplies
Graph paper
Reference data
Calculator
Magnifying glass
Chalk
Nail set(s)
Paint scraper (removing dried glue)
Pry bar, small
Sharpening abrasives (sandpaper, diamond stones, water stones, oil stones)
Leather strop
Honing compound
Honing guides
Sandpaper in many grits
Sanding blocks in different shapes
Vegetable tanned leather for clamp pads and other uses
Rags
Brushes
Finishing supplies (applicators, finishes, rubbing out materials)
Glues
Rubber brayer for spreading water based glue
Acid brushes for spreading glue
Waxed paper to protect from glue
Veneer roller
Brooms
Dustpans
Screws
Nails
Bolts, nuts, washers
Belt sander, sanding belts
Circular saw, blades
Saw guides
Electric drills, 3/8’s 1/2, bits (twist drills (fractional, number, letter, metric), brad point, Forstner or saw tooth, hole saws)
Drill guide
Finish sander, sandpaper sheets
Random orbital sander, sanding disks
Router, edge guide, bits, template bushings
Bench top router table
Bench grinder / wire wheel 3450/1725rpm
Jigsaw, blades
Scroll saw, blades
Lunch box planer
Shop Vac
Heavy-duty extension cord(s)
Power strips
Workbench
Holdfasts
Bench dogs (round or square)
Planing stops
Vises, (woodworking and machinist styles.)
Bench jack
Bench hooks
Shooting board for ends
Shooting board for miters
Shooting board for long edges
Miter Jack
Miter boxes
Sanding blocks
Storage for tools hardware and other materials
Protective glasses
Face shield
Earmuffs and plugs
Filter masks
Half face respirators
Protective gloves (appropriate to the task)
Apron, cloth, leather
Shop coat
Fire extinguisher(s)
First-aid kit including splinter tweezers
Rob,
Great list, duly noted, copied and pasted into “woodworking ideas” folder. Thanks for the head’sup on some surely needed items.
That said… care to mark (bold, italicize, underline, bulletpoint, seperate) a list of essential minimal tools to get started?
Consider a fella with, say, $200 to spend and wants to make his sweetheart a jewelry box or his mother a birthday gift. Assume he has a screwdriver and wrench… but no hammer. Maybe he has a (poorly suited) utility bench.
Just a thought.
Bruce
Hi Bruce,
I gave your suggestion a lot of thought. Woodworking is a big place, and there are so many ways to take it. Telling people what a basic set of tools is so hard, because tools are very use specific and scale to the task. People have so many ways they can approach. this. It seemed most fair to show people what is out there, and let them decide what fits their personal working style.
I could say hammer, saw, square, screwdriver, but it isn’t helpful really. Without layout tools up front, you got nothing. But you do have to start somewhere. It could cost you $200 to rehab a plane and build a shooting board. That still won’t make a jewelry box, yet it is an important part of the process.
If a fella has a sweetheart, or a mother with a birthday, I say take the $200, and buy her something feminine or personal, and take her to dinner. You are not getting tooled up to make a quality jewelry box for $200, but you can make the sweetheart happy.
That same $200 should be spent as woodworker, on books about joinery, box making, and using tools. and some good quality layout tools, you really need them first. Then the woodworker can decide what, why, how… Yet still make nothing.
You see, I love the question, but I don’t have a $200 answer.
Bests,
Rob