Questions Answered - Ten Hand Tools, Three Joints?

Question:

Got to your blog late, which three joints and which ten hand tools? Just curious.

Bill

Answer:

Combination Square: Should be a good and accurate make. Inexpensive ones are usually square at first but go out of square after a short while. See blog entry here from more detailed info.

Knife: The best of all knives for joinery without exception is also the cheapest. The Stanley Folding Pocket Knife 0 10 598. The near equivalent in the US, but not so fine in detail is the Stanley 10-049. See blog entry here for more detailed info.

Chisel Set: Bevelled edge works best for all areas of woodworking. 6mm, 10mm, 12mm, 18mm and 25mm or near to those sizes. Expect to pay £10 – £25 per set or more if you want high quality. Both expensive and inexpensive will perform equally well so it’s your choice. See blog entry here for more detailed info.

Combination Gauge: Shop around. On eBay you can find rosewood ones made for a good price. Around £12 – £24 if you shop carefully.See blog entry here for more detailed info.

Chisel Hammer: Thorex 712 38mm are best. See blog entry here for more detailed info.

Smoothing Plane: Stanley #4 second hand on eBay will likely prove best and cheapest and give you a lifetime of use. Also Record is a good maker. See blog entry here for more detailed info.

Measuring Tape: Any make. Avoid FatMax massives and the like. You just need a 3m (10’ tape). This is benchwork woodworking not construction work. See blog entry here for more detailed info.

Dovetail Saw: I recommend an 8-10″ with 10″ as best choice. The Gent’s saw is best saw of all and this size of saw with 14 – 16-tpi will cut small tenons and dovetails all day long for 20 or more years. Don’t get finer (smaller) teeth as they are very difficult to sharpen unless you have experience.

Sliding Bevel: This finds angles you need for the dovetails.

Hand Router: Not absolutely necessary at first but really nice to have and truly useful for certain work. Secondhand Stanley 71 on eBay will do the trick; or the Record 171 is basically the same. See blog entry here for more detailed info.

The Three Joints?

Dovetail, Housing Dado and Mortise and Tenon.