Fine Woodworking Hand Tools

Planes

• The hand plane is one of the woodworker's most prized tools. There are many planes for different purposes. Some are modern planes manufactured almost entirely out of metal, others are antique or traditional planes made mostly of wood. Even on wooden antique planes, the blade is fashioned from metal.

Saws

• In the hands of a skilled woodworker, a saw can do more than just cut a piece of wood in two. Saws like the hacksaw can cut partial sections out of a piece of wood so the woodworker can use other tools, such as chisels, to refine the cut.

Chisels

• A common task in fine woodworking is making a mortise. A mortise is a hollowed out section of wood where something, such as a hinge, fits in. The chisel and a hammer or mallet for tapping it, are perfect hand tools for this task.

Clamps

• Although perhaps not as glamorous as the hand plane, clamps are every bit as important to the woodworker. Once the woodworker makes a set of cuts to join two pieces of wood, they often must be glued and held together until cured. This is the job of the clamp.