TOPIC
Hand Tools
Planes, chisels, hand saws, marking and measuring, spokeshaves, scrapers, rasps, and boring tools.
4 guides · 8 subtopics
Hand tools are quiet, precise, and surprisingly fast once you know how to use them. A sharp hand plane leaves a surface smoother than any sandpaper. A well-set marking gauge produces lines thinner than a pencil.
These guides cover choosing, setting up, and using hand tools. We start with the simplest and most affordable tools that produce good results, then build toward the specialized ones.
Brad Point Drill Bits
Brad point bits drill clean, accurate holes in wood. Learn the anatomy, pick the right HSS set, master the technique, and stop tearout for good.
Card Scraper: How to Choose, Sharpen, and Use One
A card scraper cuts wood with a burnished hook, not abrasion. Handles figured grain that defeats a plane. Learn to choose, sharpen, and use one.
How to Read a Tape Measure — Cheat Sheet
Learn to read any imperial tape measure marking. Includes the full decimal-to-fraction conversion table, mark height guide, and special markings decoded.
Rasp Tool
A wood rasp shapes curves, rounds edges, and fits irregular surfaces without tearout. Learn the types, technique, and what to buy first.