What Hand Tools Do I Really Need?

I hear from a lot of woodworkers (or woodworkers-to-be) who are so excited to start using hand tools. Either in that same correspondence or a few minutes later I get another message from the same woodworker who has just been sticker shocked by how much this hand tool thing is going to cost them. One could make a case that the hand tool route is cheaper than going with power tools, but I think quickly that case would get very thin. Woodworking is expensive and this is before you even head to the lumber yard!

Yes, yes, I know one can save a bundle by buying vintage hand tools. But even those have gone up in price a lot and with them comes a lot of time spent restoring a tool that you may not actually know how it should perform. In other words, even buying all antique tools can result in a pretty hefty sum of money.


Usually I spend several minutes talking them back from the ledge and helping them understand that not every tool is needed right away and that beginner hand tool lists are something to strive towards, not a prerequisite. This immediately begs the question,

“So what tools do I actually need right now?”

This question is answered very differently depending on whether the asker is starting with no tools at all or if they are like me, a power tool user converted to “the light”. The list of tools also depends heavily on what it is the woodworker wants to make. This “it depends” answer is why everyone has a different list of “must have” tools. It is also why so many people get frustrated and often spend lot of money on tools they don’t need or tools that end up stunting their skill growth.
The Beginning Hand Tool List
Underhill Tool ToteSo here it is folks, the actual list of hand tools you need to get starting building stuff by hand.
Jack plane
Hand Saw (backless saw ~26″ in length)
1/4, 3/8, and 1″ chisels
Back Saw
Coping Saw
Marking Gauge
Square
Some kind of sharpening set up (stones, sandpaper, whatever)