Tools for Working With Wood the Old-Fashioned Way
There is something romantic about doing things the "old-fashioned way," especially when it comes to working with wood. Using hand tools instead of power tools creates a more personal, intimate relationship with the wood. It causes us to dig deep inside ourselves to find the skill and the strength to create a one-of-a-kind treasure. Traditional tools are still available, but be prepared to work harder to achieve a finished project.
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Instructions
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Develop a traditional tool woodworkers tool box.
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Choose a hand saw which is a basic woodworking tool. Although a power saw can cut through the wood faster, a handsaw can do the job as well, but with just a little more effort.
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Pick a wood smoothing plane which can be made of wood or metal and is used to smooth the surface of the wood. This is especially useful for when working with planks of wood.
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Pick out some hammers and screwdrivers for your toolbox. You will need several sizes of hammer including a small upholsterer's hammer, which is good for use with small nails and tight spaces. Screwdrivers are an essential and come in variety of sizes and tips.
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Add an awl. Awls come in varying sizes with handles made of wood or plastic. They look much like a screwdriver, but they have a narrow blade that comes to a point at the end. It is used to start nail or screw holes in wood.
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Include a set of chisels and a mallet. Choose chisels that have steel blades in a range of sizes. They are used to trim away wood. Some can be managed with one hand, but for some jobs, you will need a mallet which is a hammer-like tool with a large rubber head.
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Add a hand drill and bits, which is much like its modern counterpart -- except you supply the power.
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Add a t-square or "try square" to you toolbox. A t-square is a handy tool to mark right angles as well as check the angles of a corner.
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Choose a simple project to test your tools and your skills.
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Tips & Warnings
Be sure that the tools that you use are in good condition, especially any tool with a blade. A dull blade is far more dangerous than a sharp blade.
Wear protective eye wear when working with wood.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit wood image by Marvin Gerste from Fotolia.com
