Questions tagged [hand-tools]
Tools used by hand, the work/power is supplied by the tool user.
166
questions
3
votes
2answers
56 views
Plane/chisel sharpening technique
I’m looking to improve my sharpening technique when sharpening my hand plane blades and chisels. I use a Veritas honing jig and diamond stones and can get a nice edge that cleanly shaved the hairs on ...
3
votes
2answers
91 views
Best way to cut very soft 4mm (1/8") poplar plywood sheets with hand tools
Sometimes I need to cut sheets (cca 50x80cm = 20x32") of soft 4mm (1/8") poplar plywood into smaller rectangular pieces and I find it surprisingly difficult to do with hand tools - it's too ...
2
votes
1answer
67 views
What are the defining features of a Holtzapffel workbench?
While studying workbench designs I read a 2007 article by Chris Schwarz in Woodworking Magazine about the Holtzapffel workbench. He describes it roughly as an eclectic bench with French, German and ...
0
votes
1answer
59 views
Hand plane blade lower on one side
I'm a woodworking beginner trying to restore a Stanley no 5 and have run into problem with the blade hanging lower on one side.
I'm not sure if it was originally like this or something I did - I've ...
-1
votes
1answer
131 views
How to highlight imprecisions?
Using only hand tools, I made a groove for a wedge and the wedge does not fit tight and perfect. How do I highlight where the exact point is that needs to be reworked? I've seen someone using carbon ...
1
vote
1answer
90 views
Terminology for beam drill?
This is called a Beam Drill in the USA, but I would like to know the terminology for this in British English. I'm trying to find one locally to me (on ebay) in the UK and failing completely...
So my ...
1
vote
2answers
174 views
Best tool for sanding and shaping irregular surfaces
I am looking for some recommendations on sanding irregular surfaces, like rifle stocks.
I have tried a random orbital sander but it is not giving me satisfactory results, and also it is difficult to ...
2
votes
1answer
109 views
Hand tool identification
I'm trying to identity the tool in the photo. The tablet is included for size, it has a 10.5 inch screen.
0
votes
1answer
61 views
Remove little material from a wooden piece with manual tools
I've started to enjoy using manual tools ("unplugged woodworking") and I've been getting manual tools (marking gauges, smoothing plane, saws, block plane, chisels, etc.).
I have piece of ...
2
votes
3answers
279 views
Is it possible to rip thin strips of wood only using hand tools?
Say from a standard board 1 in x3 in x6 feet cut strips of 1/8 in thickness?
1
vote
1answer
84 views
How to face joint board longer than bench by hand
Project: Bed frame from hard wood (still deciding between cherry, oak, walnut, ash, beech)
Question: What is a good method to face joint a board (approximately 15 cm / 6” wide) by hand with a shorter ...
1
vote
1answer
97 views
Preventing poor groove geometry with plow plane?
I'm using a veritas small plow plane and I'm finding my grooves are a bit trapezoid shaped and not square to the reference face and edge:
Material is Sapele. This is a longer piece (~48"). Some ...
0
votes
1answer
96 views
Identifying 2 strange homemade hand saw features
I recently acquired 2 homemade saws, likely early 20th century, with features I can't quite place for function or aesthetic. Any ideas?
18" saw with an odd bevel cut into the top edge of the ...
6
votes
1answer
5k views
Unknown tool from auger bits set
Does anyone recognise the tool on the photos below?
Recently I’ve bought a set of old auger bits on eBay and among them was that tool. I de-rusted it, but have no idea what do use it for :)
5
votes
3answers
342 views
Why does the blade of a sliding T-bevel have a point?
Does anyone have a good reference for the reason a typical wood or metal sliding T-bevel comes to a point?
I've always wondered, and recently this tool came up in a semi-famous YouTube video, which ...
0
votes
2answers
171 views
How to cut long angled cuts without a table saw?
Hey guys, first time poster.
I'm trying to make this simple nightstand using hand tools.
I'm stuck on these angled planks. Is there any way I can cut these very long cuts without electric table saw? I ...
4
votes
1answer
347 views
How do I plane the edge of a board such that it stays square to the face?
I just bought my first plane, an inexpensive Stanley 12-404 clone by Amazon Basics.
I was dialing everything in and planing the edge of a board, eventually getting nice, thin, even shavings.
After I ...
0
votes
0answers
47 views
How bore out a shallow sink into a 2x10"?
I have a set of standing shelves that are built from standard home store 2x10"s. I wanted to repurpose the shelf as a place for my houseplants. When I water the plants, there is a lot of drainage ...
1
vote
1answer
109 views
What is the difference between the jointer blade and the smoothing blade?
In The Anarchist's Tool Chest, Christopher Schwarz recommends buying a #5 bench plane with three irons as a first hand plane: a curved scrub blade, a flat jointer/try blade, and a flat smoothing blade....
2
votes
1answer
427 views
What is a router plane fence designed for?
Recently I bought a veritas router plane and I noticed that they provide an optional fence.
（and with smaller blades）
As I'm new to woodworking, I wonder what the fence is designed for?
It seems one ...
2
votes
3answers
224 views
How do I avoid cutting my fingers on the sides of my chisel when paring?
When paring waste from dovetails with a chisel I often slice up my fingers on the back edge of my chisels.
This forum thread discusses this topic with two recommendations:
Just let your hands develop ...
1
vote
2answers
125 views
How to make a circular base with moulding using hand tools?
For a piece such as this:
How can this be shaped using only hand tools? Normally, a router comes to mind for something like this, or maybe a lathe, and then when you only think of hand tools, I think ...
1
vote
1answer
461 views
What are some proper ways of doing rabbets in plywood using hand tools?
What are some proper ways of doing rabbets in plywood with hand tools? I tried using a plough plane but it tore out the fibers too much.
What other manual options are there?
0
votes
2answers
1k views
Is it possible to use a mortiser bit without a mortiser?
My project requires about 60 precise square holes, 14mm on a side. I don't have a mortiser but a mortiser bit is fairly inexpensive. Is there a way I could use that bit by hand to cut those holes? ...
1
vote
2answers
223 views
Reversed Foldable Carpenter Ruler?
My mother used to work in home decoration (in Switzerland we have a dedicated name for this: courtepointière) and she always used her Hultafors CONTACT meter (559-2-10) which differs from my regular ...
5
votes
1answer
249 views
Rasps: how much does handedness matter?
I came on this:
The teeth on Auriou rasps are slightly angled to favor right-handed users. If you are left-handed, please contact us as we can order you left-handed rasp (although we do keep some ...
8
votes
2answers
4k views
Angled cuts without miter saw or miter box?
I'm only just starting out on basic woodworking projects as a side hobby, and I don't have many tools. But a bigger problem is that I live in an apartment and don't have the room for a fancy workshop ...
2
votes
2answers
130 views
Can I use glasses-cleaning leather to make a strop?
I am having difficulties finding some scrap piece of leather in order to make myself a strop in order to aid the sharpening process for my plane blades and chisels.
I was thinking to use this kind of ...
2
votes
2answers
460 views
How to add a consistent chamfer across a non-linear edge using hand tools
I am beginning to really like using hand tools as opposed to power tools and I can see a lot of use cases for them.
However I don't understand how can you apply a consistent chamfer on a non-linear ...
4
votes
2answers
185 views
Are there square-taper drill bits larger than 1-1/2" for hand braces?
A project description instructs to bore 1-3/4" through-holes into a benchtop to insert round tenons from legs. ("Herculaneum Workbench", book: Ingenious Mechanicks, Chapter VI, p106, by C. Schwarz)
I ...
6
votes
2answers
2k views
What is the purpose of the side handle on a hand ("eggbeater") drill?
What is the purpose of the side knob (circled in orange) on a hand or "eggbeater" drill? I can't remember ever using this handle for anything.
I'm considering cutting off the side knob so ...
2
votes
1answer
190 views
2
votes
1answer
194 views
Routing With a Dremel [closed]
I'm VERY new to woodworking and don't have a lot of tools. I have a DeWalt Pullsaw, a Dremel, and some various hand tools. I recently got into woodworking because I saw a lot of really cool ...
1
vote
0answers
81 views
Help me identify this Bullnose 75 plane
I have just received this bullnose plane and I'm trying to identify it. I suppose its a record 75 plane, but i'm not sure about that. Someone can help me? Most of record 75 present different caps and ...
2
votes
2answers
2k views
How to saw wood without the final splitting?
Except for being more careful, are there any tips or tricks for preventing the final splitting when using a handsaw?
4
votes
2answers
4k views
How to make a mitre cut along the width of a board with hand tools
I'd like to cut a miter along the width of a wide board using hand tools. I've searched online and have not found any resources so maybe I'm using incorrect terminology.
Say I have a board that is 12 ...
1
vote
2answers
195 views
Tips and Ideas for Hand Planing a 11,950 N board keeping it simple
I'm trying to build a dining table out of two pieces of Jatoba wood (Hymenaea courbaril) which has:
Density - 57 lbs/ft3 (910 kg/m3)
Hardness - 2,690 lbf (11,950 N)
info taken from https://...
7
votes
2answers
246 views
What is this hand tool with handles similar to a spokeshave? It has different selectable profiles around the edge of a disc
Can anyone identify this? Woodworking tool?
4
votes
1answer
294 views
Help me identify this hand plane
Can anyone identify this? It's located inside my boyfriend's great great grandfather's wood planer. Thanks!
6
votes
2answers
314 views
Precise 90 degree cuts on small pieces
This is a question about technique. When I cut small pieces of wood (1-2") I struggle to make precise square (90 degree) cuts by hand or handheld tools without a guide. If I just eyeball it I'll often ...
9
votes
2answers
2k views
How does Frank Klausz achieve a >90 turn with a turning saw without cleanup when cutting dovetails?
Frank Klausz, in his video titled "Dovetails for Drawers - The European way" takes two minutes to show how he makes his "3-minute dovetails". When cutting the tails, he uses what looks to be a custom ...
4
votes
2answers
76 views
Making table leg slightly longer
After a mistake, I ended up with a table leg that's about 1/16" (1.6mm) shorter than the other ones, on the top. I'm probably going to trim all other legs by a commensurate amount, because that seems ...
5
votes
3answers
1k views
Are mortises with angled walls cut the same way as square mortises (handtools)?
What are the usual steps to carve out a non-90degree mortise that will be married to a sliding wedge/key? Should the wedge be cut first?
When chiseling a usual mortise, plumb can be used as the ...
10
votes
2answers
627 views
How to handplane many boards to the same dimensions
I am dimensioning aprons for a table with handtools, and trying to correct the four boards to have the same equal thickness over their entire length. I'm trying to minimize problems with uneven ...
4
votes
1answer
266 views
How to make a larger rabbet by hand?
I'm looking to make a larger rabbet into an 6' 4x4 similar to the below picture - but I don't have a circular saw.
Or would it be better to simply attach a 2x4 or 1x4 to the main piece?
5
votes
1answer
148 views
What kind of plane is this?
I just bought a wooden plane but I am new to hand planes and couldn't identify it.
It seems to not fit in any category known to me (shoulder plane, bullnose plane, chamfering plane etc.)
...
Later ...
2
votes
1answer
295 views
How can I salvage the ura on my japanese plane blade?
I bought a Japanese plane a few years ago, and didn't really spend a lot of time researching before I started using and sharpening it. Now that I have a little more time for woodworking again, I ...
4
votes
1answer
585 views
Is this plane salvageable?
I got a hand plane from my grandfather's old tools, though it sat in a garage for several years with no care. It's quite rusted, and it looks like it may be rather heavily pitted on one side of the ...
2
votes
1answer
61 views
Handsaws for very small flooring project
Is there one excellent-quality handsaw that does both crosscuts and rip cuts, and, if not, what two handsaws should I buy? The task is to install either an engineered wood, or possibly hardwood, ...
-4
votes
1answer
98 views
What is the best tool for leveling boards? [closed]
Good day!
A new batch of boards came from the sawmill, but they were in defective. It is necessary to straighten. In general, this situation is very often happening at my work. I used the Dewalt ...
