Questions tagged [hand-tools]
Tools used by hand, the work/power is supplied by the tool user.
8
votes
1answer
120 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
61 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
53 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 ...
7
votes
2answers
108 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
62 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
101 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
81 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 ...
3
votes
1answer
94 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
49 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
67 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 ...
4
votes
1answer
72 views
How to repair breakout at the intersection of two through-mortises (inside the joint)?
I'm making the joint for the leg shown in the following diagram, using handtools. There are two intersecting through-mortises. A tall one (for the apron running topleft-bottomright in the picture), ...
5
votes
1answer
103 views
How to make bottom face of beefy table leg flat and square with sides
I would like to make a table leg's bottom face flat and square with the sides, using handtools.
I have drawn my knife line around the four faces for my desired length, and then proceeded to handsaw ...
2
votes
1answer
72 views
Can I use a 12” granite block for fettling a #5 plane?
I have used a 12”x9” granite block to fettle the #4 I use bit recently acquired a #5 that belonged to my great uncle. It looks good, and I’m looking forward to cleaning it up, but I assume that I need ...
0
votes
1answer
96 views
What is this vintage tool?
I am trying to find out what this vintage tool is called and how it works?
What is the tool for? It was found in coworker's dad basement when he was cleaning up the basement.
2
votes
2answers
83 views
I have 3 carving tools and do not know what they are used for
Unknown carving tools, wood handles looks like carbon steel blade
1
vote
3answers
117 views
What could I use instead of a froe when cleaving?
I really want a froe. They are hard to find in my area and when they do exist they are expensive.
If I want to cleave a log, e.g. ash, what other options could I consider? I could use axe heads but ...
3
votes
2answers
57 views
Good wooden handle to hung an axe?
I was grinding and sanding this wooden handle for a day or two lately and I nearly finished it, but I noticed, that I filed off a bit too much at the part, where the axe head goes on. I just took a ...
3
votes
1answer
95 views
Resources for wooden furniture projects without glue, nails or screws
I am looking for resources (mostly books) on how to build wooden furniture without glue, nails or screws (preferably with only hand tools). I would like to learn the techniques involved in this as ...
2
votes
2answers
132 views
Substituting Walnut for Hickory in a bow saw
I'm planning on building a version of the Gramercy Tools bow saw. According to their research, Hickory is a good substitute for the European Beech wood classically used in such saws, since it is both ...
3
votes
2answers
1k views
Fixing mistake: Filling the gap in a breadboard end on tabletop
I am building a pine desk/table (with handtools, so far) with a breadboard end design. One end piece does not sit flush with the tabletop everywhere along the entire width of the panel (32" or so). ...
1
vote
1answer
74 views
Taking apart a pre-assembled desk
I want to buy the desk pictured below:
However, I'm pretty sure it won't fit in my sedan, and I'd rather not pay to rent a van, so I'd like to take it apart and then put it back together.
It doesn't ...
6
votes
1answer
396 views
How can a bit brace handle be replaced?
I have an old bit brace that I would like to restore as much as possible. But the handle is "badly injured". As shown in the picture, it has diminished over time through hard use and it has a long ...
2
votes
2answers
150 views
Kanna setup: blade/mouth width, osae-bo bending
I'm in the process of setting up my first kanna. I'm facing two problems:
The blade is wider than the mouth, it overlaps the mimi and chips get stuck there (see picture). What is the correct way to ...
0
votes
2answers
137 views
What is the name of the second tool
Can somebody please help me out by naming the second tool in the row of tools in this image ? Thank you
3
votes
1answer
133 views
Measurements on a Try Square
The measurements on a try square start at the far end of the blade. Why? Wouldn't it be better to have two measurements starting at the 90 degree angles like a framing square?
Or was a try square ...
5
votes
2answers
201 views
How should I set a hand plane down?
I've heard conflicting anecdotal advice on how to put down a hand plane.
"Don't put a hand plane down on its bottom; always put it on its side or you'll throw off the blade." (source: Grandfather, ...
2
votes
1answer
183 views
What is this tool? Chisel-decorative-beating
Sharpened like a chisel. Marked with imperial size (means that it is old here in Sweden). Has a back end that has taken quite some beating.
I have an idea it is for decorative purpose but why have ...
2
votes
2answers
155 views
What hand tools might have been used historically to create a wooden train?
I am writing a novel set in 1850s Nevada. I would like to have the papa make his son a wooden train. Could he do this with a hand saw? What other hand tools would he need?
6
votes
2answers
272 views
Advice on surfacing board with sander
I have a couple of boards of white oak I want to glue up to make a platform for a computer. They are straight enough for a glue up but will require some surfacing for flatness and overall look.
I am ...
5
votes
1answer
234 views
Building a Cabin; only un-powered hand tools. Need advice
Recently I had a crazy plan. And I need some advice about how to go about doing it.
I wanted to build a small garden shed, more kinda like a cabin actually.
So I started drawing it out, and listing ...
1
vote
2answers
119 views
Can I get away with using bonded leather for a strop?
I had been saving some leathers swatches for use on a strop for when I finally get off my behind and start sharpening my tools. I apparently didn't notice that I had been saving bonded leather instead ...
3
votes
1answer
179 views
Hand Saws for Timber Framing
What saws were traditionally used for timber framing cuts in British practice? British-style backsaws don't seem to have cut depths any more than about 4", so how did they cut long tenons?
4
votes
1answer
61 views
Tool recommendation to prick bamboo nodes
I am looking for some kind of tool which I can use to prick through a bamboo.
To be more specific, bamboo is hollow inside. There is just some kind of plates "the nodes" which is connecting the ...
4
votes
3answers
255 views
what do you do when the two sides of a mortise hole don't line up exactly?
I am working on hand tool skills and building a workbench. The Paul Sellers workbench that he has videos of on youtube. I find that as I am chopping my mortises my chisel wants to turn to one side or ...
4
votes
1answer
156 views
Hand sawing cross or rip
I am a little unclear on some of the nuances of rip vs. crosscut with handsaws.
I know a crosscut saw should be used when cutting perpindicular to the grain, and the rip saw when cutting with the ...
4
votes
2answers
463 views
Planing thin material to consistent thickness using hand tools
Is there a special tool/setup for achieving a consistent thickness of thin stock that leaves a planed/smooth finish? Something like I imagine is used for Kumiko members?
https://www.tanihata.co.jp/...
4
votes
4answers
655 views
Respirator / Dust mask for hand tools?
Whats the safety regarding hand tools and dust masks? My hope is that in general hand tools will not produce fine enough dust to be concerned with.
My assumptions are that using hand planes taking ...
5
votes
3answers
482 views
getting edge of plane square to sole for shooting
I just finished putting together a shooting board and have noticed that none of my hand planes have sides which are square to the sole (Stanley/Bailey #4 w/ corrugated sole, #5 1/4, #6, Wood river low ...
5
votes
2answers
222 views
hand plane controls (bevel down)
I finally got a decent craigslist haul of a #4, #5 1/4, #6 Stanley Bailey and a bunch of spare blades.
I have been searching online and can find explanations for each of the adjustments. But I am ...
6
votes
1answer
248 views
Joining two flat legs of stool
I am practicing dovetails and so I have made various stools of differing sizes consisting of three pieces of rectangular wood: one for the seat and two for the legs, being joined with dovetails.
I ...
4
votes
3answers
3k views
Most general purpose hand plane for limited budget
I have spent too many hours using my poor man's plane consisting of a flat block and a piece of sandpaper to flatten down my dovetail pins.
I am looking to buy a hand plane and am a little ...
6
votes
1answer
912 views
How can I resaw material using only hand tools?
I currently do not own a table saw or a band saw which is what I have seen typically used to resaw wood in half or to smaller dimensions. I would like to half a board to make a small box but only have ...
4
votes
2answers
147 views
Adding weight to Veritas dovetail saw
I am trying to learn dovetails. My first/second/third show slow improvement but I still have a lot of progress left. The most difficult part for me is starting the cut since the saw tends to want to ...
0
votes
1answer
180 views
Old carving gouges — why so thick?
So far I have only used Pfiel carving tools and am accustomed to sharpening them.
I picked up a set of old Mifer (Spanish) gouges today. It is taking me a couple hours per gouge to set their bevels ...
7
votes
2answers
119 views
How to get better at fitting joints and “seeing” bruises?
I'm a beginner. I'm concentrating on hand-tool joinery for now. I've watched a lot of YouTube videos, trying to learn joinery. For the purposes of this question I'm most interested in mortice &...
1
vote
1answer
207 views
What is this tab on this old saw? [duplicate]
I have this beautiful old saw:
Ignoring that it is in need of some TLC, can anyone tell me what this tab is on the top?
Does it serve a purpose or is it purely decorative?
2
votes
1answer
185 views
How do I join wood in an A frame for a beginner?
I've been asked to build a small swing set frame for a baby's swing. It will be a couple feet tall by a couple feet wide and will use 1x2 minimum lumber in an A frame shape.
I have never worked with ...
6
votes
1answer
448 views
How do I achieve inset edge beading?
I would like to achieve an inset edge beading effect on a drawer front as seen here:
What would be the best approach for achieving this?
I would rather do this on the face of the drawer rather than ...
3
votes
2answers
81 views
How do I use dividers to layout decorative shapes?
I am attempting to recreate ornamental brackets that were installed on my porch. The house in built in New England at around 1914. The brackets appear to have reoccurring patterns. I recognize some ...
2
votes
1answer
232 views
Can anyone Identify what this item is and what its used for?
Another of the unusual items I have discovered during the cataloging of my mothers stuff. Not sure what it is or whats its for. Makers name I believe is Hill Bros or it could be Mill Bros. Its ...
