A first set of hand tools does not need to be large. Most early projects — a small box, a shelf, a stool — can be built with tools that measure, cut, pare, and hold. The list below groups tools by the job they do, so it is easier to see where a purchase overlaps with something already on the bench.
Measuring and marking
Accurate marks remove most of the guesswork later. A combination square checks both square and 45-degree angles and doubles as a depth gauge. A retractable tape handles longer stock; a steel rule handles the short, precise marks a tape cannot. For cutting lines, a marking knife scores cleaner than a pencil because the cut fibres give a saw or chisel a place to register.
- Combination square (150 mm or 300 mm)
- Tape measure and a short steel rule
- Marking knife and a marking gauge
- A pencil for layout that does not need to be cut to
Cutting
Two saws cover most beginner work. A general crosscut handsaw breaks down boards, and a backsaw — a tenon or dovetail saw — makes the controlled cuts that joints depend on. Backsaws have a stiff spine that keeps the blade from flexing, which matters when a cut has to stay on a line.
Paring and shaping
A small set of bevel-edge bench chisels — commonly 6, 12, and 25 mm — clears waste from joints and pares surfaces flush. Chisels are only as good as their edge, so a sharpening method is part of the purchase rather than an afterthought. A block plane trims end grain and eases sharp edges; a smoothing plane flattens and finishes surfaces that would otherwise need a lot of sanding.
Buying fewer, better-kept tools tends to work out better than buying many. A sharp chisel that holds its edge is more useful than a drawer of dull ones.
Holding the work
Wood has to be held still to be worked safely. A pair of clamps and a bench with a vice or a simple bench hook turn an ordinary table into a workable surface. A bench hook in particular makes crosscutting with a backsaw far steadier.
A reasonable order of purchase
| Stage | Add | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First | Combination square, tape, marking knife | Nothing else is reliable without accurate layout. |
| Second | Crosscut saw, backsaw | Breaking down stock and cutting joints. |
| Third | Three bench chisels, sharpening kit | Paring joints and keeping an edge. |
| Fourth | Block plane, clamps, bench hook | Trimming, finishing, and holding work. |
Keeping tools maintained
Edge tools dull with use, and in many Canadian workshops seasonal humidity swings encourage surface rust on bare steel. Wiping metal surfaces with a light oil after use and storing tools dry addresses most of this. Sharpening — whether on water stones, oil stones, or abrasive paper on a flat surface — is a routine task, not a repair.