In order to be satisfied with the results of your work with the hand tools, you need to know their construction, how to properly sharp hand tools and also how to use the hand tools properly.

Negligence or lack of knowledge will likely lead to mistakes and there is a high risk of the injury. When using the hand tools, precision and proper hand tool use are far more important than the speed of working process. Depending on the type of work that has to be done, a craftsman must own a proper hand tools; he must be able to choose the right hand tool for the work and he has to know how to use that hand tool to do a good job. Without the proper hand tools and knowledge about using it, the craftsman will lose its efficiency and quality.

Hand tools can be divided into several groups:

  • Laying out tools – Measuring and marking tools
  • Impact or striking tools (hammers, mallets and sledges)
  • Twisting tools or fastening tools (wrenches and screwdrivers)
  • Woodcutting tools (wood saws, planes, wood chisels)
  • Metal cutting tools (dies, drills, files, punches, reamers, taps)
  • Holding tools (clamps, pliers, vises)
  • Safety equipment (goggles, gloves)
  • Grinding and sharpening tools
  • Finishing tools and abrasives
  • Tool storage & accessory containers

Nowadays, the speed and productivity are very important, and therefore many works in the workshop are being done with the power tools and machines. However, any good craftsman knows that the quality result lies in the balance between the handwork and machine work. In many cases during the manufacture, the craftsman has to decide whether some operation will be done with the hand tools or with the machine. Such decision should always be made by considering which method is more efficient, which method you are adept to, which methods produce better work and which method is cheaper.

Always use right hand tool for the job. This way you get the best job with the least effort, the least damage to the tool and the least danger to yourself.

In some cases, hand tools are faster than the machines. Of course, if many identical parts need to be cut, hand tools are definitely slower. But if you work on some unique project, it will surely be easier to perform some operations with the hand tools, rather than to waste time to set up and configure your machine.

One of the important advantages of hand tools is that they are cheaper than the power tools, so if in your work you do not have a specific need for this type of tools, it will be much more cost-effective to buy less expensive hand tool and use it occasionally, than to buy an expensive power tool which will lay on the shelf. Besides that, the hand tools are indispensable for the house maintenance. Various jobs on the house are occasional, so it is not profitable to invest a lot of money in various power tools. Another great advantage of hand tools is that they are much safer than the power tools, and this is important for both craftsmen beginners and for the amateurs, who use hand tools just for quick repairs.

You can find additional information about the hand tools and their usage in our free books category.

Nevertheless, we decided to systematize all the hand tools in one place in this category, so that everyone who wants to use them can read what these tools can do and how to use them.

 

A guide on how to use classic hand tools.

- LAYOUT TOOLS


- SHARPENING TOOL

- SHAPING TOOLS

- CARVING TOOLS

- WOODTURNING TOOLS

- SAFETY AND SAFETY EQUIPMENT

- Workshop planning and layout