I rescued my dad's no. 4 1/2 from the bin when he died. Somebody had to throw it away for some reason. It was all rusty and broken when I found it. About 20 years later I got around to completely restoring it. Guess what? Totally hooked on woodworking now... Whenever I find a good quality tool at a second hand store I fix it up and use it. Along those lines I got interested in sharpening as well. I never felt more relaxed about picking up a new hobby... Very therapeutic to find peace in all of this. And the journey still goes on every day... By the way, I still use my dad's old Stanley, the one he cared about the most...
My first tool was a saw, bought for me as a Christmas present in 1959 by my parents. I was 8. Every New Year it would snow, and the river that we lived next to would flood. That New Year, when the flood subsided, there was a whole telegraph pole left behind in our garden. So guess what my first project was with that new saw ? I still have the saw 60 years later - and it still works perfectly ! Mild steel blade - made in Sheffield, England. The telegraph pole burned well on the wood stove...
Another good thing about a bench being your first project is that every mistake you make will be right there in front of you every day you're woodworking. So you'll remember those mistakes. For me it was not planing some of the surfaces straight enough on my joiners bench, and not leaving the wood settle for long enough, so it has a few gaps here and there. But, to make myself feel better I just tell myself that I didn't have a bench to make the bench on.
For a hard surface to sharpen on with sandpaper, check out your nearest granite countertop shop. One where they actually cut the stone. I noticed one in my area had piles of sink cutouts outside. So I asked about them. If you hand them a $5 bill you can take your pick. They also had a trailer covered in scrap cut offs that were free. There were some really big pieces in the pile. I just paid for a sink cutout.
My first hand tool was a Stanley Defiance No 5 size hand plane. It helped me get started in how to use a hand plane. The type 19 No 5 i restored for my dad back in 2018 is what got me diving headfirst into collecting/restoring/using antique woodworking tools. I haven't looked back. I have hundreds of tools in my arsenal now.
I built lots of shelf units and built-in cupboards before I ever had a workbench. My first big project was a bed so I had somewhere to sleep, followed by a massive walk-in cupboard as I needed that to help de-clutter my home. Next big one was, sure enough, a workbench. Currently I am working on tool storage and then I will make a big beefy vice (that's the UK spelling) to make working at the bench a lot easier. I recently came close to injuring myself drilling into a work-piece that could not be held down properly with just clamps so that is the motivation for the vice. I need a vice to be safe as well as to make things easier.
My first project was my workbench . . . I had a Disston 8 rip saw and a 1" chisel, a tape measure, a speed square, and a pocket knife. I wanted to get into fine woodworking. I watched a mountain of videos on RUclips about basic woodworking. It became very obvious very quickly that a workbench with some holes was necessary. So, I kept my eyes open and found a brace and set of bits at a local pawn shop for $25. Holes covered. I went home and thought, what's a bench need? This time I scoured the libraries and book stores and read a lot of history. I read about early house builders in Canada and the UK. They would come to the job site and build a bench from construction lumber. And English style bench, made from 2 4x4 8s, 4 2x4 8s and 4 2x12 8s. No vise? Nope, no vise. I had the lumber so I just sat down and built it, it took an hour. 8 months later I still use it. It has no fancy joinery, just 1/2 lap joints. I purchased two holdfasts from Gramercy of NY and ALL my work holding was complete. I didn't add a vice until about 2 month ago, and only because I found a vise screw at a swap meet for $40. So, with a Brace and Bits, a 1" chisel, a hammer, and a Disston Panel saw I made the bench. There are a lot of things you can make with just those four tools, amazingly. I do now have a scrub plane, No4 Plane and smooth plane. And I fleshed out the chisel set so I have a 1/4 1/2 3/4 and 1" and a gents saw. I also picked up a Stanley Bailey apron plane.
I might add a small cutting hatchet. I was lucky enough to be my granddad's favorite grandchild. He left me a bunch of nice woodworking tools. I'd rather have him back, but such is life.
Great video James! I started basically the same way, about 2 years ago. Thank you ! You have helped my woodworking tremendously. Especially in crafting my own tools, etc. Started with a Stanley No. 4 hand plane, had a set of chisels, built a bench, etc., much like you started. Some other tools that also really helped me were a vise (although a machinist's vise), marking knife, and a really good vintage combinstion square. That square gets more mileage on EACH project than many other tools. And, this year, I made a saw-till similar to yours. After the collecting begins, you have to put them somewhere! Thanks again! Joe
I’m so glad to hear someone NOT say stuff like “you’ll want your chisels to be of the highest quality so be prepared to spend big bucks on a good set, and get no fewer than three grades of sharpening stones...etc.” On the other hand, recommending $7 chisel set from Harbor Freight and a few pieces of sandpaper, tells me this guy isn’t going to dampen my enthusiasm by throwing a lot of obstacles in my way. Subscribing.
thanks man. that is the way we roll here. I can pull out premium tools, but we are all about the best bang for the buck. don't let money stop you from enjoying the sport.
"the best project is one that interests you" - hear, hear! Great video James. I'm just coming out of the other side of buying tools everywhere, and working out which to find new homes for - I need the garage space!
Sorry to be late to this party. Here is what I have realized as a now experienced newb. 4 tools are needed to start: 1) something to mark/measure 2) something to cut 3) something to pare/trim 4) something to assemble (until aquired skill can rely solely on #3, when you then have choices for assembly) Every tool is just a variation on these 4 tasks. Thanks for all the help and insight over the years, James.
Loved my Bench in the cabinet shop, I was excited to jump in to our multiple projects. Surface was 4x8, at waist level the perimeter had a perimeter shelf between knee and waste level for easy access to all jibs, formers, jointers, vice. Larger jigs on bottom ankle shelf. Pneumatic tools hung on 1 corner. On average I assembled $50,000 of Cabinets alone on the table while managing the line boring, edge banding, Hinge plates. Boss ran the table saw (no software) bff ran the paint, stain, laminate, Joints, Frames, helper pre loaded jobs. The 4 of us installed each job. Didnt make much money but loved my job and coworkers. The Recession and GCs holding retainer carrots destroyed my bosses shop. Small shops, baby your negotiated Contractor Client relationships. Your value is your craft and punctuality. Dont be afraid to negotiate an expedited Retainer agreement. Your labor Burden and hourly rates need to be in writing.
Hang on James, quote: "Your bench is not going to be something that is in your living room for everyone to see" (or something like that). Wrong - my bench is in my living room for everyone to see, along with all my tools...! 🙂
UPDATE: My living room is now my living room and my bedroom - because I couldn't fit any more tools in there. So, I moved all my bedroom furniture to take up half of my living room and now I have the whole bedroom as my...uuuhm...workshop...! 😐
I started hand tool woodworking off and on recently. I have made my first firewood mallet and been practicing dovetails using old fence post scrsps. Used firewood to carve out a couple jewelry boxes to gain experience with chisels and am just trying to get things looking nice. Have no previous woodworking experience at all. Thank you for the videos. They are my go to
Loved my first Mill Boss, took the time to show me everything. I still have the memo pad and kept notes on everything, edge banding, Hing Plate, Drawer Gigs. But taught me so many skills like letting chisels do the work so not to fillet my knuckle skin. I think this is a general rule for the new hires who have chisels, show them.
I started out with the desire to learn how to make traditional archery bows so my journey is a little different. I do agree that you get more tools as you need them, however I have embraced the idea of how can I make that tool instead of buying it. This has been fun and educating for me, so my two cents worth of advice is to just get started. Enjoy!
Thanks for another terrific video, James. A couple of FB groups i follow get the "I'm just starting; what do I buy/build first" question on the regular. Now I have a video to share in answer.
Comment #33 - I concur. Some additions that will become essential very early on include: 1) a square of some form (I recommend a 12" combination square because it is a versatile tool, a convenient size, and also has the built-in 45 degree reference); 2) a small pocket/marking knife (again, so very versatile in the shop); and a pencil to be sharpened with my knife :-D A 10-foot tape measure wouldn't go amiss, either.
Love your videos, learned a lot from them. For starter tool buying them at thrift stores, garage sales, flee markets and second hand is the way to go for me. I have like fifteen saws or so, only one of them bought new. The others are the only ones I use and all of them together did cost less then that single new one. And as a bonus you can learn to sharpen your tools, and what a satisfying thing is that. Keep up the good work . . .
Hy all woodpeckers out there 😉 For my part i started way back in the days where the big electric tools were the best to have !!! And what a mistake that was ! Now 5 years ago i started to look at youtube videos and learned that hand tools could of been my way and have way more fun doing it and way less dangerous 😯 Now with serious back pain i have to go with electric , so my faith was written for me already lolll Cheers from Quebec city Canada .
Wood By Wright How 2 😂🤣👍🏼 so right !!! And sharpening them was on a millstone . After maybe on the sharpening stone , and that was for illiminating the bur made by the millstone 🤣😂🤣😂
My first tool wasn't a hand tool, it was a 4.5 inch circular saw that was bundled with a folding sawhorse/work table from Worx. That being said, I definitely agree that a saw should be the third tool a woodworker gets at the least. I haven't built my own workbench yet because I live off a fixed income, but that's certainly a priority when I do have the skills and money to do so.
Thanks for making this video. It's reassuring to know I already have most of what I need, that my grandfathers used 25-35 years ago. I could swear they had a hand plane, but I haven't seen one yet. Their tools are in serious need of restoration and sharpening, but I suppose I can make do. I'm just not too confident about the saws. They're all bent and toothless, I'm not sure I can fix them. They're all rip saws though, so I may have to take the time to adapt one or two as well. I still have their workbench and a small vice. It's not looking too bad, I guess. :)
For sure people just starting out need a lie Nielsen replica no 51 shooting plane and a vintage Stanley metal shooting board. The number one bench plane is for serious woodworkers only while casuals only have no. 2-8 from post ww2 era. Lol! 😅 My favorite starter woodworking tools for real though have been my harbor freight chisels and ryoba saw. As I upgrade other tools to meet my projects & skills per your advice, I still can’t think of a reason why I’d need anything else from my chisels yet. A 1/4”-1 1/2” is an incredible value for so many beginning projects. Thanks for the content.
Hi James ! A big BLUE THUMB from France ! An other great video, I love your way of thinking ! And when you say that your projects guide your choices, I really think you're ''whright'', James.... 🤔🙄😇😉😀😁😁😁😁 Don't change, you're GWREAIGHT !!! 🙃😉😊😊😊
I made my Roubo style workbench out of 2 dinertables i got for €10 each. If you want to start woodbuilding this is a great first practice and workbench. Pro tip : have a look at decent Japanese saws like (shark Saw) they make life a lot simpler. Get the cheapest chisel you can find to learn how to Sharpen And get a quality set for actual woodworking like (Bahco) If you need a handplane and you do have the money , go for a Lee Nielsen or Veritas. ,Forget the new Stanley ones. Quansheng is a Nice budget version and better quality than Stanley.
Hi James great video it’s nice to see the set of molding planes I gave you in Manchester I still on the shelf the wall behind looks really good have you had chance to use any of them yet? All the best Ben
That’s great James I don’t get a huge amount of time for RUclips and I tend to catch up on every now and then if you could point me in the direction of the video I’ll be grateful all the best Ben
James is so wrong on this and I'm going to tell you why.... Because at the end he says we're going to bicker and say how wrong he is. I wished I had a video like this when I started. I did everything backwards. Hell, I owned ever tool before the ones on this list and what a hard road it's been. Great job James 👌
Thanks for the video! It's a great reminder that I have all I need to get building. I'm thinking about upgrading my chisels from the Harbor Freight chisels soon with individually purchased chisels. Do you have a recommendation on the order of chisels to get (Namely for household furniture)?? I know it depends on my own work, but I will be traveling to Japan soon and I'm thinking about picking up 2-3 chisels while I am there and I haven't figured out which chisels I use most yet.
to be honest that is a really personal question. everyone is going to give you a different answer. but the best advice I can give is that the comfort of the handle is the most important part of the chisel. far more then the steel quality. once you get up there the quality of steel in the chisel is incredibly difficult to tell for 95% of the wood workers out there.
@@WoodByWrightHowTo I appreciate the honesty! I suppose I'll have to knock out a few projects before my travel to get a better idea of the chisel size(s) I use.
my favorite mallet is a 12” hunk of 4x4 with the bottom half carved away for a handle. you just make a 1” cut all around the middle and carve the handle out. Lasts about six months then you make a new one.
I'm not certain whether or not you get notifications from old videos but I'll try here first. For the Stanley No. 4, I see one at Home Depot at $25 ish. Is that actually the No. 4 you've been talking about or did it become cheap and not what we want to get?
That is a cheap plane. It can be made to do the work but it doesn't do it very well and it takes a lot of work to get it up to that point. I've got a video coming out in a couple months where I will be comparing most of the cheap end planes. But in general if you can buy it at a big box store it's not quality.
Was hoping you had done an episode on making your 1/4" grooving plane. Didn't find it. Would really appreciate a picture of the sole and chip relief portion. I bit the bullet and blew the budget and bought some diamond stones. OMG what a beautiful difference in time and effort. Thanks James and Sarah.
Need a mallet, take a broken oak limb (stripped of bark) that is regularly shaped. A leg from a broken discarded table/chair can be used. I often just grab (grabbed) a chunk of 2x4 for a mallet. Yes, I have a mallet now.
Lol same. I actually cut a handle on a foot long piece of 2x4. Used that for half a year before I finally made a Paul Sellers style mallet. Guess how I chopped the mortice through the head? :P
One time i have read in some place: "the workbench its not most important stuff, but surely its one of the most, simply its the biggest clamp in the shop"
Another great video! Suggestion - why not do a short series where to teach a beginner? Perhaps your wife???? Whatever - keep up the great work - it's a highlight in my sad life when a notification of a new video from you comes up. Do you do patreon?
thanks Andy. We actually did that last year with a few of the lives where we went through basic methods. we will do more once I make a bench for my wife. posibly next summer.
They sell sheet goods in 6, 12, 18mm here and that does convert correctly. Not sure why your metric is that way. I haven’t bought a set yet. I have a 2, 10, 14, and 50mm chisels. As you suggest, I buy as I need them. A 6mm will be next to match my small iron for my router plane.
I want ALL the tools. So my M.O. is to find a tool I want, then add a component that REQUIRES that tool to whatever my next project is.... It works too. I now have a 1/4 sheet sander, 4" planer, router, and hammer drill..... I actually use the router....
Have you looked at the map on handtoolfinder.com that is all the known places I have heard of to buy hand tools. There is also a list of on line sellers there too.
thanks Thomas. lots more fun to come! feel free to message me if you have any questions. I dont always see all the comments here. but there is a contact form on the website
@@WoodByWrightHowTo thx so much for getting back to me! I'm starting with flags I saw on a video by Max f on youtube. Not rich so can't buy lots of tools - a reason I liked ur video. Buy what u need, right? thx again, will bore you with how I'm doing
You keep saying "high boy" in your videos are you subliminally telling us that your going to be building one sometime soon? My next project is a headboard since I lost mine followed by a small dresser for my daughter, ove got a giant rebate, a small rebate, some chisels, two jack/smoother planes, a handsaw and a card scraper. Planning on doing the headboard with no screws or nails, but I'm adding two wireless charging stations and two lamps into the head board, any thoughts, other than have fun?
So I am a bit discouraged at the cost of some of these hand woodworking tools. I know I can spend weekends searching garage sales and antique shops then more hours trying to restore them, which by the way I wouldn't even know where to begin. I can also try to get some cheap tools from Harbor Freight or Amazon but many of the review like the one I saw on Stanley's New No. 4 Bench Plane said thing like it worked OK after a spent hours getting it right, or it broke after a couple of weeks of use. Then you think maybe I'll spend a bit more than $30 and find the next jump up is $130-$225 for the same tool. Is there a brand out there that hits the middle of the road? I don't want to be junking tools or spending hours trying to restore them and the cost of some of the more expensive tools has me thinking I can get that in a power version for less.
Generally in my book the The cheapest plane I have found that works well is Tay Tools. It'll take a little bit of cleaning up and sharpening to getting really well but it is a very good quality tool for the price. There are several other brands in the sub $100 range such as bench dog but if you're looking for the best bang for the buck it's usually antiques. Check out handtoolfinder.com I have a list of all sorts of online tool sellers that deal with antique tools. Far cheaper than eBay and reliable sources. But the absolute best place to buy tools is at an MWTCA tool meat. Well worth the price of admission.
interesting. I have never seen them at my stores. i will have to look. most of the time flat granite slabs are $60-$100 from what I have seen. but you can pick up a scrap piece of glass for $5 at most glass stores. I will have to go look thanks for the idea.
I'm talking about a polished 12" by 12" floor tile. Very reasonable prices. Under $5. Take a straight edge to the store and check that it is flat before buying.
I bought a ton of shit, kinda regret it but hey, stuff happens. But my first project had to be a sturdy nicholson bench. Working with hand tools is a PITA without a solid bench.
oh thanks! I forgot to put that in there. www.woodworkingshop.com/product/bb00001/ I have been working on my box for 3 years and I am not even 20% of the way through.
Can someone explain to me this whole “number 4” & “number 5” hand plane business in a bit more detail for those looking at descriptions that do not match such tags....?
I'm being naughty here - do you put some protective substance on your cranium because its really shiny and reminds me of "Uncle Fester" - just saying, also thanks for the informative video's. Tally-Ho.
from the comments I would say the first tool should be a hearing aid. Oh! sorry. Those help to hear not to listen. Don't know a tool to help with that. Thanks with all you do.
I rescued my dad's no. 4 1/2 from the bin when he died. Somebody had to throw it away for some reason. It was all rusty and broken when I found it. About 20 years later I got around to completely restoring it. Guess what? Totally hooked on woodworking now... Whenever I find a good quality tool at a second hand store I fix it up and use it. Along those lines I got interested in sharpening as well. I never felt more relaxed about picking up a new hobby... Very therapeutic to find peace in all of this. And the journey still goes on every day... By the way, I still use my dad's old Stanley, the one he cared about the most...
My first tool was a saw, bought for me as a Christmas present in 1959 by my parents. I was 8. Every New Year it would snow, and the river that we lived next to would flood. That New Year, when the flood subsided, there was a whole telegraph pole left behind in our garden. So guess what my first project was with that new saw ? I still have the saw 60 years later - and it still works perfectly ! Mild steel blade - made in Sheffield, England. The telegraph pole burned well on the wood stove...
We need a picture of that saw
Another good thing about a bench being your first project is that every mistake you make will be right there in front of you every day you're woodworking. So you'll remember those mistakes.
For me it was not planing some of the surfaces straight enough on my joiners bench, and not leaving the wood settle for long enough, so it has a few gaps here and there.
But, to make myself feel better I just tell myself that I didn't have a bench to make the bench on.
For a hard surface to sharpen on with sandpaper, check out your nearest granite countertop shop. One where they actually cut the stone. I noticed one in my area had piles of sink cutouts outside. So I asked about them. If you hand them a $5 bill you can take your pick. They also had a trailer covered in scrap cut offs that were free. There were some really big pieces in the pile. I just paid for a sink cutout.
Right on. There is one near me where they let me dig through the cut off pile for free.
My first hand tool was a Stanley Defiance No 5 size hand plane. It helped me get started in how to use a hand plane. The type 19 No 5 i restored for my dad back in 2018 is what got me diving headfirst into collecting/restoring/using antique woodworking tools. I haven't looked back. I have hundreds of tools in my arsenal now.
I also have a red beard.
Thanks, man for showing me it’s okay to be myself.
Go for it brother. Don't be ashamed.
I built lots of shelf units and built-in cupboards before I ever had a workbench. My first big project was a bed so I had somewhere to sleep, followed by a massive walk-in cupboard as I needed that to help de-clutter my home. Next big one was, sure enough, a workbench. Currently I am working on tool storage and then I will make a big beefy vice (that's the UK spelling) to make working at the bench a lot easier. I recently came close to injuring myself drilling into a work-piece that could not be held down properly with just clamps so that is the motivation for the vice. I need a vice to be safe as well as to make things easier.
I good vice changes a lot of things!
Beautiful tool my brother 👌💖👌💖🙏 🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳
i am a bad speller ao bear with me. i have lerned so much from you . so for a bobby person like me . you are the best teacher i have seen.
thanks! that means a lot!
@@WoodByWrightHowToplethora
Thank you. I like your philosophy of Just do it, don't worry, and have fun
My first project was my workbench . . . I had a Disston 8 rip saw and a 1" chisel, a tape measure, a speed square, and a pocket knife. I wanted to get into fine woodworking. I watched a mountain of videos on RUclips about basic woodworking. It became very obvious very quickly that a workbench with some holes was necessary. So, I kept my eyes open and found a brace and set of bits at a local pawn shop for $25. Holes covered. I went home and thought, what's a bench need? This time I scoured the libraries and book stores and read a lot of history. I read about early house builders in Canada and the UK. They would come to the job site and build a bench from construction lumber. And English style bench, made from 2 4x4 8s, 4 2x4 8s and 4 2x12 8s. No vise? Nope, no vise. I had the lumber so I just sat down and built it, it took an hour. 8 months later I still use it. It has no fancy joinery, just 1/2 lap joints. I purchased two holdfasts from Gramercy of NY and ALL my work holding was complete. I didn't add a vice until about 2 month ago, and only because I found a vise screw at a swap meet for $40. So, with a Brace and Bits, a 1" chisel, a hammer, and a Disston Panel saw I made the bench. There are a lot of things you can make with just those four tools, amazingly. I do now have a scrub plane, No4 Plane and smooth plane. And I fleshed out the chisel set so I have a 1/4 1/2 3/4 and 1" and a gents saw. I also picked up a Stanley Bailey apron plane.
that is the way to do it. nice work man.
Some tools for marking out: square, ruler/tape measure, pencil, knife
I might add a small cutting hatchet. I was lucky enough to be my granddad's favorite grandchild. He left me a bunch of nice woodworking tools. I'd rather have him back, but such is life.
Great video James! I started basically the same way, about 2 years ago. Thank you ! You have helped my woodworking tremendously. Especially in crafting my own tools, etc.
Started with a Stanley No. 4 hand plane, had a set of chisels, built a bench, etc., much like you started.
Some other tools that also really helped me were a vise (although a machinist's vise), marking knife, and a really good vintage combinstion square. That square gets more mileage on EACH project than many other tools.
And, this year, I made a saw-till similar to yours. After the collecting begins, you have to put them somewhere!
Thanks again! Joe
I’m so glad to hear someone NOT say stuff like “you’ll want your chisels to be of the highest quality so be prepared to spend big bucks on a good set, and get no fewer than three grades of sharpening stones...etc.” On the other hand, recommending $7 chisel set from Harbor Freight and a few pieces of sandpaper, tells me this guy isn’t going to dampen my enthusiasm by throwing a lot of obstacles in my way. Subscribing.
thanks man. that is the way we roll here. I can pull out premium tools, but we are all about the best bang for the buck. don't let money stop you from enjoying the sport.
Great video, thankyou for sharing.
"the best project is one that interests you" - hear, hear!
Great video James. I'm just coming out of the other side of buying tools everywhere, and working out which to find new homes for - I need the garage space!
Sorry to be late to this party. Here is what I have realized as a now experienced newb.
4 tools are needed to start:
1) something to mark/measure
2) something to cut
3) something to pare/trim
4) something to assemble (until aquired skill can rely solely on #3, when you then have choices for assembly)
Every tool is just a variation on these 4 tasks.
Thanks for all the help and insight over the years, James.
Loved my Bench in the cabinet shop, I was excited to jump in to our multiple projects. Surface was 4x8, at waist level the perimeter had a perimeter shelf between knee and waste level for easy access to all jibs, formers, jointers, vice. Larger jigs on bottom ankle shelf. Pneumatic tools hung on 1 corner. On average I assembled $50,000 of Cabinets alone on the table while managing the line boring, edge banding, Hinge plates. Boss ran the table saw (no software) bff ran the paint, stain, laminate, Joints, Frames, helper pre loaded jobs. The 4 of us installed each job. Didnt make much money but loved my job and coworkers. The Recession and GCs holding retainer carrots destroyed my bosses shop. Small shops, baby your negotiated Contractor Client relationships. Your value is your craft and punctuality. Dont be afraid to negotiate an expedited Retainer agreement. Your labor Burden and hourly rates need to be in writing.
Very nice tools 👍
Great inspirational video for a new woodworker. Takes me back to when I started my hand tool woodworking journey. Thanks James
Some marking out tools would be useful too
Hang on James, quote: "Your bench is not going to be something that is in your living room for everyone to see" (or something like that). Wrong - my bench is in my living room for everyone to see, along with all my tools...! 🙂
UPDATE: My living room is now my living room and my bedroom - because I couldn't fit any more tools in there. So, I moved all my bedroom furniture to take up half of my living room and now I have the whole bedroom as my...uuuhm...workshop...! 😐
It's ok, I'm autistic, so I sometimes go a little bit, y'know...off kilter! 🙂
I started hand tool woodworking off and on recently. I have made my first firewood mallet and been practicing dovetails using old fence post scrsps. Used firewood to carve out a couple jewelry boxes to gain experience with chisels and am just trying to get things looking nice. Have no previous woodworking experience at all. Thank you for the videos. They are my go to
Sounds like a great start!
Loved my first Mill Boss, took the time to show me everything. I still have the memo pad and kept notes on everything, edge banding, Hing Plate, Drawer Gigs. But taught me so many skills like letting chisels do the work so not to fillet my knuckle skin. I think this is a general rule for the new hires who have chisels, show them.
I started out with the desire to learn how to make traditional archery bows so my journey is a little different. I do agree that you get more tools as you need them, however I have embraced the idea of how can I make that tool instead of buying it. This has been fun and educating for me, so my two cents worth of advice is to just get started. Enjoy!
Right on. let the project determinant the tools. so much fun to make personal tools!
Excellent video! Thanks! Best advice: Don't buy anything till you need it!
Excellent advice James.
Thanks man!
Great advice and video James!
Thanks for another terrific video, James. A couple of FB groups i follow get the "I'm just starting; what do I buy/build first" question on the regular.
Now I have a video to share in answer.
Lol I figured this one would come in handy for a few people.
Good advise and logical too.
Comment #33 - I concur. Some additions that will become essential very early on include: 1) a square of some form (I recommend a 12" combination square because it is a versatile tool, a convenient size, and also has the built-in 45 degree reference); 2) a small pocket/marking knife (again, so very versatile in the shop); and a pencil to be sharpened with my knife :-D A 10-foot tape measure wouldn't go amiss, either.
Love your videos, learned a lot from them. For starter tool buying them at thrift stores, garage sales, flee markets and second hand is the way to go for me. I have like fifteen saws or so, only one of them bought new. The others are the only ones I use and all of them together did cost less then that single new one. And as a bonus you can learn to sharpen your tools, and what a satisfying thing is that.
Keep up the good work . . .
Right on. So true!
Firstly, i need that kind of shoes!!
I have everything except the plainers. Now I need to build a work bench. At 77 I figured I could try wood working.
Sounds like fun. Let me know if you have any questions.
Hy all woodpeckers out there 😉 For my part i started way back in the days where the big electric tools were the best to have !!! And what a mistake that was ! Now 5 years ago i started to look at youtube videos and learned that hand tools could of been my way and have way more fun doing it and way less dangerous 😯 Now with serious back pain i have to go with electric , so my faith was written for me already lolll Cheers from Quebec city Canada .
I was raised I. That same boat. Chisels were something for opening paint cans.
Wood By Wright How 2 😂🤣👍🏼 so right !!! And sharpening them was on a millstone . After maybe on the sharpening stone , and that was for illiminating the bur made by the millstone 🤣😂🤣😂
I really wish this video came out before I started wood working
LOL same here!
I was just watching some of your first videos. You sure practiced what you preach in this video. You've come a very long way.
thanks! it was a fun journey! still amazed that people like to watch this stuff.
Thanks for a great video, as always, James.
Thanks Bill my pleasure.
My first tool wasn't a hand tool, it was a 4.5 inch circular saw that was bundled with a folding sawhorse/work table from Worx. That being said, I definitely agree that a saw should be the third tool a woodworker gets at the least.
I haven't built my own workbench yet because I live off a fixed income, but that's certainly a priority when I do have the skills and money to do so.
Great Video!!
thanks!
Thank you.
Thanks for making this video. It's reassuring to know I already have most of what I need, that my grandfathers used 25-35 years ago. I could swear they had a hand plane, but I haven't seen one yet. Their tools are in serious need of restoration and sharpening, but I suppose I can make do. I'm just not too confident about the saws. They're all bent and toothless, I'm not sure I can fix them. They're all rip saws though, so I may have to take the time to adapt one or two as well. I still have their workbench and a small vice. It's not looking too bad, I guess. :)
a couple of clamps come in handy as well :)
yup. those were some of the first tools I made.
@@WoodByWrightHowTo Out of curiosity, what kind of clamps did you make? Are they worth making rather than buying?
Great video bud. I think I have went completely out of order but that's okay...lol.
Was also my first set of chisels and i still use them
Very inspiring video mr James , last week I did my mallet not on a good shape but works fine , not bad for a newbie . 😊
For sure people just starting out need a lie Nielsen replica no 51 shooting plane and a vintage Stanley metal shooting board. The number one bench plane is for serious woodworkers only while casuals only have no. 2-8 from post ww2 era. Lol! 😅 My favorite starter woodworking tools for real though have been my harbor freight chisels and ryoba saw. As I upgrade other tools to meet my projects & skills per your advice, I still can’t think of a reason why I’d need anything else from my chisels yet. A 1/4”-1 1/2” is an incredible value for so many beginning projects. Thanks for the content.
Hi James! Good instruction ... :) Good luck.
Add card scrapers to the list. Cheap and useful as final steep..
Hi James !
A big BLUE THUMB from France ! An other great video, I love your way of thinking ! And when you say that your projects guide your choices, I really think you're ''whright'', James.... 🤔🙄😇😉😀😁😁😁😁 Don't change, you're GWREAIGHT !!! 🙃😉😊😊😊
lol Thanks man!
Your first hand plane was a Union Tools #4..crazy that i remember that
I made my Roubo style workbench out of 2 dinertables i got for €10 each.
If you want to start woodbuilding this is a great first practice and workbench.
Pro tip : have a look at decent Japanese saws like (shark Saw) they make life a lot simpler.
Get the cheapest chisel you can find to learn how to Sharpen
And get a quality set for actual woodworking like (Bahco)
If you need a handplane and you do have the money , go for a Lee Nielsen or Veritas. ,Forget the new Stanley ones.
Quansheng is a Nice budget version and better quality than Stanley.
You can sharpen crosscut blades with a bike chain btw, just have to heat it up. I used to live off-grid for years and had to figure out a way
Hi James great video it’s nice to see the set of molding planes I gave you in Manchester I still on the shelf the wall behind looks really good have you had chance to use any of them yet? All the best Ben
Thanks man. Yes I have used them in a couple lives. It is always fun to show off something a bit different.
That’s great James I don’t get a huge amount of time for RUclips and I tend to catch up on every now and then if you could point me in the direction of the video I’ll be grateful all the best Ben
James is so wrong on this and I'm going to tell you why.... Because at the end he says we're going to bicker and say how wrong he is. I wished I had a video like this when I started. I did everything backwards. Hell, I owned ever tool before the ones on this list and what a hard road it's been. Great job James 👌
LOL thanks man!I think a lot of people went down the same road you did!
Combi square and knife. Knife especially for marking and cutting open everything else.
Thanks for the video! It's a great reminder that I have all I need to get building. I'm thinking about upgrading my chisels from the Harbor Freight chisels soon with individually purchased chisels. Do you have a recommendation on the order of chisels to get (Namely for household furniture)??
I know it depends on my own work, but I will be traveling to Japan soon and I'm thinking about picking up 2-3 chisels while I am there and I haven't figured out which chisels I use most yet.
to be honest that is a really personal question. everyone is going to give you a different answer. but the best advice I can give is that the comfort of the handle is the most important part of the chisel. far more then the steel quality. once you get up there the quality of steel in the chisel is incredibly difficult to tell for 95% of the wood workers out there.
@@WoodByWrightHowTo I appreciate the honesty! I suppose I'll have to knock out a few projects before my travel to get a better idea of the chisel size(s) I use.
my favorite mallet is a 12” hunk of 4x4 with the bottom half carved away for a handle. you just make a 1” cut all around the middle and carve the handle out. Lasts about six months then you make a new one.
right on!
I'm not certain whether or not you get notifications from old videos but I'll try here first. For the Stanley No. 4, I see one at Home Depot at $25 ish. Is that actually the No. 4 you've been talking about or did it become cheap and not what we want to get?
That is a cheap plane. It can be made to do the work but it doesn't do it very well and it takes a lot of work to get it up to that point. I've got a video coming out in a couple months where I will be comparing most of the cheap end planes. But in general if you can buy it at a big box store it's not quality.
@@WoodByWrightHowTo Thanks! I’ll stick to the one in your list.
really appreciate this video. I'm newly retired a 64yo newbie so don't laugh when I ask 'what's a dovetail?'
Wish I saw this before I went crazy 😕 buying tools 🔧 😩
lol thank you James . FIRST get a glass of tea then sit down and think lol . did that help
LOL thanks man!
Was hoping you had done an episode on making your 1/4" grooving plane. Didn't find it. Would really appreciate a picture of the sole and chip relief portion. I bit the bullet and blew the budget and bought some diamond stones. OMG what a beautiful difference in time and effort. Thanks James and Sarah.
here is the video on grooving plane. ruclips.net/video/Lx-oeIoiez8/видео.html
Need a mallet, take a broken oak limb (stripped of bark) that is regularly shaped. A leg from a broken discarded table/chair can be used. I often just grab (grabbed) a chunk of 2x4 for a mallet. Yes, I have a mallet now.
Right on. Working on a video now where I use a rock.
Lol same. I actually cut a handle on a foot long piece of 2x4. Used that for half a year before I finally made a Paul Sellers style mallet. Guess how I chopped the mortice through the head? :P
I strongly disagree on the part where you buy a new as you need it for a project. One should buy a new tool when you get the itch :)
One time i have read in some place: "the workbench its not most important stuff, but surely its one of the most, simply its the biggest clamp in the shop"
Very true.
Another great video! Suggestion - why not do a short series where to teach a beginner? Perhaps your wife???? Whatever - keep up the great work - it's a highlight in my sad life when a notification of a new video from you comes up. Do you do patreon?
thanks Andy. We actually did that last year with a few of the lives where we went through basic methods. we will do more once I make a bench for my wife. posibly next summer.
@@WoodByWrightHowTo YOU make a bench for your wife? That's not how it works.
Chisels 8mm, 16mm, 20mm, 25mm 😉
I'm used to imperial measurements so I'm very proud of myself for remembering this lol.
indeed , me too 😊
6, 12, 18/19, 25mm.
But wrong! See Joe Baker below
interesting. my Metric set is 8, 16, 20, 24
They sell sheet goods in 6, 12, 18mm here and that does convert correctly. Not sure why your metric is that way. I haven’t bought a set yet. I have a 2, 10, 14, and 50mm chisels. As you suggest, I buy as I need them. A 6mm will be next to match my small iron for my router plane.
Clamps, you will only have enough clamps in death
What to buy next how about some 8/4 poplar, walnut or cherry.
I want ALL the tools. So my M.O. is to find a tool I want, then add a component that REQUIRES that tool to whatever my next project is....
It works too. I now have a 1/4 sheet sander, 4" planer, router, and hammer drill..... I actually use the router....
LOL nice man!
Hmmm. Isn't that the same sandpaper roll that Rex freaked out about? :p
Lol. That was a fun one!
First thing you build is a crafting bench... sounds like a certain popular videogame...
Auger bits are actually really hard to come by in the West and sets are REALLY expensive. Suggestions? No MWTCA even close to me!
Have you looked at the map on handtoolfinder.com that is all the known places I have heard of to buy hand tools. There is also a list of on line sellers there too.
subscribed, hit the bell and ready to go
thanks Thomas. lots more fun to come! feel free to message me if you have any questions. I dont always see all the comments here. but there is a contact form on the website
@@WoodByWrightHowTo thx so much for getting back to me! I'm starting with flags I saw on a video by Max f on youtube. Not rich so can't buy lots of tools - a reason I liked ur video. Buy what u need, right? thx again, will bore you with how I'm doing
Building a workbench is a lot like voting. For best results, it should be done early and often.
7:59 that gesture
All I hear is BUY ALL THE TOOLS!
LOL yup. that is what a lot of people push for.
A bench, and then some way to hold the work to the bench: a vise, hold fasts, or just some bar-clamps.
right on. there are more ways to do that then you can shake a stick at.
Wobbly table 😅 am on that stage now 😭
my first tool was a pocket knife
You keep saying "high boy" in your videos are you subliminally telling us that your going to be building one sometime soon? My next project is a headboard since I lost mine followed by a small dresser for my daughter, ove got a giant rebate, a small rebate, some chisels, two jack/smoother planes, a handsaw and a card scraper. Planning on doing the headboard with no screws or nails, but I'm adding two wireless charging stations and two lamps into the head board, any thoughts, other than have fun?
Subliminal suggesting lol
LOL sounds like a fun one! looking forward to seeing the pictures!
So I am a bit discouraged at the cost of some of these hand woodworking tools. I know I can spend weekends searching garage sales and antique shops then more hours trying to restore them, which by the way I wouldn't even know where to begin. I can also try to get some cheap tools from Harbor Freight or Amazon but many of the review like the one I saw on Stanley's New No. 4 Bench Plane said thing like it worked OK after a spent hours getting it right, or it broke after a couple of weeks of use. Then you think maybe I'll spend a bit more than $30 and find the next jump up is $130-$225 for the same tool. Is there a brand out there that hits the middle of the road? I don't want to be junking tools or spending hours trying to restore them and the cost of some of the more expensive tools has me thinking I can get that in a power version for less.
Generally in my book the The cheapest plane I have found that works well is Tay Tools. It'll take a little bit of cleaning up and sharpening to getting really well but it is a very good quality tool for the price. There are several other brands in the sub $100 range such as bench dog but if you're looking for the best bang for the buck it's usually antiques. Check out handtoolfinder.com I have a list of all sorts of online tool sellers that deal with antique tools. Far cheaper than eBay and reliable sources. But the absolute best place to buy tools is at an MWTCA tool meat. Well worth the price of admission.
I suggest a flat granite tile from the big box store instead of glass for your first sharpening setup. Cheaper and safer.
interesting. I have never seen them at my stores. i will have to look. most of the time flat granite slabs are $60-$100 from what I have seen. but you can pick up a scrap piece of glass for $5 at most glass stores. I will have to go look thanks for the idea.
I'm talking about a polished 12" by 12" floor tile. Very reasonable prices. Under $5. Take a straight edge to the store and check that it is flat before buying.
I bought a ton of shit, kinda regret it but hey, stuff happens. But my first project had to be a sturdy nicholson bench. Working with hand tools is a PITA without a solid bench.
so true. everything changes when you get a bench!
A good beginner project is a box, like steve Ramsay says about every thing u make is just some form of a box. Lol.
so true.
I’ll remember that next time I build a chair or the next time I make a boom for a ship, good advise.
Two more tools to add is pencil and a ruler
Don't you use power machine?
Very rarely. This is a hand tool only channel where I teach how to use hand tools.
Hello sir I'm leaving in Pakistan I. I want wooden tolls
Link to the sand paper deal?
oh thanks! I forgot to put that in there. www.woodworkingshop.com/product/bb00001/ I have been working on my box for 3 years and I am not even 20% of the way through.
Can someone explain to me this whole “number 4” & “number 5” hand plane business in a bit more detail for those looking at descriptions that do not match such tags....?
Here you go. This will clear it up. ruclips.net/video/1QYDC72yAsg/видео.html
What is a quality workbench build you recommend?
That is a really personal question. But I almost never suggest to buy one. Because it is so personal making one it the only way to meet that.
Wood By Wright How 2 agreed. I'm making one now with a butcher block style top. Trying to decide how I want to make the base
Hmmm, let the project dictate what the next tool should be. That is good advise. * choose a different projects in order to justify a new tool*
that is the way it works!
I'm being naughty here - do you put some protective substance on your cranium because its really shiny and reminds me of "Uncle Fester" - just saying, also thanks for the informative video's. Tally-Ho.
Lol thanks!
from the comments I would say the first tool should be a hearing aid. Oh! sorry. Those help to hear not to listen. Don't know a tool to help with that. Thanks with all you do.
LOL nice!
First project should be a Fully Equipped Workshop! Go out and splurge! Then regret and you will make woodworking a career to get your money back lol
lol That is about the way it goes!
“You only buy a tool if you need it on your project”. That is enough of that nonsense James.
No! You need to buy every Lie-Nielsen and Veritas tool in their catalog before you can even think about doing your first project.
I know a lot of people who think that very thing.
at this point, im mostly staring at those rasps behind you...mmmm
I get most of those as a box lot at estate sales. throw out 90% of them and keep 2-5.