Why

Hand Tools?
A Guide To Learning Woodworking
For The Hobbyist & Individual Maker
In this guide we explain why
we believe that Hand Tools ​
(rather than the use of power
tools or machinery) ​are the
sensible option for getting into
woodworking for the
individual maker.

CONTENTS -
Why Hand Tools?
The English Woodworker Way:

1. Easy Set Up 3. Efficient To Build

2. Fast To Learn 4. Built To Last
Why Hand Tools?
1. Easy Set Up
There’s no greater excitement than that
anticipation of starting on a new build.
But knowing that the workshop’s a tip
or the tools are blunt and there’s a long
list of jobs to get done before you can
get started, quickly deflates the enthu-
siasm.
If you’re starting completely from
scratch and you’ve got no workshop, no
tools and no idea, then it might seem
best to spend just a few more hours sat
flicking through the tool catalogues or
watching another ‘How To’ / ‘Workshop
Tour’.
There are so many options and opinions
for getting started with woodworking,
that you might get to that point where
it feels sensible to just keep watching
other people do it.
1.
We see this frustration, and we also
know that it’s only there because
you’ve got too much choice.
So we thought we’d come up with an
answer to stop you fretting, and give
you this guide.
We’re not saying this is the
only way, but we do know
you can get set up and build-
ing very quickly. Then once
you’ve made it through to the
end of your first project you’ll
have an understanding that
you never could have gained
from any amount of ponder-
ing on other people’s advice.
Choosing Your Workshop -
Woodworking by hand requires very little Of course you can dream of your per-
in regards to space. It’s quiet and doesn’t fect workshop, maybe a cosy log cabin
produce vast amounts of hazardous dust. with roaring fire and tool lined walls.
Or a minimal space with walls of glass
In essence your workshop can be an- looking out over the coast.
ywhere you can fit a bag of hand tools
and have some form of stable work But for now pick the space that’s avail-
surface. able to you. No matter how small, you’ll
be able to make it work. Once you’ve
You could work outside, in the got building and convinced yourself
living room, the basement, the that this really is for you, then you’re
a huge step closer to justifying that
garden shed…
dream set up.

2.

By starting out with just the
minimal of tools you can quickly
get a grasp of the fundamentals.
You’ll also be surprised at how soon
you develop and start to guide your-
self. After all a complex task is only an
expansion of some form of the basics.
3.
Choosing Your Tools -
Everything can be achieved
with a very basic tool kit.
In fact the more skilled you
become with the basic tools
the more versatile and
adaptable you’ll be as a
woodworker overall.
As your skills and understanding of
these tools grows so will the quality
and pace of your work. You’ll get a feel
for your own style and preferences and
may expand on the tool kit to really suit
the direction you’re going in.
Even as a professional woodwork-
er our recommended list of minimal
hand tools can more than cover your
needs.
A Minimal Tool But You Have To
Kit Is Cheap Do It Right.

A huge benefit of woodworking by

hand is that it’s the most affordable
way to get started.

But cost effective is about mak-

ing the right choices from the off,
not buying one of everything at
the cheapest price you can find.

Hand planes for example come in

many different lengths and it’s easy
to get wrapped up thinking you need
them all. In truth, just one plane will
more than suffice for the vast majority
of projects.

By identifying the most essential tools,

you’re able to use your budget wisely
and afford quality where it counts, by
avoiding needless purchases for tools
that would just gather dust sat on the
shelf.

You can read more about which

Hand Tools we recommend here.

4.
 Set Up To Keep Sharp
Having the right kit to sharpen your
tools is as important as choosing the
tools themselves.

In fact when you work by hand

your sharpening routine can make
We discuss sharpening set up fully or break the flow of your build. It’s
throughout the ‘Get Sharp’ series. important to match your sharpening
equipment with the tools and steel
This is a comprehensive video course type that you buy.
that will quickly help you to under-
stand your edges and get you in con-
trol of your woodworking. The advice
on equipment alone will help you to
save money by ensuring you make
the right purchases first time.
Find Full Details at our website.

“​The whole series is brilliant.

Really goes beyond anything
that’s been done before on
sharpening and sets a new
standard for online
woodworking teaching”
- Duncan D
5.
Why Hand Tools?
2. Fast To Learn
Hand tools are traditional, old fash-
ioned, outdated, if you like. And
everything about them suggests slow.
For us to suggest that hand tools
are fast to learn might seem a bit
odd, but this all comes down to
attitude and approach.
Often hand tool woodworkers have a
great interest in history, and by writ-
ing this next part we take the risk of
sounding disrespectful ​(but please
bear with us).
Our interest in using hand tools is not
to replicate the past. With the right
mindset we believe they provide the
best solution for the modern maker,
and our approach combines the sim-
plicity of the old with the flexibility and
freedom of something new.
A deep understanding of how things
have been done generation after gen-
eration, mixed with an open mind,
allows the process of hand tool wood-
working to continue to evolve.

Maybe the best part in this evolution

is realising that it isn’t a craft reserved
for just a select few who are elite or
patient enough to take the time to
develop extraordinary skills.

Instead it’s accessible for all.

For anyone who has the desire to

build, and a bit of perseverance
to follow some basic steps.

6.

The key to learning quickly is to
appreciate the value in keeping
things simple.
Minimal tools isn’t all about cutting
costs, it’s true benefit comes from
having less to master so you can mas-
ter them quickly.
By learning the very fundamental tech- to try out a range of techniques with-
niques with the most basic of tools,
you’ll get to know those tools intimately. perfect.
It’s the fastest way to become confi-
dent not only in your coordination and
handling, but also the sharpening and
maintenance of your whole kit.
7.
Learn The Basics
With The Basics
We find the best way to pick up the
basics is to get stuck in with a project.
Learning in the context of an actual
build is not only more motivating than
repeating numerous practise joints, but
it also provides many more lessons and
feedback.
A sturdy workbench makes for an excel-
lent first project as you’ll get the chance
out the scrutiny of wanting things to be
Our English Workbench video series
takes you step by step through a bench
build designed to be built with a very
basic set of hand tools.
It takes you step by step, teaching an
understanding of tool use and our hand
tool approach as you build.
Find full details at our website.
“​I really enjoy your approach of
explaining what to do and why.
That knowledge makes it all come
together. At age 73 I am trying to
learn hand tools, I have had no
training, and I am learning by read-
ing and now watching videos.” -
John Thomas
Why Hand Tools?
3. Efficient To Build
We’ve already seen that hand
tools are efficient in regards
to your set up, but what we’re
talking about here is the pace
that you can build your
projects.
Gappy Joints
For Speed &
Strength ​
Learn the shortcuts
to create perfect
looking joints, even
with sloppy
prepping. Read Now
Once again it’s about our approach, and
efficiency comes from using everything
at our disposal.
A bit of tradition, a bit of tech and mak-
ing use of our noggin to find shortcuts
whenever possible. This can be ex-
plained best with a couple of examples
which you can read over on the blog
(use the links below).
Efficiency In
Marking
​Accurate marking of
joints is tedious and
time consuming. This
article shows how it
can be done quickly.
Read Now
8.
See It In Action:
A thorough understanding of
how a build comes together
allows us to really maximise on
using shortcuts, whilst ensuring
that the finished result is not
only strong but immaculate in
appearance too.
9.
Learning this efficient approach is a key
focus in our Hall Table video series,
where you’ll not only follow the steps to
build your own traditional table but also
a full understanding of how and when
shortcuts are possible.
Find full details at our website.
“​I’m loving this series, the
little shortcuts and knowing
what’s important to refine
and what not to is brilliant…”
- Michael B
Why Hand Tools?
3. Built To Last

With all the focus on being
cheap, easy and fast it would
be understandable to think that
we’re setting you on your way to
build some wobbly bits of tat,
but that’s not the case at all.
We still aim at impeccable
results, but you’ll see just
how fast it is to learn and
how fast it is to build when
you adopt the right mind
set.
Everything we teach and build is rout-
ed in quality craftsmanship, tradition-
ally jointed and built to last for gen-
erations. We take great pride in being
practical, but this is always matched by
our desire to build something beautiful.
This is the essence of what we do at
The English Woodworker. Take old
hand tools with fresh eyes and ap-
proach our builds with pace and en-
joyment.

Perhaps more than an-

ything else, we hope to
bring you the means to get
building creations of your
own.

10.
 Who Are We?
The English Woodworker is small and personal.
We run everything between the two of us.

Richard has earned his reputation for
his incredible speed and lack of faff
to do even the most complex and
mundane woodworking tasks with no
more than basic hand tools. He learnt
woodworking through a traditional
apprenticeship with his father.
Helen is formally trained in design &
enjoys the challenge of combining
everyday needs with a practical beau-
ty. She brings a unique perspective &
injects life to the videos ensuring they
are both a pleasure to watch & easy to
follow & learn from.

Step-By-Step Video Tuition Hand Tool Resources

Our online eduction is a refreshing Our blog is full of tips and

approach presented to entertain as articles focused on efficient hand
well as teach. tool woodworking.
Browse The Available Series Have A Read Now

“The demonstrations are brilliant and the little tips invaluable

making repeat viewings essential.
​ You don’t have to be a woodworker to enjoy The English
Woodworker video series but you may want to give it a go
afterwards.” - Darryl Jones

www.TheEnglishWoodworker.com