Get Started in Woodworking for under £100 ($121)

Starting a new hobby can be expensive, however with our buying guides, Paul advises you on buying the right tools for your beginners toolbox to help you get started in woodworking.

To make the 3 main joints, you will need:

If you added a plane to this collection, you would be able to make a Chisel Tray and a Dovetailed Box.

Furthermore, if you add a spokeshave and a handsaw you can make the Tool Tote project.

Add the coping saw and a rasp and you can make the Chopping Board project.

By building up your tool collection this way, you should be able to make use of each tool and build skill as well as confidence. Some tools rarely get used, especially in beginner projects, so it may be that you leave these until last, or find alternative projects to make that don’t include those tools. An example of this would be the plough plane.

Other more expensive tools are not considered essential, however they can be useful. The router plane is a great tool to have, but can be replaced by accurate use of the chisel.

The dovetail template is a handy piece of equipment to have which not only saves you time, but also space as it removes the need for a sliding bevel (once made). Once you get started, you will find areas in which you may need to expand your collection, for example you may want some different chisel sizes or different saws, but to begin with you can learn a lot, even with a limited set of hand tools.

Have you got a starter tool kit? Let us know which tools you consider essential in the blog comments!

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2 Comments

  1. Good old tools can be bought on eBay and from dealers for good prices. I bought some Lidl chisels to see what the hype is about and the now are first choice above my marples split proof now. I am a former tradesman returning to woodworking as a hobby now the kids have grown up and have more space. Thanks Paul for rejuvenating my interest particularly doing things by hand. You’re guide for tool buying has helped me replace tools lost over the years.

  2. A quick comment, I have been reviewing all the videos on this site to see how they relate to one another. The tools list above has the tools for joinery (ie housing/dovetail/mortise & tenon joints) but I am not really so sure it is the best way to start, mostly because I think the “courses” are given in a lovely and logical manner. First, handy kitchen things that get you right into shaping without joints: the spatula, spoon, and chopping board. These three projects require coping saw, spokeshave, rasp & file, scraper and gouge as core tools. Then a second set of three for the joints, for which the above tools are great. Then a final set of five projects (chisel tray, hanging shelf, dovetail box, tool tote and 3-legged stool) where you would need a plane in addition. And obviously router plane also awesome.

    Just my thoughts.

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