Hand Tools

This website was created and is maintained by Don Bullock.

All material on this website is copyright by Donald W. Bullock

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I have to admit I'm mostly a power tool user. I'm not even close to what Marc Spagnuolo calls a hybrid woodworker. While I'm interested in using hand tools I've never actually learned how nor have I had the money up to recently to buy the ones I'd like to try. Top on my list is still a router plane. I love the one that Veritas makes and had planned to buy one. The funds for that, however, went in a different direction. Perhaps as time goes by I'll become more inclined. For now I do have some some hand tools that are mostly for marking, measuring and sanding but have started my collection of planes.

For hand sanding I really like my set of Preppin' Weapons. Yes they were an extravagance but they make hand sanding a little easier and more comfortable. Anything that makes sanding easier and more comfortable is super in my opinion. I even have a video on them in my Handy Tools series.

Rules are of great importance in any shop. These rules, 6" and 12", from Woodsmith are outstanding and very handy to have (they now offer an 18" version). For simple rules they have a lot of features. They were one of my Handy Tools series videos and I used two of the small rulers in my video Two Ruler Trick in my Tricks and Tips video series. I use these rulers on almost every project.

A saddle square is great when two or more faces of a board need to be marked. Years ago I picked up this Veritas saddle square from Lee Valley. It's engineered from from aluminum so is very accurate and light weight. I included it in my Handy Tools series of videos.

This is a great little tac hammer that I made in my junior high school metal shop class. It was made from steel square and round bar stock. I forged a screwdriver at the end of the handle.

The hammer has been very useful over the years. It now holds a place of honor on my tool wall and I did a video as part of my Shop Projects series on the holder I made for it.

Lee Valley Center Point® Rules. These rules have been very handy when I want to find the center of something or want to measure out from the center of something.

They were featured in a Handy Tools series video and I also featured one in my Tricks for Woodworkers video on the Short Ruler Trick.

A Stanley Bailey #4 hand plane has now been added to my list of tools. This is something that I have never used or been trained to use. When I was a kid we had at least one hand plane that I think was a #4 but no one knew how to sharpen it or use it. I'll be spending some time sharpening this plane and watching YouTube videos to see if I can learn how to use it. Eventually I'd like to use all the different hand planes.

Along with the #4 hand plane above I bought a Stanley 60 1/2 low angle block plane. As with the #4 I didn't know much about block planes except for things I'd read or seen in videos. It seemed that the low angle was one of the best to start with. One of my next purchases will be a rabbet block plane. I've already used this plane because it came sharp enough to use.

For more information on this plane watch my video about it on my WB Fine Woodworking YouTube channel.

This is a wood carver's mallet that I turned from an old table leg that I originally turned in 1971. It will come in handy when I get back to doing some wood carving and I'm looking forward to using it.

For more information on this mallet watch my videos about it on my WB Fine Woodworking YouTube channel.

I made this dead blow mallet to use in my shop. It will be a handy tool. Curly maple and curly myrtlewood were used to make it. There is a very similar one on the wall in my office as sort of a conversation piece and wall decoration.

For more information on this mallet watch my two part video about it on my WB Fine Woodworking YouTube channel.

These three woodworking mallets were made by James King and his family at King's Fine Woodworking. The mallets are outstanding. They are loosely based on Thor's Mallet from the movies. I bought the mini mallet from James. When I produced a video to promote his Facebook woodworking community he gave me the medium sized mallet for doing that.

Then, James and his family generously decided to send me the large sized mallet as a special gift. I'm still astounded by their generosity. If you want a great woodworking mallet check them out at Kings Fine Woodworking. I make nothing on the sale of these mallets so I can honestly say that they are all fantastic. James offers them in a selection of exotic woods some of which are no longer available for import into the United States.

These mallets are made from the following woods:

Mini - Lignum Vite head & Readheart handle

Medium - Bacote head & Padauk handle

Large - Quebracho head & East Indian Rosewood handle

I saw a bevel gauge like these at a tool swap meet and didn't buy it. The next time I went I found this matching pair. They will be very useful on my future woodworking projects. I was very happy and surprised to find one but to find matching ones of different sizes was even better. I really like the adjustment screw at the end of the handle.

A video related to these mallets is available on my WB Fine Woodworking YouTube channel.

For more information on these rules watch my video about them on my WB Fine Woodworking YouTube channel.

For more information on this saddle square watch my video about them it my WB Fine Woodworking YouTube channel.

For more information on these rules watch my video about them on my WB Fine Woodworking YouTube channel.

For more information on these sanding blocks watch my video about them on my WB Fine Woodworking YouTube channel.

There are some other hand tools in my collection, including a new Veritas router plane, that I have yet to photograph. Eventually I'll have them all documented on this page. It just takes time and effort.

A video related to these bevel gauges is available on my WB Fine Woodworking YouTube channel.