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Essential Hand Tools for Woodworking - Woodworking is not all about big, expensive power tools. You can use basic hand tools too like a ruler, pencil and tape measure. You can also use them to mark the wood and to drill holes in it with a screwdriver.
A hammer is a tool that you can use to pound nails into objects. There are many types of hammers for different purposes. The most important kind is the claw hammer. This has a smooth head that comes to a point and will not cause damage to other objects it hits while pounding nails into them. You should choose one that feels good in your hand and not too heavy, but still strong enough for what you need it for (like 16 ounces or 20 ounces).
A layout square is a useful and important tool. It is quick and easy to use for marking a straight line. The layout square can also be used to measure up to 6 inches or 45 degrees. It's important that you keep the layout square in your back pocket or your nail pouch when you are in the shop.
A tape measure is a thing to measure things. A standard tape measure is used for all sorts of everyday measuring. If you want one with both metric and standard sizing, choose from these two types when choosing your tape measure. The end of the hook moves back and forth, which means that if you are measuring the width of something, you can do it whether the hook is at one end or the other.
A utility knife is a tool for people who work with wood. It can be used to make marks or to clean up things that are in the hinge mortise. Look for a heavy-duty utility knife, not a light box cutter.
A level is a tool that helps to tell if something is horizontal (level) or vertical (plumb). You need this tool for different projects. For projects that are smaller, you can use a short level, and for larger projects, you can use a long one.
A power drill-driver is a useful tool, but sometimes you need to use a manual screwdriver. The most common sizes for Phillips screw tips are #1, #2 (standard), and #3. It also helps to have basic sets of square, Torx, and star drivers.
Nail sets are metal punches that you can use to make the nail heads on your nails go below the surface of the wood. Choose a set of three different sizes so you have one for all sizes of nails.
