Book review: Hand Tools- Their ways and workings by Aldren A. Watson

Hand Tools is an excellent book for the beginning hand tool woodworker who has never been much exposed to hand tools. The book takes you by the hand and gently leads you on a sightseeing tour through the exciting new world of hand tools.

Make no mistake. For the woodworker who was weaned on power tools or the woodworker, who, well, may never have done any actual woodworking, this book is practically required reading. For those who grew up using hand tools and already understand how everything works, this book would be mostly useful to leave laying on your coffee table hoping that some of your friends might pick it up and get interested in Therapeutic Woodworking™.

Each chapter is dedicated to a type of tool. For instance, there is a useful chapter on workbenches. After reading this chapter and looking at the many illustrations, the reader will understand why the workbench is so important and have a basic idea of how to use one as well as how the different components work together. Before actually building your own, you will probably want to read a book dedicated to the subject. The other chapters are similarly useful and explain the basics of the tools they cover.

This book is not intended to be exhaustive documentation or the end all book. It is a broad introduction to ensure that you understand each tool in the hand tool workshop from sandpaper to chisels to awls to files to planes. After reading this book, you will undoubtedly want to read other works on many of the tools listed.

If you are new to working with hand tools and don't understand what it is all about or how to get into it, you should buy Hand Tools. It is an investment that will make the process more fun and probably save you far more money than it costs.

Luke Townsley
www.unpluggedshop.com
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