6 Must-Have Hand Tools For Your Shop

If you’re a woodworker, chances are that you’re like the rest of us these days and are a “hybrid woodworker”. That means you have a mix of both hand tools and power tools. While there still remains traditional hand-tool craftsman, they are slowly fading away. The major reason for the dissolving hand-tool woodworkers is that in today’s fast-paced and ever-evolving environment, production is key. Power tools enhance production and speed up work rates, so power tools are default.

However, even with a shop full of power tools, there are a handful of hand tools that are still needed to be productive and make awesome projects. Some of those required hand tools are what I am here to discuss. There are other posts and videos online that label “must-have” hand tools as things like “a good set of chisels”, “a good block plane”, “a sharp-bladed dovetail saw”, and more. Yes, those are nice tools and must-haves if you’re truly doing hand-tool woodworking, but even those tools are luxuries, not necessities. So, I am going to simplify the must-have list even further.

1. Hammer / Weighted Mallet

   I’m sure everyone has a hammer, a plain-Jane hammer. However, what I find more useful is a weighted mallet. Preferring the kind that has sand in the head and is rubber coated. A standard hammer is the most basic hand tool known to mankind, but in all honestly, how often to you use a standard hammer in woodworking? Probably not often. A mallet is a versatile tool I find myself reaching for quite often. It is used for furniture making as the joinery used is designed to fit snuggly, so sometimes a swift strike with the mallet can provide just enough force to seat the joint in the correct spot without marring the surface of your work piece. The best mallets aren’t expensive at all; in fact, a cheap mallet off Amazon like this one works great.

2. Screwdrivers

   Yes, I know..”duh”, right? Well, a flathead screwdriver in particular is super useful for me. It becomes a Swiss Army Knife in my shop. I use it for striking lines in wood, prying cans or containers open, and slightly moving wood joints or pieces when needed.

   Besides a standard screwdriver, a set of mini-head screwdrivers is also a big help. These little tools are useful when removing battery covers or install small screws on fine woodworking projects. They are cheap but get the job done when they are called into action.

3. Allen Wrenches

   Allen wrenches are another tool I find myself needing more often that not. The primary use of these in my shop is adjusting, tightening, or repairing other power tools or machines. Many power tools and woodworking machines have hex heads that require the use of an Allen wrench. Most of the time, machines come with an exact-size Allen wrench for the size you need for that machine, but then you’re stuck with a jar full of randomly-sized Allen wrenches and you never remember which size pairs with which machine. So, I recommend getting an Allen wrench set that came keep multiples sizes in one place and allow you to easily access whatever size you need for the task.

4. Pliers

   While this tool is another obvious tool to have, I will explain why I find it super helpful in a woodworking environment. I recommend 2 types of pliers, slip-joint pliers, and a needle-nose set of pliers.

   Needle Nose Pliers

   The needle nose pliers come in handy when reaching and needing to get in tight spaces. For example, if you are repairing a piece of furniture and need to remove an existing nail or screw, the needle nose pliers are able to reach and remove the old hardware. Also, if making any sort of pocket, recess, or hole in a project, the needle nose pliers assist with placing or removing various hardware or small components.

   Slip-Joint Pliers

   The slip-joint pliers are useful for…simply put…forcing something into place or out of place on a part that isn’t quite cooperating! I don’t have the best specific examples for uses of these pliers but I do find myself needing pliers more often than a “they’re just nice to have around”.

5. Utility Knife

   A utility knife is something I use almost every day in my shop. As you receive consumables, the knife opens packages. All. The. Time.

   I also use the knife for trimming edges of small wood fibers when needed. I do not replace a chisel with a utility knife, but sometimes the knife comes in handy for trimming small fibers or small “carving jobs”. Many times I use the knife in my shop for trimming films, tapes, masks, etc. on various projects. This could be masking film on a painted CNC project or double sided tape on the back of a router template piece.

   The obvious answer for the use of a utility knife is cutting. Believe it or not, the wood shop working days require lots of cutting. I cut tape, labels, stickers, boxes, and much more. Overall, a cheap and useful tool to keep nearby in your shop.

6. Stiff Blade Putty Knife

   This one might be a little unexpected, but hear me out. A stiff blade putty knife is my go-to most versatile hand tool in my shop. To make it versatile, it does need to be the stiff blade, not flimsy.

   To put the versatility into perspective, I personally use the stiff blade putty knife for the following:

   • Scraping off glue and old paint

   • Cleaning residue from a surface

   • Prying Open paint or stain cans.

   • Prying old screw or nail heads out or off of the work surface

   • Spreading glue, filler, bonds, compounds, and paints.

   • Scoring Lines on Woods, Metals, and Plastics

   • Sweeping small amounts of sawdust into a pile (mainly so I don’t have to walk to the other side of my shop to get the broom)

While some or all of these must-have hand tools may be a little strange or not your first thought of tools needed, these are the reality for me. These are the most common “tools” I reach for regularly when being productive and actively working in my shop.

Do you have a different thought or different must have tool? Leave a comment and let me know what you’re thinking!