Anybody care to share their list of essential hand tools for every carpenter to have? I am curious to see what everyone considers “must have” tools to be. I will also post a power tools post.
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Tape measure
pencils, flat and round (.5mm mechanical)
Sharpie
utility knife
hammer
5 in 1 painting tool with thick blade
6" flat prybar
Empire "speed square" , modified
chalkline
nailsets
awl
multi-tip screwdriver
offset dykes, Klein alloy steel high leverage with blue handles
small slip joint pliers
4 in hand file
safety glasses
folding earmuffs
All the above stays in my belt much of the time.
Other handtools to have in a box close by:
combination square
framing square plus stair nuts
chisels (rough and finish)
wood saw(s)
hacksaw with various blades in handle tube
tinsnips
squeeze stapler and loads
block plane
smooth plane
16" flat bar
second hammer, different weight head
a few more files
medium and large slotted screwdrivers
10" adjustable wrench
7" Vise-Grips, curved jaws
end nippers
Channellocks, 12"
2 spring clamps
2 quick acting light pattern bar clamps
compact LED headlamp
torpedo and 2' levels (longer ones won't fit in the box)
rag and scrub sponge
dustpan and dustbroom
4 ounce bottle of Titebond 2
leather gloves
disposable latex gloves
That is the tip of my iceberg, anyhow. I do remodeling, often small projects.
Bill
How do you modify your speed-square?
Also, I don't think I have ever heard of the Empire brand.
Good list
Empire is sold at the Borg here. I prefer them because they are an extrusion, not a casting like Swanson squares. The cast squares are brittle, so they fracture when dropped. Also, the stamped numbers are more precise and easier to read than the cast numbers.I modify mine by cutting out most of the center triangle of metal, starting with the hanging hole they punch for retailing purposes. I drill out 3/8" holes at the corners of this triangle, connect the holes with the jigsaw, and finish with a file. This eliminates some tables I never use anyhow. The hip/val scale in unaffected by this, only the tables go away. Not only does this modification reduce some weight, but more importantly it makes it much easier to grasp and turn the tool, as even gloved fingers can fit in the hole, allowing me to pivot the square around those fingers.Bill
Bill,
Pretty good list. I would add a cats paw to the tool box."Poor is not the person who has too little, but the person who craves more."...Seneca
Yep, I knew I forgot a few things. I did my list from memory late last night, subtracting the power tool accessories as I went.I carry a 6" Dogyu cat's paw all the time, and have a 12" in the box.I also carry a card scraper in a leather sheath, in the box.The box is mostly moved over to a Veto bag lately.There may be more, but I prefer the challenge of remembering without looking. A tool is only useful if you know it is there to be used. I also carry a few tri-folded half sheets of sandpaper in the box.
4 rare earth magnets for finding hidden steel. (stored in film can)
Second chalk line in different color (one red and one bright green)
Duct and electrical tape rolls in the boxDid I mention that it is a heavy box? LOLBill
Bill, "Did I mention that it is a heavy box? " Mine has 6 tires, an engine, a rating at 10,000 lbs. and I avoid the local truck scales at all costs.! ;-)
"Poor is not the person who has too little, but the person who craves more."...Seneca
I would make that a 'Japanese' cat's paw.
reinvent, I own several of those style but prefer the Vaughn design myself. I would include a good fine tooth Japanese design saw though."Poor is not the person who has too little, but the person who craves more."...Seneca
Here's my hand tools, I'm in Japan working so there is a slight preference towards hand tools from here, but I get whatever I need shipped over from Vancouver, so I think the balance is fair:
1. Window pry bar (US)
2. Japanese pry bar (4", thin, flat with nail pull on one end)
3. Japanese nail set (4 edges to set nails)
4. Douglas finish hammer
5. Japanese stainless-steel haxgonal finish hammer (small, light head for tight areas)
6. Fuller 1" chisel. I do have full sets of North American and Japanese chisels, but in the end, the one I use everyday is the Fuller. It sharpens quickly and keeps an edge longer than most of my other chisels. My Japanese set was a gift from my teacher, and was expensive, but they aren't made for everyday use, and are harder to sharpen.
7. Metric 10m tape measure with teflon coating, large numbers, wide tape.
8. 7.5 metre inkline with pin not hook.
9. Olfa knife
10. Large blade olfa knife
11. Speed square
12. Japanese framing square. This one is developed for 2x4 builders in Japan. The square is very thin stainless steel. Its 3/4" wide, and has measurements in mm, but on it has all of the proper stud spacing, etc. It bends into a circle if needed, so its great for measuring/marking uneven surfaces like logs, etc. Its my most important and most-used tool.
13. Japanese hand-saws: I have 3 that I use all the time. First, the all-purpose 265 regular hand-saw, then the 330, larger toothed saw for beams, then the double-edged thin kerf saw for cross-cutting and cutting with the grain. I keep them in a leather sheath and it leaves the van with me every morning.
14. Plumb-bob. Still used all the time, Japan still sells some really nice sets, essential in framing.
15. Stainless steel angle finder. All it consists of is 2 pieces of steel attached together by a nut. I measure it up to the angle in question, then adjust my saws according to the new angle.
SS
Excellent list, Bill. I'd add four things: a plumb bob, a spool of yellow, nylon masons' twine, and a Stanley push drill (the expensive chrome-steel one with the bits in the handle)and the stub of a parafin candle.
Bill, what are offset dykes?
Rick
Offset dykes are diagonal cutting pliers whose head is cranked over to one side. This makes it possible to cut off a wire close to a surface, and also makes it easier to use the tool to lever out stubborn nails from the side. They are sold at HD alongside the regular dykes in the Klein case.Bill
Good list.
Also always in my tool belt. Compass for scribing and small plumb bob. And when not framing, a block plane.
That's another I forgot. I carry a scribe compass, the friction set cheapo that works so well, plus also a 7" Millers Falls compass that I modified so it can hold a wide assortment of drawing tools, not just a pencil. I often fit it with a Sharpie for marking smooth surfaces.Unlike you, my scribe only goes in my belt at certain times, despite having very little mass. Anytime I'm doing trimwork the scribe is there.Another thing in the box is a drywall jab saw. (Compass made me remember.)BillEdit: Plumb bob is on the truck. I use the PLS-2 a lot more, and the chalkline works as an okay bob in a pinch.
Edited 6/18/2007 9:53 pm by BillBrennen
What is an offset dyke?
Have a good day CLiffy
See post 18.
Throw the plumb bob's out. Try a Tajima Plumb Rite. Great tool. And it reels itself back in. No line mess. It has a magnet to stick to steel, or a pin to stick to wood.
I have a brass plumb bob with a leather case and a reel. Both the case and the reel fit on my belt, ready to be used quickly. They were made for suveyors but have been adopted by carpenters, particularly for quick checks of footing form placement off suspended dry lines which are themselves fixed to batter boards.
I don't know if you have used the Tajima line or not but it's very nice.
Attach it to the top of what you want to plumb, pull the bob down, when you are done just pull on it again and it reels itself in. It fits in one of the smaller bags on my pouchs, it's not a big tool.
I haven't used what you posted about, it might be the same thing.
Edited 6/19/2007 7:33 pm ET by Stilletto
Last count,, I had close to 100 items in my hand tool box! I also have a drill/screw box, and a power tool box.
Depends on level of carpenter I suppose! Nice if an apprentice is supplying his own stuff. Lower than apprentice should at least have his own tool belt- Hammer, combination square, nails sets, tape measure.
Its a horse thing!
Anybody care to share their list of essential hand tools..
For layout, framing and trim...basically; pencils, hammer, 100' tape, 24' tape, hand saw, framing square, speed square, plumb bob, 2' level, 4' level, utility knife, pry bar, cat's paw, chalk line, 100' mason line. 1"chisel, block plane, coping saw, nail sets, compass.
Along with a few power tools, that's enough to build a house; starting from an unexcavated site to handing over the keys.
I dont have my union book anymore but they have a list of hand tools your supposed to have, i never had anyone check but i did see a guy asked to leave when he showed up with just a apron and hammer, Everyone agree even if they kept him no body would work with him as all he would do was borrow your tools.
Tweezers... aka Splinter removal tool.
Troy Sprout
"A free people ought not only to be armed and disciplined, but they should also have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government."
-- George Washington
Bag- Tape Measure, glaziers tool, hammer, nail set, magnet, large chisel, side cutters, end nippers, sharpie ( blue and black), chalk line (red), multi tip screw driver, level, razor knife, small spring clamps
box- sanding block, fine and rough chisels, extra bits, balck and blue chalk box, tin snips, drill bits, awl, rasps and fine files, cordless dremel tool, coping saw, rough cut saw, glue,shims, clamps, small laminate router, hilti laser and hilti shot gun
Add...
A flat blade draw knife and a mini pcket plane.
Best to you and yours, Chris.
Building as thou art paranoid never harmed anyone.
My daily carry:
Tape
Hammer
Olfa knife
Nail set
Chisel
Speed square
Awl
Pencils
Markzall marker
Flat bar
Assortment of bits
On the rotation depending on tasks:
Combo square
Dykes
Small adjustable wrench
Chalk line
Small block plane
Stair gauges
Claw Hammer
Tape Measure
Utility Knife
Moisture Meter
Chisel
Level
Screwdriver
Nail Set
Sliding Bevel
Layout Square
I can't even think without a Lufkin folding rule in my hand.
thank you...
Here Are The List Of Most Required Hand Tools For Every carpenter
Claw Hammer.
Tape Measure.
Utility Knife.
Moisture Meter.
Chisel.
Level.
Screwdriver.
Nail Set.