tim rapp
01-06-2020, 6:55 PM
Anyone seen lists of books/websites/videos that focus on hand tool only projects? For each project I like to see a picture of finished product, materials/cut list, and high-level step-by-step instructions. Motivation -- I have a tiny space (8’x4′ inside, plus a patio), so only have room for hand tools and small power tools.
UPDATED 2020 Jan 6: info below includes all threads up to this date. What am I still missing?
Hand Toolers:
----------------
Roy Underhill -- aka St Roy, was the first master housewright (aka woodworker) at Colonial Williamsburg and held that job for 10 years. Has a degree in theater so his shows are highly entertaining. Created "The Woodwright's Shop" tv show and has done 37 seasons of it!!! Hand tools only. May be the worlds happiest woodworker.
* The Woodwright's Apprentice: Twenty Favorite Projects from the Woodwright's Shop, Roy Underhill, 1996. Projects include folding workbench, tool tote, dovetailed book box, etc. Low quality black and white photos, and several of the projects are not that useful in 21st century (bellows, candle stand, quilting frame, sewing stand). But entertaining.
* The Woodwright's Shop, Roy Underhill, 37 seasons (400 episodes)! https://www.pbs.org/woodwrightsshop/home/ and youtube. Video quality is poor since these videos go back to 1979, but quite enjoyable to just play in the background when you're doing chores or relaxing.
Paul Sellers -- Paul often talks about hand tools (setup, sharpening, use, etc), but also does projects. Uses hand tools plus electric drill. Talks about bandsaw a few times but not required for his projects. Has created more hours of hand tool videos than anyone except Roy Underhill, but Pauls are newer so much better quality. Has been a full time woodworker about 50 years. Paul is like the Bob Ross of woodworking, can describe and explain the most complex tasks in a simple way, and makes you want to try it.
* "Working Wood 1" and "Working Wood 2", Paul Sellers
* https://commonwoodworking.com, beginner-friendly site. Projects (https://commonwoodworking.com/dashboard-courses/) include stool, dovetail box, wall shelf, tool tote, spatula, spoon, etc.
* woodworkingmasterclasses.com, by Paul Sellers, high-quality project videos, 87 free episodes, 250 paid episodes ($15/mo). Tables, benches, chairs, shelves, cabinets, boxes, chests, stools, etc.
* paulsellers.com -- project videos and plans include two workbenches, trestles, and sawhorse. All new projects seem to be on woodworkingmasterclasses.com.
* https://www.youtube.com/user/PaulSellersWoodwork
* workbench, 10 part video series https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqyeNiM0BJuWNDgY1FpyxjveO2Y90CvD9.
* Also see his videos on "three legged stool", dovetail box (4 part series), wall clock (6 part series), etc.
Jim Tolpin -- has been a woodworker over 30 years and has written a dozen books on the subject (often on design, geometry, and advice/tips/tricks), selling more than 750,000 copies. He teaches woodworking for a living at his school, The Port Townsend School of Woodworking. Sadly I can't find any plans by him online (except ebooks).
* "The New Traditional WoodWorker", has plans for many shop projects (anyone got a list of the projects?)
Chris Schwarz -- runs lost art press, author of several books, contributor to fine woodworking and many other magazines. Loves hand tools but also uses machines sometimes.
* https://lostartpress.com, has many books by Schwarz and others
Vic Tesolin -- technical advisor to Veritas/Lee Valley.
* "The Minimalist Woodworker", his book is a work of art, with several essential shop projects including saw bench, bent (aka saw horse or trestle), shooting board, mallet, workbench, and shelf. I would build every project in this book, can't say that about any other book.
Shannon Rogers -- works for a lumber company, speaker, woodworking teacher. Hand tools only last 15 years.
* https://www.renaissancewoodworker.com/, click on Projects for some free videos. Also has paid video series ($38/mo) that starts with the basics, progresses to making workbench, tool cabinet project, drop-leaf table, mobile toolbox, pedestal table, four post bed, side table, wall mirror, and blanket chest.
Tom Fidgen -- Uses hand tools only.
* https://www.theunpluggedwoodshop.com
* "Made by Hand: Furniture Projects from the Unplugged Woodshop"
* "The unplugged woodshop: hand-crafted projects for the home & workshop"
* https://www.youtube.com/user/tomfidgen
Joshua Farnsworth
* https://woodandshop.com/ (https://woodandshop.com/how-to-build-a-dovetail-desk-with-hand-tools-17/), including 17 part video series on making a dovetail desk https://woodandshop.com/how-to-build-a-dovetail-desk-with-hand-tools-17/
James Wright --
* https://www.woodbywright.com/shop?category=Plans. Some projects also on his blog, https://www.woodbywright.com/blog. Most of his projects are jigs/tools like try square, shooting board, frame saw, etc.
* https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbMtJOly6TpO5MQQnNwkCHg
Rob Cosman, does mix of hand tool only, and hand/power tool projects. Has a bit of a gruff attitude.
* https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0C27AD500865B8D8 candle box video series (17 episodes!)
* https://robcosman.com/pages/rob-s-online-workshops, $15/mo for hand tool project videos. No list of what projects this includes.
others:
* "Great Book of Shop Drawings for Craftsman Furniture, Revised & Expanded Second Edition: Authentic and Fully Detailed Plans for 61 Classic Pieces", by Robert Lang
* "With Saw, Plane and Chisel" by Zach Dillinger
* https://www.theenglishwoodworker.com/premium-woodworking-videos/, paid videos
* books by Glen Huey, mostly about building pre-1900 furniture
* "Volume IV: The Shop & Furniture" by Charles Hayward
* "The Naked Woodworker" video, by Mike Siemsen, has plans for workbench and saw bench
tip: for any of the listed authors, google their name and the type of object you want to build, example "Chris Schwarz saw bench"
UPDATED 2020 Jan 6: info below includes all threads up to this date. What am I still missing?
Hand Toolers:
----------------
Roy Underhill -- aka St Roy, was the first master housewright (aka woodworker) at Colonial Williamsburg and held that job for 10 years. Has a degree in theater so his shows are highly entertaining. Created "The Woodwright's Shop" tv show and has done 37 seasons of it!!! Hand tools only. May be the worlds happiest woodworker.
* The Woodwright's Apprentice: Twenty Favorite Projects from the Woodwright's Shop, Roy Underhill, 1996. Projects include folding workbench, tool tote, dovetailed book box, etc. Low quality black and white photos, and several of the projects are not that useful in 21st century (bellows, candle stand, quilting frame, sewing stand). But entertaining.
* The Woodwright's Shop, Roy Underhill, 37 seasons (400 episodes)! https://www.pbs.org/woodwrightsshop/home/ and youtube. Video quality is poor since these videos go back to 1979, but quite enjoyable to just play in the background when you're doing chores or relaxing.
Paul Sellers -- Paul often talks about hand tools (setup, sharpening, use, etc), but also does projects. Uses hand tools plus electric drill. Talks about bandsaw a few times but not required for his projects. Has created more hours of hand tool videos than anyone except Roy Underhill, but Pauls are newer so much better quality. Has been a full time woodworker about 50 years. Paul is like the Bob Ross of woodworking, can describe and explain the most complex tasks in a simple way, and makes you want to try it.
* "Working Wood 1" and "Working Wood 2", Paul Sellers
* https://commonwoodworking.com, beginner-friendly site. Projects (https://commonwoodworking.com/dashboard-courses/) include stool, dovetail box, wall shelf, tool tote, spatula, spoon, etc.
* woodworkingmasterclasses.com, by Paul Sellers, high-quality project videos, 87 free episodes, 250 paid episodes ($15/mo). Tables, benches, chairs, shelves, cabinets, boxes, chests, stools, etc.
* paulsellers.com -- project videos and plans include two workbenches, trestles, and sawhorse. All new projects seem to be on woodworkingmasterclasses.com.
* https://www.youtube.com/user/PaulSellersWoodwork
* workbench, 10 part video series https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqyeNiM0BJuWNDgY1FpyxjveO2Y90CvD9.
* Also see his videos on "three legged stool", dovetail box (4 part series), wall clock (6 part series), etc.
Jim Tolpin -- has been a woodworker over 30 years and has written a dozen books on the subject (often on design, geometry, and advice/tips/tricks), selling more than 750,000 copies. He teaches woodworking for a living at his school, The Port Townsend School of Woodworking. Sadly I can't find any plans by him online (except ebooks).
* "The New Traditional WoodWorker", has plans for many shop projects (anyone got a list of the projects?)
Chris Schwarz -- runs lost art press, author of several books, contributor to fine woodworking and many other magazines. Loves hand tools but also uses machines sometimes.
* https://lostartpress.com, has many books by Schwarz and others
Vic Tesolin -- technical advisor to Veritas/Lee Valley.
* "The Minimalist Woodworker", his book is a work of art, with several essential shop projects including saw bench, bent (aka saw horse or trestle), shooting board, mallet, workbench, and shelf. I would build every project in this book, can't say that about any other book.
Shannon Rogers -- works for a lumber company, speaker, woodworking teacher. Hand tools only last 15 years.
* https://www.renaissancewoodworker.com/, click on Projects for some free videos. Also has paid video series ($38/mo) that starts with the basics, progresses to making workbench, tool cabinet project, drop-leaf table, mobile toolbox, pedestal table, four post bed, side table, wall mirror, and blanket chest.
Tom Fidgen -- Uses hand tools only.
* https://www.theunpluggedwoodshop.com
* "Made by Hand: Furniture Projects from the Unplugged Woodshop"
* "The unplugged woodshop: hand-crafted projects for the home & workshop"
* https://www.youtube.com/user/tomfidgen
Joshua Farnsworth
* https://woodandshop.com/ (https://woodandshop.com/how-to-build-a-dovetail-desk-with-hand-tools-17/), including 17 part video series on making a dovetail desk https://woodandshop.com/how-to-build-a-dovetail-desk-with-hand-tools-17/
James Wright --
* https://www.woodbywright.com/shop?category=Plans. Some projects also on his blog, https://www.woodbywright.com/blog. Most of his projects are jigs/tools like try square, shooting board, frame saw, etc.
* https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbMtJOly6TpO5MQQnNwkCHg
Rob Cosman, does mix of hand tool only, and hand/power tool projects. Has a bit of a gruff attitude.
* https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0C27AD500865B8D8 candle box video series (17 episodes!)
* https://robcosman.com/pages/rob-s-online-workshops, $15/mo for hand tool project videos. No list of what projects this includes.
others:
* "Great Book of Shop Drawings for Craftsman Furniture, Revised & Expanded Second Edition: Authentic and Fully Detailed Plans for 61 Classic Pieces", by Robert Lang
* "With Saw, Plane and Chisel" by Zach Dillinger
* https://www.theenglishwoodworker.com/premium-woodworking-videos/, paid videos
* books by Glen Huey, mostly about building pre-1900 furniture
* "Volume IV: The Shop & Furniture" by Charles Hayward
* "The Naked Woodworker" video, by Mike Siemsen, has plans for workbench and saw bench
tip: for any of the listed authors, google their name and the type of object you want to build, example "Chris Schwarz saw bench"