Carpentry Tools
Claw Hammer
One of the most basic tools of the carpentry trade, a claw hammer will allow you to drive nails with one end and remove them with the other. Look for one that has a comfortable but secure grip and is not too heavy to hold and swing.
Tape Measure
Plastic measuring tapes are cheap and simple but tend to stretch and lose accuracy over time. Go for a metal measuring tape, preferably a retractable model that’s good for measuring larger pieces of uncut lumber.
Chisels
Great for hand-carving or lathe turning, chisels were once the primary tool for carving out joints in Japanese carpentry. Often sold in sets, you’ll need a variety of chisels to perform any meaningful or detailed work.
Handsaw
The workhorse of hand tool carpentry, handsaws are used to rip and crosscut boards to size. Look for blades that are taper ground, allowing better clearance around the teeth and a smoother, more efficient cutting motion.
Backsaw
No carpentry tools list is complete without the backsaw. Designed with thin blades and finely set teeth, backsaws are the detail-oriented companion to the handsaw. Supported by a heavy strip of brass or steel over the top of the blade, they excel at detail work and can be used to cut mortise and tenon or dovetail joints.
Planes
Used to smooth wooden surfaces while gradually reducing their thickness, planes are a complex and multi-part hand carpentry tool with something of a cult following in the classical carpentry community. A good bench plane will get you through 90% of projects, while rabbet and block planes are reserved for more specialized angled work.
Measuring Squares
Any carpentry tool also known as a “carpenter’s square” must be essential, right? That’s absolutely true for measuring squares, as they’ll allow you to identify, measure, and mark right angles during your projects.
Hand Drill
Though power drills have become a much more popular option, hand drills offer quiet and convenience instead of speed and intensity. With the proper set of drill bits, a hand drill can be every bit as effective as a power drill in preparing high-quality workpieces.
Screwdrivers
No carpentry tools list is complete without screwdrivers. First and foremost, when using a screwdriver, the tip must fit the size of the screw slot in question. Therefore, you’ll need screwdrivers in a range of sizes to accommodate whatever size of screw you come up against in your projects.
Level
Every woodworker needs a couple of levels. You probably won’t need one of the 6-foot levels used in construction, but 48” is a good length for many of the woodworking projects you’ll do.
carpentry trade = the things carpenters do everyday
swing = movement of a hummer before the hit
accuracy = precision
retractable = telescopic
lumber = wood
lathe = machine with rolling cord to process metal or wood items
workhorse = the thing for everyday use you can't get by
rip and crosscut = staright and angled ways of cutting boards
joint = connection of details or parts
strip joint = covering
mortise joint = like screwed in
tenon joint = with pikes
dovetail joint = looking like fingers crossed
rabbet = groove
grip = capture
accommodate = adapt