If you’re getting started in woodworking or already tackling the occasional DIY project, you may wonder what’s better: hand tools or power tools? The interesting truth is that using a handsaw isn’t better than using a circular saw; a router isn’t better than a hand plane. And it’s not even true to say that powertools for woodworking are faster than hand tools.
It’s sometimes faster to cut joinery by hand than to dial in a power tool to get the same result. However, if your project calls for the same joinery on several parts, it’s faster to use power tools. When you’re on a deadline, such as making holiday gifts, you’ll save time and money by using power tools for most operations. Then, hand tools for woodworking can be used to finesse the last 5% of the project.
I’ll start by breaking down the pros and cons of the best woodworking hand tools. Then examine what to keep in mind when considering woodworking power tools. By the end, I will have hopefully convinced you to consider a hybrid approach of using hand tools and power tools in your workflow.
Hand Tools Basics: What Beginners Need to Know
Hand tools are the analog implements that many imagine when thinking about woodworking. A getting-started hand tool list might include planes, hand saws, and chisels, among others that are ubiquitous with the craft. These wood tools and equipment are the forebears of modern power tools, but they haven’t been replaced. Hand tools and power tools are often used together.
The benefits of using hand tools for woodworking
Many makers prefer hand tools for woodworking to slow down and pay close attention to the task at hand. Of course, power tools require vigilant attention for safety reasons, but for some, the clean, quiet work of hand tools is the appeal. It’s deep, focused work, and that can be a welcome change of pace from the attention economy.
What are some pros to using hand tools?
- They take up little space in your shop.
- They’re quiet and clean compared to power tools.
- They can bring a special pride to your projects.
In a modern shop, hand tools provide unmatched precision for when you need to refine your parts. Fitting inset doors and drawers on one-off projects can be easier using a hand plane. When cutting joinery, you get close with power tools and sneak up on the perfect fit using hand tools. The best hand tools for woodworking are also great for adding decorative details.
In addition to handsaws, chisels, and planes, you’ll discover several just as valuable though less heralded hand tools. Wood tools and equipment such as rasps, files, and spokeshaves are excellent specialized implements designed for specific tasks.
What to watch out for when using hand tools
Just about everything you can do with a power tool, you can do with hand tools and a little patience. Or a lot of patience with some projects. Many craftspeople who consider themselves hand-tool woodworkers will still use jointers and planers to dress their lumber. Flattening boards with a #7 is sweaty work. If you have a project worth of parts to square up, you have a lot of work ahead of you. Of course you can do it; our foreparents did it that way, but you can bet they would have used power tools if they had them. When considering hand tools on wood, first consider the kind of work you want to do.
What are the cons of using hand tools?
- It takes time and practice to learn how to use them.
- Using hand tools exclusively is slow, hard work.
- You also need to learn how to sharpen them.
Dull hand tools are more dangerous than sharp ones. They require extra force to make a cut, possibly causing sudden slipping that may lead to injury. Your chisels and plane irons will require regular maintenance to stay honed and ready for good work. While sharpening is an invaluable skill, it does take practice. That goes for using hand tools, too. But once you get the hang of it, you’ll see the benefits right away.
Power Tools Overview: What To Consider for Your Shop
Woodworking power tools excel at speed and efficiency, and they can accomplish almost everything hand tools can do, and faster. There’s no getting around how satisfying it can be to pull a perfectly cut piece off your table saw. That’s especially true when cutting joinery. It’s a thrill to sneak up on a perfect fit by using a loud machine with a blade whirring at 3,000 to 4,000 rpms. It feels like you’ve tamed an angry beast.
Why pick powertools for woodworking?
If you do a lot of woodworking, especially particular types of projects, you’ll appreciate having power tools around. They do their core job well, and adding jigs increases their capabilities. Whether it’s a simple straightedge for a circular saw, a guide for a cordless drill, or a crosscut sled for a table saw, your power tools will gain even more efficiency.
What are the pros of using power tools?
- They are designed to be fast and efficient.
- Learning them conquers their intimidation factor.
- These wood tools and equipment are getting safer all the time.
While you can certainly gouge yourself with a hand tool, a power tool can do more damage much faster. But this shouldn’t scare beginning woodworkers away. Modern tools are safer than ever with blade and bit guards, variable-speed controls, and safety features such as SawStop’s finger-sensing technology.
Lessons learned with power tools
Power tools can be intimidating. I’ll never forget the first time I used a handheld router. It’s hard to prepare for, no matter how much your instructor warns you. When I flipped that switch and the router jerked and screamed to life, my eyes went wide, and I held on for dear life. Learning to control that power is satisfying.
With great power tools comes great responsibility. While hand tools can provide quiet serenity, their powered siblings are noisy and dirty. When operating power tools, you need to protect your ears and your lungs with PPE. And dust collection is a serious factor. Your machines will need to be hooked up to dust collectors or extractors to keep your shop clean and tools running smoothly.
What are the cons of using power tools?
- These machines and tools are loud and dirty.
- They take up valuable floor and storage space.
- There is a higher up-front cost.
Another thing to consider is maintenance; you’ll need to manage cords or keep batteries charged. You’ll also need to acquire myriad blades and bits for the kind of work you do, and keep them clean and sharp. And some tools require regular realignment and calibration.
CNC woodworking routers are another consideration. Though a little more high-tech than your typical power tools, they are a valid and useful addition to almost any shop.
Why Not Use Hand Tools and Power Tools?
The best woodworking hand tools and power tools each have their respective pros and cons. Again, one isn’t better than the other. It doesn’t have to be a John Henry story. Ultimately, it’s a matter of preference. You get the best of both worlds using them together, combining the speed and efficiency of power tools with the accuracy and control of hand tools.
Using a hybrid approach to woodworking
Hybrid woodworking is using power tools for most of the work on a project, and finishing with hand tools. This approach often leaves your tools looking handmade and not like they’re off an assembly line. Plus, hybrid woodworking provides that handmade look faster than by hand tools alone.
You could make all your parts with powertools for woodworking and then cut the dovetails by hand. To take it a step further, you can even use power tools to cut most of your dovetails and finesse your way to the finish line using chisels.
This goes for most steps in the process for all your projects, even sanding. You can sand the bulk of the piece using a random-orbit sander, then follow up with a hand-sanding block for your highest grit. Similarly, some delicate project parts may not be easily sanded using a power sander, requiring only a controlled hand and sheet of sandpaper.
Just get started
It will take some trial and error to see what tools earn a spot on your bench. This comes with just getting started and figuring out what kind of work suits you. Your specific workflow and tool choice will follow. But keep in mind hand and power tool safety.
Once you’re making, you’ll develop your individual style and find your own justification for choosing hand tools or woodworking power tools. By that time, you’ll already be an experienced woodworker. Or maybe you’ve been building for a while with one set of tools and are curious about what it’s like on the other side. Experimenting with tools and trying new techniques is one of the most fun aspects of the craft, because you’re learning. Get your hands on some tools, powered or otherwise, and start building today in a class at your local Woodcraft.
CHAD McCLUNG
Chad is a woodworker with nearly 20 years of experience in woodworking and home improvement, covering these topics as a how-to writer, editor, and photographer. He is the former editor-in-chief of Woodcraft Magazine. When not in the shop, Chad is probably adding to a Blu-ray collection that rivals his tool collection.