Buying secondhand woodworking tools
Finding tools for your woodwork beginners tool kit. There are just so many places to find them! There are also wild variations in the quality you will find. Most tools woodworking hand tools work on such simple principles that it is usually poor setup and poor technique that yield poor results. I have a number of cheap wood working tools and with a bit of careful setup and tuning they can yield fair results and they cost very little.
Some argue that cheaper tools are a false economy as you will spend more of your time adjusting and setting them up and less time working (which is where your you make your money). Well for the professional woodworker this may hold true, but for hobby and amateur woodworkers this is a fine way to build up a starters toolkit.
I don’t regret for a minute the time I spent stripping down and fettling my old planes and the time I spent regrinding old chisels and removing the rust. I feel I learnt so much from the experience, not just in terms of what the tool can do, but also in how the tool works, its nuiances and how to care for tools.
I also think that restoring and using old tools will give you a much greater appreciation of a fine quality hand tool, such as a Clifton Plane or a Ashley Isles Chisel.
Ask around for old woodwork tools
Many people (family and friends) have a wealth of tools stored away which will never see the light of day. Most people I know would rather see them used than sat in a shed, rusting somewhere. They might even be glad of the new found space that they once occupied. You might offer them some money for them or offer to make them something of their choosing using the tools.
These old tools will often need some work to get them up to a good usable level, but in doing so, you get a greater understanding of how the tool works. In later articles I will explain how to renovate a bench plane, and how to sharpen your chisels.
Other places you might find great quality hand tools include:
- Antique Shops and Fairs
- Flea Markets
- Car Boot Sales
- Auction Houses
- Online recycling schemes (freecycle being one)
Buying woodwork hand tools online
There are many places to buy online. I have personally bought woodwork handtools on loot.com and ebay.co.uk.
It is always nice to be able to hold a tool in hand before buying, but often tools are described in depth
and include good quality photos. If there are not enough photos for you to make a decision, don’t be afraid of emailing the seller asking to provide them.
Always read the sellers returns policy on ebay and make sure you are satisfied that you can return it, if it is not as described.
Search now for tools on ebay!!!
With a lot of tools on ebay you can afford to be picky as there is such a good supply. There are however lots of collectors who purchase these tools, polish them up and never use them. This can inflate the price of certain tools, but many old non branded hand tools on ebay are still better than some of their modern counterparts today.