Handtools

Hand tools of mine

Once I figured out how to sharpen a blade, the world of hand tools lay open before me. The sharpening thing turned out to be quite the struggle. In retrospect, I just didn't understand what I was trying to accomplish. My first true success was with sandpaper whose grits ranged from 40 to 2000. I figured that if I moved the blade across each successive grit alternatively (in direction), then the prior grits marks would go away. After making sure I did both the front and back of each blade, and set a small bevel at the very end with a 1500 or so, I had a blade that would take hairs off my arm. Assembled into a plane, these planes worked wonders!

Here's my basic collection of hand tools.	Most of these are Stanley type 11's from right after WWI. They're strong and sturdy with thick castings.

I love my everlasts. They're the most comfortable chisels I've found to date. They have a great feel and are made of a steel that holds an edge well and yet is pliable.	Here are some of my more modern tools, a gorgeous Lie-Nielsen #4, a LN Rabbit block plane, an LN small scraper and 2 LN made (independence) saws. Also shown is my US made # 93 (in excellent condition), my scraper collection and some uncut shellac.