Updated June 10, 2026
Tool buying tends to outpace skill. A more useful approach is to buy the few tools that every project touches, learn to sharpen and tune them, and add specialised tools only when a real task demands one. A sharp, well-set tool from the budget tier outperforms a dull premium one.
The core set
- A bench plane (No. 4 or No. 5) for flattening and smoothing.
- A set of bevel-edge chisels in common widths for paring and chopping.
- A backsaw for joinery cuts, plus a panel saw for breaking down stock.
- A marking gauge and a marking knife for accurate layout.
- A combination or try square you have checked for accuracy.
- A sharpening setup: stones or abrasive paper on a flat plate.
Buying secondhand
Older planes and chisels are often better value than new budget tools, but they need inspection. Check the points below before paying.
Hand planes
- Sole reasonably flat; light surface rust is fine, deep pitting is not.
- No cracks at the mouth or around the tote.
- Adjuster moves the blade without excessive slop.
Chisels
- Sound handle with no splits at the ferrule.
- Enough blade length left above the bevel for years of sharpening.
- Back that can be lapped flat near the cutting edge.
A note for Canadian buyers
Tools bought at estate sales in older industrial regions are frequently sound under surface rust. Store them in a heated, low-humidity space over winter and wipe steel with a light protective oil; condensation in an unheated garage is a common cause of rust returning.
Tune before you blame the tool
A new edge tool rarely performs out of the box. Flatten the back of chisels and plane blades near the edge, hone a consistent bevel, and set the plane for a fine shaving. Most early frustration traces back to a dull edge or a misaligned frog, not the tool's quality.
References
- Wikipedia — Hand plane, for plane anatomy and types.
- Canadian Conservation Institute, on caring for metal and wooden objects.