Recommended Channels
Paul Sellers
Hand-tool joinery and furniture making taught with remarkable clarity and calm.
Watch on YouTube →Rex Krueger
Hand-tool woodworking for beginners — practical, affordable, no-nonsense.
Watch on YouTube →Matt Estlea
Dovetails, hand tool joinery, and workshop craft — clear, technical, British.
Watch on YouTube →The Wood Whisperer
Marc Spagnuolo — professional furniture-grade woodworking with power tools.
Watch on YouTube →Essential Books
The Anarchist's Tool Chest
Christopher Schwarz
The definitive guide to hand-tool woodworking — which tools you actually need and how to use them.
The Essential Woodworker
Robert Wearing
Foundational hand-tool joinery from one of the great British craftsmen.
Understanding Wood Finishing
Bob Flexner
The most thorough, clear guide to wood finishes — chemistry explained accessibly.
By Hand and Eye
George Walker & Jim Tolpin
Classical furniture proportioning without drawings or CAD — a revelation.
Setting Up Shop
Sandor Nagyszalanczy
How to design and equip a home or professional woodworking shop.
Supplies by Budget
Budget — Start Here
Hand Tools
- No.4 Stanley-type hand plane (vintage from eBay, tune it yourself)
- 6mm and 25mm chisels
- Japanese pull saw (Suizan or Gyokucho)
- 300mm combination square
Sharpening
- King 1000/6000 combination waterstone
- Leather strop and compound
- Diamond plate for lapping
Mid-Range — Phase 3+
Power Tools
- 10" table saw
- Random orbit sander
- Plunge router
Hand Tools
- Lie-Nielsen or Veritas No.4 smoothing plane
- Full chisel set 6–38mm
- Veritas wheel marking gauge
Safety
- P100 half-face respirator
- 30dB ear defenders
- Impact-rated safety glasses
Professional — Phase 5+
Machines
- 8" jointer
- 12" thickness planer
- 14" bandsaw
Finishing
- HVLP spray gun
- Spray booth or outdoor setup
- Buffing wheel for final gloss
Sharpening
- Tormek T-8 wet grinder
- Worksharp 3000 as alternative