Made Hand Tools

A simple design and a unique method of securing the blade makes building this plane an easy alternative to a traditional wood plane. A lot of woodworkers have an incurable weakness when it comes to hand planes — especially wood planes. There’s just something special...

Sharpen your skills by making this custom layout tool. Plus learn simple techniques for working with brass along the way. Made entirely from brass and steel this layout tool is sure to be the perfect addition to any shop. If the thought of working with brass and steel...

The precise adjuster for the iron and the solid heft make these planes a delight to build and use. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of using a fine plane — especially if you made it yourself. And if you’ve never had that experience then building one of these...

Show off your craftsmanship and attention to detail with this great-looking heirloom tool. For years a hand plane has been the symbol of fine craftsmanship. As you can see this isn’t an ordinary plane. The design is called an infill plane since the wood parts...

Exotic wood and polished brass come together in a pair of handy layout tools. Layout is one of the first tasks in any woodworking project. These two shop-made layout gauges can help make that task easier and more accurate. The two gauges work as a team to handle both...

A panel raising plane may be a tricky build however you will be thankful for having it as it will give you accurate and even results in future projects - not to mention the satisfaction of accomplishing the task will be worth it alone. This Popular Woodworking...

A bowsaw is a useful tool to have in the shop for cutting fret wood and curves. With this step by step instruction from Bill Anderson you will be able to create your very own. This Popular Woodworking Magazine article by Willard "Bill" Anderson teaches you start to...

Sharpen your skills by making this custom-designed layout tool and the etching on the blade will showcase your attention to detail. This miter square is simple to make from a piece of brass stock and wood. The wood handle features a brass end cap to help keep nicks...

Despite its look this is no Mickey-Mouse project. This shopbuilt router plane is sure to become a favorite tool in your shop and one that will get used often. While a router plane doesn’t share the same iconic status as a smoothing plane or a hand saw its usefulness...

Combine a 6" ruler with a few pieces of wood and brass to create a sweet tool to simplify tool adjustments. You’ll find a multitude of uses around the shop for this handy setup gauge. The best part is that you can build it in a weekend from just a few scraps of wood...