WoodworkMembers

Joinery from Scratch

Wood is the most satisfying material you'll ever work with. Your first project: a simple shelf that will outlast you. Tools, joints, and the precise thinking that makes it work.

Skill levelComplete beginner
Time needed1–2 weekends for first project
Starter budget£150–300 for tools + wood
Step 01

The starter toolkit

Start with hand tools, not power tools. They're quieter, cheaper, safer for beginners, and teach you more about wood. Once you understand how wood behaves, power tools make sense. Before that, they just make mistakes faster.

Tenon saw (25cm, ~12 TPI)

£25–35 (Stanley or Irwin)

The fundamental cutting tool for joinery. A tenon saw has a stiffened back for controlled, straight cuts. Cuts joints, cuts timber to length.

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Chisels (set of 4: 6mm, 12mm, 19mm, 25mm)

£30–50 for a starter set

For paring joints, chopping mortises, cleaning up sawn cuts. Buy a basic set and keep them sharp — a blunt chisel is dangerous and useless.

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Jack plane (No. 5 bench plane)

£45–70 (Stanley No. 5 or a second-hand Record)

Flattens surfaces, removes saw marks, reduces thickness, creates a smooth finish. The most versatile plane. Hand planing is deeply satisfying.

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Combination square (300mm)

£12–20 (Faithfull or Irwin)

Marks lines precisely at 90° and 45°. Non-negotiable for accurate joinery — everything depends on this being square.

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Marking gauge

£12–18

Scribes a line parallel to an edge. Used constantly in joint-cutting — marking where to cut a mortise, where a rebate starts.

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Sharpening stone (combination 400/1000 grit)

£18–25

Sharp tools are safe tools. A stone that goes from coarse to fine gets you to a working edge in five minutes. Strop on leather to finish.

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Woodworking mallet (250g beech)

£12–18

Drives chisels. Never use a metal hammer — it will damage chisel handles. A wooden mallet transmits force without destroying the tool.

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Workbench or Workmate

£80–100 (Workmate)

You need something solid to work on. A Black & Decker Workmate is the best beginner solution — folds flat, holds timber, costs £80–100. A proper workbench is the upgrade.

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Where to buy tools (UK)

  • Axminster Tools — Best UK specialist woodworking tool retailer; quality tools, excellent advice
  • Rutlands — Good range of hand tools and finishes; competitive prices
  • eBay (vintage tools) — Second-hand Record and Stanley planes from the 1960s–70s are often better than modern equivalents at a fraction of the price
  • B&Q / Screwfix — For timber, sandpaper, screws, and consumables — not for quality hand tools

Buy the best tools you can afford once. Cheap chisels won't hold an edge. A £35 set of chisels will frustrate you; a £70 set will serve you for 20 years.

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Part ofSet Up a Workshop—Course 2 of 4

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