Four hand tools specific to carpentry
If you need four examples, these are widely used in carpentry:
- Claw hammer: drives and pulls nails.
- Chisel: pares, trims and cleans out joints in wood.
- Hand saw: cuts boards to length or shape without power.
- Combination or framing square: checks and marks right angles and layout lines.
Other tools, such as tape measures, levels, hand planes and utility knives, are also fundamental. The sections below group them by what they do.
What counts as a hand tool in carpentry?
Hand tools are tools you operate with your own muscle power rather than a motor. They include measuring tools, cutting tools, striking tools, gripping tools and shaping tools. They are portable, quiet, and give a lot of control for fine work. They can also cause injuries, particularly cuts and strikes, so using sharp tools carefully and keeping them in good condition matters.
Measuring and layout tools
Accurate carpentry begins with accurate marking.
- Tape measure: for lengths. Many carpenters pick a tape with a sturdy, readable blade and a hook that moves slightly to account for its own thickness.
- Combination square or speed square: for marking and checking 90 and 45 degree angles.
- Sliding bevel: copies and transfers angles that are not square.
- Pencil and marking knife: a pencil is fine for rough work, while a marking knife gives a finer line for joinery.
- Level: checks whether surfaces are horizontal (level) or vertical (plumb).
- Chalk line: snaps a long straight line across a surface.
Cutting tools
- Hand saws: crosscut saws cut across the grain and rip saws along it. Many people prefer a fine-toothed saw, such as a dovetail or tenon saw, for joints, and a panel saw for general cutting.
- Chisels: used for chopping mortises, paring tenons and cleaning up joints. A set in a few widths is commonly recommended. Always cut away from your body and keep both hands behind the cutting edge.
- Hand planes: shave wood to flatten, smooth or fit pieces. A block plane is a common first plane.
- Utility knife: for scoring, trimming and opening packaging. Replace dull blades, since a dull blade is more likely to slip.
Striking and driving tools
- Claw hammer: for nails. Many woodworkers prefer a smooth-faced hammer when marks matter, and a textured face on framing hammers can leave marks in surfaces.
- Mallet: a wooden or rubber head for tapping chisels or joints together without damaging them.
- Nail set: drives nail heads slightly below the surface so they can be filled.
- Screwdrivers: slotted, Phillips and other drive types. Use the right size and type to avoid damaging screw heads, and choose screws to suit the job (see wood screws vs drywall screws).
- Pry bar: for removing nails or separating pieces.
Holding and clamping
Clamps hold work steady while you cut, glue or fasten, which is both safer and more accurate than holding it with your hands. A few bar clamps, some quick-grip clamps and a bench vise or workbench stops are useful early purchases. A sturdy workbench or a pair of sawhorses provides a stable surface.
A starter list of common carpentry tools and their uses
| Tool | Typical use |
|---|---|
| Tape measure | Measuring lengths |
| Speed or combination square | Marking and checking right angles |
| Level | Checking horizontal and vertical surfaces |
| Utility knife | Scoring and trimming |
| Claw hammer | Driving and pulling nails |
| Nail set | Setting nail heads below the surface |
| Chisels | Paring and shaping joints |
| Hand saw | Cutting boards by hand |
| Block plane | Trimming and smoothing edges |
| Screwdrivers | Driving screws |
| Pliers and pry bar | Gripping, pulling and prying |
| Clamps | Holding work |
| Sliding bevel | Transferring angles |
| Chalk line | Marking long lines |
| Files and rasps | Shaping and smoothing |
| Mallet | Tapping chisels and joints |
A tape measure, square, hammer, chisel, saw and clamps will cover a lot of early work. Add more as projects demand.
Four power tools common in carpentry
A related question is which power tools are typical in carpentry. Four widely used examples are:
- Cordless drill/driver
- Circular saw
- Miter saw
- Random orbital sander
Nail guns, routers and table saws are also common. If you are planning to add these, see our guide to power tools for beginners for a safe buying order, and corded vs cordless tools for how to choose between types.
Safe handling and care
- Wear safety glasses when striking, chiseling or sawing.
- Keep cutting edges sharp. A sharp tool requires less force and is less likely to slip.
- Cut away from your body and keep your free hand out of the path of the blade or chisel.
- Clamp the work rather than holding it in one hand while the other cuts.
- Store edged tools with guards or in a rack so blades are protected.
- Wipe tools clean and dry to limit rust, and keep wooden handles free of cracks, replacing tools with damaged or loose handles.
- Wear a dust mask when sanding or filing, and gloves where appropriate, but avoid gloves around rotating machinery.
Buying tips
- Start with a small set of dependable tools rather than a large kit of poor-quality ones.
- Buy used if you are prepared to check for rust, cracks and bent blades, and sharpen as needed.
- Learn basic sharpening, as it makes cheaper tools perform better.
- Add tools as projects need them.
Related guides
If you are heading toward fine joinery and casework, our article on essential tools for cabinet making builds on this list. For turning work on a lathe, see woodturning tools for beginners.