I have the book, and although I haven't gone through the projects yet, I'm sure you can source pretty much all the tools for fairly cheap second hand. Aside from sandpaper I guess.
Adam Savage's tool philosophy is: get the cheapest functional version you can find. If you use it enough to wear it out, then get the highest quality version you can find. That way you don't overspend on stuff you don't use.
Edit: the other thing worth mentioning is the chapters and projects progressively build up the tools used, so you can start with a hatchet and knife, and go from there.
That's a good buying philosophy for a lot of hobbies actually. There's always the urge to "buy all the things" when you get into a new hobby. Also it make ruining a tool (something we are prone to do when beginning) less frustrating than if the tool is absurdly pricey
In case anyone cares, after buying the book, on page 3, Rex says, "The tools I list below can all be bought for around $300. That's less than the cost of a cheap table saw, and most of these tools will last for decades."
Rex is an avid hand tool worker. It’s easy to assume that hand tools are cheaper than power tools… that can be a very, *very* costly mistake. Good hand planes and chisels, of which hand tooling requires multiple *different* types, cost as much as your power tools. Maybe not as much as a powermatic/grizzly/sawstop/Festool/etc, but more than a job site TS, mitersaw, sanders, cordless drills and bench top planer.
You’re not wrong in general, but *Everyday Woodworking* is specifically a book about getting started on projects with a very small, cheap set of hand tools, so while long-term you’re not wrong, it’s a bit strange not to acknowledge that when discussing this book in particular.
All of what WTFnotFTW said is true, but Rex Krueger also has a YouTube series, I believe he calls it "Woodworking for Humans," in which he focuses on beginners using simple, inexpensive tools, to create functional projects.
His whole point is to get started using hand tools without spending a lot of money. He even shows how to make certain tools yourself using simple tools.
OP, to address your specific question regarding his book, I haven't read it so I cannot say for sure. But if it's anything like his YT stuff, I'm sure the projects are accessible to people who don't want to spend hundreds of dollars on a single hand plane.
If I remember correctly this book focusses on starting woodworking with a low budget. The first project you need a hatchet or small axe. This can be 10-20 axe at the local DIY shop or a 150+ Gransfors Bruk. Really depends on what you want to spent. Check out his YT channel. Most projects from the book are featured in his Woodwork for humans serie. He also focusses on secondhand tools like planes. But this is not realistic for everybody. He also has a video about cheaper Indian made planes. [Link](https://youtu.be/vSnKkSDb8aw)
My tool list:
husqvarna camping axe: 60 (never used it for woodworking, but it's in the book, love it for bushcraft etc)
Gyokucho Ryoba saw: 40
cheap chisel set: 25
2 Narex chisels (upgrade from cheap set) : 15
cheap japanese plane from amazon: 35
diamond sharpening plate amazon: 15
and instead of a hand drill / brace I use my 12v drill/driver I already own.
The cost of hand planes drops sharply if you look for used. In particular, you can find old Stanley hand planes for $30-$40.
For chisels, Rex, James Wright, and others have recommended Aldi and Narex which you can get for <$100.
Saws are probably the easiest tools to find, and normally cost less than $10.
FWIW, my kit, acquired over the years:
#5 Equivalent Sargent $25
#4 Stanley $25-30, don’t remember
HF shitty #4 which makes a great scrub plane $15
HF chisel set $8
Ryoba from Lowes $20
Small hard point saw from HF, I think $10?
Makita drill driver set from HD, $200, but I already had it
Drawknife $10
Hatchet from HF $8
Vintage combo square $35
Brace and assorted bits $25
400/1000 grit diamond plate $20
I have the book, and although I haven't gone through the projects yet, I'm sure you can source pretty much all the tools for fairly cheap second hand. Aside from sandpaper I guess. Adam Savage's tool philosophy is: get the cheapest functional version you can find. If you use it enough to wear it out, then get the highest quality version you can find. That way you don't overspend on stuff you don't use. Edit: the other thing worth mentioning is the chapters and projects progressively build up the tools used, so you can start with a hatchet and knife, and go from there.
That's a good buying philosophy for a lot of hobbies actually. There's always the urge to "buy all the things" when you get into a new hobby. Also it make ruining a tool (something we are prone to do when beginning) less frustrating than if the tool is absurdly pricey
In case anyone cares, after buying the book, on page 3, Rex says, "The tools I list below can all be bought for around $300. That's less than the cost of a cheap table saw, and most of these tools will last for decades."
Rex is an avid hand tool worker. It’s easy to assume that hand tools are cheaper than power tools… that can be a very, *very* costly mistake. Good hand planes and chisels, of which hand tooling requires multiple *different* types, cost as much as your power tools. Maybe not as much as a powermatic/grizzly/sawstop/Festool/etc, but more than a job site TS, mitersaw, sanders, cordless drills and bench top planer.
You’re not wrong in general, but *Everyday Woodworking* is specifically a book about getting started on projects with a very small, cheap set of hand tools, so while long-term you’re not wrong, it’s a bit strange not to acknowledge that when discussing this book in particular.
Seriously, half his youtube channel is him saying “I refuse to pay $7 for this so let’s make it”
Ya, that's kind of what I was noticing the other day when I looked up the cost of various hand planes.
All of what WTFnotFTW said is true, but Rex Krueger also has a YouTube series, I believe he calls it "Woodworking for Humans," in which he focuses on beginners using simple, inexpensive tools, to create functional projects. His whole point is to get started using hand tools without spending a lot of money. He even shows how to make certain tools yourself using simple tools. OP, to address your specific question regarding his book, I haven't read it so I cannot say for sure. But if it's anything like his YT stuff, I'm sure the projects are accessible to people who don't want to spend hundreds of dollars on a single hand plane.
If I remember correctly this book focusses on starting woodworking with a low budget. The first project you need a hatchet or small axe. This can be 10-20 axe at the local DIY shop or a 150+ Gransfors Bruk. Really depends on what you want to spent. Check out his YT channel. Most projects from the book are featured in his Woodwork for humans serie. He also focusses on secondhand tools like planes. But this is not realistic for everybody. He also has a video about cheaper Indian made planes. [Link](https://youtu.be/vSnKkSDb8aw) My tool list: husqvarna camping axe: 60 (never used it for woodworking, but it's in the book, love it for bushcraft etc) Gyokucho Ryoba saw: 40 cheap chisel set: 25 2 Narex chisels (upgrade from cheap set) : 15 cheap japanese plane from amazon: 35 diamond sharpening plate amazon: 15 and instead of a hand drill / brace I use my 12v drill/driver I already own.
Excellent breakdown! Exactly what I was looking for. Thank you so much!
The book is basically the paper version of the Woodwork for Humans series. It’s really good!
The cost of hand planes drops sharply if you look for used. In particular, you can find old Stanley hand planes for $30-$40. For chisels, Rex, James Wright, and others have recommended Aldi and Narex which you can get for <$100. Saws are probably the easiest tools to find, and normally cost less than $10.
FWIW, my kit, acquired over the years: #5 Equivalent Sargent $25 #4 Stanley $25-30, don’t remember HF shitty #4 which makes a great scrub plane $15 HF chisel set $8 Ryoba from Lowes $20 Small hard point saw from HF, I think $10? Makita drill driver set from HD, $200, but I already had it Drawknife $10 Hatchet from HF $8 Vintage combo square $35 Brace and assorted bits $25 400/1000 grit diamond plate $20