Marc Spagnuolo explains the hybrid method and his recommendations

Learn what hand tool you should buy first! [Web Version »]( &p1=%40dUfoyVyfSTFWq%2BYbUYkMt4KFngyUujdxvxxyP7t%2Ftx0%3D) [Popular Woodworking]( ) [Hybrid Woodworking]( ) [Hybrid Woodworking: What Hand Tool Should You Buy First?]( ) The world of hand tools can be a bit daunting at first. If you like the idea of a hybrid approach to woodworking and want to add hand tools to your arsenal, you may find yourself not knowing where to start. Fortunately Internet woodworking star Marc Spagnuolo (a.k.a. The Wood Whisperer) has a few words of advice to help point you in the right direction. (Excerpted from [“Hybrid Woodworking: Blending Power & Hand Tools for Quick, Quality Furniture”]( )by Marc Spagnuolo). It’s an age-old question I hear uttered hundreds of times a year: What hand tool should I buy first? Without context, the question is impossible to answer. Most times, I fire back several questions that help people understand why I can’t give them specific recommendations yet. What tools do you already own? What do you want to build? Do you want to mill lumber and will you use hand or power tools to do it? The trouble is, most new woodworkers don’t know the answers to these questions, and therein lies the difficulty. Tool-buying decisions depend on what the user plans to do on his or her woodworking journey, which is something probably unknown at the outset. Because you are reading this, I’m going to assume you are interested in the hybrid method and you already have a decent complement of power tools. Armed with that information, here are a few recommendations: A Sharpening System Yes, I realize that it’s anticlimactic to recommend sharpening equipment as a first purchase. It’s like telling new teenage drivers that before they can have the keys, they have to learn how to change the oil. But just like a car, hand tools can’t function without regular maintenance in the form of properly sharpened blades. If you don’t have a rudimentary understanding of sharpening, your hand tools will be nothing more than cool-looking paperweights. For years, I avoided hand tools primarily because I never had good results. My block plane seemed to have a ferocious set of teeth that would bite aggressively into the wood surface. The heart of the problem was with the tool, but the fault was all mine. If I had taken the time to learn how to sharpen the blade, the tool would have performed well enough to encourage me to use it more, which would have driven me deeper into the world of hand tools. This is why I think acquiring sharpening skills is the first step in anyone’s journey into the hand-tool world. - Marc Spagnuolo Author of Hybrid Woodworking [Read the rest of the blog post here >>]( ) [Hybrid Woodworking]( ) [For more great instruction for blending power and hand tools, check out Hybrid Woodworking available now at shopwoodworking.com.]( ) [Hybrid Woodworking]( ) [Hybrid Woodworking]( ) Hybrid Woodworking presents a fresh approach to woodworking and furniture making. Striving to show the most efficient ways to utilize both power tools and hand tools in the furniture building process, this woodworking guide recommends the right tools for every step along the way. Not only will you learn which tools are best for which tasks, but you will also find tips for how to use, maintain, and fine tune them. Whether you’re a hand tool woodworking devotee or prefer to use power tools in your furniture making endeavors, you’re sure to find validity in the merits and efficiency offered by the hybrid woodworking system. [Buy the paperback]( ) or [download the eBook]( ) instantly and get a FREE bonus video on Top 5 Planes for the Hybrid Woodworker! About Marc Spagnuolo: Marc is a podcaster, video producer and woodworking enthusiast. He has contributed articles and video content to FineWoodworking.com and Popular Woodworking Magazine. He produces the successful "Wood Whisperer" website as a great way to combine four of his passions: woodworking, technology, education, and humor. Marc started his own woodworking business, focusing primarily on studio furniture, but most of the time was spent on standard cabinetry, commercial work, and refinishing. He started The Wood Whisperer as a way to share his experiences as he built projects for his clients. Today, creating videos for his website is his primary business. $27.99 [SHOP now]( ) &p1={EMAIL}&p2=70249363 &p1={EMAIL}&p2=70249363 &p1={EMAIL}&p2=70249363 [Popular Woodworking on Facebook]( ) [Popular Woodworking on Google+]( ) [Popular Woodworking on Pinterest]( ) [Popular Woodworking on Twitter]( ) [Popular Woodworking on YouTube]( ) This email was sent by: F+W, 10151 Carver Road, Suite 300, Blue Ash, OH, 45242 USA [Unsubscribe or Manage Subscriptions]( ) | [Web Version »]( &p1=%40dUfoyVyfSTFWq%2BYbUYkMt4KFngyUujdxvxxyP7t%2Ftx0%3D) We respect your right to privacy. [View our policy.]( )