What tools do beginner woodworkers REALLY need? 

I enjoyed this video. A woodworker's tool collection is a unique record of his history in the craft. I always find that interesting. Thanks for sharing!

Please continue to start your videos with a cup of coffee. Thanks as always for sharing your thoughts and insights. Tell Huckleberry I said hello. Have a great week!

Since my father left me a plane collection, which cover most plane sizes and includes two Stanley 55s with almost all the cutters. Enjoyed your video very much.

I'm french, and you're unfortunately right. Auriou is maybe the last company producing high quality woodworking tools in France. Goldenberg disappeared, Peugeot doesn't produce woodworking tools anymore, and the time is long gone when Darex (now Fischer-Darex) could sell planes with the slogan "L'outil américain au prix français" :).

Where were you all my life? I usually only lookup woodworking videos when I need information on something specific. But since you first popped up in my feed I just keep watching all your videos until the end too. Thanks for the great content

Mr Curtis you have quickly become one of my favourite woodworker to watch. You have a very modern feel if that makes sense, you catch my attention rather well, very expressive I like it.

Wow a Prius guy who loves old tools, who woulda thought. Carry on young man, enjoy your passion for woodworking. Semper Fi young man.

I have my GF's great grandfathers tools and workbench from over a hundred years ago, and in that collection was a wooden plow plane. I had no idea what it was and what it was for, so having you explain that was really funny and valuable to me. Thank you!

Hello Mr. Curtis. I just discovered your channel and I really appreciate the way you pass on your knowledge. More than anything, I love what seems to be your “it’s all about personal preference” mantra. You really help us become more critical about the accumulation of tools. Now I'm going to follow your concluding advice and go "do something". THANKS!

That was such a fun video, thank you. I love the old tools. I used to pick up a lot of them back when I lived up in New Hampshire and Maine. I also am a big fan of Lie Nelson. Thanks…

I'd love to see you do more tool stuff. I think specifically getting into the philosophies of the different tool makers you make use of like lie nielsen and veritas. I think getting into their pros and cons would be really helpful for new folks trying to navigate the tool market.

I worked for a boat builder many years ago and we built a huge radius staircase in his house after the laminations had dried he handed me the #8 Stanley and had me run up and down the stairs to flatten the stringer. That was the last time I used a #8, I do most of my jointing with a #6 because it’s what I have.

For some reason this got me in the feels. My father was an avid hand plane collector and he, like you had a wooden chest for his tool collection. I about died when you brought it out.

So I bought a nr 8 after seeing this video and OMG I love this thing! Makes flattening/joining large and even medium sized boards so much faster and fun.

I looooooooooooove hand tools❤

I recently saw a "tools beginners don't need" video that featured a large jointer plane. I laughed when you pulled yours out because I feel the same about my Stanley #8. It lives on my bench shelf and I pull it out for projects that I should probably use a smaller one, but it's just so much fun (and a great workout). Thanks for the tour. I'm no beginner but I wouldn't say I'm anything more than a serious hobbyist. And I do love looking at all of the sharp things, whether shiny or covered in patina.

That little Crown Gent Saw with a wooden miter box for moulding is really a fantastic way to cut fragile moulding pieces.

Totally agree on the No. 8. I think the same way. It just feels “right” so often.

I get the feeling you love them all and I’m only a third thru the love fest. But that’s as it should be. Unrealized applications is why I enjoy viewing makers such as yourself. How can I use a tool differently that I already have rather than just lusting after the next tool. I still lust but at least my mind continues to open up. Thanks for all this.

Having old tools connects me to the past / history of woodworking. I love my old tools. Priceless.

Great video Eric! I always enjoy seeing old hand tools. It takes me down memory lane of watching my grandfather use tools like that when I was a young boy. I got my love of woodworking from him. If I leave this world with 1/10th of his ability to work with wood I'll consider myself blessed.

Could you do a beginner power tool series (sanders, planers, etc)? You do a great job explaining how things work, how their used, common problems, etc.

Oh my goodness...such an overload of "love of tools". Personally, I would like to see a "build" of that wall cabinet AND of that tool chest.

Awesome video! I do like to see various wood workers talk about their process and the most used tools they use. I'd love to see a deep dive on the Router Plane or even the Spokeshave.

I truly enjoy your teaching style so any of the videos youre doing have been very educational. Please continue on and teach based on your passion.

A great collection of tools, and the joy they bring you is apparent!

To be honest, I prefer your project based videos. I say that because I enjoy your descriptions of the design process. On the other hand, I will watch the "tool-based" videos. My shop is mostly hand tools with a band saw, and now a power thicknessing planer. I am always jointing one edge and flattening one side with hand tools. Anything you have to teach surrounding that would be wonderful. Keep up the good work, I enjoy the enthusiasm.

Idk about deep dive on each tool but you teaching Bourbon Moth how to use them would be amazing

Very helpful video. Thank you for sharing.

Absolutely wonderful video! No specific tool, but would love to see some showcases and deep dives of these tools! As always, thank you for the inspiration and knowledge!

We all love to make a thing, but some of us really really love the things that we make things with😂 Great video as per usual man, fast becoming my Saturday afternoon routine. Personally I’m happy watching whatever content you put out 👊🏻

I am still catching up on all of your past videos while mixing in some of the newest, but you asked about educational versus project videos, and for myself, your format of teaching skills and information about tools keeps me coming back.

Love the coffee intro!

Oh wow! The carving on that block plane is gorgeous!

Great video. I vote for a deep dive on the router plane. I would love to see your take on that.

Love this! I switch between power tools and hand tools frequently, and own some of the tools you have (maybe older varieties, but same). I fell into two joiner planes in Germany at.....$4.00 each, and had one Stanley metal body version handed down. I mostly use them to join two boards together, but never thought of them for leveling until I watched this video - you changed my approach! Hand tools bring me joy on a whole other level than power tools, but I go back and forth on almost any project. I'm glad I learned to use the hand tools first, and sometimes they are faster anyway. Love your channel brother!

It would be great to see you do a deep dive on the Veritas Router Plane (I'm thinking of getting one). Thanks for all of your honest, entertaining, and informed opinions. Cheers!

I actually walk the dog past the old Robert Sorby factory I think? Is cool seeing things from my little hometown making their way so far afield :D

I just bought an old Pennsylvania Co gent's saw, 10" 16 ppi, off a tool restorer's website for $25. It's my first dovetail saw and I have yet to get it but this made me feel good about my purchase, thanks!

For those interested Lee Valley is now selling the Auriou rasps and they are in stock.

I think this is the best one yet man. I am embarrassed to say how many times I laughed to myself and keep the coffee up bc I have a cup of it in my hand when I watch so Meah to the person who said stop. That mug…. I want that mug!!!!

I’m currently reflattening my Merbau workbench. The rough work was done with a Stanley No 4 and there was a lot of tear-out. The HNT Gordon smoother is the “duck’s nuts” for the finishing! An absolute work of art I bought 30 years ago.

Thank you!! Love the beard!

Great video. The fact that you can put words into a sentence without every other word being "umm... ya know" makes it much more enjoyable to watch. I like that fact that your wall is not all "red" or "yellow/black" like so many other videos - I don't feel like I'm watching an infomercial. My grandfather used to build cathedrals, churches, homes, furniture and pretty much anything else that was made of wood. As a kid I would help him out but after high school I took a different career path and now that I am semi-retired, I am trying to get back into the basics. Informative and easy to watch.; I look forward to seeing what else you put out.

It makes me happy to see S&J tools in your shop. I get a lot of crap about them lol

That's a beautiful collection you have, thanks for sharing with us

Very insightful and enjoyable. I love the way you wove the practical with the anecdotal 👍👏

That was a great video. I appreciate your honesty regarding tools that you keep around just because they’re cool. I buy and keep some random tools (i.e., LN #8 and #51) just because I love to look at them. I oddly aspire to someday be worthy of my tools.

Im not really set up to do hand tool work a mistake by me but you and rob cosman always show me what I'm missing. Im in the process of coming up with a new workbench for a much needed vise to to get going with the hand tools

Love today's video. Very enjoyable.

Yes, please- I would particularly appreciate some deep-dive videos into hand planes, as well as hand chisels- including some of the ‘one-off’ chisels and how to use them properly for their intended use cases. Context: I grew up in rural America on cattle ranches. My father being a metal worker and the things I learned growing up being invaluable, but precision wood working was not in my repertoire. I’m doing a lot of independent learning over the past three years in regard to woodcraft. I recently came into an inheritance of woodworking tools- that is also why I would appreciate covering some of those one-off tools (mainly in the chisel arena); to get a thorough understanding of the, “what the hell is this for…?” moments. I don’t have any hand planes yet, but love working primarily with hand tools, so naturally I’m really drawn to get some. Pretty much anything to help get my sea legs under myself faster would be appreciated- maybe read as: ‘Things I Wish I knew Earlier.’ I have already taken a lot away from your videos, genuinely thank you! You have quickly become my go-to person for hand tool woodcraft- keep up the strong work brother 💪. P.S. I like it when you slurp coffee at the beginning of your videos 🇺🇸☕️

Man, love your tools!!!! Keep it clean and fresh!

I love that you have a few items in your collection for sentimental value, or that you just find them beautiful - even if they are not useful on a daily basis. Anyone who loves the craft can appreciate this… I have an old beat up Stanley #78 , and a #4 that I have never used, but they were my grandfather’s… and I just enjoy having them on the shelf along with my ‘daily drivers’. Maybe build videos are more popular, but I love this. Thank you.

What a great collection of tools. Thanks for sharing it.

I always find tool education videos interesting, even though I know how to use most tools. It was really interesting your disdain for Wood River planes. Rob Cosman promotes them and with some work, he seems to get amazing results. I've been to a Lie-Nielsen tool event and I was impressed by the quality and feel. I do have a LN rabbeting block plane and absolutely, hands down is the best tool I own. I'm in the process of refurbishing some old Stanley's, replacing the irons with Hock irons, etc. Keep it coming. This is quickly becoming one of my favorite channels

Liked the video. Very interesting keep it up.

So happy I found your channel, been watching a lot of the past episodes and really enjoying the content. Engaging and very imformative, thank you!

I've been watching you videos for a few weeks, finally remembered to subscribe. I think that it's less about the specific type of video, more about the quality of presentation. I like your "This is how I do it, it may not be the technique for you." A realistic and, dare I say, inclusive teaching style. Encouraging exploration is a more valuable teaching tool than a rigid do this, do that. My advice is continue to be yourself, don't apologize for that, and keep remembering that the joy of woodworking comes from the art part, not the science part. (Unless you get geeky about it like I do.) BTW, I have that crown dovetail saw. I love how it cuts, I'm amazed at the value, but I just can't love the straight handle. To each his own. And enjoy your coffee.

As always that was so interesting. Kept it up.Julien Lamarche

Really enjoyed that tour of some of your tools - thanks.

Thank you for the great woodworking and advice and common sense about the thing. I have started a simple thing and I have to thank you for the motivation for making the thing.

Love the content! Would like to see how you use and sharpen the cabinet scraper.

Enjoying all your videos as they come across my feed, enjoyed this one in particular. I’ve become a complete and unapologetic tool whore, and absolutely love seeing others’ collections and hearing which items they most connect with. Thank you for sharing.

Fantastic videos. Yes, you're spreading the joy! I've got years of machine based hobbiest woodworking under my belt but not a single hand plane, scraper, etc. Gotta figure out what the first purchases should be, how to use them efficiently, and how to get my sharpening game going. Would love some advice on resources (e.g. books) that help us hobbyists learn the design skills you've got. You shine well above the rest of the RU-vid woodworking influencer community in that you're an exceptional designer too. Thanks. Keep it up!

I have my Grandfathers tools from the time he learned the trade in the 20's- 30's from a master French cabinet maker and he had to pay the Master 5 shillings a week to be taught.

Such a great video, very enjoyable thank you, I must admit to love seeing other woodworkers tool collections, maybe I need help!! Thanks for posting, keep 'em coming

The tiny rasp you showed at 04:40 is indeed called a riffler rasp (rifloir in french)

I have that same 102 LN block plane. I now need to find an engraver. Yours is stunning. I've just found your videos and I'm loving your style of video and obvious passion for woodworking. Inspirational, thanks for your videos.

Really enjoyed this. Love your passion.

Haha “A good, good woodworking boy” This video definitely makes me want to use planes!

It's pretty funny that you should talk about the french having trouble making stuff available while praising Lie Nielsen, when LN tools have been 100% unavailable anywhere in europe for 3 years

Very impressive set of hand tools and know how about them! People are not very familiar around hand-tools around a battery any more...

An impressive selection. thank you for sharing.

Truly amazing 👏👏

❤yes more hand tool vids. I'm a landscape okl painter who fell backwards iij into woodworking to make frames and dont have the space or money for big power tools. I have a inca bandsaw and vintage hand saws and planes collected cheap.

Great content!! Yes, coffee does taste better in a cup!! Don’t change a thing!!

Wow, that 102 is AMAZING!! The only "engraving" on mine is where Tom Lie-Nielsen signed it for me with a little graving pen. I'm going to have to see about finding someone to do some more fancy work on some of my collection. What a great video! Don't yet have a router plane, but I think you just changed my mind about that! Keep up the great content!!

Cabinet scrapers and cardscrapers too, lets you avoid a LOT of sanding. You slice off the fibers instead of wearing them away like you would with sanding. It doesn't let the wood whisker like sanding will.

Loved the tour.

Thanks for mentioning the Center for Furniture Craftmanship. They even have 1 or 2 week courses that i will definitely be looking into.

great coffee intro keep it up

I enjoyed the perspective on the tools. I am curious on how you sharpen your carving tools. Thinking about getting a pair someday, It would be cool to add some of those details in future projects.

That was fun, i appreciate the peek at your journey. You skipped the bottle opener behind the door.

I would love to see a build of that tool chest as well. However, I'm a big fan of the router plain. So, I would not be opposed to a deep dive of that one. I'm a recent subscriber, and I'm quickly becoming a fan. You really seem to know your stuff, and you're not afraid of hand tools. You do good work. Keep it up

thNK YOU

I always enjoy this type of video. I would like to see some videos on when to use specific tools. I’m just getting into hand tool woodworking and I’m a very visual learner (is that actually a word)? Always fun to watch your videos.

Great video!

Great video cool to see what hand tools you hav and use.Always very informative

That's so funny. So as soon as you were done saying wood to er planes suck I got an ad. And it was wood river.

Nice presentation, I like your under bench box too, nice bit of dovetail work on it. I am with you when using a dovetail saw, I prefer the straight handle also. Glen-Drake Woodworks, who makes a unique line of hand tools for fine woodworking and an instructor at the Krenov Woodworking School, also makes an excellent dovetail,saw with a straight handle, and a progressive tooth cut, allowing you to start the cut with a fine tooth and then goes to a more aggressive cut. The straight handle gives more control and helps me to keep my wrist straight. Something you might want to look into or consider… Cheers

honestly i think i'd love to see a longform vid from you just doing what you do, just building/making something and just seeing your "process" for lack of a better word.

I love that coffee cup

Love the 043. It’s also one of the first planes I bought. It’s amazing.

And here I am upgrading my chisels to a Narex set from Mastercraft set, now the beating ones. LOL

Loved this!I understand the "feel" of something from the past we cherish-in my case a 130 year old draw knife. So the leads me into the next...I would love to see a deep dive on two things. Draw knives of course, with a focus on how to sharpen one. Secondly, would be he use and care of old shp wrights planes! Thanks for what you do.

Nice coffee mug! - Something I would love to see, is your strategy for sharpening tools throughout a project, not necessarily how you sharpen, but more about when you sharpen. So is that something you do prior to a project or during the project? And how do you keep them sharp AND how does the interruption of sharpening affect the rhythm of the work? Also, I just want to say that I look forward to your video every week - thanks for the hard work you do to encourage us every week!

Hello Huckleberry!! Cool tools too.

Great video! The guy that complained about coffee doesn't know shit! Everything start with coffee... ;-) After looking at a few of your videos, I REALLY like your down-to-earth approach to tools. Although you have many fancy tools, you always specify that you don't need them to do good woodworking projects. Like you I have a mix of old refurbish, a few Veritas, and others expensive brand tools. I was also surprised to find-out that my list of most used tools is very similar to yours (although I am an amateur, and far from as good as you). I wish I knew sooner that developing skills is by far the most important thing, followed by sharpening or sharp tools. I would rather use a sharp cheap tool than a dull expensive one. Thanks for sharing, I am now a new subscriber.

Great video. Thank you for the walk-through of your hand tool arsenal! Question regarding your No 4s- any variance in how these are set up? (e.g. bed angle, mouth width, blade camber?) Thanks again.

I’d really be interested hearing why you seem to hate Woodriver planes. I just bought two ( a 4 1/2 and 5 1/2) along with a low angle block plane, and I find them to be a pure joy to work with