Norman Pirollo shows how he embraces hand tool woodworking in his furniture making. I describe the hand planes you need and what to look for in a hand plane. Hand tools and hand planes used in my woodworking and furniture making are explored. Hand tool woodworking eliminates dust, noise with minimal space requirements. Little maintenance is required with hand tools. Woodworking with hand tools is often quicker than power tools. Hand tools excel at detail work with emphasis on the process.

Techniques presented to determine if the face of a board is flat. Discussed are hand tools such as measuring tools, chisels and the workbench itself. The sequence to prepare rough boards to useable boards using hand planes is described. Shooting board, bench hook, portable board jack and workbench accessories are also discussed.

Techniques presented to determine if the edge of a board is square and flat. Discussed are hand tools such as measuring tools, chisels and the workbench itself. Discover how to efficiently joint a board using a hand plane. The "Portable Board Jack" workbench accessory to clamp long boards to a workbench for jointing is demonstrated.

Learn how to use a bench hook. Advantages of a bench hook and workholding accessories. Techniques presented to use specialty planes such as a plow plane and the bench hook. Discussed are hand tools such as measuring tools, chisels and the workbench itself. The sequence to prepare rough boards to useable boards using hand planes is described. Shooting board, bench hook, portable board jack and workbench accessories are discussed.

Discover how a shooting board improves your hand tool woodworking and furniture making. How to configure and use a shooting board with jack plane or dedicated shooting plane. Introduce precision to your furniture making and woodworking. How to select chisels for detail work and use fine chisels for paring. Techniques presented to use specialty planes such as a shooting plane and to incorporate a shooting board in your workflow.