What's in your tool bag?

I always say a joiner needs good tools. Here is a handy list of the essentials when approaching any joinery work:

Hammer. Essential for all joinery worth whether hammering nails down into wood or using the claw to break up and remove wood for replacement.

Handsaw. Make it at least 22 inches - the longer the better! Needed to cut materials to accurate sizes.

Chisels. Invest in a range of chisels – from 6ml to 25ml – to chop locks and hinges out.

Keep it straight with a two foot or five foot spirit level.

Battery drill. As a minimum, an 18 volt drill complete with auger bits will make life so much easier when drilling doors out putting screws in.

Smoothing plane for a fine finish.

Oil Stone. To deliver the best, your tools need to be in good nick. Use an oil stone to sharpen and hone.

Tape measure – not strictly a tool, but essential for taking accurate measurements to plan the joinery where all the above tools will be needed!

But always remember, a good joiner never blames his tools!