Hand Tools: Their Ways and Workings by Aldren A. Watson

I stumbled upon A. A. Watson's classic a few years ago when I ordered a few hand tool books from my local public library and did not quite know what to expect. Watson's book was a heavy volume in hardcover, with some really charming illustrations on the cover. The title was rather intriguing too: Hand Tools: Their Ways and Workings. It sounded a bit like one of those early modern voyage reports. And what a fantastic voyage has it been ever since that first moment... I should have known better...

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Watson wrote the book in 1980s when disco music, plastics, automation and ugly uniform design were en vogue and anything traditional, including hand tools and time-tested woodworking techniques was frowned upon. In those days the old masters were slowly passing into history and with them the knowledge of the fine art of woodworking was fading. Thankfully there were several passionate woodworking masters around who decided to act and preserve their woodworking lore and wisdom for future generations. They wrote books, established traditional woodworking schools and workshops, some even ventured into production of quality hand tools. Slowly, things were turning around...

Hand Tools: Their Ways and Workings is A. A. Watson's response to soulless industrialization of the woodworking process. A gifted artist and illustrator, Watson decided to write a book where every major woodworking tool get its own illustrated chapter showing the tool and its use. For Watson the tools he presents are not mere objects, he sees them as a true extension of human creativity, helpful but demanding and moody companions.

The book consists of 31 richly illustrated chapters and a series of appendices at the end of the book (more about them a bit later). Watson devoted the longest chapter (20) to woodworking planes. Every chapter is a treat for the reader and even simplest of tools, like wire brush (6), get a chance to shine. Watson's language is lively and interesting while the pictures are simply unmatched, I have yet to see a book on tools with better illustrations.

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Even though the book was originally published several decades ago, it remains completely relevant, even more so today then before, with hand tool  woodworking undergoing true renaissance and the best hand tool selection in decades. The only section of the book that is dated is the Appendix A, toolmakers (p. 374). Most of the tool manufacturers listed by Watson no longer exist, even though many of their products can be found on the second hand market. 

Despite Watson's best efforts, the chapter on planes (20) is the most disappointing part of the book. The author faced a difficult situation when writing it, as quality planes were really difficult to find those days. He chose to focus on major samples from the glorious past and several contemporary offerings still available in the late 1970s. The resulted in a somewhat hectic patchwork of plane lore, with some very strong bits and pieces and some important gaps. For example, Watson practically skipped molding planes (sadly, in those days molding planes were primarily used as fuel for wood stoves) and he limited the description of most joinery planes to models produced by Stanley Tools, skipping quality planes made in Britain, for example quality Record shoulder planes. Watson describes the awkward Stanley #147 match (tongue and groove) plane, but he fails to mention much better Stanley #48 and #49 tongue and groove planes. Moreover, he skipped router planes altogether! Despite the shortcomings, the chapter on planes is still very interesting and certainly worth reading. 

While I like the whole book a loot, the chapter  on chisels (7) is one of my favorite parts of the book. My personal practical knowledge of chisels is based mostly on Watson's meticulous illustrations in the chapter. Other chapters that I find especially interesting are the chapters on the workbench and vise (2), hand saws (25) and t-bevel (30). You will find the full list of chapters at the end of the review. 

Watson wrote his book as a guide for woodworkers who would like to set up a hand tool workshop. For this reason he gave special attention to appendixes, filled with hard to find information on inventory of a typical hand tool shop (F), plans for basic bench tools like bench hook and miter hook (C) and even advice on fitting a new hammer handle. 

The book is intended for relative beginners and those who had limited exposure to traditional hand tools, but even advanced woodworkers will find it engaging and informative. Every serious woodworker should have his or her own copy and come back to it from time to time. If you can get a hardcover edition (now out of print) it is even better as the size of the drawings is slightly larger. 

And the promised table of contents:

1. Discovery
2. Workbench & Vise
3. Anvil
4. Awl
5. Brace & Bits
6. Wire Brush
7. Chisels
8. Clamps
9. Drawknife
10. Hand Drill
11. File & Rasp
12. Hammer
13. Inshave
14. Jackknife
15. Level
16. Mallet
17. Marking Gauge
18. Mitering Tools
19. Nail Set
20. Pliers
21. Pry Bar
22. Rules
23. Sandpaper
24. Saws
25. Scrapers
26. Screwdriver
27. Spokeshave
28. Square
29. T-Bevel
30. Sharpening

Appendixes:

• A. Toolmakers
• B. Workbench Plans
• C. Plans for Bench Tools
• D. Fitting a Hammer Handle
• E. Closet Workbench Plans
• F. Inventory of Typical Shop
• Index

Verdict: 5/5

Audience:  beginners, intermediate, advanced

The good: fantastic illustrations, clearly written, one of the best sources on traditional woodworking tools

The bad: nothing major, the chapter on planes has some limitations caused by a very small selection of hand planes when the book was written

Conclusion: get it, it is a real treasure! 

Details: 
Author: Aldren A. Watson
Title: Hand Tools: Their Ways and Workings.
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company, 2002
Number of pages: 416
Originally published in 1982
ISBN: 9780393322767