Hand Tool Set Up and Use
Get your hand tools working the way they were meant to.
A focused two days in the workshop — get your hand tools working the way they were meant to, no advanced skills required.
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Discover the Joy of Well-Set Up Tools
• Experience the difference a properly adjusted plane or chisel makes.
• Work with tools that cut smoothly and predictably instead of fighting the wood.
• Bring your own tools and leave with them performing better than ever.
• Hands on learning experience in a relaxed, small-group setting.
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What You'll Learn
• Assess the condition of your hand tools and identify areas for improvement.
• Optimal set up of your hand plane’s frog, chip breaker, and lever cap.
• How to achieve square, predictable results when planing.
• Assess tool performance and how to troubleshoot potential problems.
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A Foundation for Confident Hand Tool Woodworking
• Knowing how to set up your tools properly builds trust in every cut.
• These skills transfer accuracy into joinery, furniture making, and fine woodworking.
• Once your tools perform as intended, projects become simpler and more enjoyable.
• The perfect bridge into sharpening, project-based courses, and beyond.
Course Details
Duration: 2 days (08:30 – 16:00)
Location: PlyCreations Workshop, Centurion
Class size: Max 3 students for individual attention
Cost: R4000 per person (payable on invoice after booking)
What’s Included
We provide:
All sharpening, set up equipment and raw materials
Demonstrations and one-on-one guidance
Workbench space, muffins & coffee
You must bring:
At least one chisel and one hand plane, plus any other blades or hand planes you’d like to practice on, try to make it the tools you will use the most
Note:
The tools you bring along need to be in a workable state
FAQ’s
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No prior experience is required — this course is for beginners and intermediates.
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Yes. Bring at least one chisel and one hand plane in reasonable condition.
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You’ll need both to take part. If you’d like advice on what to buy, contact me.
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es, but only as part of tool setup. For in-depth sharpening, see the Sharpening Masterclass.
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Just your tools, curiosity, your note book and a willingness to learn.
Ready to work with tools that perform as they should?
Prefer a printable version?
Download the Hand Tool Set Up & Use Course Outline (PDF) for a detailed overview.