Power tools are fast and efficient, but there’s a satisfaction to using hand tools that no cordless drill can match. A sharp hand plane gliding over wood leaves a finish that sandpaper can’t replicate. A well-tuned chisel lets you feel the grain as you cut.
Working by hand forces you to slow down and pay attention — to the way wood fibers curl away, to the scent of sawdust, to the sound of a perfect cut.
Hand tools also offer more control in delicate work and are often safer for beginners learning the basics. Start with a quality set of chisels, a block plane, and a hand saw. You might be surprised at how much you can build without ever plugging in a tool.