What to hold.
The five edges that do the work — what each one's for, and how to keep it sharp.
Firmer chisels
The edge that cuts a mortise clean and pares a shoulder square.
bevel · honedHand plane
Takes a rough board to a glass face, one shaving at a time.
smoothing · jointerBeam saw
Two hands, a wide blade, and a line you can trust.
crosscut · ripFraming slick
A chisel the size of your forearm, driven by hand into green oak.
large timberAdze
Shapes a beam's face with a sweeping inside cut.
hewing · hollowing