Hammer (Genno) $20-$33
For driving chisels and adjusting planes (although a wooden mallet is sometimes preferred for the latter). As you go deeper into this craft, your hammer collection will inexplicably grow. I’ve lost count of how many I have now. I think I might have become a hammer nerd. You should see the the one I just got! It has a solid copper head! Anyway, I have found a 375g hammer to be my go-to favorite, but for heavier joinery work I like 570g. Shape is optional but I find the longer head shape to have more general usefulness than the barrel shape.
Awesome guide, thanks for posting. I would love to get into joinery. Need to accrue a few things first…
I was fortunate to take a Basic Woodworking course with Toshio Odate in NYC at Pratt one year. He embodied the Japanese approach to craft and I have often thought of him when I create and build my works. I am glad to see your collection of books contains several of his works and they continue to be used by current craftsmen today.
Japanese Woodworking: A Gift Guide for Beginners