Like so many others, I began learning this craft without a built out workspace. In fact, I had little more than a toolbox with some common tools for basic home maintenance. Yet, with a little ingenuity and a few trips to the hardware store I was able to buy or fabricate most of the tools that were absolutely essential to begin to shape and finish briar. Now, this wasn’t an efficient workspace, but it did provide just enough to get the job done.

After nearly two decades of working with makers–from experienced and dabblers–I wanted to gather some information on the tools of the trade. Some of these are available at your local hardware store, other specialty tools are designed by me and sold in my store.