Why We Still Use Hand Tools (and When We Don’t)

In a world of CNC routers and automated everything, it might seem old-fashioned—or even inefficient—to reach for a hand plane or chisel. But at Moss House Interiors, hand tools still play an essential role in our workshop.

That doesn’t mean we ignore technology. We use modern machinery every day. But there’s a reason we still keep our blades sharp, our marking knives close, and our ears tuned to the rhythm of the grain.

The Beauty of Hand Tools

Precision with feeling

Hand tools allow us to work with the wood—not just on it. There’s a level of tactile feedback you get when planing a surface or pairing a joint by hand that machines can’t replicate. You feel the grain, the resistance, the rightness of the cut.

Finish and finesse

A sharp hand plane can leave a glassy surface that needs no sanding. A sharp chisel can clean a corner a machine will always overcut. These tools give us control over the smallest details—and in bespoke work, details matter.

Flexibility on site

Not everything is built in the workshop. When fitting joinery into an old building with wonky walls and irregular angles, no machine can adapt as quickly or intuitively as a good eye and a sharp hand tool.

When We Don’t Use Them

We’re not romantic purists—we use machines where they make sense:

• For accuracy and repeatability – Table saws, routers, and track saws are ideal for clean, square components and batch cutting.

• For efficiency on large projects – If we’re cutting 30 identical cabinet sides, hand tools aren’t the best use of time.

• For heavy work – Machinery takes the strain off repetitive tasks like planing down rough sawn boards or cutting sheet goods to size.

Modern tools help us work smarter, not faster for the sake of it. They free us up to focus our attention where it matters most—on the joinery, the feel, and the finish.

It’s Not Either/Or—It’s Balance

The best results come from knowing when to blend hand skill with modern capability. It’s not about nostalgia—it’s about using the right tool for the job, and knowing that sometimes, the slow way is the best way.

At Moss House Interiors, we don’t choose hand tools for tradition. We choose them for quality, for beauty, and for the satisfaction of knowing we shaped something by hand—and you can feel the difference.

Curious about our process?

Come visit the workshop, or follow our builds over on Instagram @mosshousehq for a behind-the-scenes look at both the hand tools and the machines we rely on.