Tools: A Visual History: The Hardware That Built, Measured and Repaired the World

Tools: A Visual History takes you through more than 140 hand tools, from carpenter’s rulers to specialist workshop equipment. Dominic Chinea, known for his work on The Repair Shop, introduces each tool through the lens of heritage craft and practical use.

This digital edition is available as a PDF download, so you can start reading immediately after purchase. With 310 pages and detailed imagery, it suits collectors, makers, and anyone curious about the hardware that shaped everyday life.

Book Overview

Organized into ten clear chapters, the book covers measuring and marking, gripping and holding, hammering, cutting, carving, filing, smoothing and shaping, tightening and loosening, specialist tools, and cleaning and caring for tools. Each section pairs tools with their purpose and the stories behind them.

Chinea shares personal stories from his workshop, including the restoration of a much-loved old hammer and his efforts to revive the Ranalah English wheel. The result is a visual record of the tools that built, measured, and repaired the world.

What You’ll Discover Inside

• More than 140 hand tools, each with detailed visual context and practical background.
• Chapters organised by craft, from measuring and marking to specialist tools.
• Stories from The Repair Shop and Dominic Chinea’s own collecting and restoration work.
• Insights into heritage craft and why old tools were made to last.
• The story of the Ranalah English wheel and how Chinea revived this piece of engineering history.

Why This Book Matters

Tools: A Visual History connects readers with the everyday objects that built, measured, and repaired the world. It celebrates the skill of craftspeople and the value of looking after tools across generations.

For readers interested in making, restoration, and industrial heritage, this book offers a thoughtful and visual record of objects that are often overlooked.

Book Details

Device Compatibility

This is a digital download, so no physical item will be shipped. After purchase, you can access the file immediately and read it using compatible reading apps, including the Kindle app, tablets, desktop computers, and mobile devices.

For the best experience, set your reading app to portrait orientation and adjust the font size to your preference.

FAQ

How do I get access to the book? After purchase, the digital file is available for instant download.

Will a physical copy be shipped? No, this is a digital-only product.

Which devices can I use? The PDF works with compatible reading apps on tablets, phones, desktop computers, and Kindle apps.

Add Tools: A Visual History to your collection today and explore the stories behind the tools that shaped our world.