It seems to me that the question of appropriate ways to find, build, refurbish or buy hand tools is a constant subject that often clouds questions that original posters are trying to pursue. Certainly this is a hot topic for this forum. It occurred to me to make a post on this topic and give everyone a chance to air their thoughts on this subject in a post dedicated to the specifics of this issue so that maybe we can reduce how often this type discussion ends up clouding other topics.
Hand tools vs machines
I have been a poster on these forums for quite a while. I started out posting on the General Forums. Like many posters on the Neander site I became enamored of the quieter more physical hand tools. Even more, I was tired of having so many posts answered by what machine I needed to buy to do the work for me. Like many posters here I wanted a less expensive way to do things "hands on". I constantly experiment with refurbishing old tools, making tools and purchasing new tools. I personally enjoy all the ways to acquire hand tools. I will also admit to having an affection for and attraction to tool design and function. I may, and often do, buy a tool not just because I need it but because I want to experiment with how well it works for specific work vs other hand tools.
Personal discalimers
I constantly experiment with hand tools in an attempt to eliminate any reliance I may have on machines or electricity. I am not a totally hand tool woodworker, as much as I might prefer to be. I do a good amount of construction work and landscaping that I feel can not be done in a timely fashion without some sort of machine. I have very nice Scythes, which for me have just about eliminated any need I have for weed eaters, but those hand tools are not likely to replace my Zero turn mower for mowing 6-8 acres of grass and weeds. I use a track saw for construction work on a regular basis because I often have large quantities of sheet goods to process and lots of lumber to cut to length. I eliminated my table saw years ago and I am in the process of eliminating my electric compound miter saw. I mention these, slightly off topic tools as some of the tools I use for landscaping and construction also get used for woodworking. The point here is sometimes people "need" tools for work that is not strictly speaking woodworking that once purchased may do double duty. I maintain buildings and 12 acres of property with a large array of tools, all of which have to be maintained, sharpened...These "other" tools may skew my particular tool collection vs the average woodworker so I am just mentioning this up front. I think it is wise of each individual poster to realize that we all have our own individual, unique environment that we work in which will certainly skew our tool collection.
Tolerance
I do think there is a risk of taking our hand tool obsession to the other extreme. I am talking about the extreme where each tool has to be refurbished from something found at a flea market or made by hand by the woodworker him/herself. I understand this urge and have particular attachments to those tools I have personally restored or built myself. However, there are quite a few instances where these ways to acquire tools may not serve. I work or attend organized functions just about every Saturday and Sunday I find it very hard to get to flea markets. There are many people who have health or work restraints that may not allow the time required to find flea markets and search them for tools. There are some people who may have more spare cash than spare time and for those people buying items new or buying items someone else has refurbished or built is a logical solution. Although there is a valid worry about scaring new woodworkers with complicated expensive tools that they fear they can not afford. There is also a valid point to be made that a new person attempting to do work with improperly designed or dull tools may become equally discouraged. Sometimes a job has to be done by a specific time or a woodworker attending a class finds a tool on the tool list they do not have time to make or search for before class time...
Objective
I am not making this post to challenge anyones methods for acquiring tools or anyones tool collection, quite the opposite. I applaud everyone who uses hand tools no matter how they acquire them, especially those who find the time and energy to refurbish old tools or build their own tools. I hope this post can serve as a place to consolidate thoughts on this subject. Maybe this thread can serve as a place to send new people who are wondering how, where and how much to spend for tools. I hope we can discuss this topic in a judicious manner that will give everyone a chance to express their opinions in a way that will benefit everyone.