Many of the crafting plans require a tool, the tool is like any other ingredient except for the fact it is never used up like ordinary ingredients are.
For a tool to show up you have to have enough crafting skill, the same as you do for any ingredient. You can find out how much crafting skill a tool needs by using the Info button on the tool from your inventory.
If you try crafting and a tool you have doesnt show up the chances are it is because you do not have enough crafting skill. You can get around this by keeping a low level tool in your inventory and a second higher level tool equipped. That way you can get a bonus from your high level tool and still have the low level tool ready for crafting purposes.
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