how I always did it was to keep metal stockpiled. depending on how many people are in the village, I usually have 1 or 2 picks, why? because I usually do the mining, and the stone axes are usually better. and I make the tools as they are needed, need drops off pretty quickly of coarse, and because I crush most of the uppity nubs when they crop up, we don't normally have a lot of needy people. the ones who are too needy will either slip up and do something stupid, giving you an excuse to get rid of them, leave, or quit.
I had one guy in W3 who wanted to be payed 2 bars of metal a week for doing the job of repairing things. he was a good guy, but he wanted a lot of things. prolly would have shaped up to be a good member of the village if I hadn't mistakenly drove him away.