alternate_tool_recipes/init.lua

local old_craftreg = minetest.register_craft

minetest.register_craft = function(c) 
	if (c.type == "" or not c.type) and c.output then
		local tooltype = 
			(string.find(c.output, ":hoe_") and "hoe") or 
			(string.find(c.output, ":shovel_") and "shovel") or 
			(string.find(c.output, ":pick_") and "pick") or 
			(string.find(c.output, ":axe_") and "axe") or  
			(string.find(c.output, ":sword_") and "sword") 
		
		if not tooltype then old_craftreg(c); return end
		if type(c.recipe) ~= "table" or #c.recipe ~= 3 or type(c.recipe[3]) ~= "table" then old_craftreg(c); return end
		local A = c.recipe[1][math.min(#c.recipe[1], 2)]
		local B = c.recipe[3][math.min(#c.recipe[3], 2)]
		if tooltype == "hoe" then
			c.recipe = {
				{A, A, B},
				{"",B,""},
				{B,"",""}
			}
		elseif tooltype == "shovel" then
			c.recipe = {
				{"",A, A},
				{"",B, A},
				{B,"",""}
			}
		elseif tooltype == "pick" then
			c.recipe = {
				{A, A,""},
				{"",B, A},
				{B,"", A}
			}
		elseif tooltype == "axe" then
			c.recipe = {
				{A, A,""},
				{A, B,""},
				{B,"",""}
			}
		elseif tooltype == "sword" then
			c.recipe = {
				{"","",A},
				{A, A,""},
				{B, A,""}
			}
		end
	end
	old_craftreg(c)
end