I am a newcomer to this message board and of the few questions I have asked I am extremely pleased with the willingness of people to help and share ideas as well as the courteous atmosphere.

I have been involved in woodworking (strictly as a hobby) on and off for ten years and consider myself to be fairly savvy in the techniques and application of woodworking.  The reason behind the subject of this message is to find someone who is very experienced in fine woodworking and ask them if they would be willing to let me hang around (or work in) their shop with them so as to further my “education” in woodworking.

Like a lot of us here, I have a full time job (private equity analyst) unrelated to woodworking but am slowly moving in the direction of full time woodworking.  So without further rambling, I would be honored to take part in an opportunity to learn from and share ideas with any of you native houstonians.

Thanks again for all the helpful suggestions.

Troy

Fine Woodworking Recommended Products

Crown Rosewood and Brass Cutting Gauge

The Crown Tools cutting gauge tightens securely and cuts well, but fit and finish issues make fence adjustments fussy. The thumbscrew can’t apply moderate tension, which would make adjustment easier.

Buy at Amazon

Whiteside Slot Cutter 6710A 3-Wing (1/4") Slotting Cutter Router Bit .250"

- Carbide tips cut spline joints in solid wood, plywood, and particle board
- Kerf 1/2" deep
- Cutters require arbor to operate

Buy at Woodcraft

Ridgid R4222 Miter Saw

Especially considering the price, among the lowest of the bunch, the Ridgid R4222 has impressive adjustability. It has the largest crosscut capacity of all the saws. And the miter and bevel settings have the largest range of travel, and a bevy of detents. However, the power switch is clumsy, a bad design especially for lefties. The adjusters are either hard to use or hard to reach. Plus, its slider needs the most room out of any of the saws.

Buy at Amazon

Milwaukee M12 23-Gauge Cordless Pin Nailer

This tool is designed for convenience. The battery and pins are easy to load, and the safety lock operates with the same finger you use to pull the trigger. The depth of set is adjustable, there’s a work light, and there’s a hook for hanging the tool on your toolbelt. A gauge lets you keep track of when you’ll need to recharge.

Buy at Amazon

Makita LS1219L Miter Saw

This is the saw I want in my shop. For one, it’s easy to use. All of the controls are easy to reach and manipulate, and the glide mechanism is both robust and smooth. The handle works well for righties and lefties. Then there are added bonuses that no other saw has. For instance, its hold-down is superb, as it can move to different locations, hinges for a greater range of coverage, and actually holds down the work. In addition, the saw has two points of dust collection, letting it firmly beat the rest of the field. The one downside was the saw’s laser, which was so faint we had to turn off the shop lights to see it. Still, all these pluses in a package that fits tight to the wall? That’s a winner for me.

Buy at Amazon