Replies

1. 
   RANGERP75R | Nov 22, 2003 11:24pm | #1

   Jon

      Your question is kind of hard to answer. There are some good books out there that cater to beginners. It depends on what you already know.

      What to get first. Think about some of the projects you want to make and ask yourself, "what tools will they require"? That's what you get first and go from there on priority of what is needed.

      My over-all thoughts are to start with the basics (both books and tools) and climb the ladder as skill and need dictates from that starting point. A few things you might consider are some type of work-bench, table saw and clamps. The clamps should probably be first on that list as you will always need them working alone.

      As you acquire the tools learn to use them to their full potential, care for them. trouble-shoot them and how to safely operate them. Same with hand-tools. Learn the basics inside-out. Your journey will progress much quicker that way.

      How many clamps are needed? One more than you need and the general rule of thumb is you always come up one short. ha.. ha...

   Happy WoodWorking.....

   sarge..jt

   Proud member of the :  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

2. 
   john | Nov 22, 2003 11:36pm | #2

   Are there any woodworking classes available in your area? Quite often there are evening classes for adults. Another learning resource are magazines which often have simple projects and give an idea of what tools are needed for each one.

   John

3. 
   BG | Nov 23, 2003 12:10am | #3

   Jon,

   The very first book has got to be 'Woman are from Venus...Men are from Mars"...we talk a lot about safety on this site...but we never think about the one person who can kill us in our sleep...by stuffing sales receipts down our throat....lol.

   'The nest step is finding, defining and preparing your space.  Many of us have only 200 square feet.  Its becomes less usefull if it has not been prepared with sufficient outlets, lighting, comfortable floor, etc.  
4. 
   BobSmalser | Nov 23, 2003 12:40am | #4

   Only a couple basic books are worth the dough, other than for the fun of books...especially if you have a woodworker friend you can spend the day with to get started...or a Comm College class:

    

   Cabinetmaking and Millwork by Feirer,

   Home and Workshop Guide to Sharpening by Walton

   And one on cutting joints...I don't have one, but Tage Frid or Frank Klauz know what they are about.

    

   Get them used on Amazon for very little.

    

   Start simple and work your way up.  Shelves in a couple variations then a toolbox using all the joints you learned like my apprentice box from 40 years ago:

    

   Tote Box  

    

   Learn to cut joints...hardware for a piece will cost often more than the wood and is poorer workmanship.  It's much easier than the "gurus" selling trying to sell their sponsor's magic machines yap about....probably because some of  them  never learned to do it.

    

   You're doing excellent work when you make a piece that will be fully functional long after all the hardware has rusted away and all the crossgrain glue joints have failed.

    

   You can do spouse-pleasing or show-winning work (depending on ambition) at adequate speed with a 6" jointer, 12" thickness planer, contractor's saw with basic fence, 3hp plunge router, and basic hand tools.  A bandsaw is handy, as is a cordless drill.  The lathe can wait till you get more experience.  You don't really need pockethole jigs, dovetail and dowel jigs, biscuit joiners, airnailers, mortising machines, microprecision saw fences, 300-dollar scraper planes, 200-dollar sawblades or the like.

    

   I could probably get you started on basic joints in less than a day...M/T, Dado, Dovetail, Rabbet and a couple variants...much easier than the guys who want to sell you power tout, a whole lot cheaper and better...just takes patience and a little practice.  

    

   Holler when stymied and me or somebody else will be glad to help....there are tricks to save your first-attempt sloppy joints without scrapping the workpiece.

    

   Joints:

    

   Blind Dovetail

    

   Thru Dovetail

    

   Sliding Dovetail

    

   Raised Panel

    

   Drawbore M/T

    

   Diagonal Wedge M/T  (with wedged dowels holding panel)

    

   M/T Thru Bridle

    

   Bridle  (on stretcher)

    

   Tapered/Wedged Round Tenon  (top)

    

   Tapered/Wedged Round Tenon  (bottom)

    

    

   And here's a note on the same subject I wrote to a friend a while back who wanted to build a boat:

    

   I'd get the following to begin:

   Workmate
   4 Large Hand Screws...come by sometime with a handful of 1" hardwood dowels and we'll make those together.
   Sawhorses....we'll make those, too.
   7 1/4" Skilsaw and combo blades
   Framing and Combo Squares
   Small Japanese Saw (dovetails and joints)
   Block Plane...Stanley 60 w/ adj mouth from Ebay.
   Marples Paring Chisel Set...Ebay
   Wood Rasp...flea market.
   Cordless Drill/Driver and bits...DW PC or Makita
   16oz Claw Hammer
   8' Folding Rule w/brass extension (inside measurements)
   Marking/Mortise Gage
   8" Bevel Square...used from Ebay
   Chalk Box
   Cabinet Scrapers

    

   And to eventually acquire the following power tools:

    

   Grizzly Tools:
   Table Saw
   6" Jointer
   12" Thickness Planer
   7 1/4" Skil Saw
   Bosch Saber Saw
   Cordless Drill...14-18v...DeWalt PC or Makita
   Selected Hand Tools from Ebay above.

    

   Major Shop machines from Grizzly or Jet (Grizzly shipping is cheap, Jet slightly better and costlier).

    

   Power Tools from Amazon.com Toolcrib.

    

   Hand Tools (older Stanley, etc) from Ebay, Lee Veritas and Highland Hardware. Run the numbers on each purchase....fine common Stanley prewar planes and Disston saws can be dirt cheap on Ebay but some collectors items...Stanley 92 shoulder planes, for example...can be bought new for similar money.

    

   And once you learn to cut joints, you'll use them for everything:

    

   Gate

    

   Thru Dovetails

    

    

    

    

    

   
   
   

   ---

   Edited 11/22/2003 4:47:49 PM ET by Bob

   
   

   ---

   Edited 11/22/2003 4:54:25 PM ET by Bob

5. 
   Dustmight | Nov 23, 2003 02:02am | #5

   Hi Jon and welcome to a great hobby! Alot of your shop needs will depend on what types of things you want to build. Assuming you may not know for certain, the basic work triangle in most shops consists of a TS, jointer, and planer. Those tools will allow you to begin every project with flat square stock that will help avoid all kinds of problems. Get a really good TS blade ($40>). A router is extremely versatile, and is safer and easier to use when mounted in a router table. None of this stuff has to cost an arm and a leg, but think longer term and try to buy the best you can afford. Doing alot of research on the critical tools will give you a good education, and will help you pick the best tool for your situation. Good used tools are an excellent option. Good tools retain their value surprisingly well, so view it as somewhat of an investment. (You'll save a fortune on furniture too!) Lots of us make do with a contractor saw, 6" jointer, and a 12" portable planer. Many WWer's aspire to own a full cabinet saw, 8"(>) jointer, and 15" stationary planer, but the most important tool is you. If there's desire, you'll find a way with what you can afford.

   A decent workbench is a must and makes an excellent first project, but here's the catch 22....you kind of need one to build one. A couple of saw horses and a door can suffice while you build a workbench as project one.

   A DC will reduce sawdust, make life in the more enjoyable and alot safer...saw dust is not good for you. Make this a priority.

   You'll need lots of clamps, some hand chisels, hand sander, good measuring references, squares, straight edges, etc.

   You can add other tools as needed - BS, DP, mortiser, sanding stations, biscuit cutter, etc.