Hello,
I am new to woodworking. At a yard sale this weekend I picked up the following tools in excellent condition:
– Porter-Cable 1 3/4 HP router fixed base/plunge kit for $95
– Bosch jig-saw for $45
I have around $300 left to spend on tools. How can I most efficiently spend it to start making furniture? I would like to build some simple tables, chests, bookshelves, etc. I currently have no chisels or anything else beyond the above purchased items. Please do not suggest a workbench or router table as I plan on building my own following plans from FW.
Thanks for any suggestions on what to purchase.
-Josh
Replies
Woodworking is a great hobby and a fulfilling profession. Having said that, woodworking is one of the most expensive hobbies or professions to get started.
But please don't be discouraged, there is always hope. If you have 300 dollars, I would not buy any tools in a hurry and sleep on any decisions before you make one.
Remember you need to buy wood too. Here is what you need to do:
1. Don't buy any new tools. And don't buy any old tools too that you really don't need.
For example, the jigsaw and the router are not really necessary. Because you have the router, now you need to buy router bits. But they are great tools that you will need down the road.
2. What you really need is a table saw with a miter gauge. Buy anything you see that is a good deal and is in pretty good shape. Buy cheap.
3. On the table saw you can rip all your wood and also cross cut it with your miter gauge.
4.Buy some clamps: small small clamps and buy some pony clamps and go buy some 3/4 black pipe at HD. U need these for clamping boards together.
5. 3/8 & 1/2 " chisels. 3/8 for mortising and 1/2 for the rest.
6. If you find a used 7 1/4 circular saw, pick it up.
7. Screw gun, glue etc.
And remember that you can use metal fastners (screws, brackets etc) to help things.
Edited 8/13/2007 1:15 am ET by temujin
My suggestion would also be a table saw, but not sure I'd advise "buy cheap." A table saw that will not tune up properly (blade and fence parallel to miter saw) is not only frustrating but dangerous. I looked at your profile, but your geographic location is not listed. Whereabouts are you? How close is the nearest large city? Craig's list is an excellent place to watch out for used tools in your neighborhood if you live near one of the ones listed.
when my wife and I were first married, this tool junky had
a hammer
a set of chisels
a block plane.
a scraper
a bunch of fww mags
I enrolled in a night school course so that I could use their power tools and make dust to my hearts content.Did that for two years.
The pine coffee and end tables i made are still out there circulating in the extended family.God knows were my refinished furniture got to.
buy tools as you need them to do the work at hand.
Eric in Calgar
Boy, $300 sure isn't much... not to be discouraging. But if you get into it, and find that you have a passion for working wood, more will follow. Believe it or not, two of the first power tools I had were a Bosch router (3 hp plunge) and Bosch jig saw, and I built quite a bit with those. You could actually build EVERYTHING you want, to high accuracy, with nothing more than a router, a few bits and some home-made jigs. Or you could go the old-fashioned route, and do all your work with hand tools: planes, chisels, mallets, handsaws, clamps, etc. The only question is, how much time do you want to take to do the building?
I agree with previous posters about looking for good (usually older) used tools, and don't buy a wimpy table saw. You'd be throwing your money away. You might even consider making your first major power tool purchase a bandsaw. It will do most of what a table saw will do and some things a table saw can't do. You might check Harbor Freight for pipe clamps. I've gotten some from them for a fraction of the cost of some brand names when they're on sale, and they perform superbly (let me add that clamps are one of the few things I WILL buy at HF).
One thing I would definetely recommend won't cost you anything: get to your local library and dive into some books. Sky's the limit on what you can find to help you out. You're already here, and there's lots of good (and inspiring) info at sites like this. This is a kind of tool in itself! It gets you that much closer to where you want to be.
Anyway, for sure you'll need some measuring and marking tools: square/tri-square, bevel square, straight-edge/rule, trammel/compass, marking gauge are some to consider. I'm getting too wordy, so I'll quit. I think the other guy was right too about not jumping into buying too fast. Do your homework/research and make a good, solid informed decision..... then go out, build something and sell it so you can buy some more tools!
I would recommend a jointer as your first stationery power tool. I know this is probably against the advice of almost everyone but here is the logic (or lojk if you think I'm crazy).
A jointer will give you reference faces and edges that are pretty difficult to come by without a bunch of jigs or manipulations on a table saw. Check out most peoples' SOP. They joint an edge, then run that edge against the fence of the table saw for ripping. If you run a rough edge against the fence you will get one or both of the following; a matching rough edge or binding and smoke.
A jointer will allow you to purchse your lumber in an S2 state as opposed to S4 that is sold at places like Lowes or Home Depot and many lumber yards. Buying S2 will save you AT LEAST 50% on your lumber and give you access to better sources and varieties. You might even buy rough lumber at even greater savings and still get nice surfaces and edges with you jointer.
I would recommend at least a 6" jointer. You should be able to find a decent used one for $100 more or less if you are PATIENT!
Just my 2CW, best of luck getting started. Remember, woodworking is like a gas, it expands to fill it's container! LOL You'll never have too many tools.
Regards,
Mack
"WISH IN ONE HAND, S--T IN THE OTHER AND SEE WHICH FILLS UP FIRST"
Here's some good reading:
http://www.popularwoodworking.com/upload/images/ICDT_Book_Feb07_HI.pdf
A couple of other suggestions:
- Buy quality tools and your work will be easier and you won't have to replace them (best advice I ever got).
- Let your projects fund your tool purchases, buy as you go along. Not only is this a great argument with SWMBO, but it keeps you from buying things that you never end up using, like those lathe chisels that I have.
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