Replies

1. 
   blackwolf | Nov 24, 2002 08:48am | #1

   For more curves faster fancier I would dispense with the bandsaw, unless it's just for cutting blanks to rough size.  Get the best scrollsaw that you can.  The finer blade is better for the small radius curves in most craftwork.  If that is what you were referring to as a reciprcating saw, then that should be first on your list.   As far as the sander, opt for one with a 1" wide belt, which is best suited to detail sanding.  You might want to consider a high-speed rotary tool, such as a Dremel, for fine detail sanding as well.  Depending on the scale of your projects, a combo tool such as is offered by Roto-zip or the new Sears multi-tool (I forget the name) could serve the need of both a rotary tool and a router for light duty fine work.

   If I'm off base as to the scale or type of work that you're talking about starting, just say so, but that is what I would suggest. 

2. 
   forestgirl | Nov 24, 2002 08:59am | #2

   I'd suggest you reconsider the 8" drill press.  If it doesn't have a ratched adjusting mechanism for the raising and lowering the table, it's going to drive you crazy.  The 8"ers I've seen do not have the ratchet mech.  It doesn't cost much to go up to the smallest size with that mechanism.

   What do you expect to use the reciprocating saw for?

   What is the tightest curve you'd expect to be making with a saw?  That will partially determine whether you can get by with a bandsaw, or will need a scrollsaw.  A bandsaw is going to be much easier to make straight cuts with, and I'm thinking it will cut larger stacks of duplicates more accurately, but a scrollsaw will be able to do much more detailed, tightly scrolled work like fretwork.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

3. 
   mrles | Nov 24, 2002 09:06am | #3

   Tanya

   To cut a curve you need a scroll saw ( i believe you call it a jigsaw) or a band saw, or a saber saw ( i believe you call it a reciprocating saw). I would opt for the scroll first. The scroll blade is a short fine blade, you can drill a hole, insert blade, reattach blade and make inside cut outs. A bandsaw has a continuos circle blade, you can only make outside cuts. A saber saw has a blade with a point about 1/4 inch wide and and protrudes  into the wood about  2 inches ,you can cut inside and outside cuts with this however it isn't as accurate as a bandsaw or a scroll saw. The blade is attached  on one end and can flex around when sawing.

   To cut a straight line you need a table saw of some type.

   A 1 inch wide belt sander would help, cost less than $100.00, a small machine but very aggressive.

   A drill press would be nice also but I believe starting out a 12 volt battery hand drill should be a good choice. You can drill and drive screws with it.

   A router is handy for rounding over an edge. cutting a dado, decorative edging, and lots of other things. A plunge router lets you start in the middle of a board with some bits.

   A lathe is for turning round things, such as a chair leg, or a bowl. This is the last piece of equipment I would buy for what you indicate you want to do.

   God Bless and Good Luck

   les

4. 
   theRev | Nov 24, 2002 11:48am | #4

   Good advice from all (except your boyfriend). For small crafty stuff, you'll find the disk/belt sander thing indespensible. Be sure to get one of those crepe eraser/belt cleaners with it. And a vacuum. Scroll saw is good. Dremel tool is nice. Rather than a plunge router, think about a trim router. Do a search here, there was a good thread a while back which recommended the Porter Cable as a hefty but light weight option. It will take 1/4" bits, but is easy to control for light duty routing.

   Rather than a band saw, I might recommend a small miter box saw. That would let you make nice square cuts for projects like bird houses and such.

   Scott

1. 
   mitch | Nov 24, 2002 06:56pm | #5

   first off, get a new boyfriend- it's hard enough to find the time, space, money, energy and support to be creative without some jerk belittling your efforts.  Or did he laugh because he wouldn't know a mortise from the proverbial hole in the ground?

   secondly, try to find a good beginner level class in your area.  if there's a Rockler or Woodcraft store around, that would be a good place to start.

   GOOD LUCK!- and stick with it, your early efforts will likely be discouraging but we all started there.

   mitch

5. 
   RANGERP75R | Nov 24, 2002 09:48pm | #6

   Tanya

      You can get a 10" drill press, a 4 x 36 belt-disc sander for $99 each. Ryobi at HD. Most will laugh, but these have held up well. The 10" drill press is better IMO than anything in it's class. On a Band Saw the Jet 12" is cast iron body and has legitimate bearings and guides. It does retail at $329 I think. But in the long run for small projects, it will hold up much better than the little 9" BS. Most don't have adequate guides and bearing which lead to frustration.

      Here are some cheap $99 tools and the $300 B/S. They have preformed admiralaby. Good luck..

   sarge..jt  

   
6. 
   ToolDoc | Nov 25, 2002 01:09am | #7

   ok, IM going to take a crack at this too beings you mentioned a " Scroll saw" <G>.. being your a "Newbie" and theres nothing wrong with that we all had to start from somewhere!! I would say maybe you should check out the Dremel vs scroll saw the big boxes have em with a stand for $188.00,its a nice saw for what you want to do.. drill press--check out a Delta ,ryobi or check at Harbor Freight-- http://www.harborfreight.com  they have central machinery drill presses and there low cost.. jig saw-- think you mean a sabre saw?? check out the Freud, I have one and love it, again check the box stores cause they have em cheaper...Recp saw-- hmm guess you mean like a sawzall-- unless your doing remodeling, you wont need one in the shop...lathe-- check the harbor freight site  some friends bought hf lathes and love em.... disc/belt sander-- Sarge & myself have the Ryobi-- check Sears/Craftsman there belt/disc is the same as the Ryobi a great bargain for under a $100.00.. guess that about covers it..Hey have fun Woodworking.. and make darn sure you get the scoll saw..LOL..

   oh forgot the bandsaw-- wait til you have enough to buy a real band saw 14 inch Delta..

   Happy Woodworking....         ToolDoc

7. 
   adubeau | Nov 25, 2002 03:31am | #8

   Cybercat -

   I guess the best advice I can give is researh your tools, look on and read reviews and get multiple opions from different woodworking forums as to what you should do and what brand of tools are recommended or see what others prefer as a good choice, you will quickly find out that Craftmans powertools are not as respected as they were at one time, true they are manufactured by Ryobi but Sears still designs the tools.

   http://www.grizzlyimports.com

   http://www.houseoftools.com

   Try this WWing forum: This one is pretty good and use the search feature

   http://www.forums.woodnet.net

1. 
   DonaldCBrown | Nov 25, 2002 03:46am | #9

   true they are manufactured by Ryobi but Sears still designs the tools

   Can you elaborate on that statement? Sears designs the tools. How do you know that? Any supporting sources?

1. 
   adubeau | Nov 25, 2002 04:11am | #10

   Hmm, I am very curious as to why you would ask a question like this? Anyway I am only repeating a statement that was made to me at a Sears Hardeware...grant it this is only hersey, and maybe a valid or invalid statement made by a Sears employee. As consumers we intend to believe what we hear by retailers employees...eh?

1. 
   DonaldCBrown | Nov 25, 2002 04:35am | #11

   You bet....eh.

2. 
   ToolDoc | Nov 25, 2002 04:36am | #12

   Never repeat what you hear from hardare store employees..LOL.. the Craftsman disc/belt sander is mfg by Ryobi and there is no changes.. its the same tool...

8. 
   SawdustSteve | Nov 25, 2002 04:36am | #13

   Hi Tanya, and welcome to the 'splinters-in-the-fingers club.  There are several IMPORTANT items I did not see on your list... a GOOD dust mask, hearing protection...HEARING PROTECTION (for those of us who did not believe in it) and a good set of safety glasses.  Power tools have a habit of assaulting out ears, eyes and lungs in a way that hand tools do not.   Don't be afraid to ask questions.  It is the only way to get answers.  Go to the library and get out all the woodworking books you can.  Read them all and xerox the important pages.  Put them in a file and let it become your own text book.  Look for plans that are a bit over your competence.  Use them as goals, always trying for something bigger, better, more complex and done with more style and craftsmanship than the project before it.  Everyone here on the board has botched up a part of a job or the whole job.  It is how we recover from these mistakes that make us all better woodworkers.

   Again, WELCOME to this board.....   SawdustStevew

1. 
   talamute | Nov 26, 2002 07:47am | #14

   thanks for the advice on the safety equipment. i do a most of my own truck / car repairs, engine rebuilds, etc ('78 NOVA and a 4x4 Blazer) and am extremely safety-aware :) 

   and thanks to everyone else for all of their help. i understand what I always did with small saws and a lot of grunt work, but didn't understand what all those different power saws, etc were for or if I needed all of them, or a selection of them.

   now I get it  :)

   tanya