[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Getting Into Woodworking. (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 4/25/2017 5:56:03 PM EDT
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I remember taking woodshop in Jr. High and enjoyed it. My dad had some tools, but never did much with wood.
I would like to get into woodworking. I have a one-car garage I can turn into a workshop. So, where do I begin? What's the first step and what do I need? How do I get some skills and knowledge? |
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I can recommend the high end DeWalt job site table saw on the rolling cart. Â Mine has a 32 1/2" rip capacity fence. Â That allows me to cut cabinet sides. Â It also has a long arbor so I can use a dado stack.
You want an out feed table the same height. Â I've got a 6' folding table and raise it up using 1" PVC pipe on the legs. Â With a good blade that setup is capable if making some decent cabinets. Â Not ideal, but it quickly can go anywhere I need it. This saw. |
| On a table saw, weight really helps with precision. I put sandbags on my cheap table saw to help with that and reduce vibration but the good ones have a large heavy cast iron top and good t-slots and square edges. I would look for an old use Delta or similar saw. |
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Table saw, planer, router, miter saw, circular saw, palm sander, drills, tape measurer, and squares. Maybe a drill press, reciprocating saw, and jig saw.
I like my kreg jig too. Table saw, planer, miter saw, sanders and drills are probably the most useful power tools. A good planer will keep you from having to buy the expensive lumber, and a table and miter saw will keep you from having headaches when your pieces aren't cut right. You can do a lot with a circular saw, sander and drill. |
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Just start building stuff. Start with something you need that doesn't have to look good. Work your way up. I started with a computer set-up when I was 14 or so. I've built a few nice-looking pieces of furniture and many useful things over the years.
Wood is a pretty good magazine for the mid-level type. Fine Woodworking is pretty and interesting, but that's high-level stuff without much practical application for a beginner. You can build a lot with a circular saw, a jigsaw, and a hand drill. A plunge router and a router table can open up a lot of possibilities too. Learn some stuff about wood, how lumber becomes furniture, and what kinds of things you aspire to build before you spend a lot of money on tools. For example, some people need both a jointer and a bandsaw. Others don't need either. You can reduce your tool needs just by choosing different kinds of wood. Be leery of turning the hobby into tool chasing. Remember, people can build beautiful, intricate furniture with a few simple hand tools. Power tools are about speed mostly. Beauty comes from design and finish. |
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How much am I looking at for a bare bones setup with table saw and tools? If you want to do it on the cheap cheap, goto Harbor Freight and get everything you need and replace it with better stuff as you go. You can find reputable (Dewalt) table saws for like 300-500$. Or be like me and use a sawzall. 
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Do you have a community college that offers wood working classes?
Maybe a wood working shop that offers classes? If I bought every cool tool and machine and had a state of the art shop to house it, I couldn't build a foot stool. YMMV but this don't seem like the kind of thing that can be self taught |
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Hand saw, hand plane, a good set of chisels, sharpening supplies, a good combo square...
I must be forgetting something, but these items will allow you to make just about any kind of furniture you'll ever want. I've got power tools, but nothing beats the solid affirmative snap of a perfect hand-cut dovetail coming together. ETA: This guy has some good videos on getting started. https://woodandshop.com/learn-traditional-woodworking-with-hand-tools/getting-started-traditional-handtool-woodworking-step-1/ I think he goes overboard on what is required to get started, but it's good advice nonetheless. |
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I have spent the last few months turning my garage into a woodworking shop.
As anyone will say, a decent table saw is definitely the top priority. Mine isn't great, its just a 10" blade craftsman, but it does the job well enough. In my case, I had access to a ton of old dusty 1x8 sawmill walnut sitting in my buddys grandmothers barn she let go of, so a good planer was my second highest priority. Table saw, planer, doweling jig, some solid bessey or jet clamps, and furniture comes easy. Other tools; jointer, router table, drill press, osc sanders, etc. just make the work quicker and easier. I personally find that if I can struggle through a project with the tools I have, I will appreciate good tools better in the future. Old man once told me if he knew he'd use a wood working tool more than twice, it would be worth buying. ymmv there. |
| OP, if you really have nothing, get a circular saw, a jigsaw, a hand drill, a random orbit sander, a Japanese pull saw, a small chisel, and a lot of 60, 150, and 220 grit sandpaper. Build a few things. If you enjoy it, then start thinking about tools. All of these tools are cheap and don't take up much space. You will continue to use them if you stick with woodworking. If you don't, they're still handy to have around the house. |
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Wood Magazine did a series on setting up a wood shop on a budget with the premise of spending $150 every two weeks over 26 pay periods. Started with the March 2016 Issue and Finished with the December 2016 issue.
Here, check it out ETA, and I highly recommend a subscription to this magazine. I've subscribed to most of them over the years, even had some of my stuff pictured in them. Wood Magazine is the only one I still maintain a subscription to. |
| Before you run out a buy a bunch of tools. Pick up a copy of the Anarchist's Tool Chest by Christopher Schwarz. You can get a bunch of hand tools for what a few power tools would cost, they will take up far less space in the garage and you'll be a better woodworker for the experience. The Anarchist's Tool Chest discusses what tools you'll want, why you want them and what makes a good tool vs a bad one. Chris mostly talks about hand tools but does do a chapter on power tools you might want and what order he would acquire them in. Spoiler a bandsaw and thickness planer are higher on his list then a table saw.   |
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You forgot a bandsaw. Quoted:
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My favorite tools, in order: Table saw Router w/router table Planer Drill press Radial arm saw (going old school up in here!) Notice that a jointer is missing from my list? I need a jointer. ETA: And a lathe. I want a lathe too. I'd rather have a jointer. |
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OP, if you really have nothing, get a circular saw, a jigsaw, a hand drill, a random orbit sander, a Japanese pull saw, a small chisel, and a lot of 60, 150, and 220 grit sandpaper. Build a few things. If you enjoy it, then start thinking about tools. All of these tools are cheap and don't take up much space. You will continue to use them if you stick with woodworking. If you don't, they're still handy to have around the house. And to all the other info in this thread. The cashier at Lowe's will know me by sight. |
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I can recommend the high end DeWalt job site table saw on the rolling cart. Â Mine has a 32 1/2" rip capacity fence. Â That allows me to cut cabinet sides. Â It also has a long arbor so I can use a dado stack. You want an out feed table the same height. Â I've got a 6' folding table and raise it up using 1" PVC pipe on the legs. Â With a good blade that setup is capable if making some decent cabinets. Â Not ideal, but it quickly can go anywhere I need it. This saw. You'll also need a drill, bits, and a (ideally) sliding miter saw. I have a Bosch with the robotic-looking arm. I love it but it was expensive. All my tools are corded because I hate dealing with expensive batteries but you could pick up a cordless Ryobi kit. A circular saw should also be on your list. |
| I second the idea of trying to build a few simple projects first to help find your tool needs. If I had to name a few power tools that really are needed for most simple furniture projects I would say: good quality cordless drill, table saw, circular saw, hand held router, decent jig saw and a belt sander. If you plan to make really nice furniture the tool list is longer and more expensive. I would wait on expensive stationary tool purchases until you know what you need. Have fun building some low risk projects, discover what you need and have the fun of adding a new tool to the shop periodically. |
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If you have a little bit of mechanical knowledge, you can find great deals on used tools. Check your classifieds. Make sure they look good and test them out if possible. That's how I got a lot of my Dewalt stuff at good prices. Some of it required work (planer with broken gear).
If you buy new, keep an eye out for 10% off coupons and stuff like that. Also, price matching may be a thing if you find it cheaper on a place like Amazon. If you're new, you could try making some "rustic" pallet wood stuff. Search Google for ideas. You can find pallets for free all over the place. Be sure not to run any nails or rocks through your saws though. Pallet wood, while free, can do a number to planers if you don't clean the wood of nails and embedded rocks though. Generally, I start projects with a baseline of tools. If I need a tool for a project, I buy it. Cheaper than getting everything upfront and not using half of it. |
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Go watch some Paul Sellers Youtube videos and see if you would enjoy hand tool woodworking. He has a section on beginners tools on his blog, as well, that can save you thousands of dollars. |
| In my experience, the best way to get started is to start building your project. As you find you need a tool, buy it. Buy the best possible version of every single tool as you need them. A router is a really versatile tool, you can joint edges using a router and a straight edge. You can flatten a board using a hand planer and a sander, you can also buy lumbar s4s, flat and square all four sides. A table saw is awesome, but you can do a lot of the same things with a good clamping straightedge and a circular saw. I'd invest in a good belt sander, a good orbital sander, a good miter saw, a good circular saw, and a good router to start. Then add tools as you need. Lots of clamps. And I'm a fan of pocket holes if you aren't going to use dovetails or tennons. |
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Figure out what you want to build. Then buy the tools needed to build it. You may need a table saw, but you can probably get by with a circular saw and a straight edge.
Check out 'The Wood Whisperer' on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKp44bWWZIiOPShPN_ytShw A lot of guys on youtube are really good at making stuff, but their videos are awful. Mark's videos are very well done. |
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Get a Lie-Nielsen 
@Mech2007 I'm a hybrid woodworker. I do a lot with hand tools (dovetails for instance), but I also have the electric necessities, such as: table saw, router, planer, track saw, band saw and miter saw. I still need an 8" jointer. |
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I was in the same boat 10 years ago. No knowledge of machining wood. I bought lots of magazines, read the net, and started collecting tools. Wood Crafters is a good place to research tools and they also have classes.
I was totally self taught. I made beautiful furniture and sold some of it through an interior design company. It was a lot of fun. Then I had a brain tumor surgery that left me with 24/7 vertigo. I tried wood working after my surgery but found myself falling into a bandsaw one day. I stopped, counted my fingers....still had 10, and decided God gave me really talented hands, and I wanted to keep them. I sold all of my equipment except for a chop saw. My point is this. It can be a dangerous hobby. You usually get what you pay for. Buy high quality tools. Don't use them until you find out how to safely use them. Most of these tools have spinning blades that can take a finger or a hand off in a split second. Kickback on a table saw can cause serious injuries or even kill you. Saw dust can screw your lungs up really fast. I never worked unless my wife was around, just in case of an emergency. I met a senior who had just taken his safety class to use the wood shop at Sun City near Austin. His hand was bandaged . Cut 2 fingers off in the safety class. On the other hand, it is a ton of fun. Wood is outrageously expensive. Tools are super expensive. Look on Craig's list for tools. . |
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FIFY
@Mech2007 I'm a hybrid woodworker. I do a lot with hand tools (dovetails for instance), but I also have the electric necessities, such as: table saw, router, planer, track saw, band saw and miter saw. I still need an 8" jointer. |
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First step is best 10 inch table saw you can afford. Buy once, cry once. Don't be tempted to get some cheap contractor's table saw that should be found on the tailgate of a pickup truck.
For hand tools, start by getting high quality chisels. Marple is a good name brand. Learn how to put a razor edge on them and maintain them. Good measuring tools are important, too. |
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Check out Craig's List, especially for used Delta Unisaws and Powermatic P66 saws, preferably with a single phase (NOT 3 phase) electric motor.
As far as machinery in a woodworking shop goes, the tablesaw is THEE heart of the shop. It used to be when some stationary power tools were still made in the USA, in the 1990's, you could expect to pay $1,500 for a brand new tablesaw, planer, and jointer, each. That $1,500 price point is what separated serious hobby grade tools from the industrial type tools. You could look for a Woodcraft store or a Rockler store in your area. They are mainly an internet/mail order outfit with franchise stores here and there across the US. https://www.woodcraft.com/search?q=list+of+store+locations http://www.rockler.com/retail/stores Since you have such a small space, like I do, plan on putting everything on casters or mobile bases. EDIT: two other points I wanted to leave you with: Fine Woodworking magazine put all their back issues onto a DVD or CD-ROM: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/mobile/p/fine-woodworkings-2013-magazine-archive-editors-of-fine-woodworking/1120004027/2671028947981?st=PLA&sid=BNB_DRS_Marketplace+Shopping+greatbookprices_00000000&2sid=Google_&sourceId=PLGoP23991&k_clickid=3x23991 And as far as using hand tools like planes and chisels, you must first know how to sharpen. You can spend a small fortune on sharpening stones and jigs, but my recommendation is to buy a 12"'X12" piece of granite or marble tile, some 3M spray adhesive, some wet/dry sandpaper, and a jig like this to hold your chisels or plane irons at a consistent angle: 
I use a synthetic japanese waterstone and some "rouge" to polish my chisesls to like a mirror. That is both the bevel and the flat back that I can see my reflection in. EDIT#2: the above sharpening system using wet/dry sandpaper is referred to as "scary sharp". Googling that phrase, I found this, it even has its own wiki page: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scary_sharp |
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FIFY
@Mech2007 I'm a hybrid woodworker. I do a lot with hand tools (dovetails for instance), but I also have the electric necessities, such as: table saw, router, planer, track saw, band saw and miter saw. I still need an 8" jointer. Quoted:
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Get a Lie-Nielsen
@Mech2007 I'm a hybrid woodworker. I do a lot with hand tools (dovetails for instance), but I also have the electric necessities, such as: table saw, router, planer, track saw, band saw and miter saw. I still need an 8" jointer. $350 vs. $220 for a No. 4 plane. I'll stick with my cabinet of Veritas, thanks. |
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Lie-Nielsen planes are massively overpriced compared with Veritas for no appreciable improvement in quality. $350 vs. $220 for a No. 4 plane. I'll stick with my cabinet of Veritas, thanks. 
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See if there are any local woodworking groups in your area. Many of them have a forum as well. Attend meetings in persons and get to know them. The locals are an invaluable source of info and will be happy to bring you in and teach.
One thing is very important is dust collection. Breathing in wood dust will cause problems with your health. Your health is #1 priority, not a fancy table saw, so do not ever, ever compromise on this. |
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Joinery and finishing.
Make small boxes with floors and lids. Use cheap wood at first. Experiment with different types of hinges. Once you have your joinery skills down move to bigger things with nicer material. Finishing is the next part to master. Once you have those two things down you'll be a woodworking ninja. YouTube is your friend. |
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I'll echo the need for a good table saw. I'd be wary of the smaller and lighter job site table saws...too many cheap plastic parts. I have heard good things about the Dewalt though. I've gone through a Craftsman and a Rigid job site saws in the past 2 years and then recently picked up a heavy duty Rigid on Craigslist, which is great. Once I get my new shop built, I'm going to get a SawStop. Next, get a jigsaw, seveal clamps, some wood glue (titebond is the best), a couple of nice chisels, and a Kreg Jig. For a quick and sturdy work table, you could get 3 saw horses, some 2x4's, and a few sheets of plywood (2 or 3 sheets of 1/2" makes it nice and heavy).Â
The internet is your friend... Pinterest has tons of ideas for small projects to get started on. Magazines are great too. Lastly, see if you can find a local mill for your wood. Much cheaper than the big box stores plus a better selection. Have fun! |
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I recently got rid of my 65 year old craftsman table saw and bought a new Craftsman 21833 table saw. Love it. Got mine on sale for $450. Don't judge the ones you see assembled at the store. They were assembled by their minimum wage high school clerks. Reviewed here link
I added a Forrest WoodWorker II 10" x 40 tooth blade. link A good blade makes all the difference in the world. Cuts glue ready joints. Also a Zero Clearance blade insert. This table saw is twin of Home Depot Ridgid R4512. link Another "got-to-have" tool" is a dust collector. I found a nearly new Delta dust collector for $275. Makes a world of difference in an enclosed room. |
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best advice I can offer you is that if you purchase used saw, etc...crawl all over it to be sure it is single phase because you're not going to want to pay to have three phase set up at your house and you don't want to even guess how much a VFD or rotary phase converter will cost.
I got a table saw from a guy who had run his own cabinet shop. It's a wadkin 14AGS. good, heavy cabinet saw. Gave him two bills for it after I spent a few minutes looking at it. Took his word that it was single phase. Pulled the motor to clean the saw up and it was a 5 horse 3 phase. So, now I'm looking for a used 3 horse single phase. |
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I'd considered the following things:
Look to see if there is a Woodcraft or Rockler store nearby. Walk around and look at stuff. Talk to the employees. Rockler has classes that are advertised in their monthly flyer. Some Woodcraft stores have workshops for classes. Look around for a woodworking club where you can join and use their tools for a while. Figure out what you want to make and buy stuff as you need it. |
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I recently got rid of my 65 year old craftsman table saw and bought a new Craftsman 21833 table saw. Love it. Got mine on sale for $450. Don't judge the ones you see assembled at the store. They were assembled by their minimum wage high school clerks. Reviewed here link I added a Forrest WoodWorker II 10" x 40 tooth blade. link A good blade makes all the difference in the world. Cuts glue ready joints. Also a Zero Clearance blade insert. This table saw is twin of Home Depot Ridgid R4512. link Another "got-to-have" tool" is a dust collector. I found a nearly new Delta dust collector for $275. Makes a world of difference in an enclosed room. I got it for about $300-350. The Home Depot by me was clearing them out. If I was paying full price I would consider the Delta table saw sold at Lowes. The fence is better. |