STL229: The $1000 Shop Exercise
Barry and Ben discuss how they would go about assembling a shop with a budget of a thousand dollars.This episode is a little different for us. A single topic discussion–no questions, no segments.
In an effort to make woodworking seem less financially intimidating Barry and Ben spent weeks coming up with budgets for assembling a shop with as little as $1000.
 |
Set Up Shop on a BudgetHow to find bargains and work with fewer tools |
Ben’s $1000 shop budget
| Thousand Dollar Shop | New | Second Option | Oh come on this hard option | ||||
| Machinery | Bandsaw | Grizzly 0555LX | $714 | Used | $400 | NO BANDSAW! | |
| Planer | Grizzy G0832 | $450 | Used | $200 | NO PLANER! | ||
| Used Tablesaw! | $300 | ||||||
| Handtools | Low Angle Jack | Veritas Low Angle Jack | $257 | eBay Stanley #5 | $60 | eBay Stanley #5 | $60 |
| Smoother | eBay Stanley | $60 | none | none | |||
| Block Plane | eBay Stanley | $40 | – | $40 | none | ||
| Chisels | Stanley 4-piece Sweetheart | $89 | – | $89 | Stanley 4-piece Sweetheart | $83 | |
| Handsaw | Veritas Small Cross-cut | $79 | – | $79 | Veritas Small Cross-cut | $79 | |
| Square | iGaging Combo Square | $38 | Johnson Sq | $10 | Johnson Sq | $10 | |
| Marking Gauge | Veritas Micro-adjust | $50 | – | $50 | |||
| Mallet | Harbor Freight Deadblow | $6 | – | $6 | Harbor Freight Deadblow | $6 | |
| Sharpening | DMT Diamond Paste Set | $47 | – | $47 | DMT Diamond Paste Set | $47 | |
| Glass and Sandpaper | $20 | $20 | Glass and Sandpaper | $20 | |||
| Power Tools | Circular Saw | Grizzly T25552 – Track Saw | $292 | Makita | $100 | Makita | $100 |
| Kreg Ripcut | $40 | Kreg Ripcut | $40 | ||||
| Router | Bosch MRP23EVS | $209 | $75 | ||||
| R.O.S. Sander | Bosch ROS20VSC | $60 | – | $60 | Bosch ROS20VSC | $60 | |
| Workbench | Solid-core door and sawhorses | $50 | – | $50 | Solid-core door and sawhorses | $50 | |
| Vise | Used | $50 | none | none | |||
| Clamps | (6) 12″ HF Bar Clamps | $24 | – | $24 | (6) 12″ HF Bar Clamps | $24 | |
| (2) 36″ HF Aluminum Bar Clamps | $24 | – | $24 | (2) 36″ HF Aluminum Bar Clamps | $24 | ||
| (2) HF Pipe Clamps and Pipes | $54 | – | $54 | (2) HF Pipe Clamps and Pipes | $54 | ||
| (2) Used Wooden Hand Screws | $20 | $20 | (2) Used Wooden Hand Screws | $20 | |||
| Misc | Pockethole Jig | Kreg R3 Jr. | $40 | – | $40 | Kreg R3 Jr. | $40 |
| Router Bits | Skil 12-pc set | $60 | Randoms | $40 | none | ||
| $2,733 | $1,528 | $1,017 |
Barry’s $1000 shop budget:
| $1,000 shop | Price | Source/notes |
| 1/4-in. and 1-in. chisel | $35.00 | |
| Blem PEC USA 12″ combo square | $33.00 | ebay |
| Coping saw | $20 | |
| Norton combo stone 11.5×2.5×1 | $40.00 | |
| Gyokochu #311 “Sun Child” | $45 | Hida |
| Eclipse honing guide | $15 | |
| Grizzly G0803 – 9″ Benchtop Bandsaw | $250 | |
| Blem Cosmetic Second PEC 4″ premium engineer | $13 | |
| Bench | $150 |
Nicholson w/ crochet (wooden hand screw?)
|
| Wooden hand screws x2 | $30 | Used |
| marking gauges | $0 |
make your own: qv Steve Schuler
|
| Pack of 2 6″ and 2 12″ F-clamps | $24.00 | Bessey |
| Router bit set | $25 | |
| Strop | $0.00 | make your own |
| #5 jack | $40 | ebay |
| Bosch 1617 Router + 2 bases | $200 | ebay |
| ROS | $25 | used |
| Kobalt 48-in level | $20 | |
| Kreg R3 Jr | $30 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
Setting up Your First Woodworking ShopTypically a woodworking shop starts in a corner of the garage or basement with a few tools. Over time you develop new skills, add tools to take on new projects |
Every two weeks, a team of Fine Woodworking staffers answers questions from readers on Shop Talk Live, Fine Woodworking‘s biweekly podcast. Send your woodworking questions to [email protected] for consideration in the regular broadcast! Our continued existence relies upon listener support. So if you enjoy the show, be sure to leave us a five-star rating and maybe even a nice comment on our iTunes page.
Comments
When I started, I wanted to spend about $1500. I picked out a bench-top jointer, and went to Woodcraft to order it. I told them I had a space and price limitation. I was told to make room and buy a large jointer, which would take most of my budget. I bought cheaper stuff from Sears and a used 12" bandsaw.
I've moved, and have more space. The youngest son is graduating from college, so I have more money. Among other things, I now have an 8" Jet jointer with helical head, and a Laguna bandsaw.
We shouldn't scare people away by saying you need to spend at least $20K. You can have a lot of fun and learn a lot without assembling a great shop.
Interesting format today. It's good to change things up.
If I could speak to my 20-something-old self, here is how I would advise myself to get started in woodworking and how I would spend my first $1K on tools, instead of wasting untold amounts of money on unwise purchases.
First, buy only the tools needed to complete your first project. You'll use these tools in future projects and you will add tools later as needed. Let's say that the first project is a kitchen table. Don't buy a mortising machine.
Second, buy high quality hand tools. If you can't afford to buy it, borrow The Anarchist's Tool Chest from the library to learn the difference between a quality hand tool and a tool-shaped object. Prepare to learn hand tool skills and sharpening skills. You won't regret it. It's okay to buy a used hand tool as long as it is good quality and can be made sharp.
Third, don't waste money on inferior power tools. Replacing inferior power tools twice or thrice with better quality power tools is much more expensive than buying a few high quality hand tools at the beginning and learning how to use them.
Build your first project on the countertop/sawhorse/workbench in the garage/basement, but prepare to build a proper workbench for your second project. Borrow some more of Chris Schwarz' books on workbenches from the library. If the first project is acceptable to your spouse, you'll likely be approved to spend some more money on a proper workbench and the work-holding devices which will make woodworking with hand tools much easier and more accurate.
I've got nothing against power tools, but add them later when you can afford to buy good ones. Starting with hand tools is like learning to do math with pencil and paper. You can always use a calculator later.
This is how I would spend $1000 so that I could build a kitchen table with four legs using aprons tenoned into mortises. I think that I could build a kitchen table with these tools, but if I've forgotten something, I would forego one of the new L-N tools and buy a quality used tool instead so that I could purchase a necessary tool. I will use the single plane to flatten boards, but other than the legs and the ends of the aprons, precise thicknesses are not required. I would use the plane on its side with a shooting board to square up my ends after crosscutting. Ripping 4/4 boards to width with a sharp hand saw is not as difficult as it sounds. I've done plenty of it, and I can't afford a TS or BS at this point.
$999 Total
$- The Anarchist's Tool Chest (Borrow from Library)
$265 Lie -Nielsen Low Angle Jack Plane
$75 Hot Dog for Low Angle Jack Plane
$45 2nd Blade for Low Angle Jack Plane (set up for hogging off wood)
$125 Lie-Nielsen Honing Guide
$119 Tite-Mark Long marking gauge
$46 King 1000/6000 Combo Waterstone
$20 Float Glass & Sandpaper to flatten waterstone
$65 Lie-Nielsen 1/4" Mortising Chisel
$25 Garage Sale Buck Brothers Bench Chisels (1/2", 1")
$79 Veritas Small Crosscut Saw
$25 Garage Sale Disston Rip Saw (4-5 tpi)
$25 Garage Sale Disston Crosscut Panel Saw (8 tpi)
$10 Lee Valley Bahco Saw Sharpening File
$42 (3) Bessey H Style Pipe Clamp Fixtures (3/4")
$33 3/4" Black Pipe (48" long)
$- Layout Squares - make my own out of wood
$- Winding Sticks - make out of wood
$- Bench hook - make out of wood
$- End grain shooting board - make out of wood
$- Saw Clamp for Sharpening Saws - make out of wood & leather
$- Wooden mallet - make my own
I'm not against you doing something like this occasionally, but I wonder how many people just starting out watch this podcast. I wouldn't think there are very many. It does help someone like me to decide on which tools to buy next, particularly hand tools.
Ben, I agree with you about the PEC double square, but the thread is different on the 45/90 square. The standard square is every bit a good as the Starrett.
I may be biased, but if I was 20 again and looking to get into woodworking I would recommend looking up your local Makerspace, or community shop. Here in DesMoines, IA at area515.org we have a full complement of machines, including 2 table saws, joiner, planer, drum sander, 14" band saw, many sanders, cnc machine, drill press, chop saw, and dust collector. All this for $40 dollars a month and mandatory safety training on all machines.
Jason Bentley
board member, and woodshop steward
Area515 Makerspace
http://www.area515.org
[email protected]
Excellent reply. Here in Minneapolis, we have a tool library that has a full shop (along with woodworking classes) as well. I've spoken with several folks who started their woodworking journey in the tool library shop.
Fun episode! Now, let me give this a shot.
$1,000 Shop Budget
-SawSto...damn it, I’m over!
I semi-seriously half-considered saying a ryoba and a Domino.
Hi Guys, I,m a shop teacher. Have many, many PEC squares at work most are blems. They are not a Starrett but they are probably 90% of one. The small ones do take a little more oomph to tighten seems to be different for each one. The only downside I have found is that the kids are able to break the clamping bolts quite easily, I think they are over hardened and not tempered. The customer service was not great either. Had to order replacement parts from a 3rd party vendor, and was not cheap.
They may not be totally kid proof at school but I wouldn't hesitate to buy one or many.
Sorry guys, too much rambling, you did not get into the first tool until about halfway through. By then I was struggling and only watched a bit more, could not make it through the whole thing.
Yea, not what I expect from FWW, and I am a fan of both you guys. It is like watching one of the other woodworking shows, can’t do it. There is a mix of personalities that works, I was a fan of the old This Old House, don’t watch the new show where the old pros are gone or do cameos.
Is FWW the premier woodworking magazine featuring the best and most creative design, skill and imagination of the best craftsmen and women; OR, is it a DIY bunch of low budget, beginners who can't make up their mind if the craft is worth the price?? Dragging us all back to buying a decent square isn't exactly the level I expect from FWW. If Ben and Barry want to do a how cheap can I start woodworking, find a different venue than FWW or the future of the magazine and community is in deep trouble. Please, don't do this again and put real questions to experienced, capable crafts people so we can actually finish listening to an episode.
Ben, I sold my Domino when I realized I'd never get my money's worth out of it. It's a great tool, no question, but I think of it more as a production tool for when you need to assemble a lot of pieces quickly.
With the proceeds, I bought a PRS Alex Lifeson acoustic six-string which I love. Go for the amp or whatever!
Thank you for this episode. I started my woodworking journey earlier this year, but am still rounding out the foundation of my shop and this episode helped me visualize what I can do within the constraints of my budget. I also appreciate the effort to speak to us new(er) woodworkers who are still learning what fine woodworking means.
Great podcast today. I enjoy the free flow format and laughed at the humour. Hmmm $1000? I wish I knew 1/10 of what I know now when I started out woodworking. I knew nothing about anything and spent money on very sub-standard tools and mistakenly just assumed that everything was square and straight. I knew nothing about sharpening or how to use a chisel and just bought 3 Stanley Fat Max chisels and just assumed Stanley were very accurate.
Now that I am more experienced and wiser, plus more informed about woodworker, I have a damn good workshop now and over the years, have spent well over $15,000 in buying quality equipment.
Yes you are right, we (the masses) are at the mercy of the Woodworking Influencers and we have to have the Veritas plane and the Lee Neilson chisels, why? Because Mike or Barry uses them LOL. I have a added a few photos of my workshop.
Hi all,
Link to my list is below. I think for 1k you have to leave some things out. I chose to leave out any milling machines, keep power tools to a minimum.
I have the PEC double square and I love it, just as good as my Starrett squares.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1yyIQcO5tXKR3fDMuC90RkHAAamCq6-TQp8qK2Qvgrds/edit?usp=sharing
Nice list. To clear up a little headroom for you, we should have made it clear that we assumed basic tools were already in hand, including a drill. I had a drill living in an apartment, long before I woodworked.
$300 used planer
$300 table saw used
$30 #4 or 5 plane used + $70 hock iron
$50 in clamps (used pipe and/or HF)
$50 used Starrett
$50 2-sided whetstone (1k + 4-6k)
$35 chisels (Marples)
$20 marking gauge
$20 japanese dovetail saw
$70 vise for bench (to build)
$5 card scraper
Prices are approximate but totals $1,000.
Log in or create an account to post a comment.
Sign up Log in