Replies

1. 
   Bioman | Sep 01, 2005 08:28pm | #1

   Your off to a good start.

   I would suggest next as far as power tools go, a thickness planer, bandsaw, drill press.  You don't mention hand tools....bench chisels, hand planes, saws, sharpening stones etc....so I'm not sure where you are in that regard...and of course a workbench.

   Also at least a shop vac with a HEPA filter for dust collection, you'll never get more than one set of lungs.

   Don't be discouraged, these things are expensive and can take years to acquire.  We all work with what we have.

   If you want a more detailed list of what you may end up with after 30 years of doing this, e-mail me....I can also share what I would not purchase again .....

1. 
   MMeyer | Sep 01, 2005 09:33pm | #4

   That's kinda what I thought...the planer and drill press seemed like a logical next purchase to me too.  As far as hand tools, I basically have what other people have given me, like a #110 stanley hand planer and #51 spokeshave, some very low quality chisels that I got as a gift one year, some various saws I picked up at estate sales, (coping, offset flush cutting, rip saw) All of which I never even thought about sharpening myself. a whole bunch of  C-clamps given to me by a neighbor as well as the ones I've bought.  My bench I built out of 2x's and plywood which I'd like to rebuild in a more traditional workbench style.

   My problem is that there are so many things I think I need, or would like to have, it's hard to know what to buy first.  Having a fairly modest budget, I want to buy the things that will be the most useful first.  Like the planer, I could see being more useful than a joiner.

1. 
   SVSander | Sep 01, 2005 10:00pm | #5

   As mentioned by Baldmountain, what I have found to work well is to buy tools based on the next project I am going to do. If the project needs a specific tool to execute it (or make the execution more effecient/effective) then that should be your next purchase. Also, as previously mentioned, the planer and jointer work as a "team" to prepare flat, square stock. Unless you have flat stock to start with, don't need flat stock or are willing to flatten one side of a plank by hand, they are at their best when you have both.Good luck,
   Richard Baker

2. 
   baldmountain | Sep 01, 2005 08:54pm | #2

   I'm new too so take this with a grain of salt.

   Don't buy anything!

   Pick a project and buy tools as you need them. If you try to buy everything you might need all at once, you'll spend a fortune, and you may never get around to using some of those tools. Also, if you decide you don't want to woodwork you'll loose a good amount of money trying to resell the tools.

   Don't buy junk tools. You may be tempted to pick up tools at Home Depot. That's OK for brand name power tools but don't buy ANY hand tools there. They are almost ALL junk. You WILL be replacing any junk tools you buy with good ones so just buy a good one to start off.

   Buy from a reputable tool vendor. I've been using Lee Valley and Lie-Neilsen.

   One of the decisions you'll need to make is whether you want to focus on power tools or hand tools. I personally have decided to focus on hand tools so I'm picking up planes, handsaws, chisels, etc. If I was focusing on power tools I might buy a jointer and thickness planer. (If you focus on power tools, you will still need hand tools as well, just not as many.)

3. 
   Ricks503 | Sep 01, 2005 09:14pm | #3

   I agree with Bioman.

    

   Also add in good brushes for finishing, a pair of good safety goggles and a full face shield.

   What you should get will also depend on what you want to build. small boxes and small hanging shelves and the benchtop jointer will work.  for casework and furniture, I would suggest a 6" jointer at least.

   To true up stock for working with, you want a jointer to flatten one face and then square 1 edge to that face.  Then use the tablesaw to rip to width and then finally plane to thickness.  this gives you flat boards with parallel faces and 90* edges - all ready to start cutting and making furniture with.

   A good - something - for dust collection is High on a list.  Harbor Freight in the curent issue of Wood shows their high end dust collector on sale for $159.  - not necessarily the best dust collector in the world, but I have seen here and in the Wood forum people saying that they work well and while noisy and ugly and seemingly flimsy they run forever.

   A good Drill Press is something I would put high on my list along with a morising chisel set (if you cannot get a bech top moriser)

   I would look at an air compressor for helping in finishing and using a brad nailer to help get projects together faster.

   You do not mention what size router you have. I would make sure to have at least a 2 1/4hp router with both plunge and fixed base options if you do not have one of each type

   I would put the Bandsaw in nice to have but can get by with a jig saw until later, position.

   Again some good hand tools are needed and make sure you have some good items to setup and check adjustments on your equipment.

   Check papers, Ad sheets, http://www.craigslist.com and srctch and dent sales,  Sears Repair Centers (they also sell items that had boxes torn but undamages items at real discounts) and buy used to save money for the next purchase.

   I am in a similar situation as you.  I am also looking at turing to turn my hobby into a part to go-full-time business. I WANT a bandaw for resawing and curves, but I NEED a joint and dust collector (even though I have a shop vac) before the bandsaw (my product does not require a bansaw, I just want one for my collection)

    

   1 - measure the board twice, 2 - cut it once, 3 - measure the space where it is supposed to go        4 - get a new board and go back to step 1
4. 
   jazzdogg | Sep 02, 2005 07:20am | #6

   Hi MM,

   Not to put you off, but I recommend you use the search function to see what kinds of discussions have already taken place on this well-worn subject.

   Many have suggested a FAQ section for questions such as yours because they're asked so often - a proposition with which I heartily agree.

   Problem is, after responding to the first few dozen such inquiries, oldtimers tend to grow weary of answering these questions repeatedly. As a result, newcomers are left with responses from other newbies who may not have the breadth and depth of experience of seasoned veterans.

   My usual response boils down to: don't buy anything until you have a genuine need for it; research your purchases; and buy the best quality you can afford.

   Good luck,

   -Jazzdogg-

   "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie

1. 
   Walker1 | Sep 03, 2005 06:09am | #9

    Jazzdog;      If you are tired of answering questions that have been posted many times before, heres a suggestion (don't answer them!) This forum is open to all, and I for one think more people should join in instead of just reading the posts. 

         As to your opinion that only the old timers have any worthwhile information to share. (Rubbish) New people can bring a whole new perspective to old issues, new people can provoke thought, and bring forth new ideas that keep this terrific pastime, and industry growing and evolving, and that is as it should be.

              You cant put a price on the experience, and information the seasoned veterans are willing to share, but if you read the opening page again, you'll see Taunton intended this forum for all, and new people will join in everyday, so yes you'll see the same questions repeated.      Live with it.

                                                                       Walker 1

1. 
   jazzdogg | Sep 03, 2005 06:28am | #10

   Walker,

   I wasn't trying to "dis" anyone. Rather, I was attempting to make the original poster aware of the fact that (1) you can find lots of information by using the search function, and (2) there have been several recent conversations about the need for a FAQ section that would make it easier for all of us to access frequently discussed subjects without having to read a number of prior discussions using the search function.

   I did not mean to suggest that the folks that have been regular contributors to this site for a long time have more to offer than participants who have joined us more recently, or that their experience or opinions somehow trump what newcomers may have to say; only that there are several professional woodworkers whose valuable experience is unlikely to be re-posted in response to new inquiries.

   I apologize if I offended you or anyone else,

    

    -Jazzdogg-

   "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie

1. 
   kenshep | Dec 18, 2006 11:40pm | #11

   JD, I appreciate your feedback to the newbie on using the search feature.  I usually want to know asap the answer to questions.  The search feature provides quick (if not perfect hits), and it proivdes me different perspectives that will either answer my question or equip me to ask a more educated question. I can leverage variations of my question that I may not have considered.  Searching the knowledge base here is not that user friendly and if someone hasn't hit sites like this before their first step might be to post a question rather than dig around.

    I took no offense from your post, the written word doesn't communicate voice tone, warmth or a smile very well.  You were trying to help and you spent a minute of your life doing so to save them hours of time in the future.

   Merry Christmas!

   ks 

   Regards,

   Ken

   "Do as you would be done by." C.S. Lewis

5. 
   BarryO | Sep 02, 2005 10:32am | #7

   What else would be considered essential?

   This book: http://www.taunton.com/store/pages/070198.asp 

6. 
   Ozzy | Sep 02, 2005 03:59pm | #8

   Hi,

   I think I agree with most of the comments from the other guys.  Electrical tools I generally buy new, and tend to stick to the 'professional' tools - DIY hand tools appear to be good value, but often do not have a long life and lack accuracy.  Machines I try to buy used, sources vary, but newspaper ad's have been good.

   When you start looking at hand tools (and you will need to), bare in mind that they will need sharpening, so include things like stones and files.  I try to buy as many planes and chisels as I can second-hand, generally from sales or from people like Patrick Leach (Stanley Blood and Gore on your search engine).  There are some very expensive planes and chisels out there, and I am sure they perform beautifully - but, with due respect - you probably wont. at least at first.  I wouldn't recommend bargain basement stuff, and I avoid anything from the Indian sub-continent, or the pacific rim.  American, British and European tools are generally very good, and even modest ones will give satisfactory results IF THEY ARE SHARP.  I can't overstate this.

   Good luck, and take care.

   Ozzy