Starter projects

jostes1065 | Posted in General Discussion on January 11, 2009 03:39am

Hi all- I am relatively new to woodworking and I am looking for good starter projects. I have buit a workbenc and I have a table saw, miter saw, router, jigsaw, and sanding equipment. Any suggestions on good first projects and their respective plans?

Replies

BioHaz1906 | Jan 11, 2009 04:20am | #1
Try your hand at picture frames or small boxes. I find that a lot of the techniques that you use in both of these relatively simple task allow you to learn a lot. Good luck and remember, measure twice and cut once :)

Bio.
forestgirl | Jan 11, 2009 04:22am | #2
The project below is from Woodsmith and I've built 3 of them, one for us and 2 for a friend. Whether it's a good first project is hard to tell, but it certainly could be an early project. I made mine from poplar and painted them. It'd be fun to make from cherry, alder or pine too. Those are all blotch-prone woods, so it'd be important to read a good finishing book and practice on scrap before finishing the project itself.

LMK what you think.....

View Image

forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
stantheman | Jan 11, 2009 06:13pm | #3
Birdhouses are good starter projects. They don't need to be perfect, can use scrap wood, and no or very basic finishing. Gives some practice in measuring, cutting, and basic joinery. Many state or local conservation departments give away plans.
MBerger | Jan 11, 2009 08:10pm | #4
we have a nice beginner bookshelf project underway in our beginners video series Getting Started in Woodworking with a free downloadable plan.

http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/getting-started/season-two.asp

there are a few other plans and projects associated with that series...

Matt
RalphBarker | Jan 11, 2009 08:39pm | #5
A nice, roomy doghouse is also a good starter project. It might come in handy if the spousal unit thinks you're spending too much time in the workshop. ;-)

Jigs and fixtures are also good starter projects, and have on-going utility. A "shooting board" might be a good one to start with. A search from the main FWW page will yield several designs with sufficient plans.
Lataxe | Jan 11, 2009 10:33pm | #6
J,

All good advice given so far but before choosing an actual project, perhaps you should ask yourself how great your ambition is and also what furniture or other wooden thangs do you need right now?

If you have ambitions to build complex and hard-to-make cabinets then it may be worth missing out a few of the woodworking 101 steps and punging on to 201; or even 202. You will surely make more mistakes, have a lot of frustrations on the way and take some time. But this path gets you accelerating quite hard into the craft. Also, you will be very motivated, both to make the attempt and not to fail. And you will have a high confidence for the next project.

But the other path, begining simple, is a steadier one and less likely to cause enough frustration or disappointment to put you off woodwork for good. However, it's easy to get stuck at "not-too-demanding". I did it myself for a couple of years, despite starting off with (and completing) one or three ambitious projects. One can get into a comfortable rut.

It does also make it more meaningful/motivating if you're making a real piece of furniture for a real need, rather than just a practice piece. You'll want to get it right if you're going to live with it in the house - more high motivation. If it's just a practice piece then it'll be easier to give up if something goes wrong and merely put it in the firewood pile.

Lataxe

RichClark | Jan 12, 2009 02:55am | #7
Cheer!I have done a lot of fixing carpentry (this old 1919 house kind) and I upgraded to a better set of tools and Want a better Set of skills!My first "real" project is going to be taking a few hunks of Mahogany and making a end table from them! If I screw up I will buy another hunk!I've nearly complete the "arguing Phase", CINCHOME is in charge of the design and approval.Pick Something you need and make it.. worse case, you decide it looks nice in your "shed"Rich -- Who admires Samson's Posts and lusts for Davids toys.Capt. Rich Clark
--DUCT Tape is the "force"... It has a Light side and a Dark side and it binds the universe together
gofigure57 | Jan 13, 2009 02:50pm | #10
Great advice David. Some of the material for my first project came from the firewood pile.

Tom

KiddervilleAcres | Jan 14, 2009 05:35am | #11
Tom,

My first project became the firewood pile.

Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres

A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!

nboucher | Jan 12, 2009 05:40pm | #8
I'm with Lataxe. Dive in. Be ambitious. Make mistakes; just buy lots of extra wood.

I'm not much more than a beginner myself, and I like to make sure that whatever I take on will have at least a half-dozen significant "firsts": first frame-and-panel door, first hand-dovetailed drawers, first undermount drawer slides, first inset drawers, first mortise-and-tenon face frame, first bookmatched panels, first butt hinges, first finish incorporating analine dye—you get the idea. Your projects will take much longer to build than if a more experienced or professional woodworker would take, and you will make mistakes. Some of them, believe me, will be boneheaded mistakes. But you will progress more quickly and learn more deeply, IMHO, than if you take baby steps with so-called starter projects.

Besides, all those firsts will be a good justification for buying the tools you will need. If budget is an issue—and it always is—choose your firsts so that the tools you buy will fit your budget.

Have fun,
Norman

Edited 1/12/2009 9:42 am ET by nboucher
bones | Jan 12, 2009 06:03pm | #9
Step stool, shelves, boxes, small cabinets, something with doors to practice simple frame & panel. Something for the shop, like a router table. That way if its not perfect so what. I've learned more from the mistakes I've done than the ones that came out perfect. (I've adjusted design & dimensions on many a project).

Here's a site will lots of inexpensive plans. Dive in and don't be afraid of sawdust. Remember it's not a mistake, its a design feature!

http://www.plansnow.com/

Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases:
If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it.
And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
aaronpetersen | Jan 16, 2009 07:48pm | #12
Jostes,

I always think small tables are a great starter project because they introduce you to milling lumber, gluing up panels, and doing mortise and tenon joints (you'd be surprised how far just those skills can take you). Plus, the sky's the limit when it comes to design and everyone always needs another table. Arts and Crafts designs may be a good place to start as they are primarily rectilinear. Shaker is also a possibility because of the classic simplicity. If you start with a small table such as a coffee or end table, your investment in lumber is minimal should it be a disaster. Also, small tables are relatively quick to complete which means you won't lose interest before it's done. If you want to make it even easier consider buying premade legs from a place like Matthew Burak's tablelegs.com. I've had great luck with them.

Cheers,

Aaron
aaronpetersen | Jan 16, 2009 07:51pm | #13
Jostes,

I also forgot to mention not to be afraid of paint or milk paint. There's no shame in it and everybody uses it. Actually, it looks great. Plus, you can fill mistakes with putty or painting filler before hand and nobody will ever know. They'll just be amazed that you could get your joints so tight. I'm not afraid to say I've used it lately and nobody know but you and me.

Aaron
PSeverin | Jan 17, 2009 03:58am | #14
My advise is find something you need in your house and build it. Challenge yourself to make something you'll actually use outside of the shop. One can only spend so much time practicing, making boxes to hold tools and getting ready. Just start.