Hi all,

As many of you know, my wife and I just purchased our first home. I now have space and a zillion ideas for projects that will probably never get done. But, in the hopes of completing some of them, I'm looking for suggestions on tools and such for doing fun things with wood.

I own not a single saw, power or otherwise. I also don't own other things I might want but don't even know exist.

Any help in pointing me in the right direction: type of tool, brand, price, and such would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Brad

First thing is get a cordless drill. I'd suggest a 14.4 or 12V DeWalt and get 2 batteries. They'll do darn near any project you'll come across. The 18V has more guts, but more weight and $$ also.
Beyond that, I'd suggest as 7 1/4" circular saw and some sort of sander, prolly one of those round orbital palm types, maybe a small power jigsaw for cutting curves too. A reciprocating saw is nice if you're looking at doing remodeling/tearing down walls, and routers are sweet too, but not a necessity.
One of those WorkMate benches with the built in vise tops are nice too; keeps what your working on still and stable.

Then there's a table saw, drill press, band saw, bisquit jointer, .......ooops, sorry, got caught up in the heat of the moment

I'd agree with what Andy said. The basics:

Skill saw/circular saw, (there is a difference, the worm drive skill 77 class is the workhorse of the construction industry.

I'd get a straightedge to go with it to rip plywood. Mine came with 2 clamps in 2 sections, 4' long each, and the 2 sections can be joined to make an 8' straightedge. you need tolearn to allow for the blade to shoe distance and pay close attention to the blade kerf (thickness)

A good 16 oz finishing hammer and a decent 20 oz frameing hammer. (frameing hammers have the crosshatched face and keep you from bending as many nails)

A cordless drill and a set of bits in a case, the case helps to to remember if all the bits are there...

A triangular square. your unlikly to need a frameing square soon.

A small hand saw, combination blade, and a small back saw

I really like having a Japanese style draw saw for more precise work. They usually have 2 different cutting edges coase and fine.

A "wonder" bar for demolition work.

A good 25 ' or more tape and a smaller 12 footer for general work.

Thats the minimal basics

All excellent suggestions, and the worst part (best part) is after you have started purchasing tools, the catalogues will start to arrive, you will see more tools that you will need and a new adiction has begun! The plus side is you can then start building your own speaker cabinets and then another new hobby!

Seriously it is to every homeowners benefit and joy to have the tools and sense of well being from maintaining there home.

Congradulations! Enjoy your new home!

Jim

BTW, in power tools, spend a bit extra for the brand names; you'll prolly never buy have to buy another if you do.

DeWalt, Bosch, Porter Cable, Milwaukee, etc are all trade quality, solid tools. For a homeowner, Craftsman and Skil are prolly fine too; especially in circular saws. I've had my Craftsman saw 30 years. Black and Decker and Ryobi are probably OK too for a weekend warrior, but you may not be passing them down to the kids. Makita probably falls in between the first two groups; better than Craftsman, but not Porter Cable.

Stay away from the cheap Chinese crap knock offs for sure, which includes all the wacky names you'll see at Target, KMart, Wal*Mart, your local hardware chain, etc.

Man, this is where the money pit starts- you'll save so much money doing it yourself that the number of projects increase, needed tools multiply...

I don't know what type of projects you're looking to do, but the cordless drill is most useful. I find that I use a jig saw and powered mitre saw quite often.

I really miss my tablesaw- enabled me to do quality larger projects, got to where I'd use it even for simple cuts. Things look better when the cut is straight. Got along without a drill press by using an attachment for a drill. A router makes a plain box or project look finished and professional, I will not go without one. Biscuit joiner is quite handy. I will asume you have the common household tools- plenty of screwdrivers (or bits for the cordless), pliers, etc.

I do use the workmate constantly.

And you can never have too many clamps.

A quality cordless kit- drill, circ saw, reciprocating saw and sander will take you very far in household projects. After that a table saw- a quality one if you are going to do a lot of woodworking, capable of ripping long boards. Next for me would be a high speed rotary tool- a RotoZip or Dewalt. I bought one to do some metal cutting a few years ago and since I've used it to do the metal cutting for my recent tin roof project on my house, as a tile cutter for my bathroom, it has a rotary cutter for cutting clean holes in sheetrock, and basic router capabilty (not for fancy work, but good for basic plunge and edge routing). Overall the handiest single tool I own, and I own just about every tool made (I'm a junkie!). After that it kind of boils down to what kind of projects you want to do- woodworking, carpentry. Then you buy the tool you need for that type of job.

Oh and Reyneman is right. The more clamps you have, the easier your life will be. I buy any clamp I ever see at a yard sale!

2 things you should do first- Build a solid workbench. There are several inexpensive designs. Go to the Library and check out the old Woodworking Mags or get on line. The is a bunch of stuff out there. Number 2- Buy a good table saw. For $500 bucks you can get a damn good portable. Again check the mags for reviews. Watch auctions and sales. Sometimes you can (excuse the word) score something reasonable.

Table saws are great, I love my Delta Contractor's Saw, but I think he's looking right now for stuff for a new homeowner. Prolly needs to make shelves, install stuff, etc and just needs the very basics. I decent curcular saw and a nice straightedge should suit him well.

A table saw is really sweet, but prolly something he doesn't really need (did I really type that???) right now.

Home Depot has a sale on - Ryobi 10" table saw for $86. I have a Ryobi power sander that is a real workhorse. In spite of what has been suggested earlier I will not touch Black and Decker or DeWalt with a stick since they chose to take all their jobs (exceot for Mahogany Row) offshore. Sadly I hear that they just bought out Porter Cable, a really fine toolmaker. So If I am going to buy imported tools, I'll buy the ones that work. All of the suggestions so far have been right on.

Rob

I agree with the notion that if you're buying new, you should buy quality. It's the best bet for your money.

That being said, I almost never buy a hand tool new. Scrounge yardsles, thrifts, etc. annd you'll find a zillion screwdrivers, hammers, pliers. You'll occassionally find small electrics, like drills, circ. saws, hand sanders, just to name a few. Buy a few spares, and you won't mind lending them to friends (well, depends...).

Good luck!

Dingus:

Let me know what you want and I can keep an eye out for you when I'm scrounging.

So far this year, I picked up a DeWalt Trim saw and 14.4 V drill w/ 2 batteries and charger for $50, a DeWalt Jig Saw for $25.00, a Milwaukee Circular saw w/2 blades, one new, for $30.00, and a Porter Cable 690 router w/plunge base in like new condition for $70.00. Today I snagged a WorkMate for $5.00, but that's too darn big to ship.

I know some folks hate it, but Ebay ain't bad either. I've peddled 2 DeWalt and 2 Makita drills there myself (upgrades, just like gear) and can usually get decent deals there, if you do your homework (I'd avoid the pawnshop tools), again, just like gear.

As to Rob and the offshore issue, I know where he's coming from, but good luck buying ANYTHING without substantial offshore content these days, "US" cars included.

Again, I agree with Andy on holding off on the Table saw. (This from someone who owns 2...) I feel a table saw is overrated for cutting sheet stock, for large/full sheets anyway. Unless you have huge outfeed tables, (and probably infeed as well) it's not a job for one person, nor is it a job for 2 unless they are well co-ordinated with each other, and in practice.

I haven't cut large sheet stock on mine for many years, preferring my clamped straight edge, and my Skillsaw 77 and a good QUALITY blade. (All I use is carbide) (I built my kitchen cabinets entirely with the straight edge except for some beveling on the cut to size doors...) Just make it a practice to have the straightedge clamed to the workpiece and not the scrap, as this can save a workpiece from bobbles.

That being said, a Table saw is superlative for ripping long pieces (not wide sheets) and very good for many other cut's, rabbits, etc... Fixtures and jigs make it even more useful.

I also have 2 radial arm saws, both 50-60 year old AMF DeWalts in the green hammertone used back then. If you can get one of these old cast iron heavies, its worth every cent, as these will cut very precise, when adjusted and tuned properly. (and there is an adjustment for EVERYTHING unlike some modern stuff) Absolutly no chatter unless it's in one of the thin kerf blades. (solved with blade stableizers) True cabinet/funiture grade tools. (It takes my 8/9" about 5 min to spin down its so perfectly balanced and the bearings are so good. Thats bad for safety, but shows the quality of the motor assy) The 10/12" is nearly as good. (Got that one at a yard sale for $40! :banana: )

Outlaw is on the money about the sheet stock. 4' x 8' is a real PITA to wrassle with. Lately, I figure out what sizes I need and have the guys at HD or Lowe's use the panel saw to cut close and then trim them perfect at home on the Delta.

Trust me, 3 15 3/4" x 8' strips are a whole lot easier to deal with than a 4x8 sheet!

I also had a radial arm, but sold it for a table saw. They're sweet for crosscuts, but ripping on them is a job for the brave. Not my cup of tea at all!

Thanks for all the input.

From reading the posts thus far, I'd say my first priorities are probably a Circular Saw and a functional workbench or some sort. I think a jigsaw and a router would come in handy too.

I have a 12V Black and Decker cordless drill that has served me decent for a few years now and a corded 1/4 HP Craftsmen drill that seems very solid. I have lots of bits and such from garage sales.

I also own a dremel and smaller powered hand sander. Are the orbital type that much better?

I would like to build some shelves around the house, speaker stands and other stuff like that. I also would like to be able to consider projects without being overwhelmed at how much crap I'd need to get them done right or worse yet cut corners and have them done wrong.

BTW, I love our new place. We are settling in and it really feels like home. The living room is huge with a vaulted ceiling and very unboxish..The acoustics are fantastic and make a huge difference in my system sound.

For the jobs your describing, I think your on the right track. I haven't personally used an orbital (It's on my want list, need the right project to justify it new. A yard sale find now...), but I've seen them used and yes they are quite good.

If by "smaller powered hand sander" you mean one of the vibratory types. they are faster than hand sanding, but an orbital is supposed to leave a better finish.

If you going to get into light furniture work such as speaker stands, a decent router can add a lot to your abilities to bring the piece from ordinary to extra-ordinary. being able to trim, or cut decorative edges, or even rabbit and dado is huge.

With a dovetail jig you can even get into nice dovetailing without having to be so much an expert woodworker. While a dovetailer starts getting you past beginers work and basic tools costs (for a good one + bits) It's incremental to the cost of the router. You pay as you go.

I'd urge you to stick with carbide bits, and if you can fine someone that sells them, the arbor mounted carbides cost less in the long run. (This is a shank that accepts a separate cutter blade rather than have the shank built in.)

Most people will tell you to go for the higher HP routers and get a plunge router. I'm of the opinion that an ordinary 3/4-1 HP router will do the average guy just fine, unless he's really getting into complex routing jobs, in which case you have moved past the average guy's level. having 1/2" shank capabilities is nice form the standpoint of being able to use the bigger cutters, but most cutters are available in 1/4" shank.

Personally I own 2 older Porter Cable 1/4" shank routers (Just under 1HP), and they have done every job I have needed so far. A couple of times a plunge router would have been nice, but not enough to justify buying one as yet.

One thing I will say is having handles that you can easily grip is important. a router has an exposed blade, and if you lose your grip it might get messy. I managed to get a newer D handle housing and put my router motors into it for most jobs. I used the older housing and mounted it permanantly into my router table.

Good luck and have fun!

Thanks for all the input.
BTW, I love our new place. We are settling in and it really feels like home. The living room is huge with a vaulted ceiling and very unboxish..The acoustics are fantastic and make a huge difference in my system sound.


How about some pics when you get a chance?

Terry

How about some pics when you get a chance?

Terry

I was hoping to get things a little tidier but that might take some time. I'll try and get some up this evening.

You have gotten lots of good avice here. I would put a bench as a top priority. Here is one you can build entirely with hand tools:

http://www.terraclavis.com/bws/beginners.htm

Hey Javap111...that Bob and Dave's workbench project was also my workbench project...my first woodworking project in fact... by the time i was through with it, i've already learned a lot about wood working.

The bench looks very cool. I might just give it a whirl.

In case you missed the thread I posted some pics of the living/audio room here:

Audio Room (http://65.219.61.150/forums/showthread.php?t=40934)

The sturdy work bench is a necessity and on it there is nothing like a super heavy chunk of cast iron known as a vise. You may already have many of "vices" but a nice 6 or 8 incher is sweet. Not woodworking exactly but the work bench and the vice are the base on which you begin building your workshop. (Don't forget you'll need a fine sound system for the workshop as well)

DingusBoy,

A related suggestion. If you have never worked with power tools, sign up for a "Woodworking 101" course at the local community college or YMCA. I had never worked with power tools in my life, took a course a my local "Y", and got familiar with the basic tools (table saw, router, jointer, biscuit joiner) and how they operated. I also learned how to measure and mark, how to cut a dovetail, how to sharpen chisels, etc. I'm not great, but I'm comfortable and having fun. I've now built half a dozen pairs of speakers and other stuff.

There are also a load of woodworking forums and other resources on the web where you can get advice about tools and techniques, e.g., http://www.woodworking.com .

Warning: it's addictive.

Bob Brines's FT-1600s: http://www.flickr.com/photos/elektratig/sets/394825/

The sturdy work bench is a necessity and on it there is nothing like a super heavy chunk of cast iron known as a vise. You may already have many of "vices" but a nice 6 or 8 incher is sweet. Not woodworking exactly but the work bench and the vice are the base on which you begin building your workshop. (Don't forget you'll need a fine sound system for the workshop as well)


While I agree with the suggestion that a good Vise is an extremely handy tool. I would not put it on a woodworkers bench. A woodworking bench needs to be able to be flat on to with no obstruction.
If you can't afford the space for a general purpose bench, as well as a woodworking bench, heres an idea I use for most of my bench mounted tools (grinders, miter box, etc...)

Mount the Tool (Vice) to a 3/4 thick piece of Ply. Recess the bottom heads, or use T nuts so its flat on the bottom.

This can then be clamped to the bench when needed or stored on a shelf when not.

another way is to screw 2 strips of wood, stacked, to the bottom. One 2" wide and the second 3" wide. The sandwhiched one needs to be sligthly thicker than your Workmate's (suggested earlier) Jaws. Now you use the Workmate as your tool base. This second method works excelent and I use it for many tools.

I'll add my two cents worth... radial arm saws are nice, but don't
count out a good compound miter saw either... usually stick with
a 10" blade version, that'll do most of the jobs needed, like crown
molding for example.

Also, it's good to have a vice or two on the old workbench as well.

Scott

Mount the Tool (Vice) to a 3/4 thick piece of Ply. Recess the bottom heads, or use T nuts so its flat on the bottom.

This can then be clamped to the bench when needed or stored on a shelf when not.

another way is to screw 2 strips of wood, stacked, to the bottom. One 2" wide and the second 3" wide. The sandwhiched one needs to be sligthly thicker than your Workmate's (suggested earlier) Jaws. Now you use the Workmate as your tool base. This second method works excelent and I use it for many tools.


Excellent ideas! :thmbsp:

A quick update:

the garage sound system is coming along nicely. A Fisher 600 attached to some Mirage bookshelf speakers.

I picked up a circular saw and a jigsaw at a garage sale for a total of $15.00. Neither is amazing but both work and should be decent "starters"

I've also carved out space at the back of my garage that should work well for this stuff along with the electronics stuff I do. I mounted a sturdy large 4' long shelf about 5' up and added some adjustable lighting underneath it. It should work well for seeing behind and inside stuff whilst tinkering.

A quick update:

the garage sound system is coming along nicely. A Fisher 600 attached to some Mirage bookshelf speakers.

I picked up a circular saw and a jigsaw at a garage sale for a total of $15.00. Neither is amazing but both work and should be decent "starters"

I've also carved out space at the back of my garage that should work well for this stuff along with the electronics stuff I do. I mounted a sturdy large 4' long shelf about 5' up and added some adjustable lighting underneath it. It should work well for seeing behind and inside stuff whilst tinkering.

And so it begins! :D

Congrats! You're on your way! :thmbsp:

Scott

Kind of like audio- you buy what you need at first, then it begins to accumulate, and upgrades happen. Then it gets into the high end level, but instead of $1000 bucks for speaker wire, its high end router bits, custom Japanese dove saws, specialty clamps. Oh and then there are all the vintage tools out there...

Sorry, I'm a little late to this party.

All the advice is good but in all the reading I did, I didn't see too much info on what kind of projects you are looking to tackle. The kind of work you are going to be doing will dictate the kind and level of tools you should be looking at.

My father is big into woodworking and builds his own furniture. He can also do the rough framing and such too. He has distinctly different tools for each kind of work.

Since you have a new house, it is unlikely that you will need to be doing major repair work any time soon. Given that, I am guessing that alot of your projects will be centered around finish/decorative work. Liek building speaker boxes, furniture, cabinetry and so on. For this, your circular saws and cordless drills will work but honestly, they are not accurate enough. If you have a workshop, buy workshop level tools, not contractor level tools.

Contractor level tools are not lesser tools, they are just meant for a different purpose and that is portability. Most contractors are not doing finish work but rather construction work. They rarely have a need for a level of finish work any higher than a good mitre/chop saw for molding and a small table saw for paneling.

If you have a workshop area, get yourself a table saw and a drill press. You might also want to get a router table too. Build yourself a large workbench to have the room you need and organize so that your stuff fits well enough to do your projects. Get the circular saws and portable drills and such because they will come in handy but do not rely on them for finish work.

Like someone already said. Things look better with straight lines.

As far as what to buy, well, for table saws I'd look at Delta. They are expensive but you will never need to buy another table saw again and Delta supports thier products through thier planned lifecycle. That planned lifecycle Delta says will be over sometime after you die. That's standing behind your gear! For routers, Porter-Cable. Best on the market. You can also never have too many routers! Delta also makes drill presses but when it comes to drills, it's the bits that matter the most. These are all expensive items though and may be out of reach right now. However, if you are going to get stuff like this, your typical Craftsman stuff is great for a beginner and Craftsman does support the product.

Now portable stuff, Makita is usually cheaper than DeWalt and I firmly believe that while DeWalt is great stuff, you end up paying for a name. The Makita stuff is just as good and just as indestructible. However for all the cordless stuff you can find, a corded tool doesn't run in to the same problems. You get no voltage drop, you never have to replace batteries and they will usually grunt through stuff that will stop thier battery power brethren in its tracks. If you think other wise, try cutting ash, oak or pressure treated wood with a cordless saw. It can get frustrating.

What would I buy? Well, since my experience with woodworking is small, I can only go on what dad has had and others at work talk about. Most of the people I know started out with a table saw, circular saw, a few hammers and screw drivers and a power drill or two. Alot had hand tools too. Everything from saws to wood rasps and files. Beyond the very basic stuff, one really needs to get into learning about it all and what you can do. There is a plethora of stuff out there. Enough to make your head spin. You gotta look and learn, just like audio.

As far as projects to do, look online. There is stuff everywhere. Watch shows liek The New Yankee Workshop with Norm Abrams. The guy is a master carpenter and while he doesn't show the entire process, he shows what you need to see to learn a good technique. Also, he doesn't use junk so if you see him using a snazzy tool, you can bet that it is not only expensive but something worth buying. All the plans are on thier website too, completely blueprinted. He has a very nice workbench that he put together with alot of integrated features that would make your work easier. Other places to get plans are Rockler and Woodworking magazine's website. Here are some websites to check out for not only tools and plans but information about anything and everything about tools.

Woodworker's Supply: http://woodworker.com/cgi-bin/home.exe
- These guys bought Woodworker's Warehouse and you can find pretty much anything you might need for any project there. Home Depot and Lowes have good stuff but these guys have the cream of the crop!

The New Yankee Workshop: http://www.newyankee.com/index.shtml
- This has the TV schedule plus plans, info on the tools used and educational material. A good resource from the producers of the show and Norm Abrams. They used to have a Q&A area and a Forum but I don't see it unless they changed the names.

Delta Machinery and Tools: http://www.deltawoodworking.com/
- As mentioned before, these guys are top notch. You may WANT a new saw but if you own a Delta saw you will never NEED a new saw. Or anything else they make for that matter!

JET Tools: http://www.jettools.com/
- These guys are on the same level as Delta and a little cheaper but they also have metal working tools. Everyone I know who owns tools from these guys has had nothing but good things to say.

Craftsman Tools: http://www.craftsman.com
- This stuff is perfect for a novice. The power tools are forgiving and good enough that you can make some nice stuff with it. The hand tools are better and most have the lifetime warranty on them so if you break it, go to any SEARS and get a new one.

Woodworking.com: http://www.woodworking.com/
- Tons of resources from plans to educational materials and a forum to talk and learn with/from others.

Fine Woodworking Magazine: http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/index.asp
- A magazine devoted to finish woodworking. Everything from cabinetry and trim work to furniture making. Resources on finish work like polyurethanes, stains and other finishes and plans from everything from Jewelery boxes to dining room tables. A good resource with lots of ideas. They also list clubs, schools and other ways to learn the fine art of woodworking. Articles and equipment reviews can be a bit snobbish and seem paid off at times but reviews are only a small part of the magazine.

Wood Magazine: http://www.woodmagazine.com/
- This is the everyman woodworking magazine. By far one of the most popular with a very large bank of archive plans, articles and reviews. Also, they have alot of good info on some basic stuff that a novice would want to know. This one appeals to the master craftsman and novice nail banger alike.

Rockler.com: http://www.rockler.com/index.cfm?cookietest=1&
- Not only do they have plans and lots of good online resources but they also carry parts like knobs, handles, hinges and other hardware. A very good resource and relativly easy to deal with.

Last but not least!

Popular Woodworking: http://www.popularwoodworking.com/
- You want technical? These guys have it! You want introductory plans that even the worst carpenter can handle? These guys have it! You want honest, fairly unbiased equipment review? These guys have it! You want a magazine that will look at a set of fine German woodworking clamps and compare them to the cheapy QuickClamps you get in Home Depot? These guys will do it! They are like the Consumer Reports of woodworking but without the excessive liberal bias and fabricated test results. It's geared toward an audience a little more advanced than novice but not a professional level. It's a hobbyist magazine full of good info and projects you can do.

Well, just buy some shares in Home Depot before you start buying toys. Watch your fingers, use good ear protection and always wear something to protect your eyes and face. No matter what you get be sure you know how to protect your body before you use the things. That will only help, experienced people get hurt all the time. Be very effing carefull all the time. Your least powerfull power tool is probably stronger than you and Murphy's Law is at work the most when you stand to be hurt. Think everything through before you start, every time.
Now build some great stuff!

Thatch is right about getting hurt.

Anyone who's seen my lumpy right thumbnail knows that power tools can and will bite you if you aren't careful.

So I guess ya'll wouldn't approve of my drunken carpentry this evening?

Thanks for the input guys. I have a lot to ponder.

I will start simple, safe and cheap (in regards to material cost) and learn as I go. I have no major projects that HAVE to get done but shelving, storage stuff, speakers cabs, and fun stuff like that could be a lot of fun as I learn as I go. Hopefully some of the brand names will begin to sink in as I hit garage sales and such.

Dude, check out your local high school adult education programs. If they have a Wood Shop class and a wood shop, they will have a shop safety class. Usually anywhere from 2 classes to a week of 1-2 hours of evening instruction. Very good for a novice plus you get to see what machines are out there and you learn how to use them. Most shop teachers are available for questions and such too so it'd be a glld local resource for you to tap when you aren't sure of something.