First let me thank everyone for their thoughtful advice. Posting to
newsgroups can be an iffy proposition at best. You never know what you
might get. I fully expected to get at least some portion of smart ass
remarks, but what I found was a collection of thoughtful and useful
advice - THANKS!
To sort of answer some of the comments in previous posts - I realize
that I didn'g give much details and as such I knew there would be some
generalized answers. Part of my lack of detail is because I don't know
as of yet what direction the woodworking will take me. My first thought
is to make and build some stand alone furniture. There are a number of
specific pieces that I have in mind. Since I am new, my plan was to
stick with straight lines - shaker, mission style etc. Perhaps in my
ignorance I am thinking it will be easier.
Due to the advice given in previous posts I am planning to hold off
purchasing the RAS and check into a local wood working class. I did
like the idea that having the compound miter saw could be moved to make
room on the bench for other tools as needed, giving more flexibility in
a limited space. I was definitely planning on a router and thanks to
your advice I have a better idea of what to look for.
This was a long winded path to get to advice request #2 -
Based on the idea of building some basic furniture - what tools would
you buy first?
Thanks again,
Fred
On Fri, 10 Sep 2004 21:56:42 -0500, Australopithecus scobis
<[email protected]> wrote:
>On Sat, 11 Sep 2004 02:06:09 +0000, wrote:
>
>> My opinion, worth exactly what you'll be charged for it, is that you're
>> going to need some hand tools, without power cords, and the stuff and skill
>> to keep them sharp.
><snip excellent advice
>
>OP: Listen to the man.
>
>This belongs in the FAQ. (Is it there already? Who reads FAQs?) If I
>hadn't already done all those things, I'd print out his post and stick it
>to the shop wall. His advice is worth far more than he charged.
>
>One other thing: have fun!
and since you're thinking about a shop on the freakin' third floor,
make it a rule to not buy any tools you can't easily carry up and down
2 flights of staris....
>Based on the idea of building some basic furniture - what tools would
you buy first?
A used DeWalt RAS.
--
Rumpty
Radial Arm Saw Forum: http://forums.delphiforums.com/woodbutcher/start
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"FGG" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> First let me thank everyone for their thoughtful advice. Posting to
> newsgroups can be an iffy proposition at best. You never know what you
> might get. I fully expected to get at least some portion of smart ass
> remarks, but what I found was a collection of thoughtful and useful
> advice - THANKS!
>
> To sort of answer some of the comments in previous posts - I realize
> that I didn'g give much details and as such I knew there would be some
> generalized answers. Part of my lack of detail is because I don't know
> as of yet what direction the woodworking will take me. My first thought
> is to make and build some stand alone furniture. There are a number of
> specific pieces that I have in mind. Since I am new, my plan was to
> stick with straight lines - shaker, mission style etc. Perhaps in my
> ignorance I am thinking it will be easier.
>
> Due to the advice given in previous posts I am planning to hold off
> purchasing the RAS and check into a local wood working class. I did
> like the idea that having the compound miter saw could be moved to make
> room on the bench for other tools as needed, giving more flexibility in
> a limited space. I was definitely planning on a router and thanks to
> your advice I have a better idea of what to look for.
>
> This was a long winded path to get to advice request #2 -
>
> Based on the idea of building some basic furniture - what tools would
> you buy first?
>
> Thanks again,
>
> Fred
"patriarch [email protected]>" <<patriarch> wrote in message
> My opinion, worth exactly what you'll be charged for it, is that you're
> going to need some hand tools, without power cords, and the stuff and
> skill
> to keep them sharp.
To add to the already excellent advice
CLAMPS
When I started out, I'd not hesitate to buy a slick looking power tool, but
had to get an extender for extra leverage on the crowbar for clamps. That
was a mistake. You need at least two Bessey K body clamps, preferably the
31", but you can supplement them with the lower cost Tradesman model clamps.
A couple of 24" are nice and add from there.
FGG <[email protected]> wrote in news:VpSdnV5Ycbq83N_cRVn-
[email protected]:
> First let me thank everyone for their thoughtful advice. Posting to
> newsgroups can be an iffy proposition at best. You never know what you
> might get. I fully expected to get at least some portion of smart ass
> remarks, but what I found was a collection of thoughtful and useful
> advice - THANKS!
Were you disappointed? We could try again! ;-)
<snip>
> This was a long winded path to get to advice request #2 -
>
> Based on the idea of building some basic furniture - what tools would
> you buy first?
>
My opinion, worth exactly what you'll be charged for it, is that you're
going to need some hand tools, without power cords, and the stuff and skill
to keep them sharp.
A modest set of chisels, such as the Marples bevel-edge, or maybe a little
better. You shouldn't need to spend more than maybe $50 on a set of 4 or
5.
Two or three hand planes. Good ones, whether they are old or new. A block
plane. A #3 or #4 bench plane. A larger plane, like a #5 or bigger. Two
or three handscrapers.
One or two modestly priced Japanese-style pull saws. There has been a lot
of good discussion on these in recent threads. Google is your friend. If
not, www.japanwoodworker.com is.
Some decent measuring tools. An accurate square. A marking gauge. A good
steel rule. A scratch awl or marking knife. A pair of dividers or
compass. A sliding bevel gauge.
Oh. You could buy a powered hand drill, and some good bits.
Read up on Scary Sharp on the web. Or water stones. No power tools are
needed, at least not for now. If you can't sharpen it with either of those
two methods, take it to a professional for service.
Get the McFeeley's catalog, as well as their $10 sampler package of
fasteners. One of the best deals in woodworking. And one of the best
vendors, too.
Now here's the hard part. Take you wallet. Take out all of the credit
cards, and give them to your wife for 'escrow', while you study the
catalogs from Lee Valley, Garrett-Wade, Highland Hardware, Japan
Woodworker, and maybe three or four others. Don't buy anything until you
have thought it through for three days. If it still seems like a good
idea, ask your wife for one of the cards back, preferably one with a modest
limit.
You can spend a thousand dollars on the above, or find things used or on
sale for a lot less. But none of these tools will be obsolete when your
grandchildren might use them. They seldom wear out or break, if you buy
reasonable quality. If you like estate or garage sales, you can find them
really cheap, in some neighborhoods.
And find that adult ed program, so you can learn to use their power tools
safely, and see what you like.
/preacher mode off
Welcome to the craft!
Patriarch
Australopithecus scobis <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:
> On Sat, 11 Sep 2004 02:06:09 +0000, wrote:
>
>> My opinion, worth exactly what you'll be charged for it, is that
>> you're going to need some hand tools, without power cords, and the
>> stuff and skill to keep them sharp.
> <snip excellent advice
>
> OP: Listen to the man.
>
> This belongs in the FAQ. (Is it there already? Who reads FAQs?) If I
> hadn't already done all those things, I'd print out his post and stick
> it to the shop wall. His advice is worth far more than he charged.
>
> One other thing: have fun!
I forgot the Four in One file/rasp. And a coping saw. And some of the
neat stuff at www.supertool.com.
And...
"U-CDK_CHARLES\\Charles" <"Charles Krug"@cdksystems.com> wrote in
news:r_h1d.7916$sX2.4334@trndny09:
> On Sat, 11 Sep 2004 02:06:09 GMT, patriarch <> wrote:
>>
>> One or two modestly priced Japanese-style pull saws. There has been
>> a lot of good discussion on these in recent threads. Google is your
>> friend. If not, www.japanwoodworker.com is.
>>
>
> Or a Tage Frid style frame saw, if you prefer.
>
>
What's wrong with 'and' ? ;-)
Patriarch
On Sat, 11 Sep 2004 02:06:09 +0000, wrote:
> My opinion, worth exactly what you'll be charged for it, is that you're
> going to need some hand tools, without power cords, and the stuff and skill
> to keep them sharp.
<snip excellent advice
OP: Listen to the man.
This belongs in the FAQ. (Is it there already? Who reads FAQs?) If I
hadn't already done all those things, I'd print out his post and stick it
to the shop wall. His advice is worth far more than he charged.
One other thing: have fun!
--
"Keep your ass behind you"
On Fri, 10 Sep 2004 20:03:45 -0400, FGG <[email protected]>
wrote:
>First let me thank everyone...
snip
>
>This was a long winded path to get to advice request #2 -
>
>Based on the idea of building some basic furniture - what tools would
>you buy first?
>
>Thanks again,
>
>Fred
hand tools.