Thread: cost of these tools

Originally Posted by thumbsucker

Non of the first years at ASFF have any of these tools.

This list is an ideal and no one expects you to have these tools from day one...
...The school and fellow student share tools and we get bye this way.

I find it very strange that a school of this standing wouldnt "demand" students commence the first simester with nothing but the basic set that was included on the web site.
It would annoy me to no end if i had to constantly share mine.

thank you all so much. i couldnt have asked for more help. i think i will buy my own doevtail saw. so basically thye have a limited supply of tools, and if you have your own bring them.

ok so here is my 'shopping list':

• smoothing plane: $40 or $209

http://www.stanleytools.com/default....ng+Bench+Plane
or
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...=1,41182,52515

• Block Plane: $129

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...=1,41182,48942

• Cutting Gauge: $37.50

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...33&cat=1,42936

• Dovetail Saw: $130

http://www.adriatools.com/handsaw/dovetail_saw.html

• Chisels: $129

http://www.carbatec.com.au/store/ind...h=40_4410_4420
Would need to purchase 3mm and 10mm seperately.

so all up $465.5 (stanley plane) or $634.5 (Veritas plane). considering the qaulity of these tools i think it would be a wise move to purchase them. any objections as to my selection of tools? any additional tools?

so basically if i have the tools bring them, if i dont have certain tools the uni may have them, otherwise borrow off a student. hopefully i will get ajob in Tassi, so that way i can buy soem more tools, ones that are necessary.

as it is the car will probably be going, as well as the old lego, and any other stuff i wont need. so i may as well spend the money on decent quality tools.

Rhys

Ryhs, get the best cheapest tools you can. You said you wont have much money, so forget Veritas and the like. And forget about getting a job in Tassie just to get more tools as you wont have time, you will need all your spare cash for materials (very expensive in the 2nd year) Good luck

Rhys, keep an eye out for the big 2nd hand tool sale that's held in about August - guess it will be on again this year. Get there early - I picked up a Quinn dovetail saw for $7 and I reckon it was the best one there. Also, talk to the traditional tools group.
As for planes 2nd hand is usually best. Don't know if ASFF does, but at Sturt we had to tune ours. If you buy a 2nd hand one that's basically sound you could save money by getting one that needs tuning.
Re the drafting gear, if you need a T square PM me - I have several.

Hi Rhys

Avoid any new tool made by Stanley or Record, in fact any tool made by them post 1960's is best avoided.

Buy an old Stanley plane for $20 to $40, learn how to fix and tune it and learn how to use it. Then once who have passed this right of passage get into into some LV/LN BU goodness.

As for the Saw's, I would seriously suggest try before you buy. Saws are a very personal things, each style (Western/Japanese) and maker have their fans and critics. If you can borrow some saws, or go to the working wood show during the year and try them out at the stand.

You have one year to build a tool collection, refurbishing tools now is OK, as you have the time.

Old chisels are generally a much better buy, as modern chisels are a hit and miss affair sometime good sometimes unless you pay for a fancy fancy LN set.

Since the school has a milling machine and a metal lathe, I am going to be making allot of my own tools. Which includes marking knives, cutting gauge, a set of chisels amongst other tools. I also will now be making metal infill planes as I have a full metal working workshop at my disposal. However time is a problem, slowly slowly.

As for finding work, this is a real problem down here and many students are looking but few have extra sources of income it seems. You are also so busy that you do not have time to work another job. Somethings are also very expensive down here. A cup of coffee is $3.50+, a simple meat pie is over $4.50+ most of the time. Rent is about 30% cheaper then Sydney. However the cost of basics stuff eats away that saving. Their is also a shortage of accommodation. If you can apply ASAP to get a Uni dorm room for next year. I am almost homeless myself, drifting from place to place. Two guys in my year are living in a caravan park, two are living in a dump with holes in the roof, one girl is also partially homeless as well. Accommodation has been a major point of stress for me.

I am going back to Melbourne on Wednesday over easter to have a rest then I am coming back to Launceston to stay in a backpacker until I can find a share place.

Do not stress, just get down here. In the mean time I would be more concerned about learning how to freehand perspective drawing, brushing up on design history, theory and major movements (Ancient Egypt to Gothic), finding out what you like in contemporary design, building a design log/book/diary of stuff you love and WHY???? you love it (Very important to Simon), Also if you can get a copy of Vector Works which is the CAD program that ASFF and Architecture use and learn it all the better. Also learn how to use an Apple Computer as the whole school runs on them.

Simon (the head) is a nice guy, people are generally nice but it is also very competitive space.

The foundations for the new custom ASFF building is being started in April and will be ready for us at the end of the year.

Material costs are not that bad, the school has a good supply of free timber, and can get more timber at base rates. We are going to milling a Blackwood tree next month on this guys farm. Lots of extra curricular activities.

Originally Posted by thumbsucker

Material costs are not that bad, the school has a good supply of free timber, and can get more timber at base rates.

Wait until year 2 when that (secret) competitiveness comes out and the students want to make the best furniture in the class. Mixed medium materials cost a small fortune. Save now

I thought there was a Government scheme to provide a few hundred dollars of assistance to beginning apprentices. I wonder if this might be available to young blokes setting off to do serious studies at a fair dinkum school such as this. Might be worth it to contact the School to check out whether they have got their students plugged into this scheme. Anyone know about the rules of this scheme?

Originally Posted by Lignum

Mixed medium materials cost a small fortune.

It looks like that is the case. The second years, are doing, stuff like laser cutting, and bending stainless steel, fiberglass, plastics, leather, fabric all labour that is outsourced and which must cost a mint.

Others are not.

Depends on were in the designer/maker spectrum you fall. Make it all your self or get someone else to make it all instead.

However many have been warned against this.

Because manufacturing cost both as a prototype and a production run is something to consider, and must be factored into the design. If you do not have the capital then the design is flawed.

No one is forcing you to use metal, plastic or fiberglass, and if your "style" is not to use those materials and you design around cheaper options then you are one step ahead. Costing is an important part of prototyping a design. If the design is to costly to make then the design must be reconsidered. If you cannot bring a product into production in a cost effective manor then, you will have problem.

We had a guest speaker come and talk to us about lights that he made, and how he stopped making certain designs because of the prohibitive material cost.

NOTE: The school has an endless supply of MDF and Kauri Pine Ply.

so does the cost of the course include some materials, or do you hvaeto purhcase your own?

also if i was to go oncampus accomodation can i put that on my hecs? coz i looked onthe site and it siad $11000, that as very expensive.

i do currently have a job, and i am putting money aside each week. i will be trying to strike a deal wiht my parents (or a bank.lol).

first off i have to apply. i will take it form there i spose, but i will definatly put money aside incase i am selected.

IF selected, car WILL be sold, and only the bare necesities are gonna be taken (i.e. clothes, iPod, tools, Harry Potter Books(they are good) , woodwork mags, and car mags.)

i am keen as anything for this course, i just hope it wont cost me (and my parents) an absolute fortune.

Hi Rhys

Regrettable no on the accommodation and HECS, if you stay on campus you pay up front every term. That is why I am not staying there. Then share housing is the way to go. Most share housing is up at Newnham (a good 10 minuets by car), were the main campus is. However we are located at Inveresk and not much accommodation in that area.

Do not bother with the mags the school has every magazine you could want. Just not playboy.

I think the school try to get you going and try not to give you to many up front costs. So far I have paid nothing in material, the school has provided timber for spoons, turning, plus veneers. Actually got to turn a strange timber called Horizontal that is very hard and dense (for a Tassy timber). However when I do my dovetail Jewelry box and Mirror then I would need to buy my own timber, plus mirror, however the amount of timber needed is small so the cost should be low.

A car might be handy around here. I wish I had one. This place if F#@ing hilly. Plus public transport blows. No trains or trams only buses and it is very infrequent at best. Plus you can always live in your car as one guy did for a few weeks.

NOTE: There is almost NO free parking in all of Launceston, Even out in the suburbs its metered parking almost every were. IF you are fit enough a bike is a good option.

I expect to pay less then $500 in timber this year. Much more next year. You can bring timber with you as well (I have some nice timber in Victoria and I hope to get more, I am not a fan of Tassy timbers outside of Celery Top and Blackwood). To-date the course has not cost me a cent. Everything has been via HECS.

Best course I have ever done, and I have done a few.

so are there text books involved? if os do they fall under hecs? yeah i was thinking of keeping the car, but if i sell it i would hopefully get $3000 for it and that would help me a lot. i know it sounds stupid, but i got ripped off badly for the car and i am hoping for hail. lol.

man that sucks for oncamus acoomodation.

so i am correct in asuming you get like, 'design assignments', as in: design a porduct and state the need, etc.

thye are offering the course next year as a full degree, and it takes 3 years to do. is it possible for you to change to that after this year or do you hva eto do the assocites degree?

Their are not Text Books as such. The school has a good private library and you can do all your essential reading from the Library. There are some recommended book however the school keeps copies of them, but its only about $400 worth of books at the most.

HECS does not cover Books.

You have one design subject, and yes you do allot of design work. However, you also have a drawing class were you have to design as well. And the how to class you need to design as well, even the history subject has a design report to it. Design its a word you are going get real used to hearing.

Design, Design, Design, Design, Design, Design, Design, Design, Design, Design, Design, Design, Design, Design, Design, Design, Design, Design, Design, Design, Design, Design, Design, Design, Design, Design, Design,

I have done three design reports and one and half practical projects this term already. I think their are 4 more design reports to do.

Design, Design, Design, Design, Design, Design, Design, Design, Design, Design, Design, Design, Design, Design, Design, Design, Design, Design, Design, Design, Design, Design, Design, Design, Design, Design, Design,

Sick of the Design, yet?

I will be going on to the 4 years program with Honors, I am in essence already doing the Full Degree Program the subjects are the same, just no one has done the 3rd and 4th year yet. My year will be the first year to make a smooth transition,no problems.

Their is some great work in the student gallery on the web site. I love the 2 below.


Take the bottom drawers out of the Krenov style cabinet and it would be as good an example as you would get