Woodworking newbie

**jdavisward** · 6th January 2016, 01:10 PM

Hello everybody. My name is Joel, and I thought I'd introduce myself before I posted in the main woodworking forum asking for advice. So, here's a bit about myself:

I'm currently living in Adelaide with my fiancé, studying Agricultural Sciences at Adelaide Uni. She's also at uni, studying a B.Science, double-majoring in soil science and ecology. We're planning on eventually moving to Tassie to start our own polyculture farm (i.e farming/growing many different things, rather than just a few). I'd love to be able to build things for the farm from timber I've milled myself, and grow trees for our future generations to enjoy. I'd also like to build the tiny house we plan on living in.

I haven't done a whole lot of woodworking in the past - some during high school (though at the time I treated it like a bludge class and wasted most of my time), a short stint as a carpentry apprentice, and some various small/easy projects - nothing special. I've always liked working with wood though, and even the smell of freshly-cut wood is enough to make me dream of a life spent woodworking in a shop nestled in a forest. I love it. I've recently become interested in Japanese woodworking, architecture, and joinery - it probably suits my detail oriented, perfectionist personality - and have been considering starting woodworking as a relaxing, useful hobby. I don't have many tools though, or much money, being a student, and woodworking certainly isn't a cheap hobby, so before I committed myself I thought I'd come here and get some advice from the people most likely to be able and willing to help me

i look forward to hearing what you all have to say and learning from your experience. Hope you all had a good Christmas and New Year!

**Christos** · 6th January 2016, 05:51 PM

Welcome to the forum Joel.

You really don't need a lot of tools when you first start on woodworking as a hobby. The most basic of tools will get you going and even look at second hands tools. One thing to note that you are correct in saying that it can be an expensive hobby. There are many aspects to this hobby and knowing how to use tools is a life skill especially on a farm.

**crowie** · 6th January 2016, 08:29 PM

G'Day & Welcome to a top forum "Joel".
There are a lot of members in and around Adelaide, across Sth Aust plus Tassie and the rest of the country.....
You'll find a heap of helpful & knowledgeable blokes & ladies on the forum and for most very willing to assist.
Make sure you show off your handiwork as everyone loves a photo, especially WIP [Work In Progress] photos with build notes.
Enjoy the forum.
Enjoy your woodwork ..
Cheers crowie

PS - On the tools, watch out for garage sales, deceased estates, clearance sales and the like to get some good secondhand tools to get you started.....

**Treecycle** · 6th January 2016, 09:57 PM

Welcome to the forum jdavisward. There are so many places to find answers here on all sorts of subjects.
As others have said, keep an eye out for quality brand secondhand tools, especially hand tools, as these will certainly get you started. Learn how to use them correctly and sharpen edged tools to a razor edge, and it will all be a pleasure the time you can spend woodworking. Quite a lot of people actually move back to hand tools after some time in woodworking just for the pleasure of using them and the lack of dust and noise that is created.
I do envy your plans for your future in Tassie.

**old1955** · 7th January 2016, 01:51 PM

Welcome to the forum Joel.

**cava** · 7th January 2016, 10:44 PM

Welcome - you will learn a lot here!

**JJF** · 10th January 2016, 09:23 AM

Welcome to the forum

**Evanism** · 10th January 2016, 09:50 AM

Joel, sounds like you have it sorted. Hold on to that dream and pursue it. It's a good one.

Making things exclusively with Japanese tools takes very little space. Everything can be packed away very efficiently. It need not cost a fortune either....

Now, if you want to buy the very best hand forged Kanna (plane) or Oire-nomi (chisels) it will cost a months food, but if kept modest it's entirely doable on a tight budget.

Try toolsfromjapan.com for tools, YouTube (obviously) for instructional videos on sharpening and setup of Japanese tools and a good book by Des King on making Shoji (from Amazon) for details on the art of the Shokunin.

Your dream of a farm in Tassie is wonderful. Pursue it.

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