Thread: Just starting out

Hi Barry, I can see your problem straight away, the equipment you have is far too hi tech, you should lock it all in the cupboard, and start like most of us did, with two blunt screw drivers and a hammer! You have all the equipment you need right now, as your skills get better, you'll replace what you have with better tools. Also as your project get more ambitious, you need other tools like biscuit cutters, pocket hole jig etc. Before long you'll have more tools than you can poke your blunt screw drivers at! Have fun it, all happens bit by bit. Having a table saw is very useful, buy what you can afford, you can always up date to improved machines.

Hi Barry,

Mate I reckon that you have a great tool collection to start with. I wish I had half of what you have got when I started out. I reckon Jason has it all covered in his reply.

Jason did a pretty good summing up. You have a terrific collection there. I would add a dusty for the bandsaw/thicknesser/jointer, a shop vac and a pencil. I just acquired a decent drill press after suffering years of a cheapie that drilled to 48mm depth, just that much short of a slimline blank. Oh, and a lathe is great fun. There is no end really, what about a linisher? Oh the madness continues.
Welcome to the forum, enjoy.

Oh, you got the linisher

I think most of the stuff on your list is on my wish list! If you send it all to me, I'll send you two blunt hammers and a screwdriver, and I'll throw in a saw with no teeth too.

Do you have any timber?

Originally Posted by jasons673

Hi Barry, I can see your problem straight away, the equipment you have is far too hi tech, you should lock it all in the cupboard, and start like most of us did, with two blunt screw drivers and a hammer! You have all the equipment you need right now, as your skills get better, you'll replace what you have with better tools. Also as your project get more ambitious, you need other tools like biscuit cutters, pocket hole jig etc. Before long you'll have more tools than you can poke your blunt screw drivers at! Have fun it, all happens bit by bit. Having a table saw is very useful, buy what you can afford, you can always up date to improved machines.

Hi Jason. I've still got the 2 blunt screwdrivers and the old wooden handled hammer that my Dad gave to me, along with a very blunt handsaw about 55 years ago! They, along with some other items procured over the years, have served me well, and I have made some (to me) fairly decent pieces of furniture along the way. Unfortuntately, the ravages of time have caught up with me and I can no longer use hand tools for an extended period, so I have chosen to become "mechanised" rather than lose my one passion.

Grommett, thanks for your comments, I failed to mention that I have a 4 speedRhino 1 metre lathe with two types of adjustable heads, and (I believe its called) a "live" tail stock(?) together with 23 tools, on a heavy 2inch steel bench which I picked up a couple of months ago on E***bay for $170. I have not ever been fortunate enough to use a lathe since I finished school, so have been reading many books, although there is no substitute for practical experience.
Thanks for the dusty and vac suggestions, I guess that we get carried away with what we now have and tend to forget some of the more important OHS items. I had thought of the drill but have been undecided whether to buy a bench or floor standing drill.

Yes rh, got a fair bit, but none of the beautiful slabs yet. I have contacted a bloke at Oberon (about 70km away) who deals in slabs, almost anything he reckons he can get : The Wood Guys - Home

Shed slab went down yesterday, yes with 2 thicknesses of plastic under it, and provision for a toilet inside (SWAMBO won't let me inside with dust on me!). Pic attached.

Thanks again all.

Barry

Get the Floor Standing model, you never know when you might need to drill a 10mm hole accurately in the end of a log - which will be 2 cm longer then your bench mounted drill press can take (it was a tool handle, if you need to know)

Originally Posted by Sawdust Maker

Get the Floor Standing model, you never know when you might need to drill a 10mm hole accurately in the end of a log - which will be 2 cm longer then your bench mounted drill press can take (it was a tool handle, if you need to know)

Originally Posted by Sawdust Maker

Get the Floor Standing model, you never know when you might need to drill a 10mm hole accurately in the end of a log - which will be 2 cm longer then your bench mounted drill press can take (it was a tool handle, if you need to know)

Thanks for that, good point, although I guess I'd have to get a trolley system too to handle the log!

I've looked at a couple of bnch mounted ones and the depth that the chuck can move is in most cases not a real lot, and the plate can't be moved all that much either.

Originally Posted by wun4us

Shed slab went down yesterday, yes with 2 thicknesses of plastic under it, and provision for a toilet inside (SWAMBO won't let me inside with dust on me!).

What about a sink to wash your hands after being on the Thrown.

Maybe use the old SS laundry tub I picked up at the tip......in good nick, sum ppl throw anything out.

well lots of praise for the advice so far and heres some more . Have a look here http://torqueworkcentres.com/ wish I had bought one of these when I first built my shed I have one now and am really impressed with the jobs it allows me to do as a panelsaw it cuts down full size sheets with ease overhead routing brilliant copying attachment terrific drill press cant beat it. I love mine its the only true multipurpose tool I have ever bought that works well no matter what I've tried so far

Originally Posted by fubar

well lots of praise for the advice so far and heres some more . Have a look here http://torqueworkcentres.com/ wish I had bought one of these when I first built my shed I have one now and am really impressed with the jobs it allows me to do as a panelsaw it cuts down full size sheets with ease overhead routing brilliant copying attachment terrific drill press cant beat it. I love mine its the only true multipurpose tool I have ever bought that works well no matter what I've tried so far

But does it make coffee?

Originally Posted by Sawdust Maker

But does it make coffee?

Future attachment.

Originally Posted by fubar

well lots of praise for the advice so far and heres some more . Have a look here http://torqueworkcentres.com/ wish I had bought one of these when I first built my shed I have one now and am really impressed with the jobs it allows me to do as a panelsaw it cuts down full size sheets with ease overhead routing brilliant copying attachment terrific drill press cant beat it. I love mine its the only true multipurpose tool I have ever bought that works well no matter what I've tried so far

Looks a good device, but way out of my level of mechanical expertise.....and most likey the price. Almost set and forget machine! One day the mechanisation might reach the point where it will have become full circle and we'll be back to using hand tools to get some individual satisfaction from producing something.