Thread: Back to basics

I recall not too many years ago my Father, who is not in the least mechanically or woodwork minded (another academic) got by with an 8" shifter, hammer of questionable parentage and a flat bladed screwdriver.
This was his complete kit.
I posted a long time ago how he fitted in a new cat flap in the back door using the screwdriver as a chisel and the hammer to drive in the philips head screws provided.
Thankfully I have educated him a little and he now has some decent tools, as to whether or not he knows how to use them is a different matter.
Having said that, I have 7 routers and I could probably get away with one, 5 cordless drills, ditto, 20 odd hand planes and about 40 chisels, 2 bandsaws and 2 drill presses.
These just presented themselves to me and I could see a use for them and the price was right, but, as you say, I could probably get away with a lot less.

Originally Posted by derekcohen

I could take along only a few tools: Cordless drill, Ryoba saw, two old yellow-handled Stanley chisels, a fine diamond stone, hammer, and two workmates. Of course, a combination square, spirit level, tape measure, knife and pencil. A Stanley #93 shoulder plane trippled up as smoother and block plane.

Delete the diamond stone, level and one chisel, and substitute the plane for a #4 and you have my kit of 20 years. I used to "sharpen" on any old bit of concrete, but that's a story that's been recorded elsewhere.

Add a router and jig saw and you have all the tools we used to build the Puddleducks.

Cheers,

P

My basic tool kit at present would be:

a saw
pencil, eraser,
square, measuring tape
sandpaper
glue
screws/nails
drill, bits and a hammer
and masking tape

cheers
Wendy

Originally Posted by derekcohen

I wonder what your "minimum toolbox" would be?
Derek

Depends wot you're trying to do Derek, and how much time you've got!

To fit a couple of jambs and throw up some shelving, maybe you WERE over-tooled. But if you wanted to finish a decent bit of furniture in reasonable time, maybe you would have wished for a couple more bits and pieces?

I look on many of the tools in my kit not as 'essentials' but as 'speeder-uppers'. You coull also apply the term 'luxury' to them, I suppose. Working my way down from the tablesaw, which gets a lot of use and saves a LOT of time (but can be substituted for by a couple of simple, arm-strengthening bits of flat steel with wooden handles) I would eventually arrive at a couple of specialty planes or special chisels which get very occasional use, but make certain operations much easier, more certain of outcome, and therefore, far more pleasurable to tackle.....

A few years ago, when I had time to do these things, I used to demonstrate at some of our woody shows, usually finishing a small piece of furniture like a bedside table, that contained the basic elements of w'working including jointing, M&T and some dovetailing. I found I could carry all the tools I needed in a fruit carton, (yeah, didn't really look the part, I know, but by the time I got around to building a more respectable toolbox, I could no longer go to shows ). Though I often wished for something left at home, I could always get by with the one or two saws, a good #5, block plane, 3 or 4 chisels, mallet, couple of layout tools that fitted in the box. I did cheat a bit by pre-cutting any drawer grooves, to save hauling a plough plane in, but that was about all.

But what I took along was a luxury kit, after seeing what some of the people in S.E Asia do with fewer tools, of dubious quality, in a pretty short space of time!

The question of what's a minimal w'working kit, or 'starter' kit seems to pop up often on these BBs. Of course, the answers always start with "Depends what you're trying to do..." But there's still a lot of divergence in what people consider essential, even for the same tasks. Partly, I suppose, because of who taught us, and at least in my own case, because over the years, I've developed very firm 'favourites' that just do the job better (in my hands) than anything else. So a couple of 'luxury' tools would have to be included in my 'desert island' toolbox, even if I do have to carry it up the beach by myself......

FWIW,

Originally Posted by Iain

I posted a long time ago how he fitted in a new cat flap in the back door using the screwdriver as a chisel and the hammer to drive in the philips head screws provided.

The only cat door I ever fitted I did use a screwdriver to drive the screws, but I cut the hole in the wall with an electric chainsaw

It always amazes me that the most unlikely tool can be pressed into use for mundane tasks when the correct tool is not at hand. Only the other day I heard that the government is thinking of using Nuclear reactors to make electricity. Who'd have thunk?



woodbe

In 1989 my brother (a mechanical engineer) took a long small boat ride down an Amazonian tributary from the Andes to the Amazon. The boat basically went along with the flow but the outgoard motor was essential when approaching rapids so they could pull over to a landing site and then carry the boat around the rapids.

The outboard spark plug frequently fouled ,which the "dude/operator" duly then removed - cleaned - replaced frequently, with a screwdriver and a hammer. My brother, who is also serious home engine modifier/restorer, said he winced every time the plugged was cleaned. At one point the "dude" further horrified my brother by shattering the ceramic in the plug. No worries, he just rooted around in the bilge and found "the spare". Apparently the screwdriver and hammer were also the only tools on board.