Thread: Embarassed Newbie tools questions

Originally Posted by Ford Fairlane

Hi Guys,

Like i said in my intro thread, im a newb to woodworking and the project that turned me towards the hobby was my arcade cabinet. Heres a couple of pics at the bottom the thread.

So anyway, i did this with a power saw, jigsaw, router and drill. Now that i want to make life easier and increase my reportoire, i've decided i need to start my collection of fair dinkum wood working tools. So a couple of questions.

1. Is a table saw a good first purchase. I want to make more of these cabinets plus storage solutions such as the dvd rack my wife is bugging me for?
2. I cant afford Festool, so whats a good saw for ripping down dado etc for box shapes... i know its a subjective question but dont even know where to shop for these tools... all i know is Bunnings. ...

3. Sourcing timber in timber? (i live near liverpool, southwest).
4. Whats the order of aquisition for a small workshop..? table saw, dust collector, router table etc?

Sorry about the newb questions but i love the beginnings and planning of the hobby and want to keep enjoying myself

Cheers!

Great work. buy a table saw first.

Phil

Originally Posted by Phil Spencer

Great work. buy a table saw first.

Phil

Agreed!!

Great glow in the dark effort BTW.

FF, I have sent you a PM with my suppliers.
I agree with the others, start with a table saw.
Fletty

I'd suggest you get a Carbatec catalogue http://www.carbatec.com.au/ I wouldn't necessarily buy everything there, but the catalogue is very comprehensive and will show you what is available.

That is a really cool cabinet, shows a great flair for design.

Originally Posted by Ford Fairlane

Hi Guys,

Like i said in my intro thread, im a newb to woodworking and the project that turned me towards the hobby was my arcade cabinet.
snip
i [have] a power saw, jigsaw, router and drill. Now that i want to make life easier and increase my reportoire, i've decided i need to start my collection of fair dinkum wood working tools. So a couple of questions.

1. Is a table saw a good first purchase. I want to make more of these cabinets plus storage solutions such as the dvd rack my wife is bugging me for?
2. I cant afford Festool, so whats a good saw for ripping down dado etc for box shapes... i know its a subjective question but dont even know where to shop for these tools... all i know is Bunnings. ...
3. Sourcing timber in sydney? (i live near liverpool, southwest).
4. Whats the order of aquisition for a small workshop..? table saw, dust collector, router table etc?

Hi Fordy, here's my take on your questions

1) a table saw is a good option,
but if you're mainly working in MDF, Chipboard and ply you can get suppliers like Mr Ply&Wood to cut sheets to size for you
also if you're planning on a number of similar or identical cabinets, time spent making templates for the router to follow is a good investment

it's a little bit more work setting up, but dados and rebates can be readily cut with your router, often more neatly and cheaply than with a table saw. I haven't priced dados blades recently, but last time I looked a dado blade was arround the same cost as a mid-sized router

what's missing from your "I already have" list is a ROS and vac — my suggestion would be, before the table saw, get a decent ROS sander and shop vac to collect the dust
then get two hand planes and the gear to sharpen the blade
• a smoother — #4, #4-1/2 or #5, or a bevel-up equivalent and
• a low angle block plane with adjustable mouth
(this will probably start a huge debate, but if your interest is mainly making stuff and not getting hand tools to work, select from Lee Valley - Veritas, Lie Nielsen or Clifton for your first planes)

3) sourcing timber – given your initial project list I suggest that for the time being you stay with board material to which you add iron-on veneer or solid timber edges as appropriate. When making drawers keep with simple construction and add solid timber false fronts to dress them up

4) order of acquisition
this is very subjective, but you already have two saws, a router and a drill ...
you need a decent sander (I suggest a Random Orbit Sander) and shop vac for the dust
you need at least some hand tools – say 3 chisels, two hand planes,
you can never have too many clamps
you need a work surface (bench)
a Trimmer – an example is the Makita N3702 1/4in router

then get the table saw


ian

Don't forget the dust extractor! IMO that should go hand in hand with anyones first major power tool purchase. I started out with the Table saw & dusty as my first purchase.

Originally Posted by ian

Hi Fordy, here's my take on your questions

then get two hand planes and the gear to sharpen the blade
• a smoother — #4, #4-1/2 or #5, or a bevel-up equivalent and
• a low angle block plane with adjustable mouth
(this will probably start a huge debate, but if your interest is mainly making stuff and not getting hand tools to work, select from Lee Valley - Veritas, Lie Nielsen or Clifton for your first planes)

ian

Smoothing planes... hmmm. I have always liked the pictures of Veritas and Lie Nielsen planes in catalogues - where does one purchase them from. Does carbatec stock them, and if so is there anywhere cheaper?

Also, any advice on shoulder planes? They look very useful.

With regards to the trimmer - I have used a makita 1/4" trimmer and a ryobi 1/4" trimmer and both performed very well. If anything, the added lightness of the ryobi was a bonus.

Originally Posted by soulspirit

Smoothing planes... hmmm. I have always liked the pictures of Veritas and Lie Nielsen planes in catalogues - where does one purchase them from. Does carbatec stock them, and if so is there anywhere cheaper?

Carbatec does stock them, there is also an Australian agent for Lie Nielsen www.lie-nielsen.com.au
You can also get them posted in from the States, but in general you only tend to save GST compared to buying locally

Also, any advice on shoulder planes? They look very useful.

they are!!
I've got 4 and will likely buy more
I find that I need to match a shoulder plane's width to the joint I'm working on. So it's all too easy to end up with more than one.

If you want more info I suggest you wander over to the hand tools section and post a question



ian

Oh wow, i went onto the Carbatec website and ordered my free 2009 catalog... WOW, i cant believe the range of products and im more confused than ever. I want one of these 2 of those, one of them etc. Tossing up between the table saw or thinking of just "jigging" up and using the router for my cuts, profiles dadoes etc.

I am so keen to start this hobby but dont want to make rash decisions. I think i might sleep on this one...

Build your self a good router table, a few router jigs. Then later on, after you have a good selection of tools get a table saw.

Thanks all of you who have posted and given me so much to think about!!! I see that im going to love being a part of this helpful forum.

So the decision i have made after considering all the advice is that im going to start of with the tools i have (of course add a sander to the mix) and do a great percentage of my work on the router coupled with some dado jigs, tremmels, and the such.

I have the woodsmith books from time life that has a whole bunch of jigs etc that look like fun to make and will no doubt help me in my upcoming projects. Of course after a while, i will look at buying a table saw but i think the first thing i want to build is a router table. A couple of questions though ...

1. Can i use my current router which is an Ryobi ERT1200 like this one http://www.ryobi.com.au/Products/Pow...on-Router.aspx
or will i need something more powerful to mount in my router table?

2. Can anyone point me to a router table (large) plan that a newb like me can follow. I want to make the table pretty large as it will double up as an assembly area as well.

Thanks again guys, I love this place!!

Hi FF
I started with the same Ryobi router you have and it worked fine in router table. I recently updated to the 2400 watt triton TRA001 router, which is a great fixed table router. But you may not be able to source one, or spare parts. My suggestion would be to build your router table, then down the track update your router if need be. Ive kept my Ryobi and still use it for hand routing.
By the way if you hav'nt already guessed this is A REALLY ADDICTIVE HOBBY>>>>
Best of luck and WELCOME.

Hi again FF
https://www.woodworkforums.com/f112/lous-router-table-plans-46124
Check this out.
Check out the Router postings in the forum.