Thread: Wondering which tools to buy first

Jack, it's a bit like asking what foodstuffs you would recommend.....

We'd need to know what sort of things you want to make, whether or not you are attracted to unpowered handtools, what sort of timbers you are thinking of using, what sort of budget you want to spend, how big the workspace is.

You have to leave room in the budget for consumables as well - obviously mainly timber, but abrasives, decent drill bits, glues, finishes, screws, nails, cleaners & solvents (i.e. white spirits, turps, metho etc).

Hi Jackattack, welcome to the forums.

Maybe you could go to a nearby TAFE and ask the guys who teach woodwork if they have a list of tools required for 1st and 2nd year Carpentry. While not all the tools will be appropriate for your particular projects, you might find the kind of tools you need. This would save a lot of angst as you build up your own catalogue of tools.

Regards,

Rob

A good quality set of ear muffs, a face shield or at least safety glasses and a dust mask is not always obvious but they would be top of my list.

Hi, and welcome.

The blade on your saw is probably held on by a left hand thread. Easy mistake to make.

For tools you need I'd suggest deciding on your first project and get the tools you need for that job, then build up with each new project.

Best wishes

Steve

Good point, i should've specified what I'm interested in getting into. To be honest not entirely sure but I've decided that so much household furniture that is sold now is basically crap, so I'd love to be able to build my own dining table, coffee table, work bench etc. Basically, quite simple furniture, I don't think I'll have the time (and probably discipline) to learn the finer art of woodworking. I love the idea of being able to take just a piece of milled timber and maybe route out a portion to inlay something else in and shape/sand it back to be something special.

I am also interested in a bit of construction side (again small) eg. chook pen, decks, patios (eventually).

Long story short I love to make things and have a go, I'd love to get into woodwork as a hobby and then be able to do minor construction or fix ups when eventually I have a house of my own, not rushing, I'm only 22

I like the TAFE idea, I've got a family friend who's a builder so I'm trying to pick up some days labouring with him in between my usual work, that should prove enlightening. And definitely need a decent pair of muffs, paid $20 for safety glasses a while ago, thinking I'd spend a bit more and hopefully they'd stay on my head better but no.

Hopefully that tells you a little more thanks

Originally Posted by stuffy

Hi, and welcome.

The blade on your saw is probably held on by a left hand thread. Easy mistake to make.

For tools you need I'd suggest deciding on your first project and get the tools you need for that job, then build up with each new project.

Best wishes

Steve

I am pretty sure I tried righty loosey as well :P but I wouldn't bet on it. That's the kind of mentality I was leaning towards Steve, thanks for the affirmation

That's good clear thinking, Jack. You're half way to making something already. Perhaps the best place to start is with your workbench. This need not be overly ambitious, you can start with fence posts for legs and fence rails for the bench rail. So you'd be looking for a saw (maybe fix the one you've got) and a square/ruler/level and bolts to hold the legs to the rails (so a good drill and quality drill bits). You have a sander, so that's good. See, you're on your way. By the time you finish, you'll have collected some tools and also have a place to make your projects!

Other things you will pick up as you go with the workbench are
1. Rip v Universal saw blades
2 Centreing bolt holes in wooden rails,
3 What grits are appropriate for sanding to take a finish.
4. How to cut wood so that all the bits you're cutting are the right length.

And there's lots more. You might even want to think about a Mitre Saw.

Good luck mate,

Regards,

Rob

Cheers Rob for the great response! A month or so ago I was looking on gumtree for work benches but recently was thinking it's probably a great starter project, plenty of techniques and learning involved I'm sure. It would also be very satisfying working on your own bench!

A mitre saw is definitely on the list, might have to do a few projects in between until I can afford it. When I buy my tools I try and buy high quality because I figure if I'm going to buy it, might as well only buy it once So in saying that, I'd love to get a saw with rails, probably makita or bosch blue (way above my skills level, but one day I'll grow into it)

Guess I better start browsing work bench plans, any opinions on your bench needing to be secured to your wall? Or fixed down to hold it firm against any force and movement when working? Or if constructed properly should it hold up fine?

Cheers,

Jack

For construction of benches, tables and the like you'll need a bunch of decent bar clamps or similar. Masters hardware sell the 40" Besseys for a good price, and the 24" ones are super useful as well. There are other options besides the Besseys. 4 of each is a good starting position. F-clamps are also essential for a myriad of tasks, and again 4 to start with.

Marking out gear - decent sized (and accurate) Try square, straight edge (metal), marking knife. There's a staggering amount of other marking out gear available, but best to grow into that as you progress.

Glue - Titebond 2 is the most popular choice and Titebond 3 is a bit more heavy duty and weatherproof. Polyurethane glue for wood to metal to plastic (pretty expensive).

You can have a bit of fun trawling through some of the websites that we tend to haunt:

Australian:
AP Tools
Boutique Timbers
Carbatec
Carroll's woodcraft (mainly wood turning, but other stuff too)
GPW Machinery
Hare & Forbes
Henry Eckert (for Lie Nielsen planes and other stuff)
HNT Gordon for timber planes and Colen Clenton marking out gear
Jim Davey
Knives and Stones
Leda Machinery
McJings
Micheal Connor Woodworking
My Tool Store
Sandpaper Man
Screwit Screws
U-beaut Polishes
Veneer Inlay
Vesper Tools for marking out gear

North America
Benchcrafted (vises)
Highland Woodworking
Hovarter (vises)
Incra
Infinity Tools
Jessem
Kreg
Lee Valley (absolutely everything)
Lie Nielsen
Peachtree Woodworking
Rockler
Seven Corners
Tools for Working Wood
ToolKing
Woodcraft
Woodpeckers (USA)
Wood Werks

That's a small selection from my bookmarks - there are plenty of others. Google will get you to them.

The work bench does not need to be secured to floor or wall. Many benches are away from walls to allow for all around access.
Make your bench to fit your space, or the materials you can obtain. Generally the weight of the bench will hold it in place.
A vice and clamps are good friends.

There' a lot of stuff in Brett's post. Enough to make feel overwhelmed. Buy what you need for your project at a price you can afford. Don't feel you need to buy expensive equipment first up. Enjoy yourself as you grow into the hobby.

Regards,

Rob

Awesome! thanks for the great responses guys Yeah I get the impression that you probably never really stop buying/acquiring tools and useful gadgets so I'll keep working my way there. I've noticed just about everything involves clamps, was costing up an array of Irwin clamps today, definitely look invaluable.

Thanks for the head ups with the bench, I didn't get the impression they did, would love to make a bench to walk around but definitely not enough room. But that's alright I'll get to that eventually!

I found some good write ups today on circular saw guides so I'll get them together before the workbench but after I've put a new blade on!

Thinking something like this Simple Workbench Plans - Summary: The Family Handyman I want to add a bracket to mount and lock a removeable piece of wood/metal (whatever I can get) across the front to stop any sticky fingers borrowing (or stealing) power tools. I'll make sure I come back here and put up some photos

Thanks again guys!

Originally Posted by JackAttack

Thinking something like this Simple Workbench Plans - Summary: The Family Handyman

Just realised I'd need to make some modifications in order to get a vice on there. mmmmm

Clamps (cramps) are useful, but not actually essential. You can achieve sterling results with such simple mechanical devices as weights (i.e stones from the garden, hand-cut wooden wedges hammered against each other on planks, strings or ropes looped over the object and twisted together (like the castle-killing catapults used in the ancient Roman & Chinese siege engines.

You need hand tools first in my opinion. The world's most beautiful furniture isn't made with power tools. Machinery will only improve your productivity, not the quality of your work. To adequately learn woodwork, you also need to learn how to do things properly first.

Wood is a living thing. It has grain, texture, lustre, and direction. I believe you need to first learn a basic awareness of wood's properties. Hand tools will help you to work "in sympathy" with the timber in your projects. Power tools help you to fight against, and overcome, the basic properties of wood.

A basic hand tool kit consists of: Fine (not carpenter's) Pencils & Sharpener, Marking knife (make your own), Mortice/Marking Gauge, Carpenter's (not claw) hammer, Pincers, Square, Measuring tape, 1/4", 1/2", 3/4" & 1" bevel edged chisels & mallet (make one), Screwdriver (I like ratchet ones with interchangeable tips), No.3 or 4 and No. 60 1/2 hand planes, scraper & burnisher, Tenon, Panel and X-Cut Saws, and a good quality sharpening stone.

The next bit of essential kit is one of those old High School paperback text books on basic carpentry that were issued to hundreds of thousands of pimply faced, unappreciative schoolboys in the 40's, 50's 60's & 70's. Just about every single flea market, second hand store or thrift shop in the country will have at least one. The advice imparted therein is universal, impartial, and invaluable.

And you will need a few power tools also, but most not just yet. But you do need to start with a good quality 2-speed 18v cordless drill. They are an essential bit of kit: hand drills are for neanderthals. You have a sander already, another nice to have tool, but as for the power saw: don't use it on any of your projects. It's a builder's tool, not a carpenter's. You need the control and precision of handsaws instead.

Having taught basic woodworking skills @ TAFE myself, I'm constantly amazed at the appalling lack of basic hand tool skills in the average apprentice these days. They just don't know how to measure, layout or mark accurately, which is at least 80% of the job in my opinion. It's not just a lack of skills, but the inability is compounded by the reluctance to measure and mark with even basic levels of accuracy! At the end of a couple of weeks I insisted on production of an accurately dimensioned and safe sawhorse, and at end of a month a well made set of 4 foot folding steps, all to tolerances of less than 1mm!