Thread: New to the world of wood working

Hi all,

Thought I better post a welcome thread since I have been a member since December 2012.

I have only recently began playing with wood and have taken a liking to reclaimed timber and pallets. I guess what got me into it was the fact that I told the boss that I would build her a 10 person outdoor table (took me 2-3 years to start it but I finished it in about a week)

As most people I work full time and play in the shed on my days off or when ever I get a chance.

I have built a number of items ranging from the outdoor table, a coffee table, chairs and even some tools being a drum sander similar to a Sand-flee.

The better half has started making candles and in turn she has created a website to show case her wares, this gave me an idea so I did the same and every now and again I upload what I have built onto the site. My plan was to make items from recycled timber and sell at local markets and to friends with my site being a spot other people could view my items. I am yet to sell anything as all I have made is items for myself or the boss.

The site can be seen at www.upcycled.net.au It is in its young days but I like it. Feel free to comment either on the site it self or here.

I have started buying some tools and have found the importance of a sharp chisel/tool (something I never grasped in my younger days) With the tax man owing me some dollars I am looking to upgrade my Makita MLT100 contractors saw to something more like the Laguna Fusion or something in that price range with the same features.

I started of with a Ryobi drop saw that I used to make the outdoor table (learnt a lot of what not to do here) and upgraded to a cheap table saw from Bunnings, which I in turned upgraded to the Makita I currently have. All this in under 12 months.

I also purchased a second hand lathe that I mainly play on but have used it help make a mallet with from an old piece of fire wood I had. I bought a Makita thickness planner but should have bought a jointer or jointer/planner combo as I paid over $800 for it. It is a good machine but now I am seeing the importance of having straight boards etc. Plus I am in the process of building myself a wooden 16 inch bandsaw that I saw on youtube.

I am the proud owner of about 30 Irwin clamps and seem to have caught the clamp bug and buy a set when ever I can. I have a small drill press (really need to upgrade this) the usually corded and cordless Makita drills, a Triton router and router table, a Bosch router, Bosch planner, Bosch belt sander and Bosch saw (they are German so they must be good) plus some other tools. I have just bought a set of Irwin maples chisels and am in the process of honing these.

I would like to build a work bench but will be moving in the near future so plan on building it in my new shed once I move.
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As I said I am still very new at this wood working (did do wood work at school but liked metal work better then) and need to remind myself often of a simple rule my metal work teacher taught me, that being "measure twice, cut once"

Grant