How do you afford it? You do what you can. I started 25 years ago with a router, sander, and jigsaw (about $100 total). To this day I still don't have everything I want, but I am still collecting.
Gary
And you need a shop to put all the tools in!
A well equipped shop can be modest to as expensive as you want.
One problem starting out is sorting the "needs" from the "wants" of your dream shop. I bought tools as I "needed" them, but will admit that some could have been postponed or even eliminated it the budget was tight.
I think that a router table is important. You can build one cheap, you can buy a nice one for $200 to $400, but I did not "need" the lift for $229. I sure like it though.
As for the original question "how can I afford this hobby?", I have my limits and priorities. (and my kids are grown and on their own) After the bills are paid, there is a few bucks to be spent on anything we want. If I want to spend more than that, I wait until next month. If my wife wants to buy something for her hobby, that month I skip buying for mine.
When I buy wood for a project, I always buy more than I need. The leftover will cover any "oops" that can occur, but also makes for another smaller project. Cut offs can be made into things like bookends, paper towel holders, small boxes. This is not stuff that will be in a museum, but is something to tinker with while waiting for the glue to dry.
If I never bought another tool, I can make just about anything I want. OTOH, there is always some tool that would be handy to have.
One more thing. Train your children right from the beginning. If you give them three meals a day, they will expect that all the time. Big saving potential there. Ed snipped-for-privacy@snet.net
What did you build with it?
WEs
Listen to what this guy says, from someone who's FAR too far into debt. $7600 to Home Depot right now.... was just going to use it for a couple small things... uh huh :-(
--randy
Oh, so this is a *gloat* thread now?
OR maybe I'm just still bitter that LOML put me on an allowance...
david
2) amazon.com wish lists.
amazed that woodworkers warehouse et al don't have registries.
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