I am just starting out in the world of woodworking and I'm quite excited. I'm in the process of building some shelves for my closet. After making a nice trip to Home Depot a couple of days ago for wood, clamps, glue, etc., I have $135 left to spend. After letting you know what I already have, I'll ask your opinion on what I should get next tool-wise.
I already have a Skil circular saw that I used to cut up the MDF for the shelves. It wasn't the easiest, but then again, it wasn't until after I finished the cutting that I read an article about a cutting guide. Needless to say, I'm not sure all my cuts are square. =)
I also have a router that is, from what I can tell, a piece of junk. My dad, out of best intentions, I'm sure, got it from Harbor Freight and gave it to me for Christmas last year. I tried using it for the first time last night and couldn't have been more frustrated. It mostly stemmed from the fact that the cutting depth gauge has no relation to the cutting depth and the springs that allow the plunge are extremely tight. A few times, I thought I would break the wood right off the working surface just trying to plunge the thing. It is the first router I've ever held, so I have no comparison, but if my hunches are correct, it should be an easier tool to work with.
I also have a nice cordless drill and some random woodworking utilities (combination square, measuring tape, etc.)
Now, as I said I have $135 to spend on something. Money is extremely tight, so that amount will go up only about $25/month if I need to save up for something. I am really itching to get into some sawdust-making (my grandfather was a cabinet-maker by trade. I think it's in my blood) and am wondering where to put my money. At first I thought that a new router would be beneficial, but then I started to wonder about a cheap table saw. I've also looked at bandsaws. What would be the most beneficial thing for me to get (even if it ins't one of those three things)? What would be the suggested order of purchasing? Should I save up for awhile and get something specific, or is there something beneficial to buy that would fit into my $135 budget?
I know that the money is tight, and I am not going to go into debt, period. I believe that this could be a pretty big hobby for me in the future, so I also want something beneficial in the long run.
Enough of my ramblings. Commence opinionations..........NOW!
-geoffrey