WORKING TIPS FOR NEW WOODWORKERS 1

[Expert Woodworker]

WORKING TIPS FOR NEW WOODWORKERS - Episode 1

Hi. I am woodworker with over 40 years of professional experience. I am posting this series of episodes to help new woodworkers with some basics that most newbies are confused about.

POWER TOOLS: Most new woodworkers are very confused about their first tool purchases. There is temptation to buy cheap, inferior stuff when you are new because you don't want to invest that much in an activity that you may not be very good at. Woodworking, IMHO, does require a natural talent and you need to spend a fair amount of time woodworking before you would know if you have this talent. But, if you buy the cheapest tools you can find, you will probably get discouraged before you go very far.

Then you will have the self-procalimed experts (like some of the regulars of this newsgroup) who will tell you to start out with only the best. This is nothing but pure liquid hogwash! There is no reason you need to blow your life savings on power tools to get started as a woodworker.

Episode 1 - YOUR OWN SHOP FOR UNDER $500:

I have put together a list of medium-caliber power tools that would make a great first inventory of woodworkers tools. Each of these tools has been tested and inspected by me. I bought all of the following tools for my eldest grandson for his Christmas present, so you can see that I am not suggesting these items out of my butt.

THE LIST:

$119 US General - TABLE SAW (with stand)

$79.99 Chicago Electric - 3 HP PLUNGE ROUTER $24.99 Chicago Electric - 1/2'' VARIABLE SPEED REVERSIBLE HAMMER DRILL $49.99 Dewalt - 1/4 SHEET HEAVY DUTY PALM GRIP SANDER $39.99 Central Pneumatic - 1/4'' AIR SCREWDRIVER $6.49 Chicago Electric - GLUE GUN $39.99 Chicago Electric - BISCUIT JOINER KIT $39.99 Wagner - POWER PAINTER $34.99 Chicago Electric - 7-1/4'' CIRCULAR SAW will want to buy better blades for the 2 saws, but that should bring your grand total to about $500, shipped. Keep in mind, this is not high end stuff, but then again is is not the bottom of the barrel. You can check around the HF site, but I would go with the list above. They sell cheaper models for almost each tool on the list, but these have all been tested by a professional with more than 40 years experience, yours truly!

IN THE NEXT EPISODE 2: How to use your table saw

[Bob Davis]

An air screwdriver and no compressor? A $79 3 hp plunge router? Hmmm.

I smell a little "self proclaimed expert". Look in the mirror. Try being a little humble and let us figure out if you are credible. I look forward to your episode 2.

Bob

[B a r r y B u r k e J r .]

Agreed!

Whaaa?

far better investment than this POS.

if it's better than the Chicago Electric tools I've fondled.

bucks more and would be far more versatile.

and screws can be driven with the cheapo VSR drill you've already listed. How is this air screwdriver going to be used? Should the beginner blow in the air hole to get the blade spinning? Or is it intended as a doorstop until a compressor is obtained?

same price.

circular saw.

Good advice.

Umm, yes it is...

Experience at what? Unloading containers from China at Harbor Freight? How about posting photos of some of your work?

Are you associated in some way with Harbor Freight? It certainly looks like you are.

I just can't wait, please hurry!

Barry

[Me]

Looks like spam from harborfreight to me....

[Expert Woodworker]

"Me" wrote in news:dmXEb.609477$Fm2.551816@attbi_s04:

Not at all. I have no afiliation with HF other that my recent order for my grandson.

[Frank McVey]

Hi Expert Woodworker,

Exactly who are all these self-proclaimed experts? Despite the fact that we have many valued contributors - professionals from every walk of oodworking - with hundreds, if not thousands, of years of accumulated experience, I've only seen one guy who proclaims himself to be an expert woodworker!

As for starting out with the best, the usual advice I see on this group to newbies is to start out with the best they can afford. Which is good advice, but quite a different proposition to spending their life-savings.

Please continue your postings. Despite some weaknesses in the charm and humility stakes, there's a certain amount of horse-sense in your input and it will be interesting to learn whether you're a sage or a plage, a weezard or (hastily gets out the garlic and silver bullet) ........a leezard :))

Cheers,

Frank

[Greg G.]

Expert Woodworker thus spake:

To paraphrase Bill Clinton, 'I feel your pain.' ;-)

[B a r r y B u r k e J r .]

Do you have a first name? Got any photos of projects you've completed? I didn't think so.

An nslookup of woodworkpro.net comes up as a non-existent domain:

It's Harbor Freight spam. Advertising is one thing, spam disguised as "advice" is the lowest form of spam. People and companies who post this crap demonstrate a complete lack of ethics. What's the matter, the penis enlargement cream market has gone soft?

What's that beeping noise? Oh, it's another container being backed into the dock for you to unload!

Barry

[Expert Woodworker]

B a r r y B u r k e J r . wrote in news: [e-mail]:

Gary

Got any photos of projects you've

Yes, I do. Have you?

I didn't think so.

You comments are digusting, false, and libelous. And your domain is incorrect.

[Expert Woodworker]

"Me" wrote in news:dmXEb.609477$Fm2.551816@attbi_s04:

If I worked for HF, would I write that their cheaper stuff is crap? I don't think so.

Newbies: these are the jerks that I tried to warn you about. I am sure that the overwhelming majority of users here are quality people, but a small percentage of them are real jerks.

[Kevin French]

Then WHY did you do just that below (snipped)

If you spend a little time during the year you could have come up with...

A couple, three hand planes from yard sales/flea market. $20

CS & Rip saw-same source, another $20

Set of Marples 6 for $40

Jig and stone to sharpen chisels and irons $50+/-

A B&D Screwgun $50

That ROS in an above reply $75+/-

A couple of Brushes $????? Been so long since I've had to buy one.

Put the rest into a BETTER TS

Just my $.02 I only have about 15yrs of WW'n, might be my ipnorance showing Yes the list can be adjusted in any number of ways. but you can get better tools and a better experience.

He would be FAR better served by the above list than the junk you bought him. If he knows how to do it by hand, and how to sharpen that is more important. It also makes many quiet hours of instruction/quality time.

Here's where I get flamed, but anything that has a blade and spins, I won't buy from HF, ESSSSPECIALLY for my grandson.

Kevin

[Charlie Self]

Expert Woodworker proclaims:

And who proclaimed YOU an expert?

you want with Power Painter? For that matter, who needs an air screwdriver when there is no compressor on the list. Why a glue gun when yellow glue is so cheap: replace that with a clamp, and several more for the air screwdriver.

Where are the measuring tools?

Where are the layout tools?

Check around one helluva lot more than the HF site. This stuff may not be bottom of the barrel, but that's only because barrel bottoms have recently been redefined to be lower than whale shit.

Resume, please.

Charlie Self

"Man is a reasoning rather than a reasonable animal." Alexander Hamilton

[Tom]

In just about any sampling, a small percentage will be real jerks (don't go there!). You'll have to admit, the HF-heavy shopping list says a lot. Tom Someday, it'll all be over....

[JR9er]

hey gang,

My advice is this. If woodworking looks like it may appeal to you do what I did. Start off with a good circular saw (PC) and an 18 volt cordless drill (DeWalt) and possibly a router if needed. I chose a DeWalt combo kit. Then buy a plan or download one of the many freebies on the web, for a simple project - say a picnic table or bookcase or garden bench.

If you have fun or have a knack you didn't know you possesed, get another plan. As your experience grows you'll get the tools you need when you need them. Use the wreck for advice when contemplating new tool purchases.

If you find you don't like to work with wood - impatient, confusing, whatever, you'll at least have a good circular saw and portable drill which will always be used for something around the house.

I've only been at this for about a year and have yet to get the high-end tools like a quality table saw (I use my circ saw w/clamp guide or a router) So, start with what you need first is my advice. Besides, you'll be amazed at the accumulated expense of all the little things you'll need as you progress such as nails, screws (different sizes, different uses), levels, squares, various hand tools, hardware, finishes, stains, brushes, molding, blades, nail sets, drill bits, counter sinks, lumber (my first 3 projects involved making things only with 2x material), sandpaper, etc, etc.

Just start small and grow with your abilities.

-Jami

[B a r r y B u r k e J r .]

I'm due for an update, as I've been a bit busy to prep and upload some from the last 9-12 months.

I know that, but the "reply-to" works.

Barry

[B a r r y B u r k e J r .]

Any newbie who does a Google group search can tell that I provide help quite often here, as well as learning a whole bunch myself:

Yet a search for your posts includes one post, a "helpful" list of Harbor Freight items:

Barry

[Expert Woodworker]

[e-mail] (Tom) wrote in news: [e-mail]:

I admit that much of the stuff the HF sells is crap, but I have tried and tested each of these specific models and I think they would be appropriate for beginners. The 2 saws would need better blades, as I pointed out. I never said that these tools are for pros and advanced amateurs.

[Bob S.]

He guy's ....he ain't so bad - he's got Bay Area Dave nailed down cold....

[Expert Woodworker]

B a r r y B u r k e J r . wrote in news: [e-mail]:

Stop the two bit detective work. I never claimed to be a long time Usenet poster. That does not put a dent in my woodworking experience. Like I said, the specific tools that I endorsed are fine for a beginner. Not an advanced amateur or a pro. And yes, I agree that a good amount of the HF stuff is crap, the the stuff I bought for my grandson turned out to be fine.

[George M. Kazaka]

Well I have 48 years professional experience and that is the sorriest list of tools I have ever seen in one list.

As they are bargains they are only good for a 6 thumbed non mechanical person that attempts to make a home repair and then finnally admits he is not mechanically inclined and hires someone competent to get the chore taken care of And then set it in the corner or use it as a boat anchor.

Most of these tools are only good in the hands of someone that is skilled and knows how to get the best out of the worst.

The only truth in this post is that you do not have to use you life savings to get decent equipment but this is a waste of money and will deter some from not become a woodworker.

Can't wait for the next episode on use of table What are you going to tell them --not to touch that whirly thingy going around in circle @ 80 miles and hour HMMMMMMMM

Well I have seen experts and I have seen experts this is truly one of them.

These self proclaimed experts amaze me.

By the way to all you skilled Hobbiests there are more inept unknowledable people in proffesional shops than there are of you guys in your home shops happily whittling away.

Nuff said, stay here newbies some info you get here will be good and some great and some bad and some not worth a shit Guess where this post ranks