Woodworking tools

Snookums

Snookums

Snookums

Soldato
Joined
27 Mar 2013
Posts
3,864
Location
Nottingham
Finally taking the plunge and building my own workshop in the garage this winter. First on the list is tools. What would you guys recommend for go too start off tools?

I'm already bought into the ryobi one + system for my drills and garden bits so any cordless items I'll be sticking with Ryobi. But things like mitre saws and table saw don't need to be cordless
 
Sash clamps
Grip clamps and quick grips
Chisels
Rubber mallet
Couple of spirit levels, one long one shorter and a little one: 30mm ish
A combination square
Steel rules, one long one short
Drill bits, flat and Brad point
Bradawl
Lots of sandpaper in a range of grits
Cork sanding block.

I think that’s enough :)
 
Snookums said:
Finally taking the plunge and building my own workshop in the garage this winter. First on the list is tools. What would you guys recommend for go too start off tools?
Click to expand...
Depends what type of woodworking you want to do and what your budget is.

If you want to keep it cheap and develop your skills - Cordless drill driver, and maybe a bandsaw if you can afford a decent one. Don't buy the cheap £400 ones.
Other than that, everything else is best done with hand tools - Planes, chisels, routers, handsaws and so on. Get a decent vice, as well.
Paul Sellers has one of the best YouTube tutorial channels and has done a couple of very easy, very good workbench tutorials. There's also this: https://commonwoodworking.com/?utm_...g_has_officially_launched&utm_term=2018-07-31

If you prefer machining everything, you'll want a large (minimum 16") bandsaw, a decent planer-thicknesser (not the little lunchbox type), electric router, probably a drill press or pillar drill, and maybe a mitre saw. Tablesaws have their uses, but can be ******* dangerous.
Again, don't cheap out on the machines. If B&Q sell it, it's probably not that good.
 
ttaskmaster said:
These things are good as a portable solution but doesn't hold firm enough for any serious impact work, like planing or chiselling. You really need the weight of a good solid bench.
Click to expand...
While a good bench is nice to have I did a lot of good work on 3 simple made trestles with a sheet of MDF on top
 
April Wilkerson is a great YouTube channel and Woodworking for Mere Mortals also - keep it really simple.

But you can never have too many clamps.....
 
darreny said:
While a good bench is nice to have I did a lot of good work on 3 simple made trestles with a sheet of MDF on top
Click to expand...
It has its place, for sure, especially in carpentry and joinery... but you need a solid, heavy bench with absolutely no movement if you want to do precision work. Otherwise the flex will introduce give and rebound in the workpiece, which will make it look like you used a chainsaw instead of a chisel.
Depends what the OP wants to do.

katie279 said:
April Wilkerson is a great YouTube channel and Woodworking for Mere Mortals also - keep it really simple.
Click to expand...
Elisha on Pneumatic Addict has some pretty entertaining content, as does Matt Estlea and Darbin Orvar. Lots of machinery, though.
 
I would look at your local colleges / night classes as they may have a woodworking course for beginners. Over the space of 12 weeks a qualified joiner will teach you the basics and you will make a couple of useful items that will be yours to keep.
I did someting similar a couple of years back and really enjoyed it. Cost £120 and it ran every tuesday night for 2.5 hours for 14 weeks. We made a coffee table and planter.

Couple of free resources my instructor suggested:
https://www.instructables.com/id/Woodworking-Projects-for-Beginners/
https://www.popularwoodworking.com/free-woodworking-downloads/

I made this myself as my first project:
https://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-build-a-sturdy-workbench-inexpensively/
Followed by this:
http://dadand.com/diy-2x4-shelving/


Only buy what you need for whatever project you are undertaking! (Clamps clamps and more clamps!!!)

Good luck!
 
Have a look at woodworking for mere mortals. The basic workbench on there is cheap and fun to build! Just completed myself.
 
Appreciate all the comments. Didn't expect so many so quickly but thanks for the replies I have read them all.

My catch is I love the idea of making my own workbench but seems quite a challenge to do so without already having a workbench. The one @rexehuk mentioned seems pretty straight forward so may make that then further down the line build a proper decent one once my skills are practiced.

Projects are as they come and go. Won't start too massive think I'll start off with some chopping boards to practice my rusty skills on joining. Then move onto bigger pieces when I'm ready, other half is already demanding bedside tables, shoe bench and a sideboard!

Just looking forward to having a decent hobby I'm enjoying.
 
A workbench can be anything... I have a old kitchen table with a 2" top as a bench. Its fairly flat so great for gluing up work on.
You can get a workbench off ebay for £65 .. (google ebay workbench).

Stay away from the table saw until you have a fair few years experience with machines as thay can take your fingers off before you can blink.
 
Herge said:
Stay away from the table saw until you have a fair few years experience with machines as thay can take your fingers off before you can blink.
Click to expand...

Its a pretty safe tool as long as you read up on the dangers, don't wear loose clothing, leave the guard/riving knife on and use a push stick. The main danger with a table saw is when people remove the guard and riving knive, which is mainly a US issue as they don't often have a riving knife as a safety feature. The wood can then catch the rear of the blade and be flug back at the user. As long as there is a riving knife this danger is almost completely removed. With a guard on theres very little chance of cutting yourself on the blade.


As for tools for a small workshop, a router and router table would be a great tool to have, that you can do all sorts with. A decent sliding mitre saw is another must imo. With a sliding mitre saw and a router, you can easily make mortise and tenons if you want to go the route of making furniture that will last a lifetime as opposed to the pocket hole stuff all over Youtube.
 
Agree re table saws - sawstop machines are worth a look even if just to see the cool tech in action... ;)

Tracksaws might be a more useful starting point given they'll do pretty much all the work of a table saw, but much smaller space and completely portable.

Aside from all the standard stuff (ie drills etc), I'd go with track saw, sliding mitre saw, jigsaw and a palm router as a place to start...
 
Snookums said:
My catch is I love the idea of making my own workbench but seems quite a challenge to do so without already having a workbench.
Click to expand...
Not at all - The Paul Sellers YouTube videos I mentioned show you exactly how to do it with just a pair of sawhorses. He even has another showing you how to build the sawhorses, which can be done on a cheap Workmate or a sturdy table. If you don't have a vice yet, you can use a couple of clamps to secure the wood to the worktop. You'll then have a pair of sawhorses that will store under the bench and last for years... as well as being convenient for a quick seat!

Seriously, just two little sawhorses from some 4x2 and a few (12) sash clamps. With no prior woodworking experience or skills, this is how I built my traditional Nicholson workbench, which stands 40" tall and is 2.5' x 8.5'. TBH. I kinda went a little big, so it's almost too heavy to move without help, but it works an absolute treat!
 
Just thought I'd drop in a little update. Over this week I've been scouring to find good deals on what I need and have so far got;

Chisels
Tenon saw
No 4 plane
Rubber mallet
Several squares
A cordless router (its on a great offer atm at the cheapest its ever been so thought best to snap up now even if I don't use it for a long time)
Mitre box

Things I already had;

Tape measure
Drill
Metal rules
Saw
Hammer
Screwdrivers
Sandpaper and blocks
Palm sander
Small spirit level

Things left to get;

Big spirit level
Clamps
Marking gauge or some sort of scribing tool

I think I am then ready to get some glue, wood and screws and make a nice workbench. Please highlight if I am missing anything.

My only concern is cutting the plywood for the bench top. The legs and frame will be made out of some timber which I can cut just fine with my saw and mitre box if needed but any tips for cutting plywood straight by hand?

Once the tables built I'll also be getting a decent vice to attach to it.

Will also be keeping my eyes open for a mitre saw, seen a decent design for a foldable table for it as well to save space when I'm not using it.

Also want a peg board for the wall to hang tools up, I'm about to do some googling but whilst I'm writing this thought I'd see you guys had recommendations for where to get one, and any decent places to get lumber too.
 
Have you bought the plywood? If not ask the wood place to cut it to size.

Otherwise. Based on what you have already. Use your router with a straight cutting bit.
Clamp a straight piece of wood to use as a guide and then you’ll get a decent cut.

Depending on the thickness of the plywood you may need to do multiple passes. I had that cordless router and it was ok for mountings etc but for proper cuts for tenons etc i preferred my corded model.
 
Marvt74 said:
Have you bought the plywood? If not ask the wood place to cut it to size.

Otherwise. Based on what you have already. Use your router with a straight cutting bit.
Clamp a straight piece of wood to use as a guide and then you’ll get a decent cut.

Depending on the thickness of the plywood you may need to do multiple passes. I had that cordless router and it was ok for mountings etc but for proper cuts for tenons etc i preferred my corded model.
Click to expand...

Where would cut to size? I intend to go b and q as it'll just be plywood and cheapo timber so wouldn't matter too much.

Ah yeah I thought the router would be the best bet.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom