My Advice to Newbie Woodworkers...

[walker_tr9]

Don't do it!!  It will drive you mad!   

Seriously, though I would suggest you start with some simple project like a bookcase.  My original intent for woodworking was to make a MAME cab, but I haven't done it yet because:

(1) I've been making other stuff, partially as an excuse to buy the tools.
(2) I wanted to make my mistakes on the basic things and not the eventual cab.
(3) Lack of time, because a cab (at least for me) will probably take a lot of intense effort.

If you don't have experience woodworking, you have no idea all the little things that can go wrong.  For example:

(1) Keeping the work clamped properly, especially while routing.
(2) Cleaning up all that wood glue before it dries which requires sanding to get rid of.
(3) Screwing up the measurements, or not being consistent with how you make cuts.
(4) Not thinking the design through properly.
(5) Half-assing things b/c it's friggin' hot outside!
(6) Not organizing your work area properly.
(7) Not knowing some trick or efficient way of making cuts, etc...

What is really aggravating is that I did a fair amount of reading first, and was aware of some of the pitfalls.  Yet I did them anyway!  (partially because of #5 above).  Plus I am the type of guy that needs to fail to learn something.

So my advice is to start small.  Build that bookcase your significant other wants.  They will appreciate it!

[yaksplat]

• There's no such thing as too many clamps.
• I like to leave the excess glue in place and then easily remove it with a chisel when dry.  It pops right off.
• Measure twice, cut once.

[yaksplat]

Don't use lap as a workbench.

I think that should go without saying.  But maybe some need to hear it. 

[TopJimmyCooks]

Measure twice, cut three times.

[Slippyblade]

I've yet to finish my first cab because I made the mistake of making the electronics operational before finishing the woodwork.  Sooo, it is functional.  So I end up playing on it with my kids instead of final sandings, or T-Molding, or painting, etc.

[yaksplat]

I've yet to finish my first cab because I made the mistake of making the electronics operational before finishing the woodwork.  Sooo, it is functional.  So I end up playing on it with my kids instead of final sandings, or T-Molding, or painting, etc.

Ha! I'm on the other end of that one.  I refused to put my control panel together until my artwork is done so i don't have to take anything apart. Kids keep asking me when it'll be done.

2 hours of work left once the art is complete.......

[walker_tr9]

Yes, I fully agree with yaksplat on the clamps.  I highly recommend you spend about $200 on an assortment of clamps before doing anything!  I know, it seems excessive, but you will use them.  I still don't have enough!

to yaksplat:  are you serious about the wood chisel taking the glue off?  dang!  I didn't know.  But how do you do it without chipping the wood?  It seems you need to be rather delicate.

[Slippyblade]

When dealing with wood glue, the thing to remember is that when you think it's dry...  it's not.  Took a long time for me to learn that.  I'd try to chip off the 'dried' glue and it'd still be semi-flexible.  That's not dry yet.  Once I learned to be patient and let it FULLY dry, the stuff just snaps right off when you slide a blade under it.

[Woodshop Flunky]

Once I learned to be patient and let it FULLY dry, the stuff just snaps right off when you slide a blade under it.

Wow... I've never really experienced dried glue just popping right off.  In all my cases it wants to take wood with it.  And if I butt a piece of ply perpendicular to another piece... then there's no way to get the fully dried glue out.

Have you guys done this with MDF or Plywood?

[Sparkolicious]

Hmmm.. I think my toughest obstacle, even today with a fair amount of experience, is patience.  Good work demands it absolutely, not to mention the body parts you risk losing if you lack it.   

[EvilNuff]

Make sure your chisel is really sharp and the glue is fully dried and it pops right off no problem. 

Craigslist is a great source for tools.

Also there are plenty of good resources online for free 'training'.  I highly recommend The Wood Whisperer's large collection of free videos.

[dextercf]

Ear protection when working your powertools.
My grandfather got me my first set of protection (with radio) so I would not mess up my hearing as he did during his years of working with powertools.

Also, buy more wood that you calculated you need.
You WILL measure wrong and cut accordingly pretty often, or your might need it for something your "better half" has been nagging about for years to get fixed.