I realize this is a little older thread, but I will throw my 2 cents in.
First, your choice in tools is always going to be heavily weighted by the projects you want to do. In the beginning, your "staple" tools are going to be the most versatile ones.
1) Router. Can't stress how much you will use this in ANY project. Most often for edge details, it is also a critical tool for reproduction, any kind of "perfect" inside cuts, and in some cases, oddball forms of joinery. If you want tools that will last most of your lifetime (and often further), you want to stick to higher end brands like Porter Cable, DeWalt, Bosche, and Festool. Fein and Milwaukee also make some nice tools but they are far less common. This is by no means a comprehensive list, and arguments could be made about some models and even some generations of each brand, but in general, stick to a good brand and you will get a lifetime of use out of it.
2) Table Saw. I realize that for some a panel saw is a good alternative, and even in some cases is superior, but frankly for versatility a table saw in a woodshop is pretty much a requirement. Cutting large panels down is only a fraction of what you can do with one, and when it comes to furniture building, it is practically a requirement. Ideally you want to start with something that can be expanded on. This typically means going with a brand like Delta, General, or Powermatic. Table saws come in a variety of flavors, but for a shop what you really want is a "contractor saw" or a "cabinet saw" and NOT a "portable" type. A cabinet saw is ideal, but you can turn a good contractor saw into something just as good as a cabinet saw for a fraction of the cost.
3) Cordless and corded drills. IMHO, the only cordless tools that belong in a woodworking shop (ie anything that doesn't need to be portable above all else) is a cordless drill or impact driver. It is pretty much a guarantee that you will need to drill wood at some point in some form. You will also probably end up putting a screw in something at some point too. Corded drills have their uses, and batteries tend to run out at critical times, but 99% of what you need a hand held drill for, a cordless will not only work fine for, but will also be 100 times more convenient to use. A good Makita or DeWalt cordless will eventually show you why it is the best out there over the store brands like Ryobi. Although, if you are a contractor, there is a lifetime warranty available with Rigid cordless tools.
4) I am adding this to the list of critical things to have: Either a jigsaw, a scroll saw, or a band saw.. For the most part, you will always have need to cut "unstraight" lines, and you need at least one to do it. Sure, you could do it with a coping saw if you had to, but then you could do it all with an axe, a chisel, and a hand plane if you really had to.. I consider a jig saw (or a bigger brother) to be a staple, and all three to be a convenience because they can all do things the other can't.
ACCESSORIES
None of the above is worth a damn without the right accessories. A router needs bits. I won't waste time talking about different bits, but I will point out that there are brands of bits that are pure crap (off brand, store brand, or cheap brands like Skil) that will last you 1 or 2 projects at best. The best method to measure the quality (if you are unsure) is price. Also, where you shop is a HUGE part of it. Find a store that specializes in contractor grade products and sells to cabinet builders. Trust me, spending $50 on a good bit is better than losing $50 worth of exotic hardwood when the bit fails or burns the wood so bad you can't use it. Over time you will build your collection, and it will take time unless you are rich. Also, a good bit can often be sharpened by a pro for a fraction of what it costs for a new one. Some bits you can't sharpen without altering the profile, and in some cases you NEED the profile to remain how it is. The only bits I have burned through over the years is flush trim bits.. eventually you hit a nail or if using particle board or MDF you hit some metal in the wood (yes, there is bits of metal in particle board and mdf). Also if you do a lot of counter tops, laminate will dull that flush trim bit pretty fast, even a good carbide one. ALso, carbide is awesome for straight cut bits, and while they are expensive, they are worth it. But don't drop it.. ever. You WILL shatter it or chip it and make it worthless. Nothing like losing a $60 or $70 bit because you dropped it on the concrete floor.
For table saws, a good blade is a must. But there are dozens of different blades on the market. Do your research for what you are using. I like the Diablo thin kerf blades myself, in a fairly high tooth count (for a 10" blade, 40-60 tooth is great when sharp). Laminate and composite materials will kill your blade in minutes, so if using it to cut those materials, use a blade that is ready to go to the sharpener or ready for the trash. There are dozens of accessories that make a table saw more useful, most you can build. However, there is some upgrades that will turn even a mid level contractor saw into a woodworkers dream saw. First, building extensions off it can make it 100 times better. Second, a good fence is worth it's weight in gold. I really like my biesemeyer T-square 52" fence. I can cut a 48x96" sheet to any dimension I want in one pass. And with a good outfeed table and a roller for shorter cuts off a full sheet of wood, I can do them myself without any help from anyone. Dial it in and it is accurate to 1/64th of an inch EVERY TIME, and it squares itself perfectly every time. Finally, a good miter gauge can make all the difference in the world.
There are a pile of other tools that are pretty much a necessity to any good shop, starting with clamps. You can NEVER have enough clamps. Good pipe clamps, some bar clamps, and even the "quick clamp" all get used on a daily basis in my shop. Also, the "parallel clamp" is extremely awesome (Bessey made them and now there are other brands that copied it), but they are expensive. On a big furniture project I will sometimes use 40 or 50 clamps at once (about all I have) and I have run out before.
A good random orbital sander will save your arms, so I consider it a staple these days.
A Kreg pocket hole jig is another great tool to have around.
A couple different hand saws, some chisels, a mallet, a good set of drill bits, a good set of forstner bits.. these are all items you will never regret owning.
A drill press, bandsaw, scroll saw, and belt/disc sander are all tools that are very nice to have, although you can live without them in the beginning assuming per #4 above that you have a jigsaw to handle the curved cuts).
The list keeps going, but this will give any aspiring woodworker a place to start, goals to set, and a list of birthday wish items for decades.
Home
Help
Search
Login
Register
Send this topic
Print
Topic: Ok, Newbie to woodworking... Tool advice (Read 10665 times)
