Furniture building?

[shponglefan]

As I gain more experience with woodworking, I'm thinking I'd like to eventually turn to furniture building.  It would be nice to be able to build my own custom furniture exactly how I want it and no longer be a slave to IKEA. 

In terms of skillset and tools, what are some essentials geared towards furniture?  I'm thinking joinery and planing is something I'd have to learn a lot more about.

I was also wondering if it's worth taking courses in this sort of thing.  My local college offers a certificate in furniture/cabinetry.  I think it's 4-5 courses at around $300 or so a pop.  A bit expensive overall, but spaced out over a couple years could be worth it?  Mind you I'm not interested in doing this professionally, just adding another skillset in the ol' bucket.

[EvilNuff]

The answer to pretty much all of your questions is..."it depends".  

I would suggest checking out online videos first and foremost.  If you can get tv shows Norm's New Yankee and David Marks's Woodworks are good shows though more geared towards entertainment than instruction.  Also Rough Cut Woodworking is currently airing on PBS (well between seasons).  The best place to start, IMO, is The Wood Whisperer online.  He has a lot of free videos that have oodles of great information.  He also has a pay site that has extremely detailed "guild builds" that walk you through the processes step by step.  Paul Sellers has some youtube videos walking through making a workbench as well as some other just general woodworking skills videos.

As for skills, really nothing, it all comes with practice.  I am 100% self taught online.  One great thing about working with wood is if you make a mistake you just patch it and call it character.

Now as for tools, that is a tricky question.  You can start with small projects and hand tools.  You could get a used hand plane, or buy a mid-range one and tune it up.  Learn to sharpen the blade properly, flatten the sole, etc.  With a couple hand tools you can prepare rough lumber.  It is a lot of work but I have done it.  Alternately you need a jointer and planer.  You can get a desktop planer pretty affordably but jointers get bigger and cost more, desktop jointers are too small to be of any use IMO.  I would say a table saw is pretty indispensable as well.  And there are a host of "smaller" tools.  Drill, sanders, clamps (lots and lots of clamps), etc.

Does that help?

[drventure]

What evilnuff said.

I'd reserve coursework money for once you really get into it and want to hone some tricky technical skills like marquetry, inlay, carving, etc.

For standard furniture builds, get a subscription to Modern Woodworking, or Popular Woodworking, and definitely a subscription to  Fine Woodworking (it gives you something to shoot for!),and try a few of the basic builds. There's shaker cabinets, basic chairs, entertainment systems, etc.

Those mags show all the typical joints, talk tools, etc.

You'll need space in the garage and some tools, a circular saw, Jigsaw, router, drill, etc. The more you get into it, the more you scour Craigslist for bandsaws, tablesaws, Drill press, etc.

[Unstupid]

2 tools I wish I had in my garage are a table saw and a planer. 

[wp34]

I'll second the recommendation for Wood Whisperer.  That is a great site.  You might also try your local library.  I'm learning how to use a scroll saw and found several awesome reference books at our library that were very helpful in getting me started. 

[michelevit]

Woodworking for Mortals is a nice youtube channel. Its geared towards low cost hobbyists looking to build projects.
Also Stumpy Nubs.
Youtube is a great resource. I took a class at a local junior college and it was beneficial to learn some of basics.


http://www.woodworkingformeremortals.com/

This is another nice site with good ideas for easy practical furniture....

http://ana-white.com/

[shponglefan]

Thanks for the replies guys.  Just to give a little bit of background, I've been doing woodworking/arcade/etc projects for the last decade, but moreso in the last few years.  And have compiled myself a number of tools such as a tablesaw, miter saw, jigsaws, hand plane, etc.  What I don't have are powered planers, jointers, etc.  I've never worked specifically to create furniture before, so I wasn't sure if I'd need to eventually aquire new tools to aid with that.  Any future tool decisions will also factor into my plans re: redesigning my workshop layout.

And thanks for the video suggestions.  I am a big fan of Steve Ramsey's Woodworking for Mere Mortals.  I think I may have seen some Wood Whisperer videos, but I should probably just subscribe to the channel and start watching all of them.  At any rate, I'll start watching more YouTube (like I needed an excuse!   ).

[spoot]

Replace "badger" with Router and "mushroom" with clamps.  Put on repeat.   

[Rick]

Replace "badger" with Router and "mushroom" with clamps.  Put on repeat.

What about the SNAKE in my workshop?!

[EvilNuff]

...I think I may have seen some Wood Whisperer videos, but I should probably just subscribe to the channel and start watching all of them.  At any rate, I'll start watching more YouTube (like I needed an excuse!   ).

I am not 100% but his website may have more videos than his youtube channel.  I think all the new ones go to youtube but double check to make sure.  And yes to do furniture you will eventually want a planer and jointer.  The jointer is the frustrating one, because you want a long bed.  I got mine off craigslist.  A benchtop lunchbox planer works just fine.

[EightBySix]

My advice would be to supplement the books and vids by doing. Choose something small and just for yourself, like a cabinet for the tools. Try out different joints on them and progress onto a bench maybe.

[GoYouSalukis]

My recommendation is to pick a project, and then buy the tools as you need them.

I think a basic starting woodshop would be a table saw, band saw, drill press and router. If you want to work with rough wood, you'll need to get a jointer and a planer.

My route to woodworking was to buy a bunch of power tools, and then gradually transition to hand tools. Power tools offer quick results, but hand tools are very gratifying once you learn how to use and sharpen them. I started by buying inexpensive tools, but now I try to buy top of the line tools when I can. I bought the Festool Circular Saw with rail system ($575!!!) and it makes working with plywood very accurate and easy.

Also checkout any woodworking groups in your area. Often, they have a shop that you can use.

[Mr. Dude]

I am with you.  So far I've build some end tables, a loft bed for my son and I'm working on a storage bed for my wife and myself. 

Here is a site that has some pretty good DIY furniture plans, you can even submit your own to the list if you have a good one.  I'm not affiliated with this site at all but thought it might give you some ideas as a new furniture builder.  I know I've gotten a lot of good ideas from there.

Might help you get some practice and save you some money rather than taking a class.

http://ana-white.com/

[shponglefan]

Thanks again for the replies.

I've been spending some time recently at The Wood Whisperer, both reading the articles and watching the videos.  They are very inspiring!

I think right now my plan is this: I'm rebuilding my workshop, so I'm going to focus on projects for that.  I want to build a new workbench, couple cabinets, tool stands, etc.  While I've done stuff like that before, this time I'm going to focus more on craftsmanship and percision, and try to really hone my skills on this stuff.  And since it's for the shop, even if it's not perfect, it's not that big a deal.  Then later I'll move onto to other more furniture oriented projects.

I also looked into additional tools and realize a planer and jointer are outside the budget for now.  Plus, I think I'd get more use out of a drill press and router table first.