Is woodworking messy and what tools do I need?

colhel

colhel

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I haven't done any woodwork since school when i nailed a flat bit of wood to another bit of wood to make bird table.
I now want to start having another go. So, if say I wanted to make say, a dining table, what would i need? We've got a garage and carport that I'm not allowed to make any messier than it already is.
 
Depends on the complexity of the marquetry /parquetry top and whether you need a lathe to turn the legs or a spindle molder . This is dependant on the design you are going to produce .
 
This something that I shall be finding out myself, once I have gutted my Guy Thompson 28, right down to the bare hull this winter, and totally re-fitting. (on the water) I have over time collected tools from boot sales (older ones are stronger and better) The one tool still on my list is a cordless router, (That has some decent power). It's going to be fun.
I also shall be learning and putting into practice "scarfing in", as I need to put a couple of new pieces into the gunwhales.
 
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Just as an addition. If you have an auction house near to you that holds "general sales", these are a good place to find "deceased effects", and invariably there will be the contents of one or two sheds ans some very good quality tools can be picked up for a song.
 
You need a bench with vice, first off, or all your efforts will be made more difficult. Then get a big secondhand bag or box of old woodworking tools, 'widders often have to sell them and they are often a huge bargain:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/assortme...333384?hash=item4670180648:g:F9wAAOSwSrNaCyEy

This is an example of what not to buy a selection of old and new junk without a use. Look at cards in newsagent's windows, top tip. When you have your bag or box learn to sharpen the edge tools with a cheap diamond slip and you are away.

Your first dining table will be very rough but most people will be kind about it.
 
A dining table is probably a bit ambitious for a first project. I'd consult YouTube for some smaller ideas.
Basic tool kit:
Panel saw (cheap ones are good)
Tenon saw (not cheap)
Smoothing plane(not cheap)
Square
Chisels (don't buy Draper)
Tape or ruler
Portable workbench
This very basic set will allow you to build a workbench which is essential if you want to do good work. There are many simple designs on the internet.
I'm not a great lover of power tools, but there's no doubt they save a lot of time and sweat.
A good cordless drill
A jigsaw
A circular saw
A planer
Yes it's messy, but easily-cleaned-up mess.
Have fun!
 
Avoid making things you might actually need these are best bought,but for recreational wood work try your hand at simple projects like a boot remover or bread board.Dont rush out and buy lots of tools first off as you will find out what skilllevel you have and can purchase tools to suit....avoid routers
 
Lots to be said for power tools, but it does depend on whether you are doing fine cabinet work or good joinery. Planer, chop saw, router. I am only a boat builder/site carpenter, but I made some very satisfactory georgian windows (22 years and counting) from hard wood picked up at sea, and also a kitchen from scratch, using little more than the router and a few hand tools. It will plunge cut mortices with a little trimming of corners, clamp several pieces of wood together, run the router across to make identical tenons. Take time setting this up, very quick to do the actual cuts.
 
I've done a bit of boat-type woodwork, the biggest bits being a folding cabin table from sapele planks spline-jointed together, a chart table with an inner compartment for a Yeoman and made to slide aside on stainless rails to reveal the fridge and sink underneath, and a complicated panel over a (different) chart table containing a small bookcase and a device for clamping charts in place.

A spacious workshop with a large bench accessible from all sides, a table saw, and a router table would have been ideal, but I was able to get by in my 10' metal shed (much smaller actual floor area due to stored stuff around the walls) with a handheld circular saw and a moderately crappy portable router table that I screwed to the top of the bench when needed.

I'd consider a decent router and selection of bits essential for woodwork nowadays, and it will replace a lot of the traditional specialist planes and chisels that people might suggest. You will still need a couple of chisels and probably a standard plane, for things that a router still won't do.

You'll need more space for woodwork than for metalwork since the parts are typically much bigger. The space you use will also get very dusty, especially when you use power tools but even just hand-sanding. I have a Henry hoover under the bench with the hose plumbed for use as a poor-man's dust extractor on the router etc, but the place still gets pretty dusty when I do woodwork.

Pete
 
colhel said:
I haven't done any woodwork since school when i nailed a flat bit of wood to another bit of wood to make bird table.
I now want to start having another go. So, if say I wanted to make say, a dining table, what would i need? We've got a garage and carport that I'm not allowed to make any messier than it already is.
Click to expand...

I once tried some woodturning & bought the best I could afford.
Wonderfully theraputic, but what to do with the wood turnings, that seemed to be up to armpit level, even when attempting something small. You will need a lot of room.
 
In the old days, boys did woodwork and metalwork, it was replaced by CDT Craft,Design & Technology assuming they could all use tools and were great inventors - a crassly stupid move. I don't know what will follow.
 
All decent work with power tools will create dust and shavings. These from e.g. oak, teak, can be rather dangerous, so face mask is essential, as is a saw dust collector (basically a big hoover). If connected to the suction port on the tool, most of the debris will be cleared to a bag before it can cause problems.

I have a Startrite cyclone, which not only collects dust from the bandsaw and router, but has a 50mm suction wander hose for general cleaning.


Bargains available,
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Record-RM...UAAOSwW6BaAvaM
 
fisherman said:
Lots to be said for power tools, but it does depend on whether you are doing fine cabinet work or good joinery. Planer, chop saw, router. I am only a boat builder/site carpenter, but I made some very satisfactory georgian windows (22 years and counting) from hard wood picked up at sea, and also a kitchen from scratch, using little more than the router and a few hand tools. It will plunge cut mortices with a little trimming of corners, clamp several pieces of wood together, run the router across to make identical tenons. Take time setting this up, very quick to do the actual cuts.
Click to expand...
You still haven't finished them after 22 years :confused:

;)
 
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