Any woodworkers out there?

[Bleacher Creature]

I spend 40+ hours a week in front of a computer and need to pick up a hobby that lets me produce something other than written documents. Has anyone ever started woodworking from scratch? I took a shop course in high school, but that was 25+ years ago.

How do I start? What equipment (including power equipment) do I need? Are there places that offer classes? Books that people recommend?

[LuckyCharms]

1. What type of woodworking are you considering?

Are you looking more at "building things" such as workbenches, book cases, etc. or "creating things" such as finer pieces...ie...bowls, etc.?

[Bleacher Creature]

7. Honestly, I really just want to be able to build something and see it through.

I'm not super creative, so I'm not sure if "creating" things is really in my wheelhouse. My main desire is to take a few hours over a course of weeks and build something tangible.

I push a lot of paper at work, which I enjoy, but there's rarely something at the end of the line that I can point to as evidence of that work. I don't mind following a plan, but I'd really like to have something - like a chair or a bench or a dresser - that I can point to that gives me a sense of completion.

[LuckyCharms]

8. Try this:

Build a nice solid work bench. If you decide to take a different route, you at least have a work bench that has many uses. Get a nice set of plans somewhere, and view some youtube videos on building work benches. They are fairly easy to build, but not super easy. They are mostly straight cuts.

I would not start right off by building a bookcase or other furniture.

I would start with a small to medium work bench, and then see how you like doing that type of stuff. Don't be afraid to make mistakes, that is how you learn.

See the first part of my list in the post below. You will need some of those tools. If you have a complicated cut that you don't have the tool for yet, you may have a lumber yard in your area that will cut the piece for you.

This may sound simplistic, but watch videos on using a tape measure. Become an expert in measuring things down to 1/64th of an inch.

[Bleacher Creature]

12. This is fantastic advice.

Simple is completely fine, and I'm happy to start small.

And I really appreciate the list of tools. I have a lot of the hand tools already, and I have a standing invitation to clear out the workshop of a family member who passed away a few years ago.

Thanks again!

[LuckyCharms]

22. Have fun!

[Phoenix61]

2. I'm curious why woodworking

It can be a great hobby but the tools as well as the wood can get expensive not to mention taking up a pretty significant amount of space. Have you considered stained glass? There are minimal tools required that are not very expensive and you don't need a lot of space. It's also easy to learn and there is something very satisfying about making beautiful things. Just a thought.

[Bleacher Creature]

9. Thanks.

In terms of "why woodworking" see my reply in post #7.

That said, I'm not wedded to it as I really just want a hobby that can give me s sense of completion - i.e., something that I can see and touch that gives me a sense of pride. I do write a lot of memos at work, and while I'm certainly proud of them, they aren't really the kinds of things that you can show people as representing the fruits of my labor.

I'll look into stained glass as well, so thanks for the suggestion!!

[yellowdogintexas]

37. This is why I bake. Every thing I do is completed

by default. A definite beginning and end for each project.

I also bake so I don't hit people but that is another story.

I find myself doing more and more of it these days, and I love the thrill of mastering a new recipe

Equipment and supplies are not costly unless you just have to have KitchenAid stand mixer. You may have a lot of it around your kitchen already.

baking is also very therapeutic for me. I have had my own share of epic fails over the years, too. Don't let mistakes discourage you.

[Binkie The Clown]

3. I dabble, but only with hand tools.

Go to YouTube and search for Paul Sellers. This guy not only has his furniture in the White House and Buckingham Palace, but works entirely with hand tools, and make some of his own tools himself.

He's an inspiration.

[hibbing]

6. That is cool

I loved his explanation of the difference between a hand tool and a machine tool.


Peace

[yortsed snacilbuper]

4. My advice is,

measure twice and cut once!

[lastlib]

44. The rule I heard:

"Measure it with a micrometer, mark it with chalk, cut it with a brick....."

"I cut it three times, an' it's STILL too SHORT.........!"

-- -- -- (some days, I just crack myself up!! )

[LuckyCharms]

5. What Phoenix61 said is true.

The thing about carpentry and woodworking...you may spend upwards of $2,000 on quality hand tools before even considering power tools. Also, there are a lot a variants to the term "woodworking". Curved pieces require a lathe, where other work doesn't. Sometimes a drill press would be useful, other times it would sit there collecting dust. Band saw? maybe, maybe not. I have probably $10k of tools and equipment, and I'm just a slightly above average DIYer. Here is just a small list of tools you would most likely need to start off.

Hammer
Rubber mallet
Screwdriver with multi-bits
Utility knife
Tape measure
Folding ruler
Pencils and markers
Angle measuring device
Several types of cut-off handsaws
Coping saw
Hack saw
Good set of chisels
Wood rasps and files
Levels (a few different sizes)
Drill/driver with bits
Random orbital sander
Detail sander
Ratchet set
Wrenches
Vice grips
Bench vice
Several types of pliers
Old school miter box
Sledge hammer
Different types of clamps
Scribing compass
Pocket screw jig
Circular saw
Tons of sandpaper
Framing square
Combination square
Speed square
Screw extraction bit set
Plane

Then, other power tools as you need them:

Table saw
Miter saw
Air compressor
Nail guns
Band saw
Drill press
Impact driver
Right angle drill
Oscillating saw
Belt sander
Jig saw
Angle grinder
Lathe
Router
Rotary tool (ie: Dremel)
Jointer
Power planer


Then yer gotcher materials:

Rags
Bits and attachments
Polyurethane
Mineral Spirits
Lacquer
Lacquer thinner
Saw blades
Wood glue
Contact adhesive
Heavy duty extension cords
Tons of nails and screws

etc etc etc

[backtoblue]

16. You forgot...

Lots of Band-Aids and ice packs.

[LuckyCharms]

23. I don't need bandaids because...

when I cut myself it's always a doozy and I have to go straight to the ER.

[Thx]

10. It depends

as others have said on what you mean by "wood working."

Are you "carving" or "fabricating" or maybe some combo of both?

It seems to me that a very popular tool for making wood objects is the lathe.

I have a machinist background, so, I'm certainly not expert here, but they do have a lot of things in common.

What a machinist does more than anything else is drill... drill, tap, counter-bore... so many things have to be "fastened" to one another.

Perhaps you can pick a specific project like a chess board or a set of wood bowls and just get the tools and tips pertaining to that and branch out gradually.

Good luck, and it sounds like a great alternative to the cyber-life!

Thx

[AJT]

11. My husband is an avid self-taught woodworker.

He had built a log our furniture, but his favorite thing to do is wood turning. We have SO many bowls....
Look for woodworking clubs in your area, that really helped my hubby get started.

[sdfernando]

13. Impressive...he built a log

How exactly do you do that?


Sorry I just couldn't resist.

[AJT]

14. I'm a terrible proof reader.

[sdfernando]

15. but appartently a great builder of logs!

I'm a terrible proof reader as well...just look at some of my past posts!

[Turbineguy]

17. I took a woodworking course

at the community college. After I signed up, they changed it into a cabinet making course as part of their larger contractor course. The school paid some of the course costs buy building a house every year. I ended up re-designing the kitchen to be vastly more efficient and built some of the cabinets. It's well worth it because you learn what good tools are and how to use them safely.

I ended up using my new knowledge to re-model our kitchen. When we got a new house I built the library and a few other modifications.

My friend tool a CC course and now makes amazing furniture.

[TreasonousBastard]

18. I'd start with shelves, or a low bookcase...

All you need are some clean 1x6" or 1/8" boards, a saw, a drill and a screwdriver. Add, hardware and glue, and finishing stuff and you should be able to make something worthwhile for well under a hundred bucks. Oh, and a tape measure!

A cheap variable speed power drill will take care of drilling holes and driving screws. A cheap saber saw (a/k/a jigsaw) is all the saw you need in the beginning. Later on, the next tools would be a router and a circular saw, but get a handle on the basics first. The router, btw, is a relatively easy way to add some very nice touches to the work. And I'd get a saber saw instead of a circular saw at first because you can cut straight cuts and curved ones.

Joinery is the kicker. It's easy to learn how to cut with and against the grain, but how you stick a couple of pieces of wood together can be tricky. In the beginning, just some screws or nails will do, but you may want to learn the finer points of pegs, mortises, and other good stuff as you go along.

And, BE SAFE! You have no idea how many people are injured working with wood. Newbies get hurt because they don't know that even a drill or a chisel can slip and go out of control. Old pros get hurt when they think they know it all and lose focus. Don't get that router before you have a healthy respect for the power of spinning steel bits. If you are careful you have little to fear, but you must be careful.

[LuckyCharms]

25. I remodeled my whole kitchen 2 years ago.

I am very safety conscious. I have 2 sayings:

1) You won't get cut if all parts of your body stay away from the tool.

2) Figure out where the tool is going to go if it slips, and then keep your flesh away from that area.

I always keep these sayings in mind while working.

Unfortunately, that did not help me when I put this killer through my finger during the kitchen remodel (picture is off the net, but that's the chisel).

[TreasonousBastard]

30. I knew a guy who was recycling an old timber through a table saw with...

a carbide blade. The blade hit an iron nail and the carbide tips came flying off.

Too bad he was standing behind the beam, not on the side-- he now has this perfect line of scars up his arm and shoulder. Coulda been worse, but bad enough.

And there's this bunch of 8 fingered "hold mah beer" guys down at the bar.

[OriginalGeek]

40. my favorite leather working tool is my head knife

the first thing my instructor told me when I got mine was "Keep meat BEHIND the blade!" and so far, I've been lucky.

[LuckyCharms]

41. Wow! That leather piece is beautiful!

Very well done!

[OriginalGeek]

43. Thank you!

here's the finished piece - I made it for a charity auction to benefit a place that gives kids horseback riding therapy (that's their logo on it).



I'm thinking I might be able to combine wooodworking and leather working to make some interesting stuff so I'm reading this thread with a a lot of interest. I especially appreciate your tool list! Between tools I have for leather and tools I inherited form my grandpa and tools I can borrow from my son I think I have a head start on basic beginner stuff.

[shraby]

19. Have you considered refinishing furniture? I did that for a while and enjoyed

seeing the beautiful wood that was underneath the grime and sometimes paint. 3M makes a stripper that you can use with bare hands, smells a bit musty but not noxious fumes like days of old.

Wipe the cleaned off furniture with a damp cloth until the white residue is gone, the sand it lightly, stain if needed (with a rag) let dry, put a coat of varnish on it, I used one of those foam brushes, sand lightly when dry, add a second coat and it's good to go.

Gives a real sense of accomplishment to restore the beauty that got lost with age. I bought one of those 4 drawer curved front dressers for 20 bucks at a yard sale. It had lots of white paint to remove and under all that paint was the oak I suspected was there. Beautiful dresser when it was done and worth much money.

Also caning chairs can give a sense of accomplishment as the lines are woven one by one as the lovely seat or seat back takes form. I used golf tees to anchor cane in the holes as I worked. People need these done and no one much does it any more. Chairs that need caned are cheap at yard sales because they can't get them fixed without putting out a lot of money.

I even bought a set of chairs at a yard sale for a dollar each (shaker style) and learned how to put rush seats in them. You can get the stuff at a craft store. It's like twisted paper. I gave them to my daughter about 24 years ago and she is still using them and the seats look great.

[fierywoman]

21. Caning is very easy and very satisfying.

[Cirque du So-What]

20. This is kind of a pipe dream of mine

https://www.epiloglaser.com/request-information/wood-landing.htm

When I was young, I dabbled in this with soldering irons.

[eppur_se_muova]

24. I've just barely started woodworking myself ... yes, it does require a certain investment.

My dad did a lot of woodworking with power tools -- table saw, circular saw, bandsaw, planer, joiner -- and plywood and particle board. The noise, the dust, the whirling blades inches away from the fingers, the need for face mask, never appealed to me. Years later, after watching a few episodes of Woodwright's Shop with Roy Underhill (routinely referred to as St. Roy by fans) I began to understand how, in the days before power tools, woodworkers incorporated the grain of the wood in their designs, allowing natural wood to shrink and expand with the weather. I learned how the older hand tools each represented a carefully-thought-out solution to a particular problem, and how they took it for granted that they might have to make or modify their own tools. All in all, that approach appealed to me much more than a shop filled with thousands of dollars of machines, jigs, dust collectors, and the like. As I said, I've just barely gotten started myself (mostly because of a very tight budget) and have yet to even build my own workbench (which really is a good place to start). On the plus side, that's given me a lot of time to read up and contemplate the various approaches. My impressions so far -- if you're wanting to build multiple copies of something and get it out the door as soon as possible, as in running a business, power tools are the way to go. No question, you'll get the job done faster and with less effort. You'll build with plywood, particle board, and veneer, you'll install a lot of screw pockets using jigs, and pretty it all up with veneer and PSA-backed trim. Since you seem to be looking for a hobby that's not a second job, I'd suggest going the other way -- ripsaws and crosscut saws, a bowsaw, chisels, brace and bits, and planes. Probably lots of planes. And the patience to cut all those dovetails and mortise-and-tenon joints (the journey is the reward). Watch a few episodes of Woodwright's Shop (or New Yankee Workshop or Woodsmith's Shop if you want to see the all-power-tool approach, or American Woodshop or Rought Cut for a somewhat more hybrid approach). All the woodworking shows on PBS have their own Web sites, where you can watch old episodes, download plans, etc. If you decide to go with all muscle-powered tools, you can start off pretty cheap by shopping online and buying a tool at a time as you work out what you need. And don't be embarrased to buy bargain tools to start with. Buy the best tools only when you know you can justify the expense, in terms of work done or soul satisfied.

If you decide to get any of Roy Underhill's books, I'd heartily recommended his most recent. It packs much of the info found in his previous books, in a more organized and thorough way, with helpful illustrations. Maybe worth checking your local library first.

[Atticus]

28. Totally agree. The satisfaction of using your own power to craft something useful using

the same tools workmen have used for several hundred years is unique, just like the box or bench or shelf you produce. And, you can start small with, say, a simple box or bench. A hammer, hand saw (cross cut), tri-square, steel tape measure and a chisel or two will build a lot of projects. Then you can add a drill (brace and bit), rubber mallet, planes, rasps, etc.as you need them and as your skills improve.

You might want to consider using repurposed wood, such as pallets and the like, to hold your costs down, but clean pine is easiest for a beginner to work with. Greenwood furniture, if you have access to living trees and permission to use them, is also a low cost alternative, especially if you have room for a shaving horse and can afford a draw knife.

The internet has plenty of free plans for any skill level and loads of books are available with instructions as to how various techniques are employed. Good luck.

[hunter]

36. Roy Underhill is awesome.

I'll never forget his early bloody experiences with bamboo... my wife and I actually planted some bamboo in our yard then and we now have our own plentiful source.

[Ferrets are Cool]

26. Youtube

[A HERETIC I AM]

27. Frickin YouTube is wonderful!.....

I swear there isa a video for EVERYTHING!

Want to know how to land a 737?

Video.

Want to know how to start a diesel locomotive?

Video

How to turn the most unbelievable artwork on a lathe?

Video.

[Ferrets are Cool]

31. As far as I am concerned, youtube is the greatest invention of our lifetime...

and hear me out before you call me crazy...
Youtube is a TIME MACHINE. I can see stuff from way back yonder in the past that I would never have been able to see if youtube didn't exist.
Mostly, I'm talking about music concerts, because that is one of my biggest interests. But, think about it.
If you were too young, or too poor to go see Yes in 1977, no big dealeo...find it on Youtube and enjoy one of your favorite artists on stage in their prime.
This goes for almost every artist that ever made a stage appearance.
I've watched Genesis, Pink Floyd, Camel, Kansas, Porcupine Tree, Pat Metheny....the list goes on and on. All because of this thing we take for granted now called Youtube.
And don't even get me started on fixing things. Need to fix a 1984 Gold Wing Carb? Go to Youtube.
Want to put in a Koi Pond correctly? Go to Youtube.
OK, I will stop now. You get the point. I farking LOVE Youtube!!

[A HERETIC I AM]

32. I wouldnt call you crazy! I agree!

I read some time ago that the upload rate for YouTube at its peak was more than one million hours of content a DAY

It truly is amazing

[A HERETIC I AM]

29. I'm in the same boat you are.

I've never had a woodshop of my own, but my big brother has one and I have a pretty good idea iof what I need and want based on his shop.

My primary interest is in turning bowls and other artwork on a lathe. I might make the occasional cabinet or table, but I primarily want to make bowls and such.

So....here's what I know I'll buy to start;
Table saw
Lathe and associated tools
Bandsaw
Belt/disc sander
Drill Press
Assorted clamps



Those basic power tools will allow me to cut and assemble any materials needed for any bowls I want to produce.

This is the kind of thing I'm interested in making;

[kmla]

42. I concur with your post.

Woodworking on the lathe is a relatively economical way to enter the hobby. And you can create some pretty awesome items.

I personally have drifted towards creating custom pens on the lathe. As it turns out (pun intended), there is an entire cottage industry devoted to this hobby.

And it is really good for the need of instant gratification - you can create a finished piece in an afternoon once you get the idea of what you are doing.

www.penturners.org - you can see some amazing craftsmanship on that site...

[Kashkakat v.2.0]

33. Do you have a tech college with evening classes? Pref at the tech school cos the equipment probably

not as beat up as at a high school and consequently your table (or whatever they have you do for your beginning project) will just look better (ie all the pieces square). Which then inspires and motivates you to keep on with it.

I just love it - Im not one to get into formal meditation but doing this type of work focuses your attention in the same way which is very relaxing. Every night you make a little progress - and then end up with a table (or whatever).

I took 1 short term non credit class first (made a crappy little table with a crooked leg that I gave away) and then one full semester of a 3-credit furniture building class that had great quality equipment (where we made our big full size dining tables- I still have mine). Then some non-credit classes where you use the equipment and work on your own projects.

I dont have any kind of shop - would be nice. Can do a lot though with just a circular saw + router + sander + jigsaw + a chop saw. Can pay shops to do parts of a project - I will prob pay someone to plane down some raw walnut I have.

Have fun and the one piece of advise I always remember from class - ALWAYS KNOW where your fingers are before you make the cut! Just stop and take stock and be sure everything is positioned correctly.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

34. I highly recommend a Kreg pocket hole jig.

I'm usually dubious of "gadgets" but I saw Norm Abram use this on This Old House.

I've had one for 12 years and have built tons of stuff with it -- tables, cabinets, bookcases, liquor cabinets, closet doors etc.

If I still had any lingering doubts about the tool, they were wiped out when we visited an Amish furniture showroom in Illinois. I stuck my finger behind the face frame to feel for the tell-tale pocket hole and thought "those crafty motherfuckers, even the Amish use this tool!!!" And these were real horse and buggy driving Amish, not "as seen on TV Amish"

You can learn fancy joinery techniques but this tool solves most of the problems. This makes tight joints you can use immediately without having to wait for glue to dry.. no clamps either.

Lately I've been buying my sheet plywood from a real lumber yard who sells all different species of wood. They will cut plywood down while I wait for a few bucks. I give the a cut list and they make perfect cuts. No need to lug 4x8 sheets

[LunaSea]

35. Why do one thing?

Try several avenues and see which one brings the most personal satisfaction.
You might find some ideas here-
www.instructables.com

Type in just about anything you'd care to create or repair and find several different approaches to the project.
You'll find alternative tool ideas too.

Need cheap tools?
American Science and Surplus
https://www.sciplus.com/

Start small, find the particular bent that makes you shine and scale it up.

[hunter]

38. I'm a Harbor Freight tool using hack.

My wood work makes true woodworking craftsmen cringe.

I've learned Bondo and paint will cover up almost any woodworking catastrophe. Power sanders are awesome, I have every kind.

What I lack in woodworking skills I make up for in enthusiasm.

Both my grandfathers were metal working perfectionists. One of my grandfathers was an engineer for the Apollo Project. Bits of his metal took men to the moon and back.

Alas, I've discovered my own OCD perfectionist tendencies often prevent me from getting anything done. It's far better I enjoy the ride.

[panader0]

39. I have a wood shop. Right now it's a mess.

I'm building raised panel maple cabinets--12 boxes so far and a few left to go.
Thank goodness the customer is not in a hurry.