Bare Minimum for Simple Projects

[philcigar]

Hi All,

Long term reader, first time poster. I am keen to get more involved with woodworking and have a basic woork bench setup with a limited range of hand & power tools. My ambition is to create small household items and boxes.

My question is, after watching Norm use his many 'turn a tree trunk into a butlers table' machines and the common power tools discussed on these forums, what can I realistically expect to make to a high standard if I don't have the budget (or permission) to acquire the following:

Planer Thicknesser
Table Saw
Router

I'm all for learning the hard way and slowly acquiring the less expensive hand tools (planes, tenon saw, vice, chisel set). I should add that I do have the following:

Jigsaw
Power Drill
Belt Sander
Orbital Sander
Impact Driver
Try square
Readiness to learn...

Cheers
Phil

 

[o0dunk0o]

Short answer....... anything you want, before we had power tools we had hand tools ;-)

I would always advise a someone just starting out to learn how to use hand tools well before flipping the switch on any machine.

When I was serving my apprenticeship I had to show an aptitude with hand tools before I was let loose with something powered

 

[philcigar]

So what are the hand held alternatives or techniques to replace some of the key power tools?

The main problem I anticipate is cutting straight lines, so taking some planks, joining them together, then squaring up the ends - the squaring would typically be done on a table saw I assume, so what would my alternative be?

My efforts with a handheld and jigsaw have so far been terrible.

 

[o0dunk0o]

Handsaw,

mark a straight line with your try square and with a sharp saw (a 22" hardpoint saw will do to learn with) and get sawing.

You could clamp a straight-edge to the workpeice to run the baseplate of your jigsaw along but you should learn how to saw a straight line by hand.

 

[Paul Chapman]

The main problem I anticipate is cutting straight lines, so taking some planks, joining them together, then squaring up the ends - the squaring would typically be done on a table saw I assume, so what would my alternative be?

You can make most things with just hand tools. Here's a good example http://www.theenglishwoodworker.com/?p=519

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Ian down london way]

A surface that you can keep things out on. Without that, you are rather stuffed.

You will probably want to exploit dowel joints sometimes. Although you can buy jigs to help you align things, they are not cheap. I mostly use something like these, which allow you to ensure the two holes liine up (rather than they are on the centre line of a piece) - they are cheap an cheerful - http://www.mptools.co.uk/products.asp?partno=733252. I've no idea about the company and I see they are also available via amazon. You need a few (say 4) of each of 3 or so sizes (I have 6/7/10mm).

They are used after you drill one set of holes, to then mark where to drill the other set. Not as accurate as a dowel jog (which will guide your drill bit), but perhaps more flexible (they are all I have for using dowels).

What to other guys think of that - cheap and useful?

 

[DTR]

Short answer....... anything you want, before we had power tools we had hand tools ;-)

I must agree with this.

When I started woodworking I also fell under the influence of Norm and assumed that power tools were the way forward. Luckily I soon learnt that there are other ways. That Richard Maguire video linked above is an excellent example. If you are interested in hand tools then strongly recommend reading The Anarchist's Tool Chest by Chris Schwarz.

As for cutting straight lines, it is quite a simple skill to pick up using just a hand saw and a plane.

 

[custard]

Phil, the most important advice I can give is choose appropriate projects and use "tool friendly" materials.

Trying to build a bow fronted wardrobe out of Lacewood, or a roll top desk out of Ebony, is just an exercise in frustration.

But if instead you aim for a small bookcase in Pine, or a simple side table in American Cherry, then you really won't need much in the way of power or hand tools, and you've given yourself the best possible chance of an enjoyable and successful experience that will inspire you to come back for more.

Best of luck!

 

[o0dunk0o]

+1 for the Richard Maguire link.

Youtube is a great resource for tips and techniques, even as a professional I occasionally spend an hour or so flicking through video's.

I'd also suggest this book http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hand-Tools-Thei ... 0393322769
I first read when I was very young and personally I think its a great resource for a novice

 

[Racers]

Hi, Phil

Can I direct you to Roy Underhill http://video.pbs.org/program/woodwrights-shop/ the very antithesis of the wipe-on-poly, just remember to wear these, a few 1" brads, that is Norm Abram.

Pete

 

[philcigar]

I thank you all for the supportive replies, the LIttle John video is an inspiration.

Could I ask a follow up question in terms of literature; I have the Robert Wearing Essential Woodworker on order for Xmas, is this a good compliment to the Anarchist Toolkit?

It's always a little frustrating when books advise "simply use your bandsaw to cut to size...". Hopefully there isn't too much of this in the above.

Thanks again, no doubt I'll be back on with more q's soon...

 

[Paul Chapman]

Could I ask a follow up question in terms of literature; I have the Robert Wearing Essential Woodworker on order for Xmas, is this a good compliment to the Anarchist Toolkit?

Bob Wearing was an excellent woodworking teacher and I rate his various books very highly.

You might also want to consider some woodworking DVDs to learn about techniques. It's often better to see it done rather than trying to visualise it. The one on how to use a bench plane from David Savage is particularly good. It takes you right through from planing a piece of wood square through to jointing two panels http://www.finefurnituremaker.com/planepublic.htm

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[bugbear]

Could I ask a follow up question in terms of literature; I have the Robert Wearing Essential Woodworker on order for Xmas, is this a good compliment to the Anarchist Toolkit?

Bob Wearing was an excellent woodworking teacher and I rate his various books very highly.

You might also want to consider some woodworking DVDs to learn about techniques. It's often better to see it done rather than trying to visualise it. The one on how to use a bench plane from David Savage is particularly good. It takes you right through from planing a piece of wood square through to jointing two panels http://www.finefurnituremaker.com/planepublic.htm

Cheers :wink:

Paul

Lots on youtube too.

Books are better for detail (the "why"), but seeing it all "in motion" on a video is helpful too (the "how"). I find they compliment each other.

BugBear

 

[Jelly]

This might be a controvertial statement, but Planer Thicknessers and Sawbenches are tools for millwork, as distinct from woodwork... a good timber merchant will have facilities* for resawing, crosscutting, thicknessing and possiblly moulding and dimensioning panel products... they'll expect you to pay by the lengths they use to fulfil your cutting list; and beware of the manager or sales person who only has time for account customers who will try to fob you off, much better to chat to one of the blokes on the yard!

There are only two joints I know that can only be made by machine, and both are optimised for mass production of big items anyway.


The bare minimum is a square, a rule, a marking knife, a handsaw, a backsaw, some chisels (1/4", 1/2", 3/8" & 1" bevel edged is a good start), a mallet, a hand plane, as many clamps as you think you need (and then some more) something to sharpen the chisels and planes on and a solid surface to use them all on.

I'd make a bench hook as my little first project too, they're dead handy and you can take it as the chance to cut your first dovetails, without having to worry about them looking nice and identical

In theory, buy the best tools you can afford, In practice, I'd suggest buying hardpoint (cheap, non resharpenable) saws when you initialy start out. Price is not an infallible guide to tool quality either, you get good cheap stuff and expensive tat too; that's before you even get into second hand tools, which often offer tools as good as the very finest modern ones, once you know what you're looking for.

*Sometimes at another branch or centralised location if it's a small site.

 

[AndyT]

A lot of good advice here. I made my first bookcases with an 'all-purpose' saw, a hand drill, sandpaper, hammer and nails.
I have a few more tools now, but the basic kit can be quite small.
I'd recommend some of the old books by Charles Hayward from the 50s / 60s - still widely available second hand.