Beginner Projects

[Bigbud78]

Really a bit clueless to be honest...Sorry !

Now I've got some chisels, a table saw and a pillar drill I want to make something :lol: Ultimate goal is to make some jewellery boxes as gifts later in the year and a coffee table & a media/Tv stand.

I don't feel I'm anywhere near ready to jump into these yet so looking for some suggestions of something I could have a go at first ? And what should I be making it out of ? practice on pine or should I just another type of wood first ?

Also does anyone know of a good place to order timber by post ? I've found that most places locally are only open 9-5 and early Saturdays all of which I cant get to, leaves me with B&Q or wickes :/ I ideally need to get planed at the moment although I am looking for a planer / thicknesser.

Thanks

Jim

 

[marcros]

a bench to work on is an ideal first project.

 

[VanTheMainMan]

Hi Bigbud, I'm in the same boat as you are, although I did allot of woodwork at school (15 years ago) you forget most of what you have done. I went around today looking for wood, I also want to make a TV cabinet, but first need to get some practice. I bought a rocking horse plan online last week, that is also in the pipeline. As Marcros said, workbench also a nice project.

 

[dc_ni]

If you want to practice use pallet wood. If you look on you tube for pallet wood projects you will get loads of results, Steve Ramsey has a few projects for pallet wood https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2Y7G15DrVt6fKlWVKx3HE9XFRv-b5hyL

You can buy books https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sour...ie=UTF-8#q=pallet+wood+project+books&tbm=shop

 

[yetloh]

Not a project, but if you are inexperienced I would strongly suggest you try to get some training on tablesaw safety, or at least get one of Steve Maskery's DVDs on the topic. A reasonable planer thicknesser will be a big asset - in fact I would place it way ahead of a tablesaw - because it will give you a much greater range of timber options and help ensure you start any project with straight and square stock which is a huge plus when you are starting.

Jim

 

[Graham Orm]

Steves DVD's would be a good investment. A good bench an excellent first project. Where in Manchester are you?

 

[Baldhead]

+1 for Steve's DVD's not just for safety, there's also some very nice jig plans.

Stew

 

[Graham Orm]

Bench https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXEvRoW8lY8

Entertainment centre https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DWhXz2Nblc

These are Bosch adverts really, presented by Alan Holtham but entertaining and pretty straightforward as beginner projects. You don't need all the equipment that he's trying to sell you by the way.

 

[Bigbud78]

Steves DVD's would be a good investment. A good bench an excellent first project. Where in Manchester are you?

Urmston fella

 

[Graham Orm]

Steves DVD's would be a good investment. A good bench an excellent first project. Where in Manchester are you?

Urmston fella

I'm in Hazel Grove, so the other side really. Here's a good bench build.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ru2ZiNs ... xpnucdIJdr

 

[graduate_owner]

Hi Bigbud and Van,
I feel the same, I would love to make some real furniture but don't have the skills yet. I sometimes browse through woodworking magazines with their plans for a bow fronted dresser or whatever, veneered and carved, then inlaid with contrasting stringing etc, and I think "Never. Never in my lifetime, or what's left of it, could I make amything approaching that".
My first construction project will be workshop storage units. It won't matter if I make mistakes on them and I can use pine, pallet wood or plywood. That could be a possible starting point for you guys. Or perhaps a tool chest? Then go on to make a workbench (not quite the right order of things I know, but I hope it will work for me).

K

 

[rafezetter]

My first couple of projects completed (that being an imporant distinction ) were palletwood and salvaged fence board planters - no fancy joints, just glued screwed and nailed - but I did have to make sure all the ends were cut straight for the framing.

My kingsize bed was surprisingly easy, considering how complicated it might first look - jigsaw for the shaping, a very simple "frankenrouter" setup to mill the T&G slats and grooves for said slats (a section of flat plywood with a hole in it and the router bolted to that and a makeshift fence, pictures here: http://s982.photobucket.com/user/Rafezetter/library/Woodworking Related - General?sort=3&page=1) - the rest is all straight cuts and lots of sanding with a belt sander (i'd advise buying a better quality one - the 2 ..no 3 B&Q cheapo's I've had aren't made for anything more than basic DIY.) Most of the joints are simple butt joints - not even biscuited.

As I'm learning there are more ways to get certain things done without having to resort to buying a dedicated machine, just takes a little longer is all.

 

[John15]

Jim,

As a novice I started by making some garden furniture where tolerances are not so tight as indoor furniture. Also I bought several second-hand woodworking books from AbeBooks - very cheap but very informative. I also subscribe to Rob Cosman's online tutorials which again I find very helpful.

John

 

[yetloh]

Hi Bigbud and Van,
I feel the same, I would love to make some real furniture but don't have the skills yet. I sometimes browse through woodworking magazines with their plans for a bow fronted dresser or whatever, veneered and carved, then inlaid with contrasting stringing etc, and I think "Never. Never in my lifetime, or what's left of it, could I make amything approaching that".
My first construction project will be workshop storage units. It won't matter if I make mistakes on them and I can use pine, pallet wood or plywood. That could be a possible starting point for you guys. Or perhaps a tool chest? Then go on to make a workbench (not quite the right order of things I know, but I hope it will work for me).

K

I started in my mid-fifties having never made anything more complicared than a fixed side doll'cot with the aid of a dowelling jig and within 5 or 6 years I was into really complicated stuff. The answer for me was training on a series of short course aat West Dean; a fantastic investment. There are so many people offering courses these days and you can learn so much so fast, it's a huge confidence booster and it really is worth it if you can afford it.

Jim

 

[Bigbud78]

Hi Bigbud and Van,
I feel the same, I would love to make some real furniture but don't have the skills yet. I sometimes browse through woodworking magazines with their plans for a bow fronted dresser or whatever, veneered and carved, then inlaid with contrasting stringing etc, and I think "Never. Never in my lifetime, or what's left of it, could I make amything approaching that".
My first construction project will be workshop storage units. It won't matter if I make mistakes on them and I can use pine, pallet wood or plywood. That could be a possible starting point for you guys. Or perhaps a tool chest? Then go on to make a workbench (not quite the right order of things I know, but I hope it will work for me).

K

I started in my mid-fifties having never made anything more complicared than a fixed side doll'cot with the aid of a dowelling jig and within 5 or 6 years I was into really complicated stuff. The answer for me was training on a series of short course aat West Dean; a fantastic investment. There are so many people offering courses these days and you can learn so much so fast, it's a huge confidence booster and it really is worth it if you can afford it.

Jim

I did look locally for some courses but didnt find anything

The work bench idea is great although it has got me wondering about my garage layout, I've got a 1.5x garage which house's two motorbikes and the rest of the usual rubbish. I've been clearing it out slowly but still have a way to go.

 

[mseries]

My first project when I restarted woodworking 20 years ago was a bed frame. Not overly complex, large joints, straight lines doesn't have to be fantastic. I bought PAR timber and didn't use any power tools. I was proud of it, still am though I can do better now.

 

[AndyT]

Some of the first things I made were bookcases - they were really simple but good enough to survive several house moves until they got upgraded.

I just used salvaged wood from skips - softwood boards about 1" x 7" - which I cut to length. A pair of uprights had holes drilled through into the ends of the shelves to take some round nails. A nailed on back from hardboard made them strong and rigid.

Tools needed: saw; hammer; hand drill, tape measure; sandpaper.

That was 35 years ago - my projects have got a bit more sophisticated since, but I had the satisfaction of making something which I needed and which looked ok. (You mostly only see the front edges of the shelves!)

 

[mseries]

That was 35 years ago - my projects have got a bit more sophisticated since, but I had the satisfaction of making something which I needed and which looked ok. (You mostly only see the front edges of the shelves!)

That was exactly it for me. I needed some furniture in my first house and I wanted to make it. It has done it's job over the years and didn't cost me much.

 

[Bigbud78]

as with all these things, yes I want to build a work bench. What do I need, Plane #check, glue #check, a million clamps #errNo I've only got two xD sash clamps are expensive

Ive got 30 meters of 28x28x3 SHS box section I need to try and make clamps out of now lol

 

[custard]

Good for you for looking for genuinely beginners projects. I see too many potential woodworkers take on overly ambitious projects which never get completed or look a complete mess if they do. Net result, one frustrated disappointed potential woodworker who is now an ex-woodworker!

Stick to something small and simple, get basic tools only as required, and work your way up in measured steps from there.

Good luck!