To tool or not to tool

[stuffmug]

I have a number of woodworking projects left to finish my house off, and I'm currently trying to figure out whether it's worth gearing up to do them myself (learning as I go) or biting the bullet and paying someone else.

If I DO choose to do it myself I then have to find a good balance of machinery to buy and approaches to take regarding PAR vs sawn wood and so on. I could do with any advice you have.

My project list is something along the lines of:
- Half oak half painted staircase
- Two straight lines of painted birch ply kitchen floor cabinets and with some premade butcher-block countertops
- A house worth of windowsills
- Fitting T&G engineered wood flooring
- A few rooms worth of interior slatted window shutters
- Bunch of unpainted shelves around the place
- (optional) kitchen table from the house's old floorboards, if they're still in good condition once dried out

Based on existing quotes I'm looking at ~3k for the stairs, ~3k build ~3k fitted for the kitchen, no quotes on the rest as yet.

It's worth mentioning that I see value in learning skills and I'm OK with not getting it right the first time. That said I'm unlikely to continue this as a hobby after the work is done, likely a few smaller projects here and there as they come up.

 

[Bodgers]

I have a number of woodworking projects left to finish my house off, and I'm currently trying to figure out whether it's worth gearing up to do them myself (learning as I go) or biting the bullet and paying someone else.

If I DO choose to do it myself I then have to find a good balance of machinery to buy and approaches to take regarding PAR vs sawn wood and so on. I could do with any advice you have.

My project list is something along the lines of:
- Half oak half painted staircase
- Two straight lines of painted birch ply kitchen floor cabinets and with some premade butcher-block countertops
- A house worth of windowsills
- Fitting T&G engineered wood flooring
- A few rooms worth of interior slatted window shutters
- Bunch of unpainted shelves around the place
- (optional) kitchen table from the house's old floorboards, if they're still in good condition once dried out

Based on existing quotes I'm looking at ~3k for the stairs, ~3k build ~3k fitted for the kitchen, no quotes on the rest as yet.

It's worth mentioning that I see value in learning skills and I'm OK with not getting it right the first time. That said I'm unlikely to continue this as a hobby after the work is done, likely a few smaller projects here and there as they come up.

If you are unlikely to continue it as a hobby, just get somebody in to do it.

I had a similar list of jobs over three years ago and I never intended it to be hobby. Now, three years on I have spent a crazy amount of money, converted my garage into a workshop and now have an expensive tool buying habit I just can't shake




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[CHJ]

Sorry to be brutal but:-
1. If you have to ask the basic question in the first place, > I'd personally say forget it.
2. If you are holding down a job and can't do the work full time. > forget it
3. If you have family commitment how many years are available to finish it, If not several >forget it.

Stairs are not a wood working learning curve project, regardless of acquiring the wood working skills they are a subject requiring design expertise and building standard compliance.
Do you have a workspace big enough to mock up and trial fit the stair components prior to installation?

On the basis you don't have the tools or machinery and are not likely to use them after the projects are completed what is the point of developing the skills, I doubt you will be able to do little better than write off tool costs afterwards.

Shelves, Sills, Shutters etc. and floor surfacing are DIY learning curve projects, kitchen units suitable for long term usability are a step up and not as easy DIY or cost effective as they may at first appear.
I'm all for encouraging and helping folks fend for themselves but having been though several decades of similar projects for myself and helping others over the years, tackling a House refurbishment as a DIY learning curve from scratch is not one I would recommend for an inexperienced DIY'er.

 

[OscarG]

You wouldn't need anything fancy or expensive for the flooring job, I'd definitely take that on and save yourself some bob.

A cheapo mitre/chopsaw would do for that.

 

[stuffmug]

Sorry to be brutal but:-
1. If you have to ask the basic question in the first place, > I'd personally say forget it.

This bit is a little brutal.

2. If you are holding down a job and can't do the work full time. > forget it
3. If you have family commitment how many years are available to finish it, If not several >forget it.

Taking a while isn't too much of a problem, this is at the end of a 2 year renovation, but I'm probably underestimating the amount of time it's going to take. People often do.

Stairs are not a wood working learning curve project, regardless of acquiring the wood working skills they are a subject requiring design expertise and building standard compliance.

This I actually have under control, as mentioned above this is the tail end of a big renovation so I'm familiar with the structural and building reg needs, I've actually got a design CAD'd out which fits the bill.

Do you have a workspace big enough to mock up and trial fit the stair components prior to installation?

I do, yes. Not one that I'd want to be full of tools once I'm done but one I can use for the purpose during.

On the basis you don't have the tools or machinery and are not likely to use them after the projects are completed what is the point of developing the skills, I doubt you will be able to do little better than write off tool costs afterwards.

I value knowing exactly how something was made, I value production skills in general, and I value knowing I'm using something I made that's exactly right for me. That said, I think you're probably right.

not as easy DIY or cost effective as they may at first appear.

It's very difficult for someone to know if they're subject to biases etc but I suspect I'm falling foul of this one.

 

[MikeJhn]

I say go for it, you may end up with a very interesting and absorbing hobby, although there may be a few (many) mistakes and heartaches along the way.

Mike

 

[HappyHacker]

I would say buy the stairs components and fit them, there are companies out there that will supply a kit of parts based on your drawings.

Buy the window shutters and fit them yourself.

Buy the kitchen carcasses and fit them yourself. While they are easy to make they require a lot of space and accuracy.

The rest do not require much in the way of tools and are relatively easy.

I have have just ,finally, put skirting boards in an extension I built 30 years ago so as has been mentioned time can be a major issue when there is work and family commitments.

Good luck whatever approach you take and there is plenty of advice available on here.