Building a tool collection from scratch

[billw]

Not sure if this is one of those "done to death" questions, but what's everyone's thoughts on what essential tools to buy? Even though I'm a bit of a beginner I'd want to buy something that laster forever and was decent quality so not particularly fussed about cost as the more I have to save to buy something the more I'll look after it!

So far my ideas have been

Planes - block, jack, smoothing
Chisels - standard (have got a basic set of Stanley ones ), mortice, dovetail/skew
Saw - tenon, dovetail
Squares - right angle, dovetail (got both of those)
Marking gauges
Marking knife
Cabinet scrapers

Anything else I should add? I know some of them might not be "essential" but my next potential project involves lots of dovetails!

 

[wizer]

Thisis a good book to have.

Also search for Waka and Lord Nibbo's recent tool cabinet threads

 

[Racers]

Hi,

but my next potential project involves lots of dovetails!

You will need a copeing saw/jewelers saw and a mallet.


Pete

 

[wizer]

and if you follow the cosman method of cutting dovetail, 2 sets of dividers

 

[MickCheese]

A router and a dovetail jig. :wink:

Mick

 

[Night Train]

The tools you want will depend a lot on the type of work you want to do.

I have a lot of rasps and spokeshaves as I like curvy tactile work. I also have a collection of old moulding planes and rebate, shoulder and routing planes as I hand work more then I machine.
Others will have a collections of routers and jigs because they route out most of their work to save time.

You might want to decide if you want to hand cut all your dovetails or invest in a good dovetail jig and router. A nice Japanese saw would be useful for very fine cuts but not everyone gets on with them.

A sharpening system is a great investment. You can either learn to use water stones and leather strop, the 'scary sharp' system or buy a Tormek. I have a small Tormek and a set of water stones, 800 grit and 6000 grit. The Tormek is expensive but I put it on a Christmas list and it was bought for me by a group of friends together. I can get razor sharp edges very quickly and easily so I don't skimp on keeping my tools sharp.

 

[ste_5150]

I can't offer a massive amount of advice but one element where I can give some basic advice is the planes bit. Yes, your choice of tools (block/smoothing/jack) would be the ones you'll need to cover the tasks you'll need to perform, but which ones to buy is probably a harder decision! I'd avoid buying a new unless you have quite a bit to spend, and spend some time looking in car boot sales etc. for older ones that you can clean up. The process of looking for them and cleaning them up will be much more enjoyable anyway :wink:

Also, if you're intending to plane all your wood to dimension make sure your workbench is up to the task. It needs to be solid and heavy enough not to move around while you work, and have clamps to hold your work securely.

Sorry if you already know all that, but it's best to warn!! It's really frustrating when you have a difficult process to get through before you can even begin to use a piece of wood - removes the fun..

Good luck with the dovetail project - I assume there's a thread on it's way to show us how you get on?

 

[Mikey R]

I'd avoid buying a new unless you have quite a bit to spend, and spend some time looking in car boot sales etc. for older ones that you can clean up. The process of looking for them and cleaning them up will be much more enjoyable anyway :wink:

Ive recently gone through a similar process of kitting out. First I got a brand new Record 04, that I still havent got to work well - the new Records really arent up to much by all accounts. I decided I needed a reference, so I needed some good old tools that were fettled well.

So I bought a Stanley #4 from a forum member here and fitted it with a Ron Hock A2 iron. Then I got a Stanley #7 from Ray Iles with one of his very nice O1 irons. Both are excelent tools and are fettled much better than I could have done myself.

Now, if I want to buy a car booter, then at least I have a reference as to what a Bailey plane is supposed to be Otherwise, I could have struggled on with the Record, or bought an expensive Bedrock, and never have realised how good Bailey planes could be.

 

[TrimTheKing]

I'd avoid buying a new unless you have quite a bit to spend, and spend some time looking in car boot sales etc. for older ones that you can clean up.

It's really frustrating when you have a difficult process to get through before you can even begin to use a piece of wood - removes the fun..

Hi Ste

Surely these two comments are at odds with each other then?

If the OP has the money then I would disagree with you (not saying I'm right, just my opinion) and say buy new and buy good. My biggest frustration is that I don't have a lot of time for the workshop and that time I do have I want to spend working wood, not cleaning up an old rusty plane before I can even start. If you don't have the cash then I agree absolutely, but if you do, then I would say go for it.

 

[dunbarhamlin]

The one omission which stands out is no cross cut joinery saw.
Your list looks like you're working on small pieces, and dimensioning stock by machine.
If not, half rip and panel saws are a must, and a longer plane and a panel gauge would be handy.
Presume you're burning electrons for boring. If not, a hand drill (eggbeater) for small holes and a brace for large would be useful.

WRT new vs old, it is a balance of funds vs time.
I've had a reground #5 from Ray Iles, and with a replacement blade this is a quick, relatively inexpensive route to a decent tool.
If you can find a mentor or tutor, it can make it a lot easier to learn to properly fettle and sharpen to get the best out of a tool, and a paid course would be a very cost effective start, rather than forking out for a cupboard full of Clifton/LN/LV etc, which will only offer marginal benefits over cheap fettled preloved tools.

 

[ste_5150]

Surely these two comments are at odds with each other then?

time I do have I want to spend working wood, not cleaning up an old rusty plane before I can even start.

The comments aren't at odds, my point about buying a plane was that if the budget and preference went towards buying new and good quality tools then that's perfect, but if the budget was preferred elsewhere then buying secondhand and initially spending a little time cleaning it up would be better than buying a cheap, new tool.

Either way, the point about it being frustrating refers to not struggling with the tool because it's not of the quality needed, whether that means spending a little time cleaning it up before using it that first time or not.

We're getting at the same point, just in different ways!

 

[billw]

Yeah as some have pointed out, I get timber to size and square using machines, then do all the finishing off and joints by hand.

Ther obvious omission was a coping saw - so that's on my list now.

Oh and as for routers, I have a phobia of them!

 

[TrimTheKing]

We're getting at the same point, just in different ways!

Violently agreeing as one of my colleagues refers to it

 

[head clansman]

Hi billw

Even though I'm a bit of a beginner

from this statement says it all really, a beginner, and from you tool list your doing fine, walk before running, learn to use that lot first get to know how to handle them but more important learn to sharpen them , as your progress start to increase your tool list keep asking questions , nothing wrong with second hand either, old is good, don't spend a fortune till you feel happy in what your trying to achieve , could be a waste of a lot of money if it's not what you thought it may be. hc

 

[billw]

Thanks - I guess you have highlighted a critical omission from my list - lots of sharp tools and no method of sharpening them!

I'm hoping the initial list is pretty much there now, with that lot I should be able to produce most of what I need. I tend to shy away from making anything with round bits and tricky design, as I'd rather get the hang of making things square and true for the time being.

Every time I see my first attempt at a drawer it reminds me that I have a long long way to go!

 

[TrimTheKing]

Every time I see my first attempt at a drawer it reminds me that I have a long long way to go!

You are in good company on this forum then billw. There are loads of us here who are beginners and have made very little, and there are others with masses of skill and experience, all of whom have valuable input into this forum.

My advice would be to be as adventurous as you can with your projects, even going for something you think is well beyond your skills, and take your time to practice on scraps before committing to cutting the good wood. Aim high and you will invariably surprise yourself with what you can achieve, and of equal importance, ask plenty of questions of the forum, we are all willing to give advice and opinions, regardless of whether we know what the hell we are talking about!!!.

 

[George_N]

Another thing to budget for is a set of clamps/cramps (never quite sure which term to use). There is a world of choice out there from the Rolls Royce Besseys to cheap and cheerful F clamps. You need a range of sizes depending on what kind of projects you intend to tackle.

 

[xy mosian]

Hi billw,

My two pennyworth?

Find and develop a relationship with a long established tool store, if you can. My local 'good tool shop', Ellis', Bradford found from stock a plane iron for a number Stanley number 10 I found at a car boot about 8 years ago. Now I find that quite remarkable.
Don't buy anything until you need it.
If you can find a retired joiner or cabinet maker, he will have lots of good advice and may be looking for a way to pass some of his long loved tools to a new carer.

xy

 

[crazylilting]

The mark of a craftsman isn't how many tools he has but what he can accomplish with the minimum amount of tools. However if you are going to sell your work this isn't advisable. A box is a box is a box and no matter how much time you spend on it there is only so much money one will pay for the box.

I was thinking about the relationship of hobby woodworking and working at it for a living. To just do it for the joy of it would be fantastic but the reality is that tools cost money and there is only so much you can make for yourself. At some point hobby becomes cottage industry. And at some time work needs more expression to fulfill the real reason a person started woodworking in the first place.

Tools can help with the balance from both perspectives. The basic tools will give you the struggles and the joys of your labour and more tools will help you become more productive in that endeavor. Its not about who dies with the most tools but what legacy is left. I recently finished a reclamation and re modification of a cabinet for a client. It was a wardrobe her father bought in the early thirties and she wanted to turn it into a stereo cabinet for her husband. When it was done it was better then the original and they were very grateful for the new life it was given. I recently saw her and was told that the cabinet will be left in their will for me when they pass on because they were afraid it would fall into the hands of someone who wouldn't appreciate it for what it truly was. Something special to them.

That to me is woodworking. This is what it means, to create something that will create an emotional connection to the work and the craftsman. Have fun, create with what you have and you will most certainly buy more as you need more.

 

[Ironballs]

Bill - what have you done! Asking what hand tools you should buy on here. It's an addiction trust me, we probably started with the same amount of gear 2 years ago and I now have an embarrassing amount of planes that I've convinced myself I need.

I can bring in my mildly restored Record 5 1/2 for you to have a look at to see what you can get for not much on fleabay. Knowing what you're going to build I'd recommend a set of Ashley Iles chisels, the plane above, a good smoother, a shoulder plane, a Veritas MkII honing guide, japanese water stones, dovetail saw and even though you hate them, a router

Cheers

Damian