New to woodwork and site, be kind

[dean_32]

Ladies and Gents,

I have been advised this would be a great place to start my journey, so I would first like to introduce myself.

I have just purchased my first house at a young age of 32, and would like to start making my own fitted cabinets, draws etc.

I am now a mechanical engineer but I had a brief 1 year stint in the dockyard shipwright shop about 10 years ago where I learnt basic machine, hand and finishing techniques.

My questions are (sorry quite a few)
1, Is a set of draws a good starting project?
2, What basic power and hand tools should I invest in.
3, With the absence of a standing panel saw (only method I know to cut large square panels), should I look for a company that can provide this service? Or is there another DIY method?
4, I have so far ordered - The Complete Illustrated Guide to Furniture and Cabinet Construction (Complete Illustrated Guides (Taunton)) and Designing and Building Cabinets (New Best of Fine Woodworking). Can anyone recommend any others worth getting hold of?
5, Does anyone know of any clubs, groups or college courses on woodwork in the Hampshire/Berkshire area?


Many thanks in advance all; I look forward to many happy hours learning.

Regards,

Dean

 

[Mattty]

Hello and welcome

 

[Rich]

Good evening and welcome Dean, I live in Reading, take the time to use the "search " facility on this forum, do NOT be frightened to ask and make sure you have some disposable income as you will soon become "bitten"
good luck matey, btw, I have been in engineering all my life and turned to this forum for advice regarding woodworking, it has'nt let me down yet providing you are willing to ask, even the most basic of questions.

Rich.

 

[dean_32]

Cheers guys,

Rich I am just moving between tadley and basingstoke so just down the road.

Would you pick draws as a first 'play' project or is it best to start somewhere smaller?

First thing is to work out what tools I need, I will have a search.

Dean

 

[johnf]

Welcome to the forum Dean

 

[Chippyjoe]

Hi Dean,and welcome to the forum.
Another one on the slippery slope!
Mark.

 

[MikeG.]

Welcome Dean.........

........and no, I wouldn't start with drawers!! They look easy, but are a real test of skill and thought. I would start with stuff you can make up from panels, or from planks.............so bookshelves, fitted cupboards, small tables etc

Save the drawers until you have really got into woodworking, and you are starting to get a reasonable collection of kit together.

Mike

 

[dean_32]

Thanks, I will do that.

I have been thinking of a router and table, circular saw and table and a range of hand tools, clamps etc. What else would you advise getting in the beginning?

Regards,

Dean

Welcome Dean.........

........and no, I wouldn't start with drawers!! They look easy, but are a real test of skill and thought. I would start with stuff you can make up from panels, or from planks.............so bookshelves, fitted cupboards, small tables etc

Save the drawersuntil you have really got into woodworking, and you are starting to get a reasonable collection of kit together.

Mike

 

[Rich]

Cheers guys,

Rich I am just moving between tadley and basingstoke so just down the road.

Would you pick draws as a first 'play' project or is it best to start somewhere smaller?

First thing is to work out what tools I need, I will have a search.

Dean

Hi Dean, if you wish to, you can pop in and have a gander at my workshop and get an idea of what you may want to get, you can also look at the drawersI made for my workshop and the dovetailing jig I used to make them, (cheating really) but I'm not yet proficient enough to do them by hand, just PM me if you want to have a look.

Rich.

 

[dean_32]

That sounds an offer to good to pass by, I will PM.

I think maybe a plain book case might be a good starting point? Unless anyone needs a crib board :-D

What did all you guys start off with? i.e. drill, router, circular saw, hand tools and clamps?

I am looking forward to my first 'straight' cut.

 

[OPJ]

Welcome to the forum, Dean.

The easiest way to cut large sheets and panels to size is to use a hand-held circular saw against a straight edge. That should ideally be one of your first investments and you should be able to buy a good quality saw (Makita, for example) for only £90 (maybe less on eBay).

A router would be another excellent purchase; the most versatile power tool available to man! :wink: A good 1/2" router could set you back around £200. Depending on what you want to do, a smaller 1/4" router may be enough to get you started?

 

[maltrout512]

Welcome Dean. It is a great forum. Mike is right to a point. Depends how mad and fast you want to go.

To your questions.

1, Not a big start a set of draws, but you could try like Mike mentioned book shelves. Well you are going to buy some books on wood work and, tool requirement is less to invest in for a start. You get the feel, make some C..kups along the way, start again and hay you have a nice bookshelf.
2, Power tools and hand tools, they are mentioned in the book or two that you are buying, which you can put on your first bookshelf that you made.
3, I don't go to B & Q much, but you can at a cost buy pine boards par and they are off the shelf as to say. There are other timber suppliers.
4, Not up on buying books. Well not new books. Most I have were printed back in 30's to 60's.
5, Can't help there as I live and have my workshop near Petworth, in West Sussex.

If your are not that far away, I don't have a problem if you want to come down and have a chat and see my setup, even have a try at something to make. The kettle is never cold.

Please take a look at my Blog.

 

[miles_hot]

If you are looking for a project to start cutting your teeth on then draws etc seem to be a tough way to start (there's a heck of a lot of cutting, jointing and precision required just to make a draw which actually works). However if you need a fitted cabinet for the new place this is an easier project if you cheat and use something like a Blum draw which is basically a pre-fab metal draw with a wooden front and base - basically what you get in a flat pack kitchen. Then all you have to do is make the cabinet and fix the runners in the right place - a rather simpler prospect.

Isscalord etc will be able to help with the metal work and there are a whole bunch of helpful people here, many of which will go to quite astonishing levels of assistance and time to help a newbie!

Have fun and good luck

Miles

 

[FrCollins]

Ladies and Gents,

I have been advised this would be a great place to start my journey, so I would first like to introduce myself.

I have just purchased my first house at a young age of 32, and would like to start making my own fitted cabinets, draws etc.

I am now a mechanical engineer but I had a brief 1 year stint in the dockyard shipwright shop about 10 years ago where I learnt basic machine, hand and finishing techniques.

My questions are (sorry quite a few)
1, Is a set of draws a good starting project?
2, What basic power and hand tools should I invest in.
3, With the absence of a standing panel saw (only method I know to cut large square panels), should I look for a company that can provide this service? Or is there another DIY method?
4, I have so far ordered - The Complete Illustrated Guide to Furniture and Cabinet Construction (Complete Illustrated Guides (Taunton)) and Designing and Building Cabinets (New Best of Fine Woodworking). Can anyone recommend any others worth getting hold of?
5, Does anyone know of any clubs, groups or college courses on woodwork in the Hampshire/Berkshire area?


Many thanks in advance all; I look forward to many happy hours learning.

Regards,

Dean

Hello Dean, I'm a learner also, I mean at using this forum well any forum to be precise. Unlike you it has taken me months to send my first which was only this week, to be honest I'm not sure if I am replying to this post in the right way I'll just have to see when I send it.

Its a good time to start there should be plenty of good tool offers about. One thing all modern woodworkers need nowadays is a decent circular saw. There are many types out there; portable and stationary. I would think a small table saw would best to start, there is lots you can do on a saw like this other than just size your wood. For example; you cross cut as well as rip your timber on them, you can make many joints on them, groove and rebate on them, etc. Another must have tool is of course the router with the right jigs these two tools will do most you need to do, you will however still need the old fiathfulls like the; chisel, plane and hammer/mallet etc.

Good luck, FRCOLLINS

 

[Lord Nibbo]

What did all you guys start off with? i.e. drill, router, circular saw, hand tools and clamps?

A hammer, a mortice chisel, and a 26" handsaw. I think my first ever power tools were a B&D drill (Plug in, cordless were still to be invented) and a jig saw again B&D.

Oh yes! welcome to the slope, just watch your back there are some who will remain nameless who are dead eager to give you a push :lol:

 

[maltrout512]

LN no need he's here already. Wizers gone to bed, dreaming, counting tools as he drifts off. :lol: Sorry Wizer. :wink:

 

[dean_32]

Wow guys I am over whelmed with the top replies so far. It is my plan to make a bench, saw guide and cabinet as my first projects.

I am hoping my metal machining days will help a little. Although those circular saws look nasty as hell, so fingers crossed I will manage to reply on here with all limbs once I get one :-D

I will take a look at the Blum draw it sounds a good first step towards building a functional unit. I was lucky when I worked at the dockyard in my younger days as they had all the kit and 2 shipwrights with 80 odd years of experience between them, but I have a great replacement in you guys :-D

So I have a weekend planned on looking for a circular saw and router. I am sure there are threads on them, but any pointers would be nice. Also is it worth buying the tables to go with the routers and saw?

I am sure it is a noob question but is there a difference between one you can use by hand and one that goes upside down in a table? (is it just the access to the power switch for safety?)

Looking forward to posting my first blog and pictures.

Dean

 

[Digit]

Welcome Dean. Your list of machines would have been a dream for me, like Lord Nibbo my start was very basic, we apprentices were considered too low life to be allowed near machines.
You shouldn't go far wrong with your suggested list IMO.

Roy.

 

[dean_32]

Really they used machines as natural selection for my peer group

I have had a change of heart and my first project is going to be to fit out a room with MDF carcass to construct a walk in wardrobe (painted).

I have spent the night reading the old posts and biscuits and knock down fixings appear to be popular. I think I will go biscuit as I do not intend to ever move them, unless this is school boy move 101.

So really, how do I go about making them? Do i build a simple butt jointed biscuit box? When I put shelves in do they need more strength than the biscuits i.e. rebate.

Is it wise to have a base and kickboard, or is a flat board ok for the base? Also do you use mouldings to give the upto ceiling look?

I plan to use 'off the shelf' internals i.e. ikea (sorry if this is sacrilege)

I have looked at some of the work you guys do and it is amazing. Fingers crossed if I take 10 times as long I will get 10% of the look.

 

[Chems]

I'm currently about 18months in and loving it.

My first tool was a Circular Saw, a cheap Homebase powerbase one. I still use it today. Have a look here for me making a guide rail for this saw.

After that I got a router from Focus, its McKeller cost about £30 and I still use it daily. I used this to do rebates for shelfs using some clamps and a straight edge.

After a little while I bought a really cheap table saw from screwfix. Its done me for this long but I wouldn't recommend buying one of these for a beginner as it was noisy and scary at first. Much better saving up £300-500 for a nice big cast iron one with a quite induction motor.

From there I've just bought hand tools and a few sanding machines, palm and random orbit sander. A few Record planes off ebay.