tools or wood?

[tombo]

As i contemplate adding a bandsaw to my arsenal my wife made a cutting comment....

"You have spent more money on bl**dy tools than you have on your projects"

I tried to deny it, but its true :shock: i quickly estimated about 2k+ on my toys er i mean vital equipment for the production of fine furniture, and only about 750 quid on the materials for the projects so far.

I feel really guilty about it but how can i face a workshop without a bandsaw, lathe, woodrat, legh FMT, etc...

Sheesh, frankly she should be grateful that i have managed so far with so little, what does she know?

 

[Matt_S]

If it makes you feel better try working out how much you would have spent buying equal furniture compared to cost of tools and wood(hope its more having said that)

Thats what I think a benefit of making your own - course you could go to Ikea but to get equal quality/custom fitted furniture would cost more than making.

 

[mr]

Sad state of affairs isn't Have promised myself not to buy any more tools unless I really really can't do without or make the tool if possible, hence saving cash for wood.

Cheers Mike

 

[JPEC]

I have voted for wood, purely because i am in the trade and my 'toys' have to process a lot to earn their money and tools have to be bought with the profits from the wood.

Julian

 

[Tarkin]

Most definatley with the tools! I'd guess that it will be mostly professionals in the wood category. In any case, what's better than opening a brand new tool!

 

[seaco]

Build your own kitchen as I did and it'll offset all your tools...

 

[BrianD]

Well I figure that it has to be tools for now.

I think the poll response is going to be varied because for those in my shoes, just starting out, you need tools to really get started whereas those that are pretty experienced will focus on wood.

FWIW, I just wish I could buy more wood and tools and wood and tools and ......:roll

 

[Niki]

I voted for tools because its easier to convince the wife that "we have to buy wood for the project" than "we have to buy tools for the project".

Saying that, I don't have bend saw, planer, lathe, woodrat etc. so what Im doing? Very simple; I go to one of the big workshops and they plan the wood to my dimensions with one of those 2 tons German planer (7 Oak boards, each 4meter long and 250~300mm width for 5 UK pounds) and for the rest, I'm using the router table and table saw with jigs and gadgets.

niki

 

[Philly]

Tools!
Because I am one sad toolhead
I do have a sizable amount of timber, though :lol:
Philly

 

[Colin C]

For me it is tools at the moment as a lot of my work has been re-pairs and not that much making but that will change in the next week ( have some units to build ).

 

[Adam]

Tools or course are required to get started. Once extablished, two things happen, often you find the limitations of the tools and end up replacing them a second time, or B) you start large amounts of fettling. The final stage is to start making a lot of items and your consumption of wood goes up dramatically.

Once the new workshop is built, I'm desperate to get back started - I've got enough tools now - in fact I'm just in the process of booking in at Wests to go and buy some nice pieces of timber. Sycamore for sure, but I need some Oak as well I think - and maybe a few other odd pieces. Just to get the stock up!

Adam

 

[Alf]

Alas, 'tis tools. But then you don't see many cubic feet of timber offered at car boot sales and a tool is easier to get into a small car than wood, which is a sad limiter.

Cheers, Alf

 

[WellsWood]

Without doubt 'tis tools for me too. Just can't resist spending my meagre prifits (usually before I've made any!) on a new toy :roll: .

My kingdom for a business head!

Mark

 

[OllyK]

I suspect at the moment it's wood. Buying custom molded architrave and biscuit jointing it on to 6" boards to make new skirting for the entire house as well as sufficient for the architraves isn't cheap. Tool collection is relatively limited at the moment 2 lathes (1 converted to a scary saw) (free), SCMS, cheap circular saw and not much else.

 

[Anonymous]

Tools so far, but I haven't needed nor wanted any more for ages but have bought more wood. It's catching up

 

[PowerTool]

Definitely tools - in some small part due to being lucky enough to have found several sources of free timber
But now at the state where I can't really think of anything tool-wise I need (although there are still some I would like,but space is still a limiting factor) so expect the balance to shift more towards timber.
So far,money made from one job tends to fund the next tool purchase - so I'm not getting rich yet :wink:

Andrew

 

[JPEC]

I'd guess that it will be mostly professionals in the wood category. In any case, what's better than opening a brand new tool!

Oh, i agree completely but I am self employed and I have to justify new tools to the boss. He can be a right b*****d :twisted:
There's nothing better than that "it's arrived" feeling

Cheers

Slightly schizophrenic 8-[
Julian

 

[JPEC]

sources of free timber

Where?

need

is a very adjustable word :twisted:

Julian

 

[PowerTool]

Free timber :-

1)A mate of mine bought a very small house with a very large,very overgrown garden - I acquired a holly tree and a cherry tree that are currently seasoning prior to going on my lathe.
2)A haulier that I deal with at work has a mate who owns a timber yard,supplying timber for trailer beds and chocks,and timber to the local docks - so I get offcuts whenever I want them
3)A cleaning station I deal with in South Wales cleans out containers that are dry-lined (plastic sheet held in place with timber),and no-one ever wants the timber back - this has provided 65mm x 65mm hardwood,90mm x 90mm softwood,70mm x 90 mm hardwood,6mm ply in 7' x 3' sheets,9mm ply in 8' x 4' sheets........all collected for me by the haulier from item 2 :wink: (and delivered to my house in his van)
4)Still working on 4...

As the old saying goes,"it's not what you know,it's who you know" :lol:

Andrew

 

[JPEC]

No kidding :shock:

Cheers (and extremely jealous)

Julian