What's the cheapest set of tools to fill a toolbox with?

[Pliny]

Hi, to pinch an idea off of mike in another thread "Maybe we should have a cheapo toolbox thread...what's the cheapest set of tools you could build a toolbox with?" I would like your thoughts and views with regards obtaining a cheap but usable set of wood working tools, yes I am aware of the old adage 'buy cheap buy twice' but on the flip side if you buy cheap then you can save your money to replace the things that you use most often and upgrade in installments as it were.

Ok a bit of background on what I'm after, I'm looking to teach myself and my 10 year old son woodworking I will primarily be concentrating on getting my joins right for a few months before I start my own projects but with my son I would like to throw in projects quite quickly for him, bird boxes, bird tables, little boxes and things of that nature. Money is tight but It doesn't have to be all bargain basement, if a small increase in price represents a bigger increase in ease of use or ease of maintenance then I will go with that.

I am looking for everything so please chime in if I have omitted something or put something on my list that I won't really need. Okay so my list so far consists of

No. 2 Plane
Scrub plane
Chisels
Saws
Square
spokeshave
Sharpening set up
Marking gauges
Brace and bits

If you have made it this far thank you!

 

[Jacob]

For a 10 year old I'd subsitute a 3 or 4 plane and lighter hammer but otherwise the kit I was issued with in 1982 with which we felt we could do almost anything:

1 toolbox - made week 5.
5 1/2 Record jack plane
Sanderson & Kayser:
26" hand saw 6tpi
22" panel saw 10tpi
14" tenon saw 14tpi
3 Marples firmer chisels 1" 3/4" 1/2"
Rabone Combination square
Whitehill 16oz claw hammer
Nail pullers (Footprint?)
sliding bevel (poor quality)
double sided oil stone - box made week 6
big screwdriver
little ratchet screwdriver
2 ft boxwood rule
nail punch
brace & bit
one 32mm bit for yale locks.
mallet
S&J carpenters axe
marking gauge
bradawl
brass face marples spirit level

 

[heatherw]

I'd start off buying a few job lots like this one, for instance

http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/woodworking-tools/1035519046#photo-content

and then see what you need to add afterwards. The advantage is that the tools tend to be of good quality, and you get loads of litte extras which you woudn't have otherwise thought of buying, but which come in incrediby useful later on.

 

[nev]

Irwin tenon saw
irwin jack saw
steel rule
combination/ adjustable square
pencil
stanley knife
wood glue

then make

saw horses x 2 and a tool box/ tote

edit: Jacob beat me to it but my list is shorter

 

[Pliny]

Thank you all for such helpful and prompt replies.

 

[heatherw]

Mmm, and the first time I ever tried to make something (with no help whatsoever, I was trying to follow the instructions in a book) I was about 11 years old and gave up because I couldn't hold the wood still to cut it. So at least a bench hook and preferably a vice as well would be sooooo useful.

I think you could manage without the axe, though

 

[thick_mike]

I am looking for everything so please chime in if I have omitted something or put something on my list that I won't really need. Okay so my list so far consists of

No. 2 Plane
Scrub plane
Chisels
Saws
Square
spokeshave
Sharpening set up
Marking gauges
Brace and bits

If you have made it this far thank you!

Maybe a wooden plane would be better for a child as it is lighter and cheaper...although they are a bit fiddly to set up (mind you, so are metal ones)
Hard point saws (like the Irwin ones) are cheap and pretty much guaranteed to be sharp from the start. They also rip and crosscut well.
A chisel from pound land?
You can use sandpaper stuck to glass (or MDF) for sharpening your chisel!

 

[Pliny]

But axes are so much fun and make you feel manly

 

[thick_mike]

I have two in preparation for the zombie apocalypse!

 

[Pliny]

I have two in preparation for the zombie apocalypse!

At least I'm not the only one prepared

 

[PAC1]

I would not buy a cheap set. I would buy what you need. If you want to make bird boxes and practice joints you do not need a scrub plane or a spokes have for example. If you use planed all round softwood from your local DIY or timber store you do not need a scrub plane. If you use standard size timber you reduce the need for sawing and planing. You would need

Tennon saw
Square
Chisels
Block plane
Combination oilstone
Electric screwdriver/drill
Various bits 25mm and 32mm for bird boxes
Something to hold the work a Black and Decker workmates is good
Hammer
Mallet

Thereafter as you learn you can buy tools as you need them

 

[Richard T]

Do you mean the cheapest if bought new or second hand ?

If second hand there is the opportunity to have chisels/planes/saws by good, old makers in superb steel for as much or less than it costs to buy the cheapest modern tat. Sometimes it seems there is as much fettling involved with new stuff as it takes to rescue old stuff.

In the other thread there was talk of the £50 chisel - I suppose you could buy a new chisel for £50 from a modern, wizzo maker or you could buy the cheapest modern one for £1 or you could buy a Ward for 50p. Same with most of the other tools required.

 

[MMUK]

I have two in preparation for the zombie apocalypse!

I prefer the Paslode approach myself :lol: You don't need to get as close :wink:

 

[AndyT]

Do you mean the cheapest if bought new or second hand ?

If second hand there is the opportunity to have chisels/planes/saws by good, old makers in superb steel for as much or less than it costs to buy the cheapest modern tat. Sometimes it seems there is as much fettling involved with new stuff as it takes to rescue old stuff.

In the other thread there was talk of the £50 chisel - I suppose you could buy a new chisel for £50 from a modern, wizzo maker or you could buy the cheapest modern one for £1 or you could buy a Ward for 50p. Same with most of the other tools required.

+1

At the bottom end of the market for new tools, you will sometimes find a good tool, sold cheap, but this is very rare. A few will be usable, but with annoying faults - like the £1 chisel I recently reviewed, so still not the best choice.
You are far more likely to find something that looks like a tool but lacks essential characteristics such as properly hardened steel.
It really is worth putting the effort in to buying secondhand tools - you can get so much more for your money.

 

[Jason]

Do ten year olds get inspired by doing bench work? Wouldn't they rather be making bows and arrows and tree houses?

Obviously I don't know the particular fella in question, but I'd at least suggest that one of those Swedish Sloyd carving knives should be on the list somewhere. Mora do a very good one for a tenner or there abouts.

 

[morfa]

You don't need a no 2 plane or a scrub plane. You can do lots with a no 4 (or no 5) and two irons. I have a 1940s (maybe older not sure) no 4 which is setup as a smoother. And a new Stanley no 4 which is setup as a scrub plane. If you just get a decent old plane (my old no 4 cost £17 + P&P off ebay) and a couple of spare irons you'll be able to do loads. A no 5 will be a bit more expensive, around £30-50 or so.

Also, you can get your wood planed at a timber yard if you ask nicely. Might cost you a bit extra, but it saves a lot of faff.

Chisels wise, you can get the Faithful brand off ebay, for about £7-8 per chisel, you'll need 1", 3/4", 1/2" and 1/4". I've found them to be good.

Generally, buy quality and buy only what you need for that job. That way you'll learn what you need as you go along.

Finally, two books I can highly recommend (both have good tool lists in them):

The Essential Woodworker by Bob Wearing:

http://www.lostartpress.com/product_p/bk-ew.htm

The Anarchists Toolchest by Chris Schwartz:

http://www.lostartpress.com/The_Anarchi ... tc-kit.htm

Both have lists of sensible length in them. i.e. enough to build stuff, but not so much that you'll never be able to afford them all.

 

[Cheshirechappie]

I know it's been said so many times it's a cliche, but - cheap tools are rarely cheap. You usually end up buying a better replacement sooner rather than later. And yes - I have fallen into the trap, too many times.

For someone just starting out, with a limited budget and not much experience (yet!), a useful investment would be something to work on. A bench would be ideal, but that's something you have to work up to. A Black and Decker Workmate is at least a starting point - they have some serious limitations for 'proper' woodwork (they're awful for planing on!), but they're better than nothing. If you can pick up a used one somewhere, that'll stretch the budget a bit. Also, a small selection of clamps - a couple of 6" F-clamps, a couple of longer F-clamps when you need them, and a few small G-clamps will be invaluable. Add to this an endless supply of pencils and a means to keep them sharp, a packet of sticking plasters and plenty of tea-bags.

 

[Pliny]

Do you mean the cheapest if bought new or second hand ?

If second hand there is the opportunity to have chisels/planes/saws by good, old makers in superb steel for as much or less than it costs to buy the cheapest modern tat. Sometimes it seems there is as much fettling involved with new stuff as it takes to rescue old stuff.

In the other thread there was talk of the £50 chisel - I suppose you could buy a new chisel for £50 from a modern, wizzo maker or you could buy the cheapest modern one for £1 or you could buy a Ward for 50p. Same with most of the other tools required.

I amnot averse to buying second hand, as you say I will spend just as long rescuing an old tool as I would spend conditioning a new one and they don't make them like they used to.

 

[Pliny]

Do ten year olds get inspired by doing bench work? Wouldn't they rather be making bows and arrows and tree houses?

Obviously I don't know the particular fella in question, but I'd at least suggest that one of those Swedish Sloyd carving knives should be on the list somewhere. Mora do a very good one for a tenner or there abouts.

He has a great attention span so I want to make the most of it and instill some basics while he is young enough to listen and do as he is told As for making bows, thats what his older sister wants to do!