New to woodworking, what do I need?

[Rocky]

Want to start woodworking as a hobby to build cabinets, bookcases and other household item.  This is what I have so far:

• Festool 498899 Assorted Domino Beech Tenons and Cutters in T-Loc Systainer
• Festool 497700 Tradesman/Installer Cleaning Set
• Festool 574432 DF 500 Q Domino Joiner Set in T-Loc Systainer 2
• Festool 496120 Longlife Filter Bag for CT 26
• Festool P26561438 TS 75 EQ Plunge Cut Circular Saw in T-Loc plus CT 26 E 6.9 Gallon HEPA Mobile Dust Extractor
• Festool 495462 MFT/3 Multi-Function Table
• Festool 491498 FS 1400/2 55-in (1400mm) Guide Rail(2)
• Festool 497657 Guide Rail Accessory Kit
• Festool 491594 Quick Clamp For MFT And Guide Rail System, 6 5/8" (168mm)(2)
• Festool 495415 Imperial/Metric Tape Measure
• Festool 488030 Clamping ElemenTS 2-Pack
• Kreg Precision Router Table System
• Kreg Clamping Table System
• Kreg Precision Miter Gauge
• Kreg Precision Beaded Face Frame System
• Porter Cable 7518 Router
• Kreg Jig Master System
• Kreg Full Extension Drawer Mounting Brackets
• Kreg Magnetic Drawer Slide Mounting Tool
• Kreg Shelf Pin Jig
• Kreg Precision Router Table Lift
• Porter-Cable 4212 12-Inch Deluxe Dovetail Jig
• Craftsman ¼” Crown Stapler 18 Gauge
• Craftsman Finish Nailer 14 Gauge
• Craftsman Brad Nailer 18 Gauge
• 10” Bench Drill Press
• Craftsman 150 PSI 6 gal. Compressor
• Craftsman Scrolling Sabre Saw
• Panel Pro Vertical Panel Saw PRO2K
• Kobalt 10” Compound Sliding Miter Saw w/Laser Guide

What esle do I need to become an effective woodworker?

 

[Kev]

Well Rocky, you are going to get a lot of responses here and to a fair degree it's going to depend of the style and finish you decide you like, the materials you use and the assembly techniques you apply.

I'm assuming you tool collection goes deeper into some hand tools ... chisels, clamps, squares - if not, you probably need to watch a few videos and what is used making the sort of things you would target.

I's also guess that you intend to use finished boards and pre sized timbers as you don't list any heavy machinery (my approach too).

You don't seem to list anything in the sanding and planing department ... Festool RO 90 and EST 150/3 are a great sanding combination for "all round" coverage. I'm not certain of the planing options in NA.

The Festool LR 32 system would be very useful too ... but again, it depends on your desired style - maybe this relates to the other thread you started on US / Euro cabinetry styles.

BTW, you never actually stop buying tools - so don't be in too much of a hurry up front as regardless of what you plan - you'll find a dozen things you NEED in a few weeks time  [big grin]

 

[Rocky]

Don't have enough space for all the large machines.  The LR 32 system, Rotex 150, OF 1400 are my next items to get.  I want to attempt to make cabinets for my garage for storage and then try to do a built-in for the living room.  i'm new and don't know anything, but I'm going to give it a try.  Open to any suggestions and plans.

 

[Kev]

Don't have enough space for all the large machines.  The LR 32 system, Rotex 150, OF 1400 are my next items to get.  I want to attempt to make cabinets for my garage for storage and then try to do a built-in for the living room.  i'm new and don't know anything, but I'm going to give it a try.  Open to any suggestions and plans.

Copying the work of others is your best learning - others on hear will lead you to far better examples that would suit NA materials that I could.

I think you'll quickly move to a lighter/finer finishing sander ... the RO 150 is excellent - but it's also a beast!

You seem to have had a major Kreg spree ... you may find that using Kreg's pocket hole joining system meets your needs for the garage - but you may want a less exposed joining method for your internal projects.

A couple of things you may want to consider broadly before you embark on making garage cabinets ...

The weight of the contents
Potential dampness
Needs to reconfigure over time (from movable shelves to moving entire cabinets)
Security
Adjustable legs

Kev

 

[ericbuggeln]

Unlimited banking, if you plan on hanging out on this forum, but Festool and Kreg both help out a lot. Look into Woodpeckers tools for layout tools, squares, and jigs. My wishlist with them is everexpanding, Eric

 

[ccarrolladams]

Hi Rocky,   [welcome]  to The Fog!

You sure have an impressive list of tools. It sounds like you have already purchased all of those.

You told us that you want to build cabinets, shelves and household things as a hobby.

Then you conclude by asking what else you need to be an effective woodworker. That is always a vital and often overlooked question.

I have been working with wood since I was a boy in the 1930's. My career drifted to being a movie studio executive for 60 years, yet except for a military leave in the late 1950, on the side I always had a cabinet making business. I taught 2 generations of folks the design of cabinets and other home built-ins. When people ask me how to go from designing to personally building with wood, I suggest they find professional instructors.

People who expect to enjoy playing golf take lessons, as do hobby tennis players. Next week (starting on Monday 23 April) in Henderson, NV 6 people for differing backgrounds who know Festools exist will participate in a 4 day Festool End User Training Class all about building cabinets effectively with Festools without the need for larger fixed machines. Then those same folks will spend 2 days in a Doors and Drawers class. There the focus will also be on the use of Festools without the need for heavy machines.

The price for 4 days of intense coaching by Steve Bace is less than I pay wholesale for the quality of exotic veneer plywood I use. Of course travel and hotels add slightly. I have participated in several such classes. Some of the others were fellow professionals but most are talented hobby woodworkers.

Festool offers these classes both in Henderson, near Las Vegas and at Lebanon, IN, Festool USA Headquarters. Brian Sedgeley is the Lebanon trainer.

The sad fact is the largest collection of marvelous tools does nothing without the skill and experience of the woodworker.

Those are your tools, but you did ask for suggestions, so here are some thoughts:

You list a PC7518 as your only router and you have a PC dovetail jig. Does that combination work well for you? I use 7518 in all 4 of my router tables, but to me it is hardly an ideal dovetail router.

Your Festool track saw is a TS75, which is a marvelous saw. Some of us prefer the TS55 for breaking down sheet goods using guide rails. The funny thing is you list 2 1400mm guide rails, without saying if either or both are drilled for the LR32 system. I mention this because most of us feel either of those rails is too short to effectively cut 48" with a TS55. This is why the TS75 is sold including a 1900mm guide rail. Many of us coupled 2 of the 1400mm rails to rip the 8' way of a sheet, yet that is not quite enough rail to do so with a TS75, although it works with practice using a TS55. To rip 8' with a TS75 most of us use either a 3000mm rail of couple a 1900mm to a 1400mm rail. Oh yes, since normally breaking down sheet good you need to go back and forth between ripping and cross cutting most of us buy three rails, perhaps 2 1900mm and one 1400mm LR32. Those work swell to also guide saws.

All of us here in The FOG are ready to help you become the experienced and talented woodworker you aspire to become.

 

[ScotF]

You have a pretty good starter set for sure...I would add a sander or two and an RO sander and ETS would be a great start.  I would also add the Parallel Guides to your list for repetitive ripoing cuts.  A longer rail for the TS75 makes cutting sheet good easy -- you need the 3000 meter rail for that or you could join some rails together, but the speed and convenience of the longer rail is tough to beat.  Have fun and asks lots of questions!

Scot

 

[monte]

Warning! Do not press on the following links,,,,,,,, [eek]

http://www.bridgecitytools.com/

http://www.lie-nielsen.com/

http://www.woodpeck.com/

http://toolsforworkingwood.com/

 

[Kev]

Warning! Do not press on the following links,,,,,,,, [eek]

http://www.bridgecitytools.com/

http://www.lie-nielsen.com/

http://www.woodpeck.com/

http://toolsforworkingwood.com/

Now that's just too rotten for words ... now his wife will leave him and he won't be able to feed his kids - just like the rest of us !

BTW Rocky, you're going to find you can't live without a compressor ...

 

[cgmojoco]

You might want the kapex and router bits can add up so you should probably budget for that.  So can sand paper. I allso like the boom arm.keeps the hose out of the way.  Im new to woodworkimg too

 

[Stone Message]

Now if Paul Marcel is viewing...

Paul how far is it from your place to El Paso? Rocky could drop in and get some lessons.

Rocky, take the advice of someone above and watch plenty of videos to get an idea of how to use the various tools. Paul Marcel has some excellent videos but for general woodworking you should tune into Norm Abram's New Yankee Workshop. When I did a 5 year stint in Belgium I used to watch Norm almost every day. I learnt a great deal about techniques and, more importantly, workshop practice.

Peter

 

[ccarrolladams]

Watching instructional videos is a step in the right direction. Paul's are very good.

Unfortunately Norm's TV series for PBS, The New Yankee Workshop, has been out of production for a couple of years. Videos of that are available for sale, and it is possible some PBS stations are doing re-runs. This Old House, Ask This Old House and Hometime are all still in production and shown on a lot of PBS stations.

 

[Stone Message]

Gosh, what a pity. I watched so much of Norm's stuff that at home I refer to him as 'my friend Norm' and my children all know his expression 'there is no more important safety rule than to wear these, safety glasses' even though they have never watched any of his shows!

I hope Norm is okay. If you are reading this Norm then I wish you and your family the very best. If anyone knows him please pass this on. I think I will have to wear a plaid shirt in my next video!

Peter

 

[ccarrolladams]

Norm still appears in This Old House. He also makes many personal appearances at do it yourself shows, at least in the USA.

There are a whole lot of The New Yankee Workshop episodes, so it could be showing steadily outside the USA to this day and beyond.

 

[PaulMarcel]

I really want to see Peter do a video in plaid and mimic the Norm accent.  I'm on the floor just thinking about it

(that's a formal request, Peter!)

It would be a long walk for Rocky to come over, but if you end up in the area, send mail and we'll plan on getting together.

I cover basic stock preparation and a lot of Domino use in the project videos.  While a particular project may not be what you're looking to make, how to dimension stock or do the joinery is applicable to anything.  The current project is very heavy on compound angles so some of the prep work is affected based on what will be needed later in the build.  The previous project, a sculpted Mahogany vanity, has a fair amount on dimensioning, making panels, drawer webbing, and handcut dovetails (my Leigh D4R has a lot of dust on it).  Those parts are applicable to any project.

It's likely that I'll be building a number of cabinets for a friend's yoga studio in a couple weeks (that's a site install that's very easy on the eyes...  [embarassed]).  Maybe I could record it, too, or do a live video hangout (the build, not the install  [tongue]).  I'll think about it.

 

[Stone Message]

Thanks Paul...

I will give the plaid shirt some careful consideration but I would hate to infringe any of Norm's copyright! (that may be a way of getting off the hook)

"Welcome to the New Brit Workshop..." @Peter Parfitt 2012. That might work.

I could always take a leaf out of your (Paul Marcel's) book and try "One Foot Short" or " Eight Inches Too Long" or just plain "Never Square".

Peter

 

[RC]

for general woodworking you should tune into Norm Abram's New Yankee Workshop.

You can apparently purchase a nifty "small" 210 DVD set for as little as $2999 from them.  [eek] [scared]

 

[Kev]

Thanks Paul...

I will give the plaid shirt some careful consideration but I would hate to infringe any of Norm's copyright! (that may be a way of getting off the hook)

"Welcome to the New Brit Workshop..." @Peter Parfitt 2012. That might work.

I could always take a leaf out of your (Paul Marcel's) book and try "One Foot Short" or " Eight Inches Too Long" or just plain "Never Square".

Peter

Oh Peter, I think "just left of centre" is perfect for you  [big grin]

Kev

 

[Kev]

for general woodworking you should tune into Norm Abram's New Yankee Workshop.

You can apparently purchase a nifty "small" 210 DVD set for as little as $2999 from them.  [eek] [scared]

I thought you were joking - then I followed the link [eek]

 

[sancho57]

But When I started out 17 years ago, I took a class at my local Junior College.

It covered all the basics and safetyaspects of W/Wing.

YOU SHOULD LEARN HOW TO WORK SAFELY…..

SAFETY IS THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE WHEN WORKING WITH POWER TOOLS..

Then once you decide which tools you been/ want..

Seeing hows your from Texas, I would get a hold of Tom who owns Tool Home, He can set you up with what you need and answer all your questions. he is very knowledgable and will help you through the process.

I would get my name on the festool E notification for their end user classes. They are very good and Steve is a awesome instructor.

They have a class on cabinet making which is very good.

Also Marc Sommerfeld has good instructional videos.

Pololinin(sp) has a good book w/ vidoe on cab making.

Kreg tool company has good instructional videos on using their products.

Paul Levine has a good book and video on cab making ( the book is out of print but you can still get the video through Amazon)

Hope this helps

All of the instructional videos I have and seen all use trad methods of woodworking meaning table saw ILO a track saw.

The subj matter would depend on your interest.