Begining Woodwork Advice - Tools, etc

coolaboola91

Hi all,

I am 25 after completing college and just finishing a PhD. When I was doing the leaving cert, I did construction studies and loved it.. I was actually thinking of going to do a cabinet maker apprenticeship, however I changed my mind. I would like to get back into it now.

Do any of you have any advice and suggestions on the essential hand tools needed for woodworking? My biggest interest is in joinery methods of furniture. I love the idea of proper joinery such as mortise and tenon, dovetails, spliced mitres, draw pinned tenons, etc.

What tools do I need??! And can you give brand suggestions with possible places to buy?
I would prefer top buy a good quality expensive(ish) tool than buy cheap crap!

Also, can you please explain the purpose of the tool you suggest.
Such as the maze of hand plane numbers and uses. I think that a low angle plane is better for cross grain, but what is a scrub plane for, jack plane, etc..

Or if anyone had some nice tools for sale I would love to hear from you,

Thanks in advance for any help!

peter bermingham

Lie Nielsen are fair good then you have Veritas
No5 jack plane. Flattening boards and edges of boards
No4 smoother plane. Smoothing after the jack plane
Block plane.
Tenon saw.
Coping saw.
Dovetail saw.
Mallet.
6 Chisels.
Mortise chisels.
Cross pin hammer.
Marking gauge Veritas dual gauge.
Bevel.
Dovetail marker.
Ruler.
Marking knife Japanese.
And a good bench. Here is one i made http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057599686
http://www.axminster.co.uk/ https://www.dictum.com/en/ http://www.thecarpentrystore.com/ http://www.fine-tools.com/ http://www.workshopheaven.com/

coolaboola91

With regard to the planes, is a No 4 specifically for smoothing and a No 5 used as a jack plane.
What I mean is, are there different grades of smoothing plane etc..
Like, Smoothing plane No 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Jack Plane No 1, 2, 3, 4,
Jointer plane, No 1, 2, 3, 4, etc?

Or is 1-4 for smoothing, 5 - 6 jack planes, and 7-8 used for jointing?

Thanks again

peter bermingham

This should explane a good bit about the different planes in reality you can do everything with a jack but its a lot easier to use two or even three planes ie start with a No 5 jack Flatten with a No 7 joiner and finish with a No 4 smother. If i was you i would start with an No 5 jack then get a No 4 smoother, the No 1 2 3 are really specialist planes Have a look at this youtube video https://youtu.be/JLOWVpfEQh4 I was using Stanley planes for years not set up right and once i figured out how to tune them it took a good week to get it tuned, IE flattening the sole of the plane getting the blade razor sharp closing up the mouth. Then i bought a Lie Nielsen No 5 jack about 20 minutes setting it up and away it went

coolaboola91

Hi Peter,

Many thanks for your help and advice. I really appreciate it.
Those Lie Nielsen are really beautiful looking stuff, but a bit expensive.. Would having that good a quality plane make a big difference to the work?
Or do you think, as a beginner, an older plane would be okay? such as a Record? I have read that the Record is much better than Stanley. And that the older 50 or 60 years of age stuff is better than the new?
Is that correct?

What would you think of a plane like this?

(I can't post a link as I am new).. I'll try private message you..

If I gave it a once over? Would I be just giving myself a headache??

Thanks,

peter bermingham

Sent you a pm on that plane go 3 posts down to old tool restoration the man that started that thread has a adverts.ie page where he sells old tool he has some good stuff, the likes of old chisels are as good as new stuff at a fraction of the price http://www.adverts.ie/search/user-727864/status_active/type_all

recipio

coolaboola91 wrote: »

Hi all,

I am 25 after completing college and just finishing a PhD. When I was doing the leaving cert, I did construction studies and loved it.. I was actually thinking of going to do a cabinet maker apprenticeship, however I changed my mind. I would like to get back into it now.

Do any of you have any advice and suggestions on the essential hand tools needed for woodworking? My biggest interest is in joinery methods of furniture. I love the idea of proper joinery such as mortise and tenon, dovetails, spliced mitres, draw pinned tenons, etc.

What tools do I need??! And can you give brand suggestions with possible places to buy?
I would prefer top buy a good quality expensive(ish) tool than buy cheap crap!

Also, can you please explain the purpose of the tool you suggest.
Such as the maze of hand plane numbers and uses. I think that a low angle plane is better for cross grain, but what is a scrub plane for, jack plane, etc..

Or if anyone had some nice tools for sale I would love to hear from you,

Thanks in advance for any help!

You have a phD , a college education and now want to be a cabinet maker ?
That's fine but with respect starting as a rank amateur and trying to progress your way to a professional standard will take forever unless you get some training. Have you considered the course offered in Letterfrack - the only proper design and making course in this country. ?

kadman

recipio wrote: »

You have a phD , a college education and now want to be a cabinet maker ?
That's fine but with respect starting as a rank amateur and trying to progress your way to a professional standard will take forever unless you get some training. Have you considered the course offered in Letterfrack - the only proper design and making course in this country. ?

Good post...........

coolaboola91

recipio wrote: »

You have a phD , a college education and now want to be a cabinet maker ?
That's fine but with respect starting as a rank amateur and trying to progress your way to a professional standard will take forever unless you get some training. Have you considered the course offered in Letterfrack - the only proper design and making course in this country. ?

Hi,

Sorry, I didn't mean to suggest I want to become a qualified cabinet maker. I enjoyed woodwork in school and have done small bits here and there over the last few years. I want to get back into it as a hobby.

kadman

coolaboola91 wrote: »

Hi,

Sorry, I didn't mean to suggest I want to become a qualified cabinet maker. I enjoyed woodwork in school and have done small bits here and there over the last few years. I want to get back into it as a hobby.

Good for you:)

As recipio says.....you wont get a better education in all things woodwork, than letterfrack, if thats the way you want to go.

Motivation is the best thing to learn any craft..........sounds like you have that
sorted:)

recipio

coolaboola91 wrote: »

Hi,

Sorry, I didn't mean to suggest I want to become a qualified cabinet maker. I enjoyed woodwork in school and have done small bits here and there over the last few years. I want to get back into it as a hobby.

No problem, my fault for not reading it correctly.
I wouldn't jump in and start buying tools that you don't actually need. Woodworking is an evolutionary process, after a few hours of sweaty toil you soon wonder if there is not a more efficient way of doing things and that leads most of us to power tools.However, to start its best to buy quality tools that will actually perform and last. Have a look at www.finetools.de for a quality range of tools. You only have to buy a good tool once as I keep telling 'er indoors.:rolleyes:

Wossack

couple of websites I find excellent!

paulsellers.com
woodworkingmasterclasses.com
closegrain.com (list may be of use http://www.closegrain.com/2016/03/meet-ken-aucremanne-and-vetwoodworks.html)

Yelnahs

As well as all of the above I would start following 'The Wood Whisperer' on YouTube and start at video number one and keep going. He's a gent and his videos are great. https://www.youtube.com/user/TheWoodWhisperer