Just about any furniture maker will tell you that
it's hard to have too many tools. This is probably true
because these people have a deep appreciation for just
how useful tools can be. The right one for the job can
make any task easier, quicker and very often safer. Over
the years a successful artisan can accumulate a truly
astounding quantity of equipment and supplies. Each is
important, or at least was at one time, and therefore
difficult to leave behind. If you're a professional this
makes perfect sense. But for the beginner such
conspicuous consumption can be a real mistake. Why
devote so many resources up front to something you're
trying for the first time?
A better idea is to buy a basic assortment of
woodworking tools like the one shown here. With these
tools you can build just about any straightforward
furniture piece and leave the extra room under your
credit limit for other things. This is not to say that
tool manufacturers are giving their wares away. For the
full complement shown, expect to pay around $800,
depending on the quality of the individual items. This
is a lot of money. But it's also a lot of capability.
When shopping, it's a good idea to buy the best tool
you can afford in any category. Do keep in mind that
price may not always be the best indicator of quality,
but it usually is. Cheap tools often have a much shorter
life, and are typically less accurate and frequently
more dangerous to use than their premium brothers and
sisters. Also remember that although some of these tools
are fairly specialized, most of them can be used for
general repair chores around the house. So even if you
leave the world of furniture making behind, your
investment in these tools will reap benefits for years
to come.
Of course, this tool selection is abbreviated on many
fronts. For example, we haven't presented some common
tools that most people already have around the house.
These include a 16-ounce claw hammer, a heavy-duty,
25-ft. grounded extension cord, an assortment of flat
and Phillips screwdrivers, a tape measure, safety
glasses and hearing protectors. We also assume that most
people have some kind of workbench or worktable that can
be used for support. If you don't, a convenient and
economical option is a folding Workmate. These units
cost about $90. They not only provide sturdy support but
also boast movable clamping jaws that can hold just
about anything securely in place.
So, on to the tools themselves. Following is a brief
description of each, along with the approximate cost of
high-quality models.
Circular Saw
A circular saw is a versatile tool for both rough and
finish cutting. The saw consists of a horizontally
mounted motor that drives a 71/4-in.-dia. blade. The
depth of the cut, as well as the bevel angle, are
adjustable. Many saws come equipped with an accessory
rip guide, but if yours doesn't you should buy one.
Also, outfit your saw with a carbide-tipped, thin-kerf
blade. This will cut at least 10 times as long as a
steel blade before requiring sharpening. And it reduces
the load on the saw motor and wastes less stock to
sawdust. This is the first tool to pick up for both
crosscutting (perpendicular to the grain) and ripping
(cutting parallel to the grain) solid stock as well as
for sizing manufactured panels. The spinning saw blade
enters the bottom side of the workpiece, which can
result in chip-out on the top surface. Plan your cuts so
that the good side of your material faces down during
cutting. (Approximate price $130.)
Drill And Bits
Most woodworking projects require you to bore holes
of some sort and a drill is the only tool for this job.
Handheld electric drills are commonly available in three
sizes (1/4 in., 3/8 in. and 1/2 in.) that represent the
maximum bit diameter the drill chuck will accept. While
the 1/2-in. drill is the most versatile, it also tends
to be the heaviest and most awkward to use. A good
compromise for the beginning woodworker is to purchase a
3/8-in. VSR (variable speed reversible) drill. The newer
cordless models are rated at 14.4 volts and offer
substantial power and convenience–but at a substantially
higher price than corded models. An assortment of
high-speed steel twist drill bits from 1/16 in. to 1/2
in. dia. will cover most needs.
The addition of a set of countersinks for recessing
screwheads will allow you to make even better use of the
drill. (Approximate prices: corded drill, $100; cordless
drill, $180; drill bits, $30.)
Block And Bench Planes
Quality planes are some of the most versatile
woodworking tools, and often the most satisfying to use.
The sound and feel of a sharp plane slicing through wood
is, to many, the essence of woodworking.
A plane consists of a sharpened steel blade that is
held at a fixed angle in a steel or wood body. The
blade, or iron, is adjustable to regulate the depth of
cut. There are planes designed for general work and
planes designed for one particular use. For a beginner,
a block plane and a No. 4 bench plane (approximately 9
1/2 in. long) will cover most situations. The block
plane is designed to trim end grain but it can also be
used any time a bench plane would be too unwieldy. The
bench plane is used to square and straighten lumber
edges for gluing or to smooth the surface of a board or
glued-up panel. Most planing should be done with the
tool moving parallel to the grain of the wood.
Occasionally you will notice that the tool seems to tear
out the wood grain. When this happens, simply work from
the opposite direction. (Approximate prices: block
plane, $50; bench plane, $75.)
Combination Square
The combination square consists of a cast body that
slides along a graduated metal blade. The body can be
fixed by a tightening screw at any position along the
blade. It provides an accurate standard for either a 90
degree or 45 degree mark. Many combination squares
incorporate a small level in the tool as well. Use the
square to mark lines for cutting and to check that
finished cuts are square. The blade can also be removed
from the body and used as an accurate layout tool. Since
the reliability of this square is so critical to quality
work, it's worthwhile to purchase a precision model,
like the Starrett shown. Squares are commonly available
in 4-in., 6-in. and 12-in. sizes. (Approximate price
$50.)
Backsaw
A backsaw consists of a straight blade, 8 in. to 14
in. long, bolted to a wood handle. A brass or steel
reinforcement back is added to the top edge of the blade
to keep it from flexing during use. These saws generally
have 15 to 20 finely set teeth per inch. While these
blades can be used for cutoff work, they are best suited
for accurate joinery like cutting tenons, dovetails or
box joints. (Approximate price $65.)
Chisels
After the knife, a chisel is the most basic of
cutting tools. A steel blade of specified width and
length, usually from 3 in. to 8 in., is mounted in a
wood or plastic handle. A bevel is ground on the end of
the blade at an angle varying from 15 to 35 degrees,
depending on the intended use. A chisel can be used
either to cut with the grain (pare) or to cut across the
grain (chop). Plastic-handled chisels with a steel
striking plate can be driven either by hand or by
striking them with a hammer or mallet. Wood-handled
chisels should never be struck with a hammer because
this would destroy the handle. Chisels are made in many
styles, each for a specific use, but for our purposes an
assortment of four butt chisels in widths ranging from
1/4 in. to 1 in. is a good place to start. (Approximate
price $50.)
Sharpening Stone And Guide
Keeping a sharp edge on chisels and plane irons is
absolutely necessary for the successful and safe use of
these tools. A sharpening stone and honing guide are
required for this task. While many sharpening systems
are available, one of the best is a combination
waterstone. The Norton Co. manufactures stones with
220/1000 grit and 1000/4000 grit combinations. For a
beginner's all-around use the 220/1000 grit is the best
choice. The stone should be soaked in water for about 15
minutes before use and kept wet during sharpening. The
water keeps the metal particles from becoming embedded
in the stone and glazing its surface. A honing guide is
a jig that holds a chisel or plane iron at a constant
angle against the stone. To sharpen a tool, move it back
and forth on the stone to form the cutting edge.
(Approximate prices: stone, $35; guide, $25.)
Doweling Jig
Dowels are one of the simplest and best means for
assembling a joint or aligning two adjacent surfaces. A
doweling jig provides a guide for accurately boring the
required holes. These jigs come with a variety of
bushings, usually ranging in diameter from 1/8 in. to
1/2 in., and a clamping arrangement that holds the
desired bushing in position over the workpiece. A drill
is used to drive the appropriately sized bit through the
bushing to form a hole. A stop is normally attached to
the bit to limit the depth of the hole. (Approximate
price $40.)
Marking Gauge
A combination mortise and marking gauge is extremely
useful for joint layout. One side of the gauge has two
adjustable pins for scribing the parallel lines needed
for mortise or tenon cuts. The opposite side of the
gauge has a single pin for general marking, either
parallel to or across the grain. (Approximate price
$40.)
Orbital Sander
Sanding is an essential part of the finishing process
for almost any woodworking project. While sanding is
probably the least popular aspect of woodworking, it
does not need to be tedious or unpleasant. A 1/4 sheet
orbital palm sander makes this task relatively painless.
An assortment of sandpaper in grits of 100, 120, 150,
180 and 220 will cover most sanding needs. Aluminum
oxide paper will provide the longest use and prove to be
the most economical choice. It's also wise to have a
selection of three grades of steel wool, No. 00, No. 000
and No. 0000, on hand for use during most finishing
procedures. (Approximate price $60.)
Combination Rasp/File
If you are interested in doing any carving, or
including shaped work of any kind in your projects, a
combination rasp/file is a valuable addition to your
collection. This tool combines a fine and medium rasp
with a fine and medium file–to create four separate
cutting surfaces. Rasps have small, individual cutting
teeth that cut aggressively into wood. The files have a
series of parallel and sometimes diagonally opposed
ridges to smooth the wood. Used in combination, these
tools can quickly shape either simple or complex forms.
After using a rasp and file, the next step is to sand
the work to a smooth finish. (Approximate price $15.)
Clamps
Unless your project parts are fastened with nails or
screws, clamps will be required to pull joints tight and
hold them while the glue sets. Clamps can be quite
expensive–and keep in mind that most experienced
woodworkers claim that they never have enough of them.
Small quick clamps are good for light assembly and for
holding a jig or straightedge in place. Larger quick
clamps are for general assembly and laminating solid
stock. Pipe clamps, which are made from clamp fixtures
and standard black pipe, are necessary for panel, face
frame and general furniture assembly. A handy feature of
the pipe clamp system is that the fixtures can be
removed from one pipe and threaded onto another of a
different length, depending on your needs. Two 12-in.
quick clamps and four pipe clamps are a good place to
begin. (Approximate prices: quick clamps, $15 each; pipe
clamp fixtures, $20 each; 5-ft. black pipe, $10.)
Straightedge
Most woodworking procedures begin by establishing one
straight edge on each piece of stock. A combination
clamp/straightedge tool can serve as a reference point
for establishing that edge. If you are interested in
doing quality work, this tool will become extremely
important in your shop. It is a good idea to purchase
the longest and most accurate model you can afford. A
50-in. tool, like the one shown here, is a great place
to start. (Approximate price $40.)
The preceding tools will accommodate most simple
projects. But if you want to tackle a piece that
includes a lot of curved cuts, then you should add an
electric jigsaw to your collection right away.
SOURCE LIST
While most of these tools are readily available at
neighborhood hardware stores or home centers, you can
also get them from mail-order suppliers that specialize
in woodworking tools. Here are the names and addresses
of some good ones.
Constantine's 2050 Eastchester
Road Bronx, NY 10461 800-223-8087
Craftsman Sears Power and Hand
Tools 3333 Beverly Road Hoffman Estates, IL
60179 800-377-7414
Garrett Wade 161 Avenue of the
Americas New York, NY 10013 800-221-2942
Lee Valley 12 E. River
Street Ogdensburg, NY 13669 800-871-8158
Woodcraft 210 Wood County Industrial
Park P.O. Box 1686 Parkersburg, WV
26102 800-225-1153
Woodworker's Supply 1108 N. Glenn
Road Casper, WY 82601 800-645-9292
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