Beginner starting up, Next Tool to buy?

a miter saw ?

-- http://www.furnituremann.ca/

It all depends on your next project and your personal methods of work. I have many shop-made crosscut sleds, so I rarely use my miter saw in the shop, only on-site. Other folks get mega-use from theirs and find them indispensable.

Thinking of your next project…

- Will you need to cut curved parts or resaw solid stock? A bandsaw would be very useful.
- Do you mostly work with plywood and s4s solid stock? The same bandsaw might hardly ever get used, but a biscuit joiner and/or pocket hole setup might be super handy.
- Moving towards using rough stock, in any thickness you want? A jointer and thickness planer will both be necessary, unless you plan on prepping stock with hand tools. Both would collect dust if your near future projects include lots of plywood and purchased moldings.

What’s in the near future?

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Welcome,

Seems your off to a good start, before stocking up on any more stuff, I’d make sure your are familiar with, fine tune, sharpen or replace any bits or blades with the highest quality you can afford. A starter router set, and HQ blade can be costly, a fence upgrade if needed or inset for your router table{a good project for you and your shop} can empty pockets very quickly.

I think buying as your projects require is as good idea as any. The basics like s set of chisels, nail punch, ear and eye protection, etc. along with power tools mentioned are more than enough for 1000’s of projects. The hunger for new/bigger/better machines tends to grow over time. There is plenty of time to acquire one of everything.

A well tuned block plane will really prove invaluable and tops my list of necessary tools. Have fun, good luck, this is gonna get expensive

-- Ciao, gth.

Sounds like your starting out right. Not really a tool suggestion, but some tool buying advice…..but take your time and buy quality tools espcially the big tools. Wait and save if you have to. It makes things much more enjoyable if its not a big ordeal to set things up and keep your machines running true. Have fun!

how are you surfaceing or dimensioning lumber. a thickness planer or jointer would be good.

-- Joey, Magee, Ms http://woodnwaresms.com

Well, you can work around not having a planer or jointer if you buy your stock S2S. My vote is for a bandsaw.. it really opens up a lot of possibilities.

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

I would have to go for a bandsaw, and a RotoZip tool (which lets you do intricate routing, and cutting). A good quality Jig Saw can do much of the work a bandsaw can, if you are strapped for money.

-- http://newmissionworkshop.com

My first tool was the beer fridge .

-- John in Belgrave ,(Slideshow http://cid-69bce320c6d8b119.spaces.live.com/ (Website) http://www.extremebirdhouse.com

Ideas for power tools:
A QUALITY miter gauge with fence for your table saw, then you can get by for now without a miter saw.
Router bits (look at MCLS.com’s bits free shipping and I’ve had good luck with them) and a router table.
Some people and I tend to agree with then say that if you could only have one power tool it would be a bandsaw.
My 2 cents.

-- Only the Shadow knows....................

A good jig saw can help you a lot, especially getting started when you don’t have a band saw. Make sure to get good blades (ie. Bosch Progressor)

-- Scott

1. Jointer – If you get at least a 6”, you can even surface plane most of what you will work with.

2. Band saw – a must have for curves (but I hate jigsaws).

-- Brian, Lebanon PA, If you aren’t having fun doing it, find something else to do.

I agree with others…what’s next?

ANd are you talking big tools or small tools…small tools are determined by what’s next…the projects seem to scream: “tool! tool! tool!!!” But the big tools seem to scream “Project! Project! Project!” since they allow you to do so many things…

Big tool: band saw
Small tools: clamps….......hand saws

-- Matt, Napa, CA...fun is beautiful...just trying to have some fun...

I’m with John and the fridge thing.

-- bbqKing, Lawrenceville

hearing protection, dust collection both a must in the near future. When you decide a a new tool read the reviews section, still in doubt these guy are your VERY BEST resource, don’t be shy. Then shop, your computor is you best friend and don’t forget to include shipping when comparing prices and don’t assume the the co with the best price on one item is automatically going to be the best price for the next one. bought some chisels last week after comparing 2 companies the 1st had really good pricing plus shipping but the second had free shipping at a somewhat higher price. turned out that paying for the shipping was several $$$ cheaper. Same company was the highest of 3 on a sharpening jig. Also don’t overlook rebuilds if it carries a new tool warrenty it may well save some big bucks. how to shop may be just as important as how to sharpen.rt

-- RTB. "dumb animals are not stupid they simply can't talk "

I suggest acquiring a few hand tools. Specifically chisels and a plane.

-- Current Favorite Tool - Bandsaw

You stated you were looking to build furniture like bookcases. The FIRST step in building anything involving case work is to mill your lumber flat and square. Get a good quality jointer. It wiil allow you to mill two sides of rough cut lumber after which you can plane it. Avoid alot of frustration by milling you lumber before start.

-- DocK, WV

Do you have dust collection? Sooner or later you will have to get one. Well worth it…... protects your lungs.
-JJ

-- JJ...... I guess you could say I'm a 54 year old "juniorjock". — Make things with wood.

“My first tool was the beer fridge .”

That’s AWESOME! <g>

I still have to climb stairs…

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“The FIRST step in building anything involving case work is to mill your lumber flat and square. Get a good quality jointer. It wiil allow you to mill two sides of rough cut lumber after which you can plane it. Avoid a lot of frustration by milling you lumber before start.”

Often overlooked advice! “Hey, my lumber looks straight!”

A good jointer is a really boring tool. All it does is make a face flat, and set one edge to a precision angle, usually 90 degrees to the previously jointed face. Once the boredom is over, it’s amazing how much the machine can improve one’s results.

You won’t know how not-flat your purchased lumber is until you have a decent jointer. Then, you won’t know how not-flat your jointed lumber is, until you have decent jointer PLANE! <g>

The beauty of a good power jointer followed by a good jointer plane is a surface that looks fan-freakin-tastic with a glossier finish, like a table top. Think of the power jointer, and his wingman, the thickness planer, as an apprentice that gets the wood ready for you.

The jointer plane is far from necessary for built-ins, cabinets, shelves, etc… but it sure is nice on fine furniture.

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A book on setting up your workshop.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

Seriously this time. When you can afford one, a good thickness planer. You can buy your lumber rough cut at a much lower price and mill it to where you want it. Three power tools for for workhorse labor- table saw, jointer, thickness planer. The first step to any project is straight and square lumber, sized correctly. After that, buy what you need and make up really good reasons. Soon your shop will be nicely equipped. As always, bbqKing.

-- bbqKing, Lawrenceville

Save money and buy rough cut lumber. So my vote is jointer and thickness planer for big tools, followed by a band saw when funds allow. Check out craigslist in your area and you should be able to get 2 good quality used tools for the price of 1 new one. Be patient…the deals are out there.

-- Rusty

I have to agree with Barry, a jointer is a boring one trick pony. And an expensive one at that. But there is no substitute. A planer is also necessary to get finished/milled lumber. But don’t make the mistake of thinking a board run thru a planer on both sides gives you a flat board, NOT! A jointer is the only power tool designed to give you flat and square lumber.
I started with the jointer then got the beer fridge.

-- DocK, WV

BANDSAW BANDSAW BANDSAW At least a 14”. You will be amazed what this machine will do! Also get a copy of Mark Duginke’s two dvd’s and Kelly Mehler’s dvd on the table saw, (books also). After you watch them several times you will want to go out and hug your machines before you go to bed each night.

-- Never board, always knotty, lots of growth rings