I am wondering do I have enough tools!

remember, you can always start storing more vertically when you run out of space horizontally.

The fact of the matter is that you can NEVER have enough tools. You may have more than you can use or store, but that in no way means that you have enough.

-- Working at Woodworking www.VillageLaneFurniture.com

...ditto on Russel’s comment!

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

CJ,

I would personally get the Random Orbital Sander before the belt sander. Also, you may want to consider some sharpening equipment, if you don’t already have some.

Lew

CJ,

I would personally get the Random Orbital Sander before the belt sander. Also, you may want to consider some sharpening equipment, if you don’t already have some.

Lew

Lew I have some sharpening equipemt. I am going to be getting the Veritas® Basic Grinding Set and maybe a couple more sharpening stones.

-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker

Biscuit jointer is very handy. Glad to see that on your list. I use my sliding miter saw all the time, but I think that is personal preference and convenience. Table saw will suffice for those cuts.. You may want to consider a bandsaw at some point. I would put that on your wish list.

As Hokie mentioned, start thinking vertically in your shop. For example, I mounted my benchtop planer shoulder-high on my wall so that I could get my sliding miter under it. Works great. I don’t have to bend over to feed wood into my planer. I have an outfeed table at the same height so everything is out of the way. Tim

-- Tim from Iowa City, IA

My rule of thumb has been to see what I can do with what I have and then go from there if I need a tool. A lot of times it’s just a want, but sometimes it’s truly a need. For example, I need some router bits, but I’m not sure of going with a big cheap generic kit or buying bits one or two at a time with a lot better quality. Ultimately though, I could forgo the bits and do it by hand, but it would be a lot of work. Sometimes the best tool in the shop is right between your ears. :-)

-- Bradley Miller, Blue Springs, MO - http://myoldgarage.blogspot.com

I’d say start making what ever you plan on making what newcomers need is practice practice practice.
I teach a begging woodworking class and you have more than the basics I agree that if you have to buy a sander buy the random orbital sander first and another item is a work bench or table . I’m a tool nut but you can get to the point were you hardly have enough room to build any thing it you have to much equipment in the way.

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon

Best way to figure out if anything is missing is to start building something.

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso

Sounds like you’re ready to go to me. You have twice as many as I do and I do just fine. As I am just setting up shop, I buy new tools “as needed” for the project I’m working on. That being said, there’s always room for one more tool!!

-- Larry , Colorado www.coloradorecordcrates.com

A Kreg-jig is a must!

-- spanky46 -- Never enough clamps...Never enough tools...Never enough time.

Add another router if you have only one!

-- masrol, kuala lumpur, MY.

I’m with Bradley on this one – it’s mostly about wanting a tool more than needing it – theres more then one way to skin a cat. I’ll usually do what I can with what I’ve got till I’m at a point where I can see how a certain tool/accessory would help me tremendously in a specific task – then I’ll do some research on that, and see if it’ll be worth it to get it. and the rest is easy.

there are many tools out there, but unless I need one for my work, why waste the money and space to store it?

-- When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.

I only have one router, looking at adding a second router for table use.

-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker

I have a Kreg jig just need another bit, I broke my last one. :(

-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker

I read a post a1Jim made the other day, about a tool he bought from a cabinet maker. If I remember what I read, Jim went to the shop,seen lots of nice cabinets sitting around, but hardly ANY tools, not even a table saw. If I remember correct, the man used a circular saw and a straight edge. And he did a business with this.

My point is….for starting out, you have a good set of tools. You can never have enough tools agreed and like already said, as far as room, you can always store smaller tools going up the wall. But you can always make do with what you have. And when you can’t and you have to have the next tool on the wish/want/need list…..by then you will have more experience and “Know” what you need and probably more money put away to buy what you want and need.

Just my two cents.

-- Don S.E. OK

Charles,

Bandsaw and random orbit sander are two tools that I couldn’t live without.

-- Don, Pittsburgh

The veritas basic grinding setup is a lot of money spent for no real gain. I would say don’t buy that and buy something else on your “get it” list.

Get the orbital sander. Check out Ridgid, it’s a good buy and works well with good features. Also get one of those lazy susan things or build one that you can put the sander on before it quits running to save time.
If you have everything on wheels, you might consider the bandsaw. Never enough tools or room for them…

-- jack -- measure once, curse twice!

I too have switched from a table saw to a circular saw and guide system, it works very well for me. My random orbital sander is a card scraper, so I can’t say much about those. I can say that my band saw is the workhorse of the shop as far as power tools go. If you like to do real fine decorative stuff, a scroll saw is a real nice addition to a shop. I have the Dremel scroll saw and I’m pretty pleased with it, not being ready to spend big money on a pro model. The only biscuit joiner I can think of that is better than dowels is the Festool Domino and that thing costs like a billion dollars. “Fox” wedged dowels are plenty strong, though I never really find much need for them. Oh and a good rotary tool like a Foredom can be a real handy item. You could also go with a 20 gallon air compressor and use a rotary attachment, that way you have air power for an impact wrench, sand blaster, nail guns, airing up your tires etc., etc. I say 20 gallon or larger since anything smaller won’t give you enough air to work with for any decent amount of time if you are doing production work. I could go on, but I won’t :)

-- Ooo, er.

Sounds like you have your bases covered for now. As a few of the other gents mentioned, just start building something and if you need something – get it. Or, find a way to do it with what you have.

However, I would die without my bandsaw… Not really die. But I would be one sad panda.

-- Jarrod, Taos, NM http://jzmurphree.wordpress.com/

I agree with Damian. Once you start building a project, and need to form a joint, or mill a moulding and you can’t figure out how to do it with the tools you have, it’s time to buy a tool!! Just going over your list, I don’t see a tenoning jig. Are you going to build you one like Glen Huey, or will you buy you a cast iron one?

-- Matt, Houston Texas

your best tool is on your shoulders.use it wisely.best of luck and enjoy the hobby.

CJ…A second question you should ask yourself is: What are those esential tools you cant live without?
better quality than quantity….;-)

-- Francisco Luna, San Francisco Bay Area.

I have a tenon jig. Thanks guys I can get by with what I have now.

-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker

i agree with Damian Penney…you will know you need a certain tool when you build a project and dont have what you need..

One thing to think about—-now that you have all those tools—-maybe its time to add onto the shop… :)

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

I would recommend that you buy the tools you need for the project you are about to start.

Think hard about how you might do the various cuts and shaping you will need to make for the project using the tools in your arsenal. Then if you need something like a mortising machine, a biscuit jointer or a band saw go get it.
Go have fun!

Planning and careful considerations on how to proceed will make for superior results and make you a more agile craftsman.

-- Terry Roswell, L.A. (Lower Alabama) "Life is what happens to you when you are making other plans."

Clamps! lots of clamps!

Thanks guys for the ifo, from now on I will take the need apporach to buying tools.

-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker