In this article we’ll be discussing power hand tools and which ones you need to get started woodworking. I’ll also throw in a few “nice to have but not necessary tools” (and my wife said I couldn’t say “not necessary tools” together in one sentence, I don’t really mean it, I just said it).
The first time you go to a hardwood dealer can be pretty intimidating. It can be like stepping into a foreign country where they speak a different language. Here’s an example: You walk into the lumber warehouse and you think you’ve died and gone to heaven. Wood as far as the eye can see. Every conceivable species just waiting to go home with you. This alone can make your head spin. While you’re picking your chin off the floor an employee comes up and asks if they can help. You come to your senses and and finally spit out that you’re looking for some walnut. “Well,” he says, “do you want that FAS, Select, No. 1 Common? What size do you want it, 4/4, 5/4, 6/4, or 8/4? Do you want it air dried or kiln dried?” And you thought your head was spinning before! What language is this guy speaking, “lumbernese”?
Woodworking is a popular past time for many people. The latest survey estimates over 18 million people are engaged in this vocation, either as a profession, or as a hobby.
While the majority of them are males, there are many female woodworkers, who almost seem to possess a mysterious connection to fine design and quality of work.
Woodworking is a skill that can be learned by everyone, through the many books and magazines dedicated solely to this subject. While these publications inform the reader of the techniques involved in this craft, they can’t relay the hand / eye co-ordination required, or the “feel” involved in using the tools. This can only be learned by actually using the tools and equipment required to participate in this activity.
You can buy the tools that you don’t already have as you get to them in the book or you can go ahead and buy them all at once. In the article below I give suggestions as to sizes and styles that can help children get the most out of their use. The advantage in having all your tools ahead of time is that it will save you from having to run around trying to find what you’ll need the day before you start a new project just to find out it’s sold out. Another advantage is you can often times find all the tools you need online at one site. This can save you time and money.
Carpenter tools make an idealistic gift for the budding carpenter in your family and it doesn’t even need to be their birthday or even Xmas for you to give it to them. These are great gifts for any time and any budding carpenter will love them as would any experienced carpenter.
Just understand what level of carpentry they are at. For I am sure you want to give them something they will use. The only problem with that though is that if you, yourself aren’t a carpenter then how do you go about choosing the right tools?
This is the Holy Grail for many woodworkers. Or at least you’d think so by how tight lipped woodworkers can be about their finishing techniques. “What finish did you use?”. For some woodworkers you may as well have called their Mothers ugly by the look you may receive.
Finishing wood is an art unto itself. With that being said though, it’s still not as complicated as some would have you believe. Much of the confusion comes from the manufactures themselves, mostly in the form of how they label products.
Although there are many more housing and home improvement materials to choose from today than there were a few hundred years ago, wood is still the most popular. Although many builders use plastic siding or other synthetic materials, you need only enter a home improvement superstore to know how prolific wood remains as a building material. There are always aisles and aisles of types of wood to choose from, whether you are building a house or a piece of furniture. So what do you do with all that wood? You need to own the best tools and machinery to mold it into the shape of your fancy. Here are some essential pieces that you will need for your woodshop.
