Seeking assitance - new to woodworking

[Enzo]

Thank you all again for the words of encouragement and insight on how to approach this.
As someone who grew up in the age of internet, it is all too refreshing to encounter a community of people that are welcoming and provide an instant feeling of camaraderie.

The internet has become a septic tank these days. But this forum is a lighthouse in the dark.

All that being said, you've all invigorated me on this journey. To those that provided places to look into, I've started a list of places to try and take classes when time permits.

Moreover, I've also begun to get some woodworking tools. This weekend I got my first miter saw and jigsaw. 

After spending some time looking at projects, I think I'm going to attempt to make some kind of vegetable storage bin for potatoes and onions. 

Hoping to have some pictures to share after I clear some space in my garage.

Thank you again everyone!
Greatly appreciate all the digital foot traffic on this post and all your stories and recommendations.
 

[samandothers]

Enzo,
Great to hear you've started down the slippery slope of tool investment!  ;D  More importantly you have a project already in mind with a plan to start!  Look forward to your posts of projects.  

Be safe!

[lazyflee]

If I may, I'll throw a couple pennies in on buying tools....Try not to buy cheap stuff. I started this way and the cheap stuff sits in the corner unused. If you are on facebook, check the marketplace, you can get great stuff and save some cash. I bought a great big Delta jointer this summer for $300. The good thing about buying the used old stuff is that you will learn a lot about the machine when you refurbish it and set it up properly. The first tip I ever got from an old timer Master woodworker was "take your time and have a good pencil". Good luck and have fun!

[alan gage]

"take your time and have a good pencil".

And a big eraser.
Alan

[doc henderson]

with laser engraving, that is what my planer is for!     big eraser.

[terrifictimbersllc]

It pays to learn how to use a pencil properly too....

[doc henderson]

yes you can leave the line, take the line, or split it in the middle half and half.  I remember the first time Kenny asked me that.  did I mark it for which one?

[Don P]

I'll add a good router to your tool list, it is one of those universal tools that can do many different jobs.

I used a router with a 1/4" roundover bit on this canning jar box to ease all the edges.


 

For these tray parts I used a straight bit to plow the grooves in the end pieces that the bottom boards fit into and the roundover bit to ease the edges.





@Magicman and @WV Sawmiller have made some nice crates and boxes as well as others, maybe they will post some pics to help give you some ideas.

Remember to keep the taters and onions well seperated, they tend to spoil one another.  

[Magicman]

 

 
Cricket boxes are also a nice project.


 
As well as very rustic crates.

[terrifictimbersllc]

Make a router table freestanding or off one wing of your table saw so you can use the tablesaw fence with it. 

Get a set of bushings like porter cable bushings for your router base.  That's how I make the crate handle holes DonP showed.  Routs the inside of the template you make with a sabersaw and file. 

Also a long 3/4" carbide router bit with a top mounted bearing for pattern routing. 

Porter cable 690 routers you watch for them you can pick them up for $75. I have 3 of them and want more. 

[doc henderson]

you can find the porter cable routers in a set with a regular base, and a plunge base.  I have several porter cable routers, and a bosch palm router (colt) that I keep a 1/8th inch round over bit..  

[WV Sawmiller]

 

 My crates are nowhere near the workmanship the rest of the guys are doing They are handy. I make them sized to hold 12 quart or 12 pint canning jars. I use rough slats (mostly tulip poplar) about 3/8" thick X 2" wide I get by edging 2" framing lumber in half inch drops with 1/8" kerf.  I use a 1X8 board for quarts and 1X6 for pints. I predrill the nail holes and use ringed/drywall nails to hold better as I am nailing into/between the grain on the ends of the boards. I don't use an air or electric nailer or staples. I have not learned to use a router to make the fancy handles and such. 

    Good luck. Make something people can use and that is fun to make without being too complicated and move on to more complicated projects as your comfort level justifies.

[Ljohnsaw]

Great thread!  I'll try and get a post in before we loose power.  Winds blowing 50mph gusts and increasing, flashing the lights!

I took wood shop classes in Jr. High and High school.   Played around in my parents basement.  First wood working tools when I was on my own was a Sears circular saw, router and belt sander.  Then little tables to make them into a table saw and router table.  Made some cutting boards and stereo/book shelf out of some redwood T1-11 plywood scraps for our apartment.  Also some utilitarian (i.e. ugly) side tables covered with a tablecloth.

Moved into a rental house and first house and still didn't upgrade much.  Moved to a ranch and found my first real table saw (8" Craftsman) for $15 at a yard sale.  Used that for 30 years!  Upgraded to a 10" Craftsman that I got for free (CraigsList is your friend!) a few months back.  Picked up 4" and 6" jointers, wife bought me a 12" delta planer 25 years ago and I upgraded to some old iron 12" planer a couple years back.

Best advise I can give is keep your tools sharp.  That includes sandpaper.  Young and dumb I would use sandpaper well past its effective age.  Save yourself a LOT of time and swap it out often!  And just do it!  My dad's motto, by example, was to do it - worst you can do is fail but you will learn in the process.

Edit:  Daughter just called me to say she can't park in the driveway in front of my truck.  The top of an old, dying oak just snapped off and landed across the drive, 6' in front of my truck.

[doc henderson]

John, I still have my Montgomery ward circ. saw, router, and jig saw.  I have my dads old metal cased 2 wire tools as well.  Howard, I cannot believe your wife lets you work on her rug, let alone in the house.