the $1000 woodworking tool test

[Garrett French]

THIS IS NOT A CONTEST... I hope the title isn't misleading... let me know if you think it is.

This IS a way to get you thinking about what your most important tools are, which will in turn give you some insights into yourself as a woodworker.

Here's the hypothetical scenario:
1) You have no tools. Zilch. Zero. Not even a pocket knife.
2) You have $1000 tool budget for a YEAR.

How would you spend your $1000?

Why?

You may be interested to read how Marc Spagnuolo answered: http://thewoodwhisperer.com/?p=159

I look forward to hearing how you'd outfit your woodshop with only $1000...

G

[tod evans]

garrett,
this is simple.......the entire budget would go toward lay-out and hand tools.....i wouldn`t spend a nickel on power tools...that way in a barren shop i could still build and i wouldn`t throw my money away on cheap,make-do type of power tools......tod

[Garrett French]

this answer shifted my perspective - thanks Tod.

[Frank Pellow]

Originally Posted by tod evans

garrett,
this is simple.......the entire budget would go toward lay-out and hand tools.....i wouldn`t spend a nickel on power tools...that way in a barren shop i could still build and i wouldn`t throw my money away on cheap,make-do type of power tools......tod

With two exceptions I agree with Tod. The two power tools that I would buy would be an electric (not battery) powered drill and a jig saw. They would probably both be Bosch.

[scott spencer]

basic router and a few bits, good used contractor saw with a decent GP or combo blade, a planer w/cutterhead lock and shopmade sled, cordless drill, jigsaw, small used block plane, some HF Pittsburg bar clamps, basic Kreg pocket hole jig, sandpaper, combo square, tape measure. If I go over $1k, I'll think up some justification pretty quick, but I think I could get those items pretty close. . The router is one of the most versatile tools I own. I could build a simple shopmade router table for next to nothing. I use my TS alot and wouldn't want to do without one. The surface can be covered with a $10 piece of hardboard and can double as an assembly table. I'd still want a basic bench of some sort...road finds might dictate what I use. I'd probably want a shop vac in short order too. I'm pretty frugal between garage sales, sales, and road finds, so there'd eventually be a few unlisted jigs, helpers, and misc stuff.

[Jeff Horton]

Tod said what I was thinking. That's the sure fire way to be able to set up and produce something.

Another way is older used tools. With some careful shopping I could pick up an old tablesaw and a drill press and refurbish them and still have cash left to add some hand tools. I would out hold for the cosmetically ugly and just refurbish and repair them. You can get some real deals that way. I believe I could set up a decent shop on $1000 with some patience and a little luck. And of course a lot of my labor.

Jeff

[Per Swenson]

A razor knife

Straight edge

string

Pencil

Japanese handsaw

Speed square

circular saw

Chisel (s)

Drill, or bit and brace.

Rabbet plane.

sanvik scraper.

Business cards.

coping saw.

Stanley #4 style plane

Put the left over money in the bank and keep working

like a mad man till you can get a piece of land and shop space like Tod.

Per

[Per Swenson]

I must add that when I was young (er)

and decided I wanted to build houses.

I went to work, I kid you not,

with a hammer a free nail apron, tape measure, knife, and a ball of string.

But my wages instead of over the bar rail at clancys went

right back in to my company of the day.

Per

[Ian Abraham]

Interesting thought experiment

Top of my list would have to be a thickness planer, if you are on a budget you aren't going to be getting that expensive pre surfaced wood are you.

A reasonable router and a set of bits for it.

A reasonable jigsaw with selection of blades.

A sander

Drills, probably a corded one and a cheaper 'screwdriver' size cordless.

A small toolbox of hand tools, ruler, square, chisels, pencil, hammer, knife, handsaw, sandpaper and some cheap clamps.

A small bandsaw, if I could fit it in the budget. I could make do with the jigsaw if need be, but I do like my bandsaw.

Then a good session of jig building to build a workbench, planer sled, router table, router bridge, M&T and dovetail jigs for the router etc.


Actually I guess I've just basically described what I have in the shed already A table saw and jointer would be nice, but I can live without them. If I get another $1000 to play with I'd go with a chainsaw sawmill. Then my wood is basically free

Cheers

Ian

[John Dow]

Speed square....

A friend of mine calls that the "squammer".

Handy, and somewhat indestructable.