Comments on: What Tools Do I Need to Start Woodworking?

By: MarkK

MarkK — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 23:52:28 +0000

I’ve haven’t been woodworking all that long but really enjoy it thoroughly. I cleared out an old shed and converted it to a small woodworking shop. Should have done this a long time ago – woodworking IS addicting! If anyone is interested, I just got an app for my ipad the other day called WoodMasterHD and it’s got some really handy tools for woodworking. Especially useful if you’re green behind the ears (like me) with woodworking. Very slick app!

Speaking of being green behind the ears as a woodworker, my grandfather passed away and left me with a huge box of carpenter tools – half of which I have no idea what they are for. Is it possible to submit a photo here so maybe someone can tell me what these strange tools are used for? These tools are REALLY old! I’m talking stuff from the 30′s.

Anyway, great blog post, Robert!

By: KenS

KenS — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:11:11 +0000

Yeah, when you’re young and getting started you make do. My first home workbench was an old dresser top fastened to four kitchen table legs. It was a complete and utter disaster as a woodworking bench but it was a start. Every time I see an article about one of these two ton Roubo benches I think of my first bench and how happy I was to replace it with something a little bit better.

By: lastwordsmith

lastwordsmith — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 20:46:25 +0000

Sage advice. I cut the dadoes for my first bookshelf using a combo square, a utility knife, and an old 1″ chisel while sitting on the boards as they lay on my kitchen floor. It was one of the best foundations for building skills that I could have had.

By: stjones

stjones — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 15:35:10 +0000

Define “need”. Some of us (excluding myself, of course) just “need” to have a variety of brands, types, models, setups, etc. – “choices” as Alf would say.

By: gumpbelly

gumpbelly — Sat, 04 Aug 2012 04:45:06 +0000

Don`t have to look real hard to find them on the used market. Everyone knows Starrett`s work better with some patina on them.

By: adrian

adrian — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 13:59:09 +0000

Hmmm. I was thinking at one point not long ago that a Starrett 9″ square would be the perfect size, less awkward than the 12″. Too bad they don’t make this size any more. If it’s the essential tool then those beginners are in trouble.

By: Marlon1

Marlon1 — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 00:35:49 +0000

Thank you Bob for this blog entry. It has to be the best advice ever, for all, from the rookie to the professional.
Keep up the great work.

By: shopking

shopking — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 21:22:14 +0000

Thank you for this post. It is nice to hear this from someone who makes a living writing about tools and techniques. We sometimes get caught up in all the hype about the latest and greatest and we forget to actually make something with the tools we acquire.