Which Power Tool Do You Buy First?

Posted on by deb

 

Which power tool do you buy first if you have no tools at all?  A good question and there are a few answers depending on your circumstances. The first rule is to buy the best quality you can afford. Buy bigger, more power or sturdier if you can. Today you may not need this caliber of tool but this will give you the versatility down the road to do more with the tool.   Also, buy the tool that you will use the most often. Whatever tool you will get the most use from is the best place to start your power tool collection.

The first thing to determine before you buy your first tool is do you have a project in mind or are you just starting your collection?  If you have a project in mind, make a list of the tools required for completion of the project and buy whatever is essential.  This obviously will be different for each project.

If you are just starting out and you are trying to determine which power tool to buy first, you need to think basic functionality.  Your first tools should be multi-purpose.  You need to get the most use from them possible.  The only tool I use on almost every project to some degree is my drill. That is where you need to start. With the power tool that you will use the most and for me that is the drill.  A cordless drill, to be precise.

 

The projects I have completed with my cordless drill are endless. From doing minor repairs to complete builds. I have built several decks, fences and many pieces of furniture, both large and small, with my cordless drill.

 

Things to consider when buying your first Drill

 

Read some Product Reviews

Why Cordless?

Battery size for Cordless?

One or Two Batteries?

Buy a kit with accessories or drill alone?

 

 

Product Reviews

 

My first step when buying any new tool, especially if I don’t have a lot of experience with that tool, is to read some product reviews on line.  Just search for what tool you are interested in and you will find many reviews. To make it easier, here is a link to a site you might find useful. 

http://www.squidoo.com/top-rated-cordless-drills-2012-reviews-ratings

 

Why a Cordless Drill?

 

Corded or cordless is the first question you need to answer. My recommendation here is cordless hands down.  If you have a good cordless drill, you can do all basic functions that are required.  An electric corded drill gives you more power but in most cases you don’t need it. The advantage to using a cordless drill aside from the fact that you don’t need a wall plug or extension cord is also about power. But for me, it is because it has enough power to do the job but not too much power that could result in a problem.

 

Your cordless drill is much more than a tool that drills holes.  It is also a screw driver or screw remover. As a screw driver, too much power can result in stripping the head of the screw and a real mess until you learn to control it.  The cordless drill handles screw driving effortlessly with much less potential for trouble.

 

Battery size for a Cordless Drill?

 

Here is a question that is best answered by your budget. The best today is 18 volt lithium ion batteries.  These batteries hold the greatest charge for the longest time. However, these tools can be pricy. I started with a 12 volt battery and 10 years later, with two rebuilt battery packs, the drill is still doing its job. Buy the most power you can afford. Don’t scrimp but there is no need to only buy the best. Some of the lesser powered tools will do a great job and you will never know the difference.

 

One or Two Batteries for the Cordless Drill?

 

Always buy two battery packs. This is obvious but sometimes overlooked or ignored. Always buy two batteries.  In large projects, batteries will need to be recharged half way through. Or you will have a vital piece of work to do and you will find the battery last used is dead. Always buy two batteries. It will save you time and frustration guaranteed. 

 

Buy a kit with accessories or a Cordless Drill alone?

 

There are some basic accessories that you will need to buy with your drill. An assortment of drill bits and some screw driving bits are essential. Any other specialized accessories can be purchased as required for each new project.  So, again, budget is a big driver here.  Some drills are sold in kits, with cases and other accessories. These can be well priced but there are only valuable if you will really use all the components in the kit. It is often less expensive, when getting started, to buy the basic tool and whatever basic accessories you need. You will find that you will pay less than the “special” kit price and you won’t miss any of those extra accessories.

 

So, if this is your first tool, buy a good quality cordless drill and a few bits and don’t worry. It won’t be long before you find a use for this new tool.  When you have your fully equipped workshop with countless tools, your cordless drill will still be the main go to tool you have.  It will serve you well.

Recycle Wood from Felled Trees by Making your Own Lumber

Posted on by deb

If you are like me, you hate to see the old trees cut down in your neighborhood and you wonder why no one seems to be recycling the wood.  All too often, I see the trees cut up and turned into wood chips for someone’s garden. So much potential lumber gone to waste!

With a few tools in your workshop you could recycle the wood into lumber that you could use for small projects like small pieces of furniture or jewelry boxes.  All you need a few tools, some time and some energy to haul those logs home.  The steps are as follows:

 

Step One – Split the log

Start with logs of 24 – 36 inches so that they are manageable to handle.  By using either an hydraulic log splitter or wood splitter and a sledge hammer you must split your logs into halves or quarters depending on their size.

 

Step Two – Square you log

Run two adjoining sides of your split log along your jointer in order to have a square and even surface.

 

Step Three – Mill your lumber

Now that you have a log with two flat sides, you can run the log against your fence on your bandsaw to cut your boards into whatever thickness you need.

 

Step Four – Plane your lumber

Now that you have your boards, plane them to desired thickness.

 

Step Five – Dry your lumber

Stack your boards in a dry well ventilated space with good air circulation.  Each board must have air space all around it for the air to circulate.  A fan is sometimes helpful to speed up the drying process. Some woods need to dry more slowly than others. Some will dry very quickly.

Air drying lumber can take up to a year for some varieties which is where the patience comes in.  But properly dried lumber will not shrink or twist after you complete your project which is so important to your finished work.

 

One of the best things about recycling wood by turning it into lumber is that frequently you will find fruit trees, walnut or other varieties of wood that you will never find at the lumber store.  This will give your projects a unique look and make them unique to you.

So while you are driving around your neighbourhood, keep your eyes open for trees that are being cut down.  Now you can offer to take some of those logs away, save them from the chipper, and make something special with them!

 

 

Always Dry Fit Before You Apply Glue To Any Project

Posted on by deb

 

Always dry fit before you apply glue. This is the best and most basic advice to any wood worker.  When you are assembling your project for the first time, you should always assemble it dry and make sure everything fits before you start gluing and putting in the screws.  I know this is great advice because when I first started making things from wood I ignored it.  I was always so excited to be at the assembly stage and so confident that it would all fit, that I would skip the dry fit phase. This resulted in a lot of wood for the fire.

 

So having learned this lesson in woodworking, you would think I would have given it some thought when building this Blog.  This is my first Blog after all.  What could go wrong during assembly?  Well live and learn.  I have made a couple of mistakes that made this Blog a poor fit for me.  I want to share those with you and tell you what I am going to do to correct them.

 

Writing articles on projects in progress

 

This is the first and most crucial mistake. I’m sure any wood workers out there can attest that at any given time they have 2 or 3 projects on the go with a couple on their “to do” list.  But life has a way of getting in the way and putting those projects on hold. Work, weather and other commitments eat away at our time.  Sometimes we finish these interrupted projects, sometimes we don’t. My mistake was writing about them before they were finished. 

When I started posting articles, suddenly I had an obligation to finish the project for the sake of anyone reading my Blog. Now my project suddenly started feeling like a chore. I needed to remember to take pictures at critical stages, write about the major steps and complete it within a reasonable length of time.

So what happens then?  Life.  Life interrupted these fine plans and some things did not get done. Now what do I write?  Now I feel like I’m avoiding posting to the Blog because what do I say?  This is was my first mistake.

So change number one.  I’ll continue to write about my projects and provide pictures when I can. But I will only post the article when the project is complete. This means I have removed all my “To Be Continued” articles from this Blog pending project completion. The benefit to you, the reader, will be that you won’t have to wait as long to see the results. The benefit to me will mean it will remove some of the pressure from me to deliver.  No guarantees of how many, if any projects I’ll deliver but when I have one, you’ll know about it.

 

 

Using One Source for my Content – Me

 

I don’t know how this happened. I just seemed to be always writing about me. What I was doing on a project or how I would do a project. That was never the plan. I don’t that enough information, skills or expertise to keep this Blog going on my own.

So change in direction.  All wood workers like to see other peoples’ work and learn about other people’s techniques, tricks and skills.  I am no exception. When I come across something like that I will share it with you in the form of a summary of what I found and a link to the actual information.

 

Refitting my Blog

 

So in the end, setting up this Blog without a dry fit resulted in a bad fit. A bad fit for me and as a result poor quality and little content for you, the reader. I’m going to take this blog in a light new direction. I want to share more content that is available on the web with you and more insights into wood working in general. In addition, if you have read my other posts, you know that one of my passions in wood working is Scroll sawing. So watch for more on that topic in particular in the coming months.

The Woodworking Show Season is Underway

Posted on by deb

 

There are several excellent Woodworking shows in the Toronto region during the cold weather. One of the best shows will be January 25, 26 and 27th in Hamilton at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum.  I try to attend this show every year and I always thoroughly enjoy it.  Get there early to get parking close to the building or be prepared to walk a little.

 

A Great Selection of Tools and Accessories at Great Prices

 

A woodworking show is a great place to get great deals on power tools and accessories.  There are many booths demonstrating some of the latest technology as well as some hands on demos available.  If you are looking for a key tool to complete your work bench, check the prices now, and wait for the show.  Show specials can save you as much as 50% if you are lucky.

These shows have a great selection of accessories from sand paper to hand tools.  I usually buy a year’s supply of speciality sanding discs for my rotary tools.  Volume discounts are usually available. In addition there are hand tools for turning, blades for your various saws and every possible size and shape of clamp and other various gadgets that are a must have.

For the speciality woodworker there are booths dedicated to wood turning and pen making as well as scroll sawing, carving and marquetry.  If you are looking for a new hobby, there is a wide variety to choose from.

 

Canadian Wood Carver’s Championship

 

The Canadian Wood Carver’s Championship takes place every year at this show.  There are entrants from beginner to professional in all facets of carving. I love to grab a cup of coffee and take my time walking past the entries. The workmanship is phenomenal and the variety of items entered is always impressive. The work is inspiring.

 

 

A Great Source of Wood

 

In addition to the tools and accessories, the woodworking show is a great place to buy wood. You can get boards of a variety of wood as well as bowl blanks and pen blanks. You can usually obtain wood of a common variety along with rarer and more exotic wood.  If you are in the market for wood, bring a cart!

 

 

Live Seminars

 

There will be a variety of live seminars held each day of the show on the show floor.  These seminars cover a broad range of topics and are usually standing room only.  Topics from wood bending to hand planes to cutting hand cut dovetails will be taught.

 

 

For additional information go to the show’s website at http://www.hamiltonshows.com/Home.php.   I’ll be there and I hope you will be too!

 

 

 

 

Custom Woodworking

Posted on by deb

 

 

It feels like it has been a very long time since I posted to this blog. I did not intend to leave it so long but time got away from me!  Christmas is coming and that is a busy time of year for many of us. In addition, I don’t do a lot of woodworking in the winter because my workshops are unheated.  No way you can you use the machinery when your fingers are numb from the cold.

At this time of year, between shopping for gifts, working and doing necessary chores like getting my winter tires put on my car, the only woodworking I do is in my imagination.  I read other peoples’ blogs and woodworking magazines and plan my projects for the spring.  I might even print project plans or patterns for the upcoming summer woodworking season!

This year I plan on trying something a little different. Once things have calmed down in January, I will make some space in my basement and bring my scroll saw indoors.    This tool makes minimal dust and is fairly compact.  It will allow me to practice my technique, make some projects and keep me from suffering from woodworking withdrawal until spring.

Shopping for Christmas led me to some wonderful woodworking discoveries.  I went to the, One of a Kind Craft show that is held twice a year in Toronto, recently.  I was able to see many examples of the finest woodworkers we have in Canada. From pen makers to cabinetmakers and anything in between, they are all on display of the show.  A favorite of mine is the booth of scrollsawed jigsaw puzzles that are truly remarkable in their level of detail and craftsmanship.  Check out their work at http://www.forwoodpuzzles.com/.

One of the best examples of furniture building I have ever seen was present at the show. It is not often that a chair takes my breath away but that is what happened when I came upon the booth operated by Paul Lemiski.  Making fine furniture by hand can reach the level of art on rare occasions. This is the case of Paul’s customs woodwork.  The rocking chairs he had on display immediately made me think of pictures I have seen of work by the late Sam Maloof.  His chairs were truly works of beauty and the best part, for a rocking chair, were that they were also extremely comfortable to sit in.

If you want to see Paul’s work, check out his site at http://www.canadianwoodworks.com/. He has an outstanding opportunity available on his site.  You can either buy a chair, or pay a reduced price for a chair and spend two weeks with Paul at his shop making a chair of your own under his tutelage.  What a great opportunity!

So as you can see, I may not be doing much woodworking right now with the shop closed for the winter, there are plenty of opportunities to see great work, learn and be inspired for future projects and keep the woodworking bug alive all winter. 

Building a Bookcase from Wood

Posted on by deb

One of the first pieces of furniture a woodworker frequently attempts is a bookcase or shelving unit of some sort.  There are many things to consider when deciding on the bookcase size and style you are going to build.  First off, where will it be placed?  Will it be built in?   Will it be free standing or up against a wall?  How tall do you want it?   Will it hold hard cover books, pocket novels, knick knacks or dolls to name a few possibilities?   If the book shelf is free standing an important decision will be will it be open or will it have a back? Or will it have both a back and doors?

 

The answers to these questions are important to determine prior to building for a variety of reasons. The most basic is that you want the book case or shelves to fit where you intend to put them. You want them to be strong enough to hold what you plan to put on them. And finally you want to be proud of how they look.

 

There are plans available for book shelves that can be made in a few hours and more complicated bookcases that may take you a whole weekend. Style becomes at concern at this point. Do you want to create a bookshelf in the classic craftsman style to name one or will a plain box with shelves work for this project? Once you have determined what style you would like, your next logical step would be to choose your wood. Will the book shelf be made of solid wood or plywood?  You can use oak plywood and add a frame to the front of the box to end up with a high end look without the cost of using solid woods.

 

Another consideration goes into the construction. Do you want the shelves to be fixed or movable?  If fixed, then dado joints and glue are a good option.  If you want to be able to move the shelving, there are various kinds of brackets that can either be made or purchased that work well. One of my preferences are metal brackets that can be mounted in a dado on the sides of the shelving you. Then you use metal clips that can be moved to any height you need or want.

 

Once you have gone through the check list below, you are ready to go and buy your lumber and supplies and start building.  Remember to prepare a drawing with your dimensions indicated and a cutting list.  Cut all the pieces first and then you can assemble.  Go ahead and get started!

 

 

7 Point checklist before you can get started

 

Location for the shelves in the house or workshop

Dimensions

Purpose

Style of construction

Shelves – Movable or fixed

Wood type – Solid or plywood

Hardware

 

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5 Key Steps to Winterize your Workshop

Posted on by deb

If you, like me, live in the part of the world where winter is right around the corner, it is time to think about winterizing your workshop.  My garage is not heated and therefore I need to do some things to keep my tools in good shape over the winter and ready to use at first thaw!  In addition I want to be sure that I don’t make the shop too inviting to critters to hang out over the winter.  The steps I follow are as follows.

 

Remove Garbage, Woodchips and Sawdust

 

Be sure to empty all garbage pails and remove all sawdust from the shop.  Sawdust and woodchips are a great invitation to mice that are looking for nesting materials for the winter.  Remember, that includes cleaning out any dust shoots on machines, or the sawdust collection drawer on the table saw cabinet.

 

Wax metal work surfaces

 

I apply a light coat of paste wax with some fine steel wool to all the metal surfaces such as the top of the table saw and scroll saw.  I also wax the bed of the lathe. A thin layer of wax will prevent moisture from resting on the metal and rusting the surfaces over the winter and tools will be ready to use as soon as the shop opens in the spring.

 

Remove any liquids

 

Be sure to bring in any glue, spray adhesives or liquids of any kind as they will freeze over the winter and be garbage in the spring.

 

Remove Battery Powered Tools

 

Remember to bring in to the house any battery powered tools or their batteries as the cold will drain the batteries and they will need to be recharged before use. I always make sure to bring in my favorite battery powered drill so that, when that inevitable moment strikes in the heart of winter, and I need a drill,  it is in the house and fully charged and not frozen and dead in the garage!   If you have a clock, remove the battery.

Turn off the Main Power

 

Always turn off the main power to the shop when it will be out of service for an extended period of time.

Wooden Boxes

Posted on by deb

One of my main interests while learning various types of woodworking is Boxes. I’ve been a collector of decorative boxes since I was a kid.  And as soon as I started working with tools and began to look at ways to make boxes.  I don’t know why but they fascinate me. The form is simple but the construction can be quite complex if you chose or simple with clean lines.

One of the first boxes I made was made on the scroll saw.  That you could make boxes on the scroll saw was a complete surprise to me until I stumbled across instructions in a magazine.  I began to look at a variety of books and saw that there were in fact many different kinds and styles of boxes that can be made on the scroll saw.  A good source is a book by Carole Rothman entitled Creative Wooden Boxes from the Scroll Saw: 28 Useful & Surprisingly Easy-to-Make Projects.

One of the things I liked best about making boxes on the scroll saw is that you can cut the carcass, bottom and top simultaneously making it easier to ensure a snug fit.  In addition, the scroll saw encourages patterns and fine filigree work that enhance the overall design of the boxes.  Naturally you are limited by the depth of the throat of your particular scroll saw.  You cannot make extremely large boxes but you are not limited to tiny ones either.

Heart Shaped box made on the scroll saw

Scroll Saw Box

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next unexpected tool that allows you to make boxes that can be both beautiful and functional is the lathe. You can turn both the carcass and the lid on your lathe and make different styles and sizes of boxes that have a beautiful form and style.  The book; Turning Boxes with Richard Raffanis a great source of instruction and inspiration. Raffan’s books are well illustrated and his instructions are easy to follow and always give great results.

Turning boxes has its challenges in that you must make a lid that fits precisely. Some turners use an accessory on their lathe which allows them to thread the lid and box for a screw fit.  Others make a lid that forms a suction fit by fitting snugly over a lip extending from the interior of the box.

The lathe allows a variety of shapes and sizes where form does not always follow function.  I have not yet made a box worthy of this blog and will continue practicing until I have mastered this type of turning.

I have however made several boxes using the more traditional tools such as the table saw.  Mastering cutting at 45 degree angles was the first step.  I have mastered the utilitarian wooden box build to store tools and other items in a workshop. From there, making finer pieces to be used for decoration or storage, or both is the logical next step.  Box-Making Basics: Design, Technique, Projects by David Freeman is a great place to start.

Whatever tool you use, there are an endless variety of boxes to be made and techniques to be mastered. My fascination with boxes has not subsided however my collecting has stopped due to lack of space. Boxes I make now, must have a purpose and they are destined to become a gift.

5 Great Ideas for Christmas Gifts made on the Lathe – Part 2

Posted on by deb

 

Wooden Pens and Pencils

 

An excellent gift for a student or someone who works in an office is a pen and or pencil.  There is a wide variety of styles and models you can make starting by purchasing a Pen Making Starter Kit that gives you not only the pen parts and instructions, but it also includes the drill bit and mandrel you need to make a particular style of pen and all the other necessary components.  You can make a pen with unique woods and unique shapes that will be a truly personalized gift for someone in your life.  For more information on pen turning check out this link; http://www.ghwg.ca/techniques/Making_Pens.pdf .

 

Ring Stand

 

Anyone who removes their rings at night needs a place to put them so that they don’t become lost. You can’t ask for a more beautiful storage location than an Ring stand turned by yourself.  The can be made in various sizes and styles to meet the needs and tastes of many.  This is a truly elegant addition to any ladies’ dresser.  For additional information, please check out http://www.woodturningonline.com/Turning/Turning_projects.php?catid=75.

 

Turned Napkin Rings

 

Napkin Rings are a nice addition to any dinner table, whether it is formal or a more casual setting.  You can make them easily and in quantities to give everyone a set under the Christmas Tree.  For additional information of turning Napkin Rings can be found at http://www.woodturningonline.com/Turning/Turning_projects.php?catid=55.

 

Spinning Tops

 

A fun Christmas gift for the children or simply the young at heart is a spinning top made on the lathe. A somewhat more challenging project that some, these tops can be fun to make and provide hours of fascination for the recipients.  You can make a large variety and never make two the same.  Check out this site for some unique tops and tips on making spinning tops; http://www.proserpinewoodturners.com/MakingSpinningTops.html.

 

Turned Boxes

 

One of my favorite Christmas gift ideas are round boxes made on the lathe.  These can be made in a variety of sizes with a variety of detailing and using just about any kind of wood.  The small ones can hide treasures like jewellery and the large ones can hold snacks or just about anything the imagination can come up with to put inside.  One of the best sources of instruction and inspiration for turning boxes can be found the book entitled Turning Boxes with Richard Raffan.  If you would like some additional information on turning boxes, take a look at this site for inspiration:http://www.woodcentral.com/cgi-bin/readarticle.pl?dir=turning&file=articles_254.shtml.

 

Christmas Ornaments

Sometimes the best gift at Christmas is that of a Christmas ornament to commorate the year of the special visit with frieds or family.  Ornaments made of wood can be turned, carved or scrollsawed to name just a few methods.  They can be simple or complex. But no matter how they are made, when they are unpacked from storage and hung on the tree every year, that special memory of receiving a special gift is always there year after year. A couple of source for ideas or plans for Christmas ornaments can be found at:

 

 

5 Great Ideas for Christmas Gifts made on the Lathe – Part 1

Posted on by deb

I know!  This is an article about Christmas and it’s only September!  It is still summer after all.  I’m certainly not in a hurry to see winter.  But we all know how quickly Christmas arrives and if you love woodworking, you know that friends and family love to receive handmade gifts made with love. So you might need some ideas for Christmas gifts that are unique and quick to make. In addition they  are useful and beautiful and they will be treasured for years.

Here is a list of 5 great Christmas Gift suggestions that I know you will love to make and your friends and family will be thrilled to receive. Keep a look out for the next installment where I will give you at least another 5 gift ideas.

 

Turned Candlesticks

 

Candlesticks can be a special and personal gift that can be made to suit the recipient.  They can be elegant or rustic.  You can make them to fit tapers or tea lights.  The variety of styles is only limited by your imagination.   A great site for ideas and patterns of Candlesticks can be found at

http://www.woodturningonline.com/Turning/Turning_projects.php?catid=19

 

Turned Pepper Mill

 

A Turned Pepper Mill is not only an excellent gift for a cook; it is great fun to turn.  Depending on your choice of wood or woods, you can make something attractive and functional or something that makes a bold statement in a designer kitchen!  A great source on how to make a peppermill can be found at http://www.woodworkersguide.com/2008/10/17/how-to-turn-a-pepper-mill/ .

 

Wooden Turned Spurtle

 

A Spurtle is a kitchen implement originally used for stirring oatmeal and will look great hanging in any kitchen.  This very unique gift idea will be loved by all the cooks you know and a great topic of conversation over dinner.  A Spurtle is an ideal starter project for the new wood turner. For the more experienced turner, using different varieties of wood can make this project a little more challenging.  For some examples of Spurtles check out Spurtle http://www.woodworkersguide.com/2008/10/24/spurtles-spurtles-rah-rah-rah/

 

A Wooden Travel Mug

 

I was reading a wood turners forum today and came across a really excellent idea for a gift.  A wooden Travel Mug can be made from a solid block of wood, several pieces of wood that are glued together, or by creating a stave assembly.  You will need a kit to make this coffee mug and this can be purchased from http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=19667&site=ROCKLER to name one source.

 

Turned Wooden Kitchen Scoops

 

One of the most fun projects I’ve made is the basic kitchen scoop that you can use for anything from your flour canister to your candy bowl.  It’s both attractive and utilitarian. It is also a challenge to make. Follow this link to an article by the great turner Richard Raffan. http://www.ghwg.ca/techniques/scoopsraffan.pdf.  This article gives you great, easy to follow instructions and it is also an interesting read that gives you some insight into the turning techniques of Richard Raffan.  I have used this exact article to make one of these scoops and see picture for results.

 

Kitchen Scoop