Beginner woodworking

[Geoff738]

As I mentioned in the alternative woods thread, my son is making noises about looking into woodworking. I suspect he would be starting out with hand tools. Not much room in his bedroom for a lathe or a bandsaw etc. Although he probably doesn’t have a clear idea where he wants to go with this.

This is an area I have zero expertise in, so asking your advice on tools, how to guides focused on beginners whether it be books, magazines, you tube, whatever. And where to source this stuff. I believe we still have Lee Valley up here.

Any and all advice welcome. It is his birthday today and I am willing to throw some money his way to get started. So let’s ignore budget for now.

Thanks all!

Cheers,
Geoff

 

[getbent]

get him some good PPE. Make him use it.

a lathe in the house is a bad idea for all.

you can find good, used tools all over. Lots of old dudes are getting liquidated.

 

[guitarbuilder]

Really a lot depends on what you think he wants to make and how old he is. Safety glasses and dust masks and pushsticks and push blocks help keep your body parts in good shape. On FB marketplace I see machines that could outfit a woodshop for next to nothing. If he is 13+ I'd consider a bandsaw with the provisions of some good woodworking rules followed. Speaking of rules, all tools have general rules that should be followed.

In my woodworking classes I had the 12 year olds using a scroll saw, stationary belt sander, oscillating spindle sander, hand miter box saws and assorted hand tools. Older kids in High School are capable of using more machines. I still have all my fingers after 45 years of this stuff.

Consider a small cnc router too, as he would find one in a decent high school tech class or woodshop, depending on the shop. Kids today learn Cad instead of drafting like some of us old guys.

4040-PRO Desktop CNC Router Machine for Carving and Cutting

4040-PRO is a 4x4 CNC with an effective working area of 15.7” x 15.7” x 3.1” is large enough for most daily wood carving projects. The redesigned Z-axis carriage makes swapping a spindle easier. Adding more screw holes on the non-all-in-one Z-axis carriage allows you to install the larger...

www.sainsmart.com

 

[Mjark]

As I mentioned in the alternative woods thread, my son is making noises about looking into woodworking. I suspect he would be starting out with hand tools. Not much room in his bedroom for a lathe or a bandsaw etc. Although he probably doesn’t have a clear idea where he wants to go with this.

This is an area I have zero expertise in, so asking your advice on tools, how to guides focused on beginners whether it be books, magazines, you tube, whatever. And where to source this stuff. I believe we still have Lee Valley up here.

Any and all advice welcome. It is his birthday today and I am willing to throw some money his way to get started. So let’s ignore budget for now.

Thanks all!

Cheers,
Geoff

His bedroom is not the place for woodworking. Do you have a basement? Shed with electricity?

 

[buster poser]

My old man had me take woodworking in 7th grade (age 12) and small engine (mower) repair in 8th.

That's my recommendation: Classes at his school or the local community college. Failing that, hearty second to the PPE recommendation above. Cutty things are no joke.

 

[Geoff738]

His bedroom is not the place for woodworking. Do you have a basement? Shed with electricity?

That was tongue in cheek. At my place there is a basement with plenty of room. But it is all carpeted. I suppose we could put something down over that in a corner. There is a non-heated garage. Fine for seven or eight months of the year. Not so good in the dead of winter.

Cheers,
Geoff

 

[Mjark]

Everyone needs a table saw, chisels and a way to maintain them and lots of clamps.

 

[Geoff738]

He turns 20 today but has next to no experience in this. I don’t want to spend a ton on what might be a passing fancy, but don’t want to start him out with crap tools. I think he should look at some books/magazines first to see what he might want to attempt before we really dive in. I believe there is a woodworking course near his mother’s that he is thinking about.

Cheers,
Geoff

 

[toanhunter]

I would say get him to build a workbench first, how tall is he? I am around 6 foot, my workbench top is 1 metre high, for me that's about right, it's important to learn about the discipline of sharpening, and constantly keeping a sharp edge is critical, I would recommend a few projects 01. sawhorses or a sawbench 02. a workbench with a serious vice 03. a toolchest ideally handcut dovetailed 04. dovetail boxes chopping boards are also quite an easy one to make, I was going to suggest toy making but then you revealed he is 20 years old.

I can recommend a couple of books

working wood 1&2 by paul sellers and the unplugged workshop by tom fidgen, both of them have quite a few very useful projects in them for advancing skills, without an apprenticeship this is the best way to learn imho

 

[Peegoo]

@Geoff738

The absolute best way to learn woodworking is to build small *useful* projects, under the tutilege of a master, using simple hand tools like a backsaw, japanese pull saws (ryoba and dozuki), small block plane, a small set of good chisels, a mallet, a small drill and bits, some measuring tools and a carpenter's square. A small *solid* workbench and a few bar clamps and C/G clamps are good to have as well.

A really good first project is to build a workbench. It can be big, small, elaborate (drawers, etc.), or really simple. Drawers can be added later too.

Small projects use the exact same principles and practices as larger ones like furniture.

@toanhunter 's recommendation of Paul Sellers is about as good as it gets. He has a few books out, and he maintains a YT channel where he walks the viewer through every step of the project. All of his small projects use a very short list of tools.

Rule #1 for new woodworkers: do not buy a tool until you need it.

Rule #2: take your time. Get in a hurry and you will make mistakes of hurt yourself.

 

[Freeman Keller]

High school wood shop, a local wood worker's guild or a makerspace (often in a vocational college) are the ideal places to start, they not only have the equipment, but they will also insist that it be used correctly.

A far as lutherie is concerned Melvyn Hiscock has a very good chapter on tools and another on shop safety. And you don't necessarily need powertools, I built a pretty adequate little classical with mostly hand tools,. I had a deal with a high school shop teacher that if kids in his shop wanted to build a solid body guitar (I helped them with the templates) I would help with the wiring, geometry and setup. Several kids built pretty decent little guitars.

 

[stxrus]

I can add another vote for good eyewear, dust masks, push blocks & sticks. I am able to cut a board twice and it still be too short. But I do understand safety and knowing that an “oops moment” can be life altering.

 

[OldCAT]

For anything that plugs in and cuts material Hearing protection is a must

 

[toanhunter]

also always remember measure twice, cut once

 

[Freeman Keller]

Here is our local wood workers guild (population about 30 - 40,000

NCW Woodshop - A Makerspace for Woodworkers

Hands-on woodworking classes & community in Cashmere, WA. Build skills, create custom projects, and connect with others at NCW Woodshop.

ncwwoodshop.com

You must have something similar.

 

[Geoff738]

Looks like there are a couple things in the area. Some look to be preparing (youth) for employment opportunities working with wood. My kid has probably aged out of the youth stuff. Would have to inquire.

Cheers,
Geoff

 

[Freeman Keller]

Looks like there are a couple things in the area. Some look to be preparing (youth) for employment opportunities working with wood. My kid has probably aged out of the youth stuff. Would have to inquire.

Cheers,
Geoff

I guess a lot depends on what he wants to do with the training. I love building things but its strictly a hobby, I give away guitars to make room for the neck one. There are lots of good job possibilities involved with wood working - cabinet or furniture building, obviously carpentry. This is a guitar forum, if he wands to build guitars there are several here who can help. At one time high school shop classes provided an exposure to the wood working world and kids could chart their own path.

I've always worked with things, wood and other, and just kind of assume that what people did.

 

[Geoff738]

I see this as a possible hobby. But who knows. Don’t think my kid knows. At least for now.

Cheers,
Geoff

 

[Powdog]

Might look into a Shopsmith machine. Jack of all trades, fits nicely into any garage or basement.

 

[black_doug]

That was tongue in cheek. At my place there is a basement with plenty of room. But it is all carpeted. I suppose we could put something down over that in a corner. There is a non-heated garage. Fine for seven or eight months of the year. Not so good in the dead of winter.

Cheers,
Geoff

I think you should certainly give the garage a try. Space heaters are cheap.