Recommended Tools

[Guy]

Doug or Roly

[Podunkfla]

After having a workshop full of tools for years, the most indespensable power tool in my shop would be the trusty, multi-tasking table saw. They can be had for less than 100 bucks and for a part time wood worker, should last many years.

Take away my scroll saw, my jig saw, my band saw, my chop saw, my radial arm saw, my saws-all, my skil-saw........but not my 4 table saws!

Roly.......... long time camper, 1st time teardropper and think it's great.

I'll hafta agree with you Roly... A table saw would easily be the most indespensible tool in any woodworking shop, and the first I would buy as a beginning woodworker. Nice to know I'm not the only wood nut with four of the things.

[doug hodder]

Jim...you have asked a question that is just about impossible to answer. It all sort of depends on ones abilities and experience. Tools do make a difference and there is a big difference in the quality of the tools. Many of us have been collecting tools for a number of years, me 30. If it is a one time thing that you want to do, your tool box might not be as complete as someone that will build several tears, or also do their own furniture, home remodels etc...

Columbus didn't have any of these tools and they built a boat that made it across the Atlantic at least twice...Understanding what the tool will do for you and your creativity in using it is probably your best tool. I may grab a big horse router with a carbide bit that can cut a ton of material for a roundover, but the same result can be accomplished with a good wood rasp and more time.

However to keep it on track...my most used tool was probably a GOOD cordless drill, (next to the table saw)..I got a Hilti...but I know it'll last a lot longer than the Porter Cable I had, it died on the first one...but was 10 years old. #2 were my routers...and if you think we are nuts with tools...ask Brick how many routers he has...that dude is sick!!!Doug

[Podunkfla]

Jim...you have asked a question that is just about impossible to answer. It all sort of depends on ones abilities and experience. Tools do make a difference and there is a big difference in the quality of the tools. Many of us have been collecting tools for a number of years, me 30. If it is a one time thing that you want to do, your tool box might not be as complete as someone that will build several tears, or also do their own furniture, home remodels etc...

Columbus didn't have any of these tools and they built a boat that made it across the Atlantic at least twice...Understanding what the tool will do for you and your creativity in using it is probably your best tool. I may grab a big horse router with a carbide bit that can cut a ton of material for a roundover, but the same result can be accomplished with a good wood rasp and more time.

However to keep it on track...my most used tool was probably a GOOD cordless drill, (next to the table saw)..I got a Hilti...but I know it'll last a lot longer than the Porter Cable I had, it died on the first one...but was 10 years old. #2 were my routers...and if you think we are nuts with tools...ask Brick how many routers he has...that dude is sick!!!Doug

Yep... I'd hafta agree with everything Doug said... Including the sickness part.

Being a tool junkie is a sickness, I guess. As for routers, I have twenty something 'cause I'm too lazy to change router bits! I try to pick them up cheep in pawn shops when I hit the big city... Best day of "tool hunting" I've had lately was about a year ago. I got 5 like-new 1/2" bit Porter-Cable & Dewalt routers in one day... all for less than $25. apiece. I woulda done a "MaryK dance" if I still could!

[apratt]

They can be had for less than 100 bucks and for a part time wood worker, should last many years.

Take away my scroll saw, my jig saw, my band saw, my chop saw, my radial arm saw, my saws-all, my skil-saw........but not my 4 table saws!

Roly.......... long time camper, 1st time teardropper and think it's great.

This is the only time I will ever disagree with you Roly. My $200 craftsman table saw didn't see fit to make it through the build. However I cut all my own spars and framing from 2x6's so it worked really hard.

I will agree it is one of he most valuable tools I had. Looking for a belt drive this time.

I got one of those cheapie craftman portable table saw that was hand down to me 7 years ago. It was from a housing projects where 100s of people was using it. It is still going strong, heck I leave it outside all the time under a rv tarp cover. Not the best saw but sure works. I am getting my moneys worth out of it, wich was free.

[Tallguy3578]

I have to say, you all have given me a lot to consider!

Steve - I like the PVC clamps, I have never heard or seen anyone doing that! I built two boats several years ago and that woudl have definitely come in handy.

Dee Bee - Are you sure you have everything listed? You had to have missed something! I don't know if I have enough garage and shed space. My wife would flip if she saw that list, fortunately it's not as bad as it looks. Thanks so much for all the detail.

Jim

[Ira]

It all sort of depends on ones abilities and experience.

Columbus didn't have any of these tools and they built a boat that made it across the Atlantic at least twice.

Hey--I'm just like Christopher Columbus! I built mine with a few screwdrivers and a pair of tweezers.

It didn't cross the Atlantic, but it made it to St. Augustine and back without a problem.

Jim, I had NOTHING in the way of tools, and nothing in the checkbook to buy a lot of stuff, so I bought very few items. I did without the rest. (You see, collecting tools ISN'T one of my hobbies.)

I did make one major mistake though that I never corrected throughout the entire build:

I didn't have enough clamps.

This is NOT a joke, and the people ABOVE are not joking. You have no idea how often and how many clamps will be needed.

I did my entire build with EIGHT cheap steel vise/screw type ones.

[Todah Tear]

I ended up buying a circular saw. It cuts clean, but it is heavy. I wish they made a light-weight circular saw. I did see a small one that is "supposed" to be used to make small cuts on tile though.

Todah

[Dale M.]

A true craftsman can build a 50 room mansion with a hammer and a saw...

A hobbiest can have $10,000 worth of tools and can not build a coffee table that will have all four legs sitting on floor....

Get any tools that you may need along the way .....

Dale

[Roly Nelson]

Miriam, one of the big mistakes some folks make when using one of those "cheapy" table saws, is to continue to do heavy ripping with the Monster blade that came with it. I always change the big 10 incher to a 7 1/4 thin-kerf carbide-tipped blade. It has three definate advantages:

One is the tip speed of the blade is slower and has more power for ripping, which saves wear and tear on the motor......(I usually keep a thin wooden wedge handy to insert between the ripped members, if needed, so they are not being cut twice by the rear edge of the blade as the teeth are coming upwards)

Second, with the thin-kerf, less wood is lost to the sawdust pile (especially when ripping 3/4" lumber on edge) and also rips faster since less wood is being cut.

Third, I feel safer with a smaller blade spinning near my fingers, and when I make the new required plate insert to accomodate the smaller blade, it has less clearance between the blade and the plate, which keeps thin rips from being wedged or lost.

Just thought about a few less important reasons; it sure is quieter, the blades are cheaper and since it has less inertia, it doesn't take forever to slow down and stop after it's turned off
Roly.......and NO this is not Table Saw 101...........

[Miriam C.]

Roly.......and NO this is not Table Saw 101........... Wink

Thanks Roly. I will remember that next time. And you can do all the 101's you like. There are lots of us who need and appreciate them.

[Podunkfla]

Roly.......and NO this is not Table Saw 101........... Wink

Thanks Roly. I will remember that next time. And you can do all the 101's you like. There are lots of us who need and appreciate them.

Miriam... You may not know those "universal brush type motors" like in a lot of portable table saws are easily replacable and you can often find the motors on ebay quite cheap... Here's a few:

http://tinyurl.com/ytncjm
http://tinyurl.com/225udm
http://tinyurl.com/29mute
(NOTE: these seem to have replacable brushes too, from the pix. That's a good thing... some of the cheap TS's don't).

Like Roly says... overloading and heat is what usually kills these brush type motors... so a thin kirf blade is a good idea... smaller blade is even better & cheaper.

I keep one of those portables just for taking on jobs... Itsa cheap Black & Decker/Dewalt and I've had it since 1995 and it is still running fine.

[Ron Dickey]

The lists of tools and wood could go on for ever......

don't be frightend away by all that.

Glue, Clamps, a jig saw or circular saw, (you could even use a hand saw but will get tired fast. drill, screwdriver,
Clamps will be many but if you are creative you can make many of your own. or do a little at a time. or ask around and see howmany you can barrow. And if don't have a lot of clamps you might be able to follow with a wood screw or nail. the largist pcs you will need to glue are sides and roof.
(and manybe the floor.) my floor was glued and wood screwed to a 2x4 frame.
Wood deck screws or if you have the lux air gun stapler. with glue.
sanding you can hand sand but if you can get a power sander it could be a cheep one from Harbor Freight or a garage sale. I barrowed a belt sander for the curve on my sides.
if there are no TTT or TD builders in you area talk it up you may find outlets to more tools then you new and help from places never even thought of.
I got some tools Old ones but tools from freinds that they did not need.
Plan out what you are going to do and what wood you want to use. and make sure you are not expecting more out of you self then you really can do, or afford.
Rember basic tools are a good start. find the ones you need or budget them in with that next pay check. Rember to return those tools you barrowed so you can get more later on.
you have one of the best group of people here at the forum to answer questions, and they will teach how to use tools you may not know how to use too.

Many of us have many tools but many of us are old and have gotten them over the years.
and as I have talked to my freinds family and coworkers about my project I have gained new places where tools can be barrowed when needed as wall as help lifting etc.

And if you want to see the basic basic take a look at mikes Weekender it used flat pcs and he did it in a week end.

just keep working at it and talking to otheres about it and you will find it will happen and you will learn as you go and we will help you all we can.

When we had our national event there were many people who went home are rebuilt parts they did not know they could have or saw something that was where they wanted to be. so even if you finish your unit you may be able to rebuild or even start a new build later on.

Ron D.

[Miriam C.]

Roly.......and NO this is not Table Saw 101........... Wink

Thanks Roly. I will remember that next time. And you can do all the 101's you like. There are lots of us who need and appreciate them.

Miriam... You may not know those "universal brush type motors" like in a lot of portable table saws are easily replacable and you can often find the motors on ebay quite cheap... Here's a few:

http://tinyurl.com/ytncjm
http://tinyurl.com/225udm
http://tinyurl.com/29mute
(NOTE: these seem to have replacable brushes too, from the pix. That's a good thing... some of the cheap TS's don't).

Like Roly says... overloading and heat is what usually kills these brush type motors... so a thin kirf blade is a good idea... smaller blade is even better & cheaper.

I keep one of those portables just for taking on jobs... Itsa cheap Black & Decker/Dewalt and I've had it since 1995 and it is still running fine.

Hey thanks Brick. I will go out and check how to mount the last one. It says it will work with different mounting brackets. Maybe I will take it apart after all.

[apratt]

Roly.......and NO this is not Table Saw 101........... Wink

Thanks Roly. I will remember that next time. And you can do all the 101's you like. There are lots of us who need and appreciate them.

Miriam... You may not know those "universal brush type motors" like in a lot of portable table saws are easily replacable and you can often find the motors on ebay quite cheap... Here's a few:

http://tinyurl.com/ytncjm
http://tinyurl.com/225udm
http://tinyurl.com/29mute
(NOTE: these seem to have replacable brushes too, from the pix. That's a good thing... some of the cheap TS's don't).

Like Roly says... overloading and heat is what usually kills these brush type motors... so a thin kirf blade is a good idea... smaller blade is even better & cheaper.

I keep one of those portables just for taking on jobs... Itsa cheap Black & Decker/Dewalt and I've had it since 1995 and it is still running fine.

Wow Brick!!!! I wished I known about the ebay site back then! Because I gotten another Craftman saw I gotten at the same time from the same place, everything was there except the motor. I checked woth Sears at the time they wanted as much for the motor as the whole table saw! I said forget it. So I took a old washing maching motor and made my second table saw into a drum sander.