Tool Fast

[Knottscott]

This is sad, but I really struggle with the price of hardwood. I look at what it would cost to make a nice table or cabinet and I start thinking "Why I could by an xxx tool for that much!" The sad part is I then go and buy the tool, not the wood!

Wood can be very expensive but with a little luck and some patience, I've actually bought very little wood in the 7 years I've been a threat to trees. A jointer and planer were among my early purchases which allows a lot more flexibility with the source of wood. I've actually been given a decent amount of cherry, walnut, maple, and oak over the years, have bought old furniture at garage sales and salvaged the wood, and have found many sources for freebies from curbside, dumpsters, and work. I honestly don't think I've spent over $400 total for wood....likely less. The out of pocket cost for many of my projects are the consumables like glue, screws, sandpaper, and finishes. Even my wood purchases tend to be really good deals from rough sawn dealers....I rarely buy wood from homecenters, Rockler, Woodcraft, etc. Check Craigslist "materials" section. Keep your antenna up and see what comes your way...the same gene that drives the tool bargain hunting can work in your favor for scrounging wood!

[Tom Slick]

I am in the same boat. I have now sworn that I will not buy more tools until I am building a project that needs them. I do have to say that my tool inventory covers all of the basics pretty well. I still buy tools, but only when needed,not just as a "good deal" or because "I could build a project if I had it".
I have also sworn not to buy anymore "value" tools. I have ended up replacing almost every tool I bought "for just a couple of times" because I end up using them for more then "just a couple of times". That means I no longer eyeball the HF catalog evaluating the # of uses/price factor.

[JoeyGee]

Doug, let me help you out. I need to be in Benton Harbor tomorrow for work. I can swing by, and "borrow" some of those tools from you so you won't feel nearly as guilty.

[poolhound]

Wood can be very expensive but with a little luck and some patience, I've actually bought very little wood in the 7 years I've been a threat to trees. A jointer and planer were among my early purchases which allows a lot more flexibility with the source of wood. I've actually been given a decent amount of cherry, walnut, maple, and oak over the years, have bought old furniture at garage sales and salvaged the wood, and have found many sources for freebies from curbside, dumpsters, and work. I honestly don't think I've spent over $400 total for wood....likely less. The out of pocket cost for many of my projects are the consumables like glue, screws, sandpaper, and finishes. Even my wood purchases tend to be really good deals from rough sawn dealers....I rarely buy wood from homecenters, Rockler, Woodcraft, etc. Check Craigslist "materials" section. Keep your antenna up and see what comes your way...the same gene that drives the tool bargain hunting can work in your favor for scrounging wood!

I agree about keeping an eye on CL materials section. I have picked up some nice deals on wood (and tools)

You can often find folks selling rough lumber for good prices ($1 bd/ft). There was one in Prescott here in AZ only last week from a guy closing down a pro woodshop. I have quite a good stock right now and the gas to get to Prescott for me would not have made it worthwhile.

I am also "tooled" out right now, to the extent that I dont slobber over the rockler and Grizzly catalogues anymore. That plus no more space for large tools. The only new things on my current wishlist are a new good quality TS blade and a pin nailer. Neither are cheap but if you gotta have it you just gotta get it

[eezlock]

tool fast

Sounds like he might be trying to jerk on our chain again ???What do you think?

[bfrikken]

Hmm, in buying rough lumber, I'll need a planer. and a jointer....

[dkerfoot]

JoeyGee - that might happen, but I wouldn't hold your breath. Probably about the time you start rooting for Michigan State (when they are NOT playing against Michigan!)

Eezlock - I am dead serious. I am also not questioning anyone else's buying. Just going on record to keep myself honest.

Bfrikken - That is exactly the path I would normally go down! So, for now at least, I am going to pay a bit more for lumber that is at least surfaced and edged 1-side.

Should 500 feet of free rough-sawn cherry drop at my feet, I'll probably reconsider my position. Better yet, perhaps I can strike up an artificial friendship with someone who has a planer and jointer...

Actually, I am considering contacting some of the cabinet makers around here to see if they have scrap that I can scavenge. I just haven't prepared myself for the possible "You want us to give you our garbage?" response yet.

[bfrikken]

I'm kinda glad you are doing this. It allows me to KNOW there is one less person to compete agains on CL deals in GR.

[gsmittle]

Aieee!!!! WHY did I read this thread???? Now I'm all conscience-stricken....

Actually, I resolved a couple of days ago to not buy anything tool-related for at least a year. Then this morning I ordered a 38-volume set of the complete works of Shakespeare from Amazon.

At least it's not a tool...

g.

[Knottscott]

Aieee!!!! WHY did I read this thread???? Now I'm all conscience-stricken....

Actually, I resolved a couple of days ago to not buy anything too-related for at least a year. Then this morning I ordered a 38-volume set of the complete works of Shakespeare from Amazon.

At least it's not a tool...

g.

What are you going to do with 38 fishing poles?

[gsmittle]

What are you going to do with 38 fishing poles?

Yea, verily, like piscators of old, I doth plan to fish!

Fishing stuff is like clamps: you can't have too much!

g.

[jhart]

You know when you're a tool junkie when you have tools you've bought that you haven't even opened and tried yet. Oh the shame of it!!!

[radhak]

I for one cannot decide if I need to put a hold on tools, or on scrap wood.

Whatever part of my garage-shop is not occupied by tools, has wood of various types.

There's the mahagony i bought from a local lumber yard for an immediate, urgent project (in nov 06 !), then the cherry i ordered online for another inspiring idea (Jan 07), the various sizes of plywood of quality varying from superior mahogany (for that afore-mentioned project) to that scrap ply I am holding onto for those jigs I am promising to make this weekend (hey, don't knock it - i am pretty firm on that, as I have been since I first resolved it last year this time).

And my neighbors don't help : one threw out a large bedroom set that I just had to drag in - can't let good wood go waste, can i?

In complete empathy to my wife (and daughters now that they are becoming more vocal), I try and keep it clean, but it's impossible to part with what I already have . So I have left off acquiring anything new - material, or tool. So count me in for your peer-support group.

[dkerfoot]

I am Weak...

Sigh... I swear I didn't go looking for trouble... I forgot that I had set up an alert for a local online auction on a Craftsman 21788 Jointer/Planer... Even then I would have ignored it, but the auction was close to expiring, and the highest bid was $10. So, I put in a bid for $35 and won it for $34!

I doubt it was ever used. The knives are sharp and clean and bright. The table has a few light rust lines. Sigh. I feel kinda bad, but in a giddy sort of way.

OK, as someone who has quit both cigarettes and booze, I know how to deal with this. I just start again. It would have been easy to not post this and pretend it never happened, but I am serious and I am committed. No more tools.

Uh, does anyone happen to have a pdf of the owners manual? I'd just like to see whatever instructions they have for setup and blade changes (when the time comes).

[poolhound]

Sigh... I swear I didn't go looking for trouble... I forgot that I had set up an alert for a local online auction on a Craftsman 21788 Jointer/Planer... Even then I would have ignored it, but the auction was close to expiring, and the highest bid was $10. So, I put in a bid for $35 and won it for $34!

I doubt it was ever used. The knives are sharp and clean and bright. The table has a few light rust lines. Sigh. I feel kinda bad, but in a giddy sort of way.

OK, as someone who has quit both cigarettes and booze, I know how to deal with this. I just start again. It would have been easy to not post this and pretend it never happened, but I am serious and I am committed. No more tools.

Uh, does anyone happen to have a pdf of the owners manual? I'd just like to see whatever instructions they have for setup and blade changes (when the time comes).

You got a great little jointer for $34. Now you just need to find the $34 Planer to go with it and you will be all set to find the rough lumber deals