Help me spend my money...

[avaserfi]

I am not new to woodwork per say, but don't have a lot of experience. The little experience I do have is with my dads tools and his help. Now I have a couple hundred dollars to spend on some tools for the next speaker build I am going to be completing and need some advice on what to purchase.

The main tools I will need are a corded drill, circular saw and if possible a router in the budget (I know its a stretch). Also, I will need some clamps to put everything together with.

I am open to pretty much all suggestions and am very willing to buy used if told what to look for and how to test for abuse if possible.

Thanks everyone.

[LarryG]

"Pittsburgh" brand F-body clamps from Harbor Freight; buy them when they're on sale for approximately half price (happens frequently).

A reasonably decent corded drill shouldn't set you back too much ... maybe $25-30. This won't be a contractor-quality tool but for light use it should suffice for a good long while, and you won't have a lot of guilt when you someday chuck it in favor of something better.

For many years, when I had no shop space and worked out under the big shade trees in the back yard, my "table saw" was a good straightedge, my router, and a 1/4" straight bit. You might consider this approach instead of a circular saw. The two main downsides are that cutting down panels will be slower than using a circular saw, and the 1/4" bit will waste more material than will a saw blade. The upsides are that the accuracy of your cuts will be better than you can probably manage with a circular saw, and by not buying a CS you will be more easily able to afford a router -- which is, hands-down, the most versatile hand-held power tool there is. If I had to choose between a CS and a router, the router would win every time.

[JoeyGee]

I second Larry's suggestion on the router. With the right jigs, you can do just about anything with it.

I am curious, though, why a corded drill? I use my cordless for just about everything--woodworking, home repair, assembling play gyms...

I think I paid about $89 for my Ryobi 14.4v drill/circular saw kit. I don't think 14.4 is available anymore, though. I use the cordless saw to break down sheet goods. I hardly ever use my big Craftsman circular saw. The kit is still going strong on the original batteries after 4 years.

[avaserfi]

"Pittsburgh" brand F-body clamps from Harbor Freight; buy them when they're on sale for approximately half price (happens frequently).

A reasonably decent corded drill shouldn't set you back too much ... maybe $25-30. This won't be a contractor-quality tool but for light use it should suffice for a good long while, and you won't have a lot of guilt when you someday chuck it in favor of something better.

For many years, when I had no shop space and worked out under the big shade trees in the back yard, my "table saw" was a good straightedge, my router, and a 1/4" straight bit. You might consider this approach instead of a circular saw. The two main downsides are that cutting down panels will be slower than using a circular saw, and the 1/4" bit will waste more material than will a saw blade. The upsides are that the accuracy of your cuts will be better than you can probably manage with a circular saw, and by not buying a CS you will be more easily able to afford a router -- which is, hands-down, the most versatile hand-held power tool there is. If I had to choose between a CS and a router, the router would win every time.

Thanks for the suggestions. I have heard Bosch and DeWalt make great routers anything I should look for in specific?

I second Larry's suggestion on the router. With the right jigs, you can do just about anything with it.

I am curious, though, why a corded drill? I use my cordless for just about everything--woodworking, home repair, assembling play gyms...

I think I paid about $89 for my Ryobi 14.4v drill/circular saw kit. I don't think 14.4 is available anymore, though. I use the cordless saw to break down sheet goods. I hardly ever use my big Craftsman circular saw. The kit is still going strong on the original batteries after 4 years.

I don't mind a cord and hate when batteries die mid project so am more comfortable using a corded drill.

I really like the idea of just getting a nicer router as it could do pretty much everything I need. Keep the suggestions coming I need to learn .

[Anna]

I paid about $99 for a Ryobi set with a cordless drill, 5" circular saw, sander, flashlight and 2x18 V batteries. For crosscutting, the 5" circular saw worked pretty well. I haven't had much occasion to use it for ripping yet because I get the lumberyard to cut the sheets up for me. I think it should work just fine, though.

You do have to keep the batteries charged and ready to go. The drill is okay, but not terrific (to me anyway). I also picked up a 5.6 Amp DeWalt corded drill at HD for less than $60. I haven't really used it enough because I have several DeWalt cordless drills lying around.

Another option is to look at garage sales and the member classifieds forum. Some folks here occasionally get rid of their excess tools and might be a good deal. Craigslist occasionally have some good deals, especially when there's a divorce and the wife decides to get rid of the husband's "junk" in the garage. Not sure about eBay. I've bought electronics from there, including computers, and have been pretty lucky so far, but haven't really bought power tools yet.

There are some reconditioned tools sellers. One is this site (the link is for the drill I bought for $60 new). I've talked to them before regarding warranties, etc, but I bought the tool new anyway. Some of the manufacturers also offer reconditioned tools, either directly or even through Amazon. You have to do some research on which one to buy from and ask them about warranties. Reconditioned tools from the manufacturer I think typically have the same warranties as new tools, but I'm not sure.

One other place is the local tool repair shop. I've got a place nearby that is an authorized repair shop for pretty much all the tool manufacturers. I've chatted with the guy who works there, and they say that they sometimes have tools for sale.

I agree that the router is pretty versatile, but I can't imagine having the patience to use it for ripping/crosscutting. Maybe for cleaning up edges. You can use the circular saw for rough cuts then follow up with the router. I'm not sure what a good bargain router is, though. Mine are DeWalt and Bosch. I've used the DeWalt much more (because I've had it longer), but either brand is great. I'm guessing that if you can only have one base, the plunge base might give more flexibility.

[Anna]

By the way, if you're going with the router, WoodCraft often have $5 bits for sale. I think some people regard the WoodCraft bits as middle-of-the-road in quality, and for $5 they're not so bad if subjected to abuse. When I started, I used some expensive bits and regretted ruining them on MDF while trying to get a clean edge. I honestly didn't know any better.

Holbren.com is also a great source for router bits. I bought a 30-piece starter set from him a couple years ago, but I can't find it on his site anymore. That was a very good value, I thought.

Lastly, Amazon.com is your friend. Most of my accumulated tools I got from Amazon during their February/March sales for the last two years. They often have 20% sales plus free stuff (bits and blades, mostly).

[mpauly]

How much is your budget?

For speaker building I don't think you're going to have much success without a router (hole cutting, countersinking for drivers, flush trimming the joints and rounding over edges of any internal braces and/or the outside corners). You also need to factor in some money for router bits. Depending on what you need a set might be in order, look to holbren.com for thier 10 or 15% discount (I forget which) for forum members and free shipping, or hartvilletool is having a 20% off router bit sale and free shipping over $75. I'd factor in close to $150-200 for a decent router and small bit set. Might also want to budget a circle cutting jig like a jasper for $35 or so.

Sounds like you won't be swinging for a table saw, so I'd also suggest a decent circular saw and a straight edge. The straight edge could simply be a long level or a slice of MDF with the factory edge on one side. Alternatively you could have one of the big box stores cut your panels for you, but you'll be subject to their accuracy (or lack thereof). There are lots of good deals out there on refurbished circ saws at below $75.

You've already got some good suggestions on drills and clamps. I know the HD by me was having some nice sales on the Ryobi 18v kits for under $100 with 2 batteries.

Michael

[Sawatzky]

I think a cordless tool package would be the best way to go. Most come with 2 batteries, so if you keep them charged, you will have an extra when the other dies. Now days, most kits come with an hour charger. Once you get a cordless drill, you won't know how you lasted without one. You will find so many uses around the house. It is great to just grab and start working. I have an old Makita that still works great, and it has been used a lot. As far as a circular saw goes, I have the bottom of the line Skilsaw. I think it sells for less than $40.00. Some will say to buy a better saw, but I have had good luck with mine, once I replaced the cheap steel blade. I would also check out the new line of Craftsman routers. They seem to be getting good reviews, and if you find a sale you amy be able to get one for around $70.00. If you watch for sales, you should be able to pick up a router, a circular saw, and a cordless drill kit for right around $200.00.

[JoeyGee]

One additional thought if you are keeping in the few hundred dollar range--I highly recommend the Craftsman 10" band saw. It's on sale a lot for ~$100. BS' are incredibly versatile, and this saw is a great deal for those of us on a budget.

You will be able to cut curves, and do some ripping with it. Sure, it has it's limits, but it has done everything I have needed.

Also, don't forget about all the incidentals that really add up--squares, rulers, tape measures, glue, etc.

If I was starting out, I would go for the BS ($100), cordless kit ($100) and a multi-base router kit ($150 for a "cheap" one?)--I would go with the Ryobi 3 base kit if it's still available I have heard good things about it for the price. Again, a little compromise, but within budget.

[rnelson0]

You didn't say what your budget is, so that can make a huge difference. Here's some thoughts.

1) Craigslist for everything. I scored a miter, circular, and table saw for $300. A friend found a router for $35 and I owe him for shipping from a few states over. Considering it's a $500 table saw alone, it's a great deal. On the other hand, I went and saw another half dozen saws that I wouldn't buy with someone else's money, so timeliness is not an advantage of this route.

2) Home Depot has a Ryobi cordless set for $150 that includes (IIRC) a drill, circular saw, reciprocating saw, jig saw, a battery or two and a charger. Most of their larger kits come with two batteries and I've only once killed them both before another one charged. Get a router elsewhere.

3) Get cheap items, new, knowing that they won't last you forever. Walmart has a Skil 7 1/4" circular for $25. Lowes carries a Ryobi router and table for $100. You can get a cheap corded drill for $35 anywhere.


I would recommend searching craigslist religiously. Make it the first thing you do every morning right after you use the restroom. Send emails out immediately to get dibs on seeing things. Check your mail during the day and reply ASAP to anyone who responded to you if you're still interested.

For example, in Richmond, VA we have listed today... http://richmond.craigslist.org/tls/
Circular Saw - $15
Router - $35
Drills from $10-150
There's also a planer for $20, drill press for $50, 15" miter saw for $75, table saw for $50, and that's just back up through Friday.


Clamps are harder to find, but Lowes was carrying a Bessy kit that included 5 C-clamps, 5 spring clamps, 4 of the longer clamps (bars? not sure of the proper name) and something else to make it 15 clamps for $20. Compared to a single Irwin bar clamp for $20, it's a **** of a deal. Garage sales are probably your best bet for picking these up for cheap in bulk.

[ironhat]

The only option on tool sources I haven't seen is in the reconditioned category. A place like www.toolking.com has been a great source for me but there are others out there. Just do a search for reconditioned tools. If you choose to buy a circular saw or use a battery op kit saw you will need a strightedge as already mentioned. Do a search for a sawboard and this homemade edge guide will save you a bundle as opposed to the nice but expensive straightedge clamps. A couple of inexpensive, 6" clamps will hold your sawboard to the sheet goods. Have fun with your search - it's not life or death.

[mpc]

A decent router will go a long way. Make your own table - like one of those box style ones that just sits on a table/workbench. Simple (not that different from a speaker box!) and fairly inexpensive. Look at router "chamfer" bits; you might find one that has a large enough 45 degree cutting edge that it'll do your miter joints too. Once you get the bit height dialed in on the table for perfect joints, use a small piece of scrap wood the same thickness as your normal workpieces and cut a reference miter on it. That'll make it easy to reset the router height in the future.

Used routers: run it with a normal bit and listen to how smoothly it runs. Watch the bit to see if there is any sign of wobble/shaking - run away if you see any. Most routers have a fairly clean sound too; if you hear any grinding noises it's bad. Look into the vent slots for the motor; if you see lots of blue or yellow sparks then the brushes might need attention. Many routers now have variable speeds and "soft start" which, once you try it, you'll never want to be without. Bosch, Dewalt, and Porter Cable are fairly common and will serve well. Ideally you'd find one with a half-inch capable collet (and the half to quarter inch adapter); the larger bit shank is much less prone to flexing while using the router. Look at the base plate - make sure it's smooth (if it's a used router) and that it'll accept the Porter Cable guide bushings. Those are almost the standard for router jigs... only a few router makers use their own size bushings... or don't have provisions for bushings at all unless you buy an accessory plate. Dumb.

Right now Ridgid is clearancing many of their NiCad kits at Home Depot. The 8 piece kit, with lots of stuff, has been going for $299 for the last few weeks - if any are still in stores. It has 2 of the "XC" (high capacity) batteries so you can keep one in the charger while using the other one. You'll end up with a good drill, a decent circular saw, and a cordless screwdriver that'll work for your projects; plus an impact driver, light, sawzall, caulking gun, and storage bag that you might find handy in the future or ebay/Craigslist them to recoupe some of your money.

Do a SEARCH on this site; not long ago somebody posted a cheap 90 degree "clamping jig" they found: a Stanley corner/angle bracket. A lot cheaper than the 90 degree clamps sold by woodworking stores. You'll need some inexpensive spring clamps or basic woodworking clamps to use them. Or make a couple 90 degree wood corner pieces to hold stock during glue-ups.

I've had good luck with the Harbor Freight aluminum parallel jaw clamps - the ones with a rectangular cross section aluminum extrusion and blue jaw assemblies. They go on sale often as well.

mpc

[LCHIEN]

i personally vote against the multipiece cordless-tool set.
The batteries won't last but 3-4 years and the last year they will be going down in performance. Then you are hostage to buying new batteries for around $40-50 each or losing the value of the whole kit. Even new I think they will be underpowered and undersized compared to corded tools. If you don't use them frequently then you will always need to be charging them up when you need to use them, nothing kills you work session like finding the tools not ready to use.

I didn't see where you said what the budget was.

[LarryG]

Budget: Third sentence of the OP begins, "Now I have a couple hundred dollars to spend on some tools ..."

The Stanley corner bracket dodge was mine; thanks for mentioning it, mpc. It's a good example (if I do say so myself) of how a little outside-the-box thinking can save quite a few dollars while equipping a shop.

To get back to that $200 budget: I was thinking $25-30 for a homeowner's corded drill, $30-40 for a starter assortment of the HF F-body clamps, $80-100 for one of those Craftsman routers that many seem to regard as being pretty good deals for the price, and the remaining $30-60 for a set of Holbren bits and a few incidentals. Or something like that.

On this kind of budget, I really think a circular saw can be done without. As I mentioned, "sawing" with a router and straight bit is a little slow, but since the panels can be taken directly to final size, with great accuracy, it's really not that slow when the entire process is considered. I did it this way for years, even though I owned a good CS. A CS will make straight rips and crosscuts, period. A router can dado, rabbet, profile edges, cut mortises, cut biscuit slots, and more ... including "rip" and "crosscut."

[JimD]

I have some old Craftsman and B&D drills but I recommend a DeWalt, reconditioned if you want to save some money. In my experience, there is a big difference. I have a keyless chuck model and a keyed. Maybe some keyless chucks will hold on a 120V drill but the DeWalt does not. It is still handy, however, because much drilling is not that demanding. I think keyless chucks are best on cordless drills which have less power (although my 18V Ryobi is a pretty decent all around drill).

Cummins is a good source of reconditioned Ryobi and Rigid tools.

I have seen decent reviews of the new Craftsman router that is under $100. I would carefully examine the chuck but if it is decent it could be a good deal. The Ryobi plunge router that is around $100 also seems like a decent deal especially if you can find a reconditioned. I like my PC690 routers and you can sometimes find one around $100. It is a "never wear out" kind of tool you can use the rest of your life. It does not have all the features of the latest mid-sized but it gets the job done for me (I have two and 4 bases). You need a 1/2 inch chuck for an all around router. A 1/4 chuck is nice to have too for little bits but for most things, the 1/2 is much better.

Corded circular saws have noticably more power than cordless ones. I like my Ryobi 18V but if I have a bunch of work to do, I use my Milwaukee. On your budget, I would probably look at a Ryobi. It will not last forever if you use it a lot but should get the job done for a few years. Again a recon will save you money. You could also consider a good jig saw instead of a circular saw. I ususally jig saw out the speaker holes. I have a Bosch jig saw which is too much for you but I got a 18V Ryobi and it is very handy and often gets used instead of the Bosch. I think a corded Ryobi would probably work better than my 18V and be worthwhile. Jigsaws will not cut as straight a line as a circular saw, even with a guide, but if you have a router with a flush trim bit to clean up the edge, it won't matter.

I usually get router bits from MLCS. I like the free shipping and their prices are good too.

Jim