I want to get into woodworking!

[mangoey]

Hello all!!!

As you can tell by my profile, I'm a relatively young person who really wants to get into woodworking. It's difficult for me because I have no resources or areas near me, but I have been watching videos for years because it's something I'm really into. Does anyone have any idea of how to start without that push?

 

[mpholway]

Miya, welcome and would you please share your general location?

 

[Echd]

I'd consider a makerspace or nearby workshop. I believe there are some in Durham, and I'd be surprised if there weren't some in Chapel Thrill as well. Many have classes and learning opportunities in addition to machinery.

While I am fortunate to have the space and ability to have my own machinery, I've purchased used equipment from makerspaces at times and been amazed at the value that is there for the low cost many have. The makerspace nearest to me (but still too far for me to consider), The Forge in Greensboro, has basic memberships at $65 a month. Which seems pricy, but they also have scholarships, and consider that even at $65 a month, my tablesaw alone at current msrp is worth 4.5 years of those memberships.

 

[Mike Davis]

I would offer to teach if you were closer but here is , I think, the perfect opportunity for you.



The Bull City Woodshop is a non-profit woodworking education program located in Durham, NC. We are focused on making woodworkers starting as young as 3rd grade! A majority of our programing is with students in grades 7-12, but we also are building up a strong adult class schedule as well! ALL of our classes are taught by incredible volunteers who love seeing this craft passed down to the next generation. Would you be interested in passing your knowledge and experience down as well? We are looking for additional volunteers as we are gearing up for our Fall Semester to begin on September 9th.

If you are interested in volunteering, please put your name into this form. You will receive an email back with further instructions on how to get involved.

Thank you, and we are looking to building with you in the shop!

 

[ScottM]

Welcome to the forum. I started my woodworking venture with a $200 scroll saw set up in a corner of my garage. You can also consider carving or pyrography. Both of which take up little space and can be can started with a minimum investment. Next Saturday the Klingspor store in Cary will be having an anniversary and we will be doing demonstrations. Come check us out.

 

[LeftyTom]

Welcome to NCWW, Miya.

 

[Mrfixit71]

Welcome.

 

[Oka]

Welcome Miya !

 

[RobS.]

If you are interested, I have a scroll saw you can have for free. It belonged to my dad. He passed away 7 years ago, but the saw has been in my barn/shop for 19 years and I've never used it. I think it's a Craftsman. I'll go look at later today to see if it still works (95% sure it does). I was planning to offer it here for free anyway. Yours if you want it.
I'm about an hour and twenty minutes from Chapel Hill.

 

[NCGrimbo]

Welcome!

Here's what I would recommend for starting and on a budget. (Prices based on tools from Lowes.)

A corded circular saw. ($50 or so)
A corded Jig saw. ($30 to $50)
A corded drill. ($30 to $70)
A set of drill bits. ($10 to $30)
A set of screw drill bits. ($15 to $40)
A 9' tape measure. ($10)
4 carpenter pencils and a sharpener ($5)

With these tools, you can build simple furniture and fixtures. That way, for a range of $150 to $255, you can have a basic set of tools and decide if woodworking is something that you want to do. Also, with these tools, you don't need a lot of space to build, just a good vacuum cleaner to get the sawdust out of your carpets. LOL! I've seen some YouTube videos where makers work on the porch of their apartment and some even work inside the apartment. You don't need a huge shop to do woodworking.

As you skill grows (and your money), you can look into upgrading. But there is no reason you can't make good items with these tools.

Don't forget that you don't have to buy all the tools at one time.

 

[RobS.]

I just checked out the saw. It is a Sears Craftsman 20" variable speed saw on a stand and it works. There are a couple of blades but I don't know how sharp they are. It probably won't fit in a car trunk, but maybe in an suv.

 

[Michael Mathews]

Miya, I'm also in Chapel Hill and would be willing to talk about what kind of things you're interested in doing with wood. There's all kinds of different directions you can go with woodworking. If you haven't thought about it further, then a good place to start would be some where like the Bull City Woodshop in Durham. Or, you can work with someone local that has a shop to figure out what kind of things you'd like to do. This would be a good way to go prior to investing in a bunch of tools.

 

[Rwe2156]

My advice is don't buy any machines. Start with hand tools. Peruse the catalogues of Lee Valley and WoodCraft and you'll get an idea what decent tools cost.

If you can find a mentor that is ideal, something I wish I had.Woodcraft stores usually have classes that can involve machines and safety.

 

[Martin Roper]

Start out with cabinets, shelves, built-ins, etc.

If I had to start over from scratch I'd buy a track saw, drill/driver, dowel jig, random orbital sander, a trim router with a handful of bits, and some clamps. Of course you'll need a square, tape measure, and mechanical pencil. That should enable you to precisely cut sheet goods. For face frames you can buy dimensioned lumber until it's time for a planer.

Then I'd buy new tools as needed. Keep an eye on ads here on NCW as well as CL and Facebook Marketplace. Watch for sales online. We post a lot of stuff in the Found for Sale/Hot Deals thread.

 

[Howie]

Hello all!!!

As you can tell by my profile, I'm a relatively young person who really wants to get into woodworking. It's difficult for me because I have no resources or areas near me, but I have been watching videos for years because it's something I'm really into. Does anyone have any idea of how to start without that push?

Try to get a job in a non production cabinet shop even if it's just sweeping floors and helping off feed at 1st. Even if it's part time you will learn a lot by keeping your eyes open. As you build trust you will be given more to do. In the future pre-70's Craftsman/Delta tools can be had for very little $ on the 2nd hand mkt. Youtube is a tremendous source wish we had it back in the day. I would recommend reading James Krenov for insights into a life of craft.

 

[tvrgeek]

So many kinds of woodworking. From carving, scroll sawing, cabinet and furniture working, turning, whatever. Remember, about anything that can be done with expensive power tools can be done by hand. What excites you? What environment are you in? One makes different choices if they are in an apartment than having a garage or a workshop. I would not buy any tool until you need it.

I started building kitchen cabinets in my trailer from recycled oak flooring because I needed them. Started with hand tools and progressed to a Radial Arm saw. Went on to loudspeaker building, lots of home carpentry, furniture, picture frames, and every rabbit hole you can think of.

There are several trustworthy You-Tube channels. Rex Kruger, Stumpy Nubs, Paul Sellers, James Wright, and of course the old PBS Woodrights Shop series. There also a ton of bad and dangerous sites and sites telling you what new fancy tools you need. Not. Look around and see what interests you.

 

[Dee2]

if you can find your way to Cary, stop in at Klingspor Woodworking Shop and say hello. Lots of friendly people. Just tell anyone of them your story and see what can happen relative to support, suggestions, and recommendations.

 

[Melinapex]

if you can find your way to Cary, stop in at Klingspor Woodworking Shop and say hello. Lots of friendly people. Just tell any one of them your story and see what can happen relative to support, suggestions, and recommendations.

If you can make it to Cary on the 14th they are having an anniversary event and a number of crafts will be on display- some of us will be there too……

 

[tvrgeek]

We have three woodworking supliers here now. Of course Klingspor gets too much of my money as every month when I stop in for the club lunch at McGregors, I go over and spend money I don't really need to. So many toys!

 

[mpeele]

Hello all!!!

As you can tell by my profile, I'm a relatively young person who really wants to get into woodworking. It's difficult for me because I have no resources or areas near me, but I have been watching videos for years because it's something I'm really into. Does anyone have any idea of how to start without that push?

Miya there is Triangle Woodworker Association ( trianglewoodworkers.squarespace.com - Beads of Courage Info ) which meets at Klingspor Woodworking Shop in Cary the third Tuesday of every month. TWA has Toys For Tots workshop groups which builds toys for the Marines Toys For Tots project. I'm sure there is a workshop group that would welcome you. TWA from time to time has one or two day weekend workshops presented by a speaker from one of the meetings. The last one was Tom McLaughlin from Epic Woodworking (Epic Woodworking | Your story in the making).