Re: Woodworking Starter Kit

or somewhat to that effect...

Hi guys,

Do you guys have any idea how much would the price range for each would cost and where to get it best?

• Tenon saw (still thinking if powered saws might be a good investment)
• Miter block (trueness is my biggest sawing skill weakness)
• Clamps (would Eagle brands be good enough)
• Rafter and Combination square (heard not so good feedbacks with the yellow Stanleys)
• Drill press (for electric drill)

I'm starting slow (or cheap) into this long-dreamt hobby. Aside from the economic crisis, I just want to have a feel first of what's in store for me in this hobby just in case things does not turn out as expected.

Thank you for the suggestions, corrections are also encouraged.

Tenon saw - Stanley tenon saw, I use and have this bought P500.00
Clamps- we use all kinds, you can get cheap ones at Japan Home Surplus for P66.00 each and they work fine 6" nga lang

Re: Woodworking Starter Kit

Hello Jarod. Welcome to PinoyHandyman.

Since you are using the terms (tenon, miter, trueness) I think it is safe to assume you have been doing your homework. It is sign that you have the potential to become a true craftsman by your having done your homework without yet having bought any tools. Patience is something that will take you a long way in developing your skills. Kudos on that.

If you want to go the long time honored route, you should start with manual tools. Try to get the best that you can but even this is IMHO secondary to the drive and patience to pursue this.

To answer your question: my guess is you'd need to budget P5k - P10k but remember you don't have to buy all your tools at once.

You left out a block plane by the way.

Re: Woodworking Starter Kit

@timber715:
Thanks sir timber. It was relieveing to know that the saw isn't that expensive after all. I don't seem to see this in my nearby hardware, better get more eagle-eyed on this. Thanks for the clamp tip, will visit JHS one of these days.

@lncc63:
Thank you for the kind words and encouragement sir lncc63. I mostly lurk here and there looking and familiarizing myself from others' WIPs. I think it's safe to say that the more I look, the more I crave.

Almost forgot the block planes, thanks for that. I happen to see some Stanleys in Handyman and my eyes almost pop out when I saw the price tag of almost 3K. Might as well hunt for alternatives and chisels as well.

Re: Woodworking Starter Kit

I've seen the stanley tenon saw's at several Ace hardwares already so they aren't hard to find.

A few common sized chisels i think should also be in a starter kit. And since your on a budget, you could try those shortened saws that karpinteros usually use. They aren't expensive.

oh yeah, just a warning, this hobby is highly addicting..once you start buying tools, its like sliding down a slippery slope..hehehe! look at me, in a span of a year, 9 handplanes..go figure.. But thats not a bad thing right?

Goodluck to you and post some pics of the projects that you will do.

Re: Woodworking Starter Kit

Hi Jarod,

Just to give a different perspective. I skipped almost all handtools and whichever hand tools i started with i never mastered it since i got real impatient with them due to my lack of skills.

after a month or two i jumped to powered miter saw and circular saw. And now i am just starting to re-learn handtools. So i did it backwards 🙂

I learned to chisel coz i needed to make mortise and i learned to cut straight with a hand saw coz a circular saw can't be used on the piece i needed to work on.

Good luck ! i am sure you will have lots of fun 🙂

Re: Woodworking Starter Kit

Panda Construction sells some Israeli made Combination Squares. If you're not comfortable getting a Stanley you might want to check these. Quality is good.

Re: Woodworking Starter Kit

Thanks for all the handy tips guys.

I feel for beebeenator. I personally want to skip the manual tools and get ahead with the powered ones not because I'm lazy but because I find it more practical in the long run. I'm just not sure though if the faster rate of satisfaction using there powered tools would suffice enough to get them.

Even looking into many WIP videos, I find most are done using power tools. Honestly, I'm still kind of torn and really on a crossroad right now. This is also the reason why I mentioned that I would humbly accept any correction from my point of view, whether to start small and progress or skip and be more productive as much as I can.

Thank you for the patience and understanding. Needless to say, all info are taken into consideration and being weighed rationally.

Re: Woodworking Starter Kit

@moji
I will try looking at Ace sometime, the Handyman in my area just have 9 TPI Nicholson tenon saws.

@ JayL
Would you remember the Isareli brandof the combination square? Aside from that, any other good alternatives?

@all
I was also looking for good clamps and all I saw was C clamps. I saw an Eagle-branded trigger clamps (Irwin copy) at Ace SM Manila but not sure if it was good at all. Was hoping to look for F and.or parallel clamps somehow.

Somehow, aside from these manual tools, I'm looking for a circ saw and hopefully a table router. From most of the online wood projects that I find doing myself, these are the two most valuable items needed (or good to have).

*This is a contagious hobby.. I haven't got to buy the main items and yet I'm already somewhat upgrading my "wanted to buys" :p

Re: Woodworking Starter Kit

about this hobby???

you know when you have fixed something without calling someone else to fix it for you, your mom will be proud of you..and so does your wife, mother in law etc..etc...

and most of all..you get this personal satisfaction...

if you can get by doing things perfectly using just a few hand tools then so be it..just dont rush things up.

the larger power tools can break stocks into small manageable pieces but the the intricacies of your projects may it be your workbench will be made by your hand and of course..your lowly watt-less hand tools.

if you will pursue...try to make your first workbench first and know the tools you need to build one..you start from there...

thereafter..you start collecting all sort of tools.

.its endless by the way...hehe (look at moji..he's got the handplane virus!!!..i bet if he finds the veritas for half the price he will buy them by the dozens if not by truckloads even if it meant duplicating every plane he has! lol)

Re: Woodworking Starter Kit

@ JayL
Would you remember the Isareli brandof the combination square? Aside from that, any other good alternatives?

@all
I was also looking for good clamps and all I saw was C clamps. I saw an Eagle-branded trigger clamps (Irwin copy) at Ace SM Manila but not sure if it was good at all. Was hoping to look for F and.or parallel clamps somehow.

The combination square being referred to is Kapro. Their levels are also a good value.

For bar (or F) clamps, what seems to be readily available (though not in mall/depot stores) are the Torq brand of Elektro Werk. Price and quality are decent, compared to equivalent Bessey. Quality also seems better than the bar clamps in the depot stores. Example: P290 -10% = P261 for 80 x 300 mm (12 in).

Re: Woodworking Starter Kit

dang violaine, if I find them LN or LV planes, at half the price I might buy triplets of every model... 🙂 even if I got my thicknesser, those planes are just top end...

Re: Woodworking Starter Kit

@violane
Point well taken. Thanks for the advise!

@guad
Thanks for the links. I'll try to look for that square when I finally have time to visit Binondo once again. The last time I got there was when I was buying acrylics from a shop just beside the church and that was during my thesis days :p

Re: Woodworking Starter Kit

what a dream if those planes go half price! I'd get the whole line of planes if that happens...