Building a storage shed

absolutebasics:
Getting Started

Beforeplunking down any money for tools, get started buildinga good library. By buying books on basic techniquesand also on subjects you are interested in, you willlearn the proper way of tackling your desired projects,safetyissues and books will tell you what tools to use forcertain procedures. Only buy tools as you need them.That way you know you need it and you can budget yourmoney better.
- woodchuck1954

Goto your local community college and they’ll have “woodworking101″ type courses to get the basics under your belt.Then start by doing and amassing your tools. Hang outhere and at other forums and pick up tips and techniques.The days of the apprentice program are pretty well gone.
- MadMark

Thebest place to get the basics under your belt is in astructured environment like a community college. Additionally,you will (probably) get the chance to work with verygood machines and have SAFETY drilled into your headrelentlessly. One other option – or even better: addition- is to hook up with your local woodworkers guild orclub. You’ll find a great group of folks and developa network of contacts with centuries’ worth of experience.
Chris Moore

I’drecommend buying nothing more than a cheap pocketknife(lock blade, small to medium size) and a good Arkansassharpening stone. For material, look in your backyard,local park or forest. Find wood that is dry to workwith. Any dry old branch will work. Start “whittling”.This is how I learned.
This will teach you SEVERAL things that you will helpthroughout your love of wood if you stick with it. Oneis how to sharpen a tool, and the importance of usinga sharp tool. Soon after you tire of the “cheap” blade,I would expect you to get a higher quality one, somethinglike a Schrade+. You will notice that this one holdsan edge longer, so even though it costs more initially,is worth the investment.
Also, by virtue of “whittling”, you are bound to slipand cut yourself. I have several scars from this myself.I still have the scars, because I learned that toolsthat cut wood, cut ME!!! I learned to work SAFELY.
Also, pay attention to the wood you are “whittling”.Some will be soft and easy to cut-others nearly impossible.Find out what type of wood is what. You will also probablynotice that some have different “layers” that are hard/easyto cut. People that just go directly to power toolsoften miss this minor detail.
- GlennS

Generallyyou should buy as you need. Start by selecting a nice”Beginner” project and buy what you need to do that.Then build something else and if you need a new tool,buy that. After a bit you’ll have most everything youneed for the type of work you actually do.
Don’t buy the cheapest nor the best initially. Get agood middle of the road item. After time you’ll learnwhat features you actually need and maybe you’ll growinto a top of the line tool. Also, this limits your$$$ outlay in case you decide you don’t really likeit.
There are tons of discussions on the “Best this or that”.Read what is here in the archives. Take a look at othershops, here’smine.
- MadMark

Startwith books. Basic woodworking books to start,then graduateto books on subjects that interest you. Start with simpleprojects,using only hand tools. If you don’t know anything,startwith a precut kit that needs assembly. Books will notonly tell you how to build projects,but also what toolsare needed. Only you know which direction of woodworkingyou want to go. You will find a lot more details anddiagrams in books than any forum. Books are better thanmags.
- woodchuck1954

Youshould become familiar with a couple of news groups.You’ve found this one, also check out rec.woodworking.To search rec.woodworking try groups.google.com . Anothersource of inspiration is are the TV shows “New YankeeWorkshop” with Norm Abrams and the “Woodwrights Shop”with Roy Underhill. Both have a couple of books outthat are quite good. As for equipment it depends onwhat you want to do, how dedicated you are, your financialresources, and what style you wish to work in. Mostof us use both hand tools and power tools to get thejob done so our tool arsenal is likely to include anew table saw as well as an 80 year old Stanley handplane. Both are very well suited for particular tasks.If you can explain further we can provide a more directedresponse
Steven Wilson

Whichmagazine for beginner?… ALLof them! Read as much as you can get your hands on…usethe Library if you don’t wanna buy them, although theymake a great reference library later on… For a beginnerI’d recommend WOOD or American Woodworker. Fine Woodworkingis a favorite. For reading on the john, you can’t beatretail catalogues…Rockler, Woodworkers Supply, etc.Become an “Information Sponge” and absorb all you canfrom all sources.
- Marc

Checkout all of the woodworking magazines at your local bookstoreor newsstand. Many have free issue offers online aswell! I have to say my favorite is Popular Woodworking,but look at all of them and decide for yourself.
- nwod

Asa beginner myself, yet to actually unbox my tools, Ihave found Wood Magazine and Fine Woodworking to bethe ones that seem to me (as a beginner) to preparethe most. I also really liked the books Router Magic,The Table Saw Book, and the Complete Book of Wood Joinery.Just my $.02
- EdgeWood

Beforeplunking down any money for tools, get started buildinga good library. By buying books on basic techniquesand also on subjects you are interested in,you willlearn the proper way of tackling your desired projects,safetyissues and books will tell you what tools to use forcertain procedures. Only buy tools as you need them.That way you know you need it and you can budget yourmoney better.
- woodchuck1954

If your still setting up your shop shopnotes is thebest, I’ve had my shop for 3 years now and still loveshopnotes, its not like your average magazine checkit out www.shopnotes.com and when your ready for somereally nice projects get woodsmith www.woodsmith.com
- Jeff

Lookfor some woodworking classes which are many times offeredfree through night classes at local schools (adult education)etc. Once you do that you should have some idea as tohow much you want to pursue woodworking whether it behope chests or birdhouses. If it is a serious woodworkingdesire, then the tablesaw is in my opinion your firstpurchase. When purchasing any woodworking equipmentremember that cheap is not necessarily. The best. Anotherway to say this is “TO START WITH LESS IS TO END WITHLESS” If it is to be a short hobby, plan it so. If itis serious, plan it so.
- Kelly

Asfar as tools go, you do want to get something good,I personally like Sears Craftsman and Delta. Both aregood quality and work very well. On mine, I have madea many projects ranging from my computer desk to yarddecorations. You will want to take it at a steady paceon equipping yourself as the bench power tools can runup the bucks in a hurry.
- Gary

Jumpin and enjoy, you will never regret it. Best adviceon tools:
1) Take a safety class that will also let you cut somewood for your own project, as nothing beats a squarelycut and proper sized part.
2) A tablesaw is really a good investment, and doesn’tbreak the bank, but requires a little room to use. Myfirst major tool purchase.
Note: Elaborate tools make a job easier, and look moreprofessional, but you can have a great project withjust a hammer and a nail and a piece of wood. Alwaysenjoy the time and the aroma of sawdust!
- RayMan

Theadvise about books is the best. Buy books that coverwhat you are interested in. It might be a good ideato start out with precut kits. Then you will get experiencewith hand tools.
Get familiar with completing projects with most handtools before you start evolving into machinery. $5000worth of tools will not make you a craftsperson, onlytime, education and patience will get you there.
Once you get going, acquire more books just like youacquire more tools. If you buy books on subjects thatinterest you, they will tell you what tools you willneed. Only buy tools as you need them.
At first, don’t worry about sizing lumber, you can buyalready planed lumber at different widths for generalprojects. All you will need to do is cut to length.Keep it simple at first.
When purchasing tools, listen to your head, not yourheart. Before making large purchases, do your homeworkand do a complete research. If you see something forsale, that seems like a ridiculous price, there’s probablya reason. Unless you know what it is, its no bargain.
And finally, when shopping for tools, make sure theoutfit you buy from, offers a 30 day-no-risk-guarantee…thenthe risk is all theirs. You would be surprised at howmuch a person can do with wood and with a few tools.
- Roger S. Dillman

Welcometo a most rewarding hobby:
- Your first purchase “should” be a table saw becauseit is very versatile… you can cut angles, rips (lengthwise)and crosscuts. Depending on your choice of saws, you’llprobably drop about a thousand dollars by the time youpay the sales tax and get a blade, or two, or three.
- You’ll need an assortment of basic handtools suchas: hammer, nail set, tape measure, combination square,a set of chisels, channel lock pliers, needle nose pliers,various clamps, etc., etc. You can expect the expenseto add up to about $300 or so for a good starter set.
- Then, for handheld powertools: sander (almost anywill do at first, either a “finishing” 1/4 sheet ora small random orbit), some type of drill and a bitset or two, a router and bits, a jigsaw, and perhapsa circular saw. Another $500 or so.
IMPORTANT: Shop around! Watch the ads. Pawn shopsare a great source of quality inexpensive handtools.And every now and then, you’ll get lucky and find areal bargain on a hardly used powertool.
Well, now that I’ve spent $1800 or $1900 for you, letme suggest a few titles you may want to read first (andguess what? Another $60…)
“Woodworking Wisdom” Nick Engler
“Table Saw Techniques” Roger Cliffe
“Woodworking With The Router” Bill Hylton
These are great sources of information. You’ll learnthe terminology and some basic safety procedures alongwith many of the do’s and don’ts. Many cabinet shops(mine, for one) are constantly looking for entry level,part-time employees. Perhaps you can earn while youlearn.
- Robert

I don’t know if buying the best tools is necessarilythe right choice. That depends on how involved you planto be .I think that some of the top of the line namebrand tool can be real pricey, where some of the midrangepriced tools will do an adequate job with satisfyingresults. Good luck. You are entering a field where itcan be very enjoyable and addicting.
- Tony K

Yourquestions could be answered by reading almost all ofthe post on the Forum.I would recommend that you get a couple of good bookson woodworking. Check into your local adult ed. at highschools and community colleges for classes on woodworking.That would get you some hands-on training. I would giveyou one piece of advice on buying tools. Don’t buy anytool until you know you need it and then buy the bestyou can find. Cheap tools are not a bargain, they willcost a lot more later when you have to buy the one youshould have at first. I would recommend the followingbooks:
“The Basics of Craftsmanship”
“Tage Frid Teaches Woodworking”
They will give you a good overview of lots of topic.
- Lou Williams

Thereare many books available on this subject. One of thebest is, “Creating Your Own Woodshop” by Charles Self(Betterway Books). Once you have the plan, money isthe only real obstacle.
- ken sain

Unfortunately “Creating Your Own Woodshop” is out of print, but may be available at your library and some bookstores.
As an alternative, woodworking.com recommends: Setting Up Your Own Woodworking Shop by Bill Stankus.

Booksdo have their place but I’d recommend you start witha woodworking course. This way you’ll get hands on tuitionwhich is the best way to learn. Once you’ve masteredthe basics, then books can help with the details.
- Dave in Cairns

Checkout night classes from Adult Education at local highschools, etc. They are cheap and well worth the timeand experience you’ll get. “Setting Up Shop” by SandorNagyszalanczy is a practical guide for designing andbuilding your dream shop. Also, check out Norm’s shopplans at newyankee.com.
- Ralph

WhatI would do if I were just starting is look for a classat the local high schools or junior college adult ed.There you would be able to try your hand at task andtools and decide which direction you want to try.
- Lou

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