My Recent Woodworking Projects
notoriousbfg.com
notoriousbfg.com
If I could offer one piece of advice to those interested: Understand that for nearly every project you see on Youtube where some dude is using a whole workshop full of power tools, you can build a LOT with a few small tools and proper technique. Don't get sucked into the mindset of, I want to build a few projects, therefore I need $2000 worth of new power tools.
You can do quite a lot with just a couple of hand saws (one for cross-cutting, one for ripping), a square, and a drill. The next step up would be a table saw, miter saw, and circular saw for time savings and increased precision. Much more than that is leaning into the territory of fine woodworking. Learning how to build your own jigs for specific tasks will save you hundreds or thousands in lieu of specialized tools.
I can't recommend maker spaces enough. Of course each space is different, and some are incredible and some are lacking, but in general the ones I've visited (or been a member of) are awesome, filled with a diverse group of people who are usually excited to share their knowledge. Definitely look to see if there is a good maker space where you live!
Also if you set aside a certain budget for hobbies, etc. don't feel guilty about spending on it, go with the philosophy that is guilt-free spending. If you have fun and then lose interest, as happens with hobbies, you can sell the tools. But also see what you can get done with a small set of tools and see what you like first. Taking classes helps narrow in on what you like doing. I learned I like the mystique of hand tools but don't have the patience to do that 100%.
Lay the foam down on a garage floor, lay your plywood (what-have-you) on the foam, lay your track across the wood (where you want the cut) and go.
As long as you make sure the depth of your cut doesn't pass all the way through the foam, you're good. (And a 1" margin for error should keep you from sparking the saw on the concrete floor.)
If you're clever, cut the 4' x 8' sheet of foam (with a long X-Acto knife) into 4 pieces: 4' x 2' each. Duct tape pairs of them back together and you can fold up your foam like a gym mat. Note: make sure the tape is on the floor-side, you don't want to cut through duct-tape.
Add a portable drill & driver combo and your woodworking journey has begun.
(Me, I added a jointer, planer, table saw, routers, built a workbench, etc. You need a lot of clamps. Got rid of my miter saw—kinda dangerous and I just didn't need it. To be sure the table saw is dangerous too, but the miter saw is stealthily so—seems undangerous for the longest time and then‚ bam!)
Well there is also a chainsaw, but that is solving a different problem. No one uses chainsaws for woodworking, only those people carving stumps.
Looks good, and great hinges and latches.
In time I think your woodworker's eye will turn away from the idea of staining an inexpensive wood, like pine, with a dark walnut stain to try to make it look fancy.
(I've seen too many "D&D table" builds and the like on YouTube that are made from plywood and stained to look like walnut. Le sigh… When I make something from cheap wood, I just paint it.)
I do agree that with pine you should just celebrate the wood and go with a light stain or even better, something like linseed oil.
(Big-box plywood though…)
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4942341-woodwork-joints
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17572619-the-complete-gu...
Note that modern adhesives (esp. if coupled with the judicious use of a bit of hardware) are quite strong/lasting so long as they are appropriate to the purpose.
Just making a couple as a test/prototype will go a long way towards building skill and confidence.