I am going to start building things TOMORROW! I am very excited! Obviously, I'm starting small, and finishing big. What I need from all of you is some advice on power tools. What brands and models do you recommend? What is the difference between a table saw and a circular saw? Finishing nail vs. a regular nail? I'm so lost! Also, what are pocket holes? I know these may seem like stupid questions but I don't even know where to start.
claydowling
Tue, 03/06/2012 - 06:55
Start slow
A table saw is build into a table, with a 10" circular blade projecting through the top. They're awesome, amazing tools. Also very expensive and somewhat dangerous if you don't know how to use them. If you do know how to use them and you have it set up properly, they're very safe and greatly improve your woodworking. If you buy one, buy the very best that you can afford, because price is directly related to quality. Don't buy any of them you find at the home improvement store. You can buy good ones second hand made by Delta, Grizzly, Powermatic, Jet or General for under $1000.
A circular saw is a small hand-held saw, and you can buy one for around $70. They're always a little dangerous, but if you learn to use one properly you can mitigate the danger. It's good for breaking down plywood, and with some care and some shop-made jigs you can use it to cut to final size.
A finish nail has a small head, while a regular nail in the same size will have a wider, fat head. When you're just starting out, the tool to buy to drive nails is a 16oz hammer and a nail set. The pneumatic nailers are nice, but decent ones are expensive and cheap ones are dangerous, and at the end of the day the hammer will do a better job.
A pocket hole is a hole that does into wood at a shallow angle. The bottom stops before the edge of the wood. This is drilled with something called a step drill. A screw with a head whose bottom matches the shape of the bottom of the hole is used to fasten the wood, via this hole, to another board. Kreg, the most popular brand, uses a flat-bottomed hole. There are manufacturers who make a pocket hole jig that can use regular wood screws. If the kreg-style pocket hole screws are difficult to find in your area, it's worth checking out.
claydowling
Tue, 03/06/2012 - 07:18
More information than you ever wanted about nails
This was written sometime last week, about selection of nails and how to choose the right nail. It seems appropriate since you were asking about nail types.
http://www.popularwoodworking.com/woodworking-blogs/chris-schwarz-blog/…
Mind you, these are fancy high-end nails. But they're supposed to hold your furniture together a lot better than what they sell at the home center. I may give them a try, but not today.