Solid advice! If someone goes the material cost route I would tack on another 10% on top of the material cost to cover glue, screws, finish, blades, wear n tear on equipment etc.
Good point--I don't do a good job of charging for those incidentals. I know some folks charge a kind of "depreciation fee" for their tools. I find that a bit too complicated for my bookkeeping, but I'm just a hobbyist.
I'm still learning, but I think both can be true. Buy cheap but functional tools and use them until you know what you need and like and can save for what you really want, then go straight for the nicest tool that makes sense for your budget. I think this is better than several incremental. I guess that's buy twice cry once?
Yep--that would be my sense. It's okay to start cheap and build up. Aren't most actions that way? My first car was definitely not my car now. Also--how about stop crying about tools :-)
Absolutely. I think that's the best way to go especially when you're starting out. Plus, it becomes a joyful moment when you realize the upgrade will matter to you and it's worth making the financial commitment.
I partly do and partly don't agree with you. In terms of trading time for experience, you're spot on. When you're new, if your time isn't free, you need to figure out how to make that happen because early on, everything will take 10x longer than it will once you've done it a few times. As far as buy once, cry once, I disagree. At some point you're going to realize that there is a HUGE difference between a cheap tool and a good tool and a small difference between a good tool and a great tool. I'd say you damn well better buy, at the very least, a good tool or you're going to hate woodworking and you're wasting your money. IMHO if you're remotely considering woodworking, buy a DeWalt jobsite saw (new or used), Festool Midi dust collector, ETS 150/5 sander and when you can afford it, whatever tracksaw you like and whatever else can come with time. I always tell people, budget 2500 (IMHO a pretty cheap hobby as hobbies go) and see what good/great tools fit within that budget. You can flip that Festool DC and Sander in a heartbeat and sure you'll be out a little money, but think of it as a rental fee. If you think you can build fine furniture without those, you're just kidding yourself. And, without a good dust collector, sanding can damage your lungs FOREVER, so if you can't afford the best, save up as it should be your FIRST tool.
One thing I disagree here is mega buck dust collectors and sanders. I can get a Shaper Origin for the price of a premium dust collection system. Open the doors and turn on some big fans. I do hope to have a nice dust collection system someday because I hate the heat and since my garage is air conditioned, I don’t want to open the doors in the summer. So I plan my projects so the major dust production is when I can work outside/or with doors open and fans blowing.
@@RDAUGIRDShaper requires dust collection to properly and safely operate. Don’t forgo a good dust collector, like a Festool CT-36 or Midi or 3M System. A good dust collector is the most important tool in any woodworking shop. It’s not only vital for many tools to operate, it’s also important for your health and safety.
Sorry, I have to disagree. I can't remember all of the tools I've bought and replaced because they just don't work as they should. I've had (yes, Craftsman) circular saws that could not cut a straight line. I thought it was my "technique" but, no, as soon as I bought a new one, my pencil lines got a lot more accurate. Jig saws are another tool that varies in quality and utility based on the brand and price point. Some won't follow a line or the cut won't be perpendicular. I had one that insisted on following the grain, on top and bottom, of the board. I can't count the number of sanders that I've thrown away because they're so frustrating to use that I didn't. That all changed when I used a Festool. There IS a world of difference. I've gone through as many as four generations of some power tools. THAT is a waste of money. Buy once works. Tools do matter. Hand tools matter too. A cheap set of chisels will set your skills back more than the cost of a decent to very good set. Yes, I also have a lot of really nice tools, more than I could ever justify (hobbies aren't "justified", there is no ROI). I like Woodpeckers but I certainly don't need a $200+ square that doesn't do much more than a $25 square. I buy some tools because I like them. I'm a firm believer in the "cry once" school. A month after the purchase, the price is forgotten. Ten years living with junk is never forgotten. If I can't afford a given tool, I wait until I can. True, a craftsman never blames his tools but a craftsman doesn't use a $2 hammer either.
There is a middle ground for sure--and I appreciate that a lot of folks feel this way--but I think if woodworkers are preaching that you need Festool, Powermatic, or other high-end high-price tools, we're creating an unnecessary price to access problem. I agree with your last point--if you can afford a given too. I think that's exactly the point. Because you're right--it's damn nice to use really dialed in, fine tools. I just don't think it's necessary to have as a hobbyist woodworker to still enjoy the craft. Thanks for watching and your thoughts!
This was a very insightful one. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful. Thanks for watching.
Great video!
Great points
Try to save for
The right value
Tool
Exactly
Great hobbyist real life advice!
Thanks for watching!
Solid advice! If someone goes the material cost route I would tack on another 10% on top of the material cost to cover glue, screws, finish, blades, wear n tear on equipment etc.
Good point--I don't do a good job of charging for those incidentals. I know some folks charge a kind of "depreciation fee" for their tools. I find that a bit too complicated for my bookkeeping, but I'm just a hobbyist.
Great video, great advice!
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching.
I'm still learning, but I think both can be true. Buy cheap but functional tools and use them until you know what you need and like and can save for what you really want, then go straight for the nicest tool that makes sense for your budget. I think this is better than several incremental. I guess that's buy twice cry once?
Yep--that would be my sense. It's okay to start cheap and build up. Aren't most actions that way? My first car was definitely not my car now. Also--how about stop crying about tools :-)
I've been woodworking for several years and still use Ryobi. Also why do they call it hamburger helper? It does pretty good on its own.
Ryobi is perfectly functional and I've used it for years. I like a lot of what they make--not all, but a lot. Thanks for watching.
Go Bills!!!
Let's go Buff-a-lo!
Consider repurposing a so so tool when you can move up to better , say a table saw set up as a disc sander
Absolutely. I think that's the best way to go especially when you're starting out. Plus, it becomes a joyful moment when you realize the upgrade will matter to you and it's worth making the financial commitment.
I partly do and partly don't agree with you. In terms of trading time for experience, you're spot on. When you're new, if your time isn't free, you need to figure out how to make that happen because early on, everything will take 10x longer than it will once you've done it a few times. As far as buy once, cry once, I disagree. At some point you're going to realize that there is a HUGE difference between a cheap tool and a good tool and a small difference between a good tool and a great tool. I'd say you damn well better buy, at the very least, a good tool or you're going to hate woodworking and you're wasting your money. IMHO if you're remotely considering woodworking, buy a DeWalt jobsite saw (new or used), Festool Midi dust collector, ETS 150/5 sander and when you can afford it, whatever tracksaw you like and whatever else can come with time. I always tell people, budget 2500 (IMHO a pretty cheap hobby as hobbies go) and see what good/great tools fit within that budget. You can flip that Festool DC and Sander in a heartbeat and sure you'll be out a little money, but think of it as a rental fee. If you think you can build fine furniture without those, you're just kidding yourself. And, without a good dust collector, sanding can damage your lungs FOREVER, so if you can't afford the best, save up as it should be your FIRST tool.
Great points. True that 2500 isn't terrible for a hobby--ask anyone who golfs.
@@falknermakes LOL, exactly! Motorcycles, boats, camping gear, skiing, biking, etc all got it beat by thousands!
One thing I disagree here is mega buck dust collectors and sanders. I can get a Shaper Origin for the price of a premium dust collection system. Open the doors and turn on some big fans. I do hope to have a nice dust collection system someday because I hate the heat and since my garage is air conditioned, I don’t want to open the doors in the summer. So I plan my projects so the major dust production is when I can work outside/or with doors open and fans blowing.
@@RDAUGIRDShaper requires dust collection to properly and safely operate. Don’t forgo a good dust collector, like a Festool CT-36 or Midi or 3M System. A good dust collector is the most important tool in any woodworking shop. It’s not only vital for many tools to operate, it’s also important for your health and safety.
Sorry, I have to disagree. I can't remember all of the tools I've bought and replaced because they just don't work as they should. I've had (yes, Craftsman) circular saws that could not cut a straight line. I thought it was my "technique" but, no, as soon as I bought a new one, my pencil lines got a lot more accurate. Jig saws are another tool that varies in quality and utility based on the brand and price point. Some won't follow a line or the cut won't be perpendicular. I had one that insisted on following the grain, on top and bottom, of the board. I can't count the number of sanders that I've thrown away because they're so frustrating to use that I didn't. That all changed when I used a Festool. There IS a world of difference. I've gone through as many as four generations of some power tools. THAT is a waste of money. Buy once works. Tools do matter.
Hand tools matter too. A cheap set of chisels will set your skills back more than the cost of a decent to very good set.
Yes, I also have a lot of really nice tools, more than I could ever justify (hobbies aren't "justified", there is no ROI). I like Woodpeckers but I certainly don't need a $200+ square that doesn't do much more than a $25 square. I buy some tools because I like them. I'm a firm believer in the "cry once" school. A month after the purchase, the price is forgotten. Ten years living with junk is never forgotten. If I can't afford a given tool, I wait until I can.
True, a craftsman never blames his tools but a craftsman doesn't use a $2 hammer either.
There is a middle ground for sure--and I appreciate that a lot of folks feel this way--but I think if woodworkers are preaching that you need Festool, Powermatic, or other high-end high-price tools, we're creating an unnecessary price to access problem.
I agree with your last point--if you can afford a given too. I think that's exactly the point. Because you're right--it's damn nice to use really dialed in, fine tools. I just don't think it's necessary to have as a hobbyist woodworker to still enjoy the craft. Thanks for watching and your thoughts!