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Finish Carpentry 101

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Tools of the Trade

For me, this is one of the most important areas of this site. I just cannot express enough how important it is to use a decent tool for the job. An inferior tool is more dangerous than it’s worth. I can't even count how many tools I've burnt up doing my job. Please, if you buy a tool, buy a good one.... I'm begging you. You are not saving money if the boat anchor you just bought burns up halfway through your spice rack project, can I get an "amen"?

Over the past decade, I have used a variety of tools for every type project. Some of those experiences have been really positive, and some of them were simply a doorway into the other side: the dark side. Most people that don’t do this for a living don’t need the top of the line toughest stuff, but it just never made sense to me to buy a tool that won’t last through two jobs. My point is if you’re going to buy a tool at all, but one that is tough, reliable and is just good quality. It doesn’t have to be top of the line, but please don’t go buy the cheapest one in the store. I promise you, you will regret it if you do. Trust me on that. A forty dollar circular saw is an abomination. Don’t do it! You can get a good, reliable, tough, light and easy to handle circular saw for $150 or so, and you might not ever have to buy one again depending on how much you use it. I can’t tell you how many times I have tried out a tool thinking I was saving money only to have the brushes burn up in it just from putting it back in its box wrong. If you buy a name brand tool such as Dewalt, Milwaukee, PorterCable, Bosch, Kobalt, Ridgid, just to mention a few recognizable names, and buy their middle of the road products, you’ll probably do fine, especially if you don’t beat ‘em down on a daily basis. Look carefully at that list up there. There are a few brands that are widely advertised that I didn’t put on there because they are as useful as a tax audit. One of them starts with an “R” and ends with an “I”. I’m sorry, I just can’t endorse that product... can’t do it. And if you have been shopping for tools, I’m sure you understand what brand I’m talking about. I’m sorry, but it must be said. Almost every tool I’ve bought from that company has been a total piece of $%^#. Uhhh... I’m okay now. I just can’t stand spending money on something I need to get a job done only to find it’s just crap... drives me freakin’ nuts. If you are in the market to buy some carpentry tools and aren’t sure what you need, please e-mail me. Chances are I’ve used what tool you have been looking at and can save you some grief and money.

I use a 12-inch Dewalt dual compound miter saw. See pic
It’s an older model which in my opinion is vastly superior to their newer models simply because the model I use is easy to adjust, tilt etc. Dewalt tools tend to be on the expensive side  but if you buy a middle of the road Dewalt tool chances are it's going to get the job done for you. I have worked my saw to death and it’s still getting it done. I will be posting a section with pics that show a lot of these tools and what parts can go wrong and what parts will go wrong and parts we should never speak of again.

Table saws are amazing tools. They are also extremely dangerous. I’ve still got all my fingers, but I have a lotta friends that are missing one or several digits. And I’d say 90% of the people I know missing fingers came from a table saw misery. There are several reasons for this anomaly in my opinion. You get complacent with a table saw and that will bite you every time. A table saw is definitely one you don’t need to skimp on in quality because the cheaper they get, the poorer the performance and better chance of maiming yourself.

If you do a lot of home projects, a table saw can be a huge asset and dramatically improve the accuracy and ease of your project, but keep in mind that this particular tool is very dangerous if you are careless and especially if you are new to using one. Among some of the hazards are the fact that the blade turns toward you as it cuts. While that sounds rather benign, it can really put a hurting on you quick. If the blade binds, it can sling the piece you are cutting back in your face or abdomen at toe-curling speeds. I know this personally because I was making a wine rack monstrosity once that required me to rip (cut a board lengthwise) in 3/4 slices. The saw bound up and shot a 3/4 by 3/4 by 12-inch piece of material into my stomach probably about a half inch deep.... good times.

Also a lot of times you will be using a table saw to cut a lot of pieces the same size and it begins to get to be a repetitive motion and your mind wanders and you push your hand through the saw with the wood. I know this sounds bizarre, but I know it happens. I’ve almost done it at least a thousand times and like I said I have many carpenter friends who got the short end of a table saw. If the blade catches you, it will instantly suck your hand into and out the bottom.

The chances of this happening go up when you’re using a cheap piece o’ $%#^ and you’re ripping boards and talking on a cell phone... way up. Please give this particular tool a good deal of respect.

More to come...

dave@finishcarpentry101.com

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