jazzed Posted July 2, 2018 Report Share Posted July 2, 2018 My first post here after realization of my mistake. To refer to myself as a beginner might be a slight exaggeration. I've always been an admirer of woodworkers. Leading up to my recent purchase the only thing I've attempted to make is a 10x5 ft wooden rose trellis. I used an old Craftsman saw a friend had to cut everything out. Needless to say I was struck by the bug and decided I needed to purchase my own equipment. There's a reason old sayings hold so much truth as "live and learn"... So I went to researching woodworking sites and equipment reviews. I haphazardly decided I really needed a table saw so I went out and bought a new Ridgid R4512 and assembled it myself. After assembly which took me all day and standing back admiring my assembly it dawned on me...now what? I went to thinking, what am I gonna try to build with absolutely no knowledge of woodworking, what else do I need? The only thing I had was a cordless Makita drill. I thought to myself, I might could build a simple birdhouse or more small rose trellis's and small container plant boxes. On hindsight now I could have attempted this with handheld equipment (circular saw, jigsaw, orbital sander, router and maybe a miter saw) as opposed to a table saw I bought on an un-thought-out impulse. I called Home Depot to see if I could return it (I haven't even turned to saw on yet) their answer was NO since I had assembled it and threw the boxing away. Now what was that about "live and learn" 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post RichardA Posted July 2, 2018 Popular Post Report Share Posted July 2, 2018 If you're "struck by the bug" Go get some wood and make something, don't just stand there. Once you exchange blood for sawdust, there's no turning back. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Bombarde16 Posted July 2, 2018 Popular Post Report Share Posted July 2, 2018 OK, to state the entirely non-obvious, your first project with the new saw should be a stuff to keep you safe and accurate during whatever you decide to build. This is the design I use for push blocks. (Others work quite well also.) Then build a crosscut sled. Then pick a simple project that makes a good gift for people you love and build that. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Chestnut Posted July 2, 2018 Popular Post Report Share Posted July 2, 2018 Table saw and drill. The sky is the limit man. You can make a cross cut sled to cut 90s and use that to make well anything. Use your drill and a dowel jig to attach every thing together. With a little bit of work you could do some half lap joints. Dado stack to do grooves for book shelvs ect. I'm going to throw some pictures below of projects i made when i first started. The tools i had was a junk 1hp router, a circular saw (still have it and use it a ton), and a drill with a millscraft dowel jig. Looking back on it that dowel jig was garbage BUT it worked and fit my budget. Don't think that you need a ton of tools to make things. These items are simple, but still in use. I then added a decent 2hp router and made a table for it to mount up in. Then i could do mortise an tenon joints, panel cabinet doors proper dados all sorts of stuff. I added a table saw in there somewhere because i realized i could do thin rips with a circular saw. I was also working in the space between the front of my car and the wall of the garage in a single stall. I did buy a miter saw but DON'T they aren't worth it for woodworking. I used it after the fact for construction stuff but even still not worth it. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treeslayer Posted July 2, 2018 Report Share Posted July 2, 2018 I agree with all, make something simple, work safely, continue on the journey. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mat60 Posted July 2, 2018 Report Share Posted July 2, 2018 I think it would be good to get a book on small projects to start with. I had allot of fun doing that. In the mean time you can also build shop things. This will also give you time to think about what you want to build and what you need for equipment. Welcome to the forums also. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post jazzed Posted July 2, 2018 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted July 2, 2018 Tks guy's I'm already feeling somewhat better. Just got to feeling overwhelmed that I was trying to run and I'm barely crawling. This is all I have so far, no extension table for saw, no work table...nothing...here's my first little simple trellis I attempted. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post gee-dub Posted July 2, 2018 Popular Post Report Share Posted July 2, 2018 The most important lesson you learned is never throw away packing materials for two weeks to a month after you started using the tool. It can be convenient for warranty issues, barcodes and who knows what. This has saved me a lot of pain on several occasions. Oh and by the way, real men do read directions. 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny4 Posted July 2, 2018 Report Share Posted July 2, 2018 You have everything you need. The beauty of your situation is that you get your first lessons in problem solving with the tools you have. All we are trying to do is take big pieces of wood and make them smaller. I have learned many ways to make a mortise and tenon, and many ways not to make one. My first book was “Arts and crafts furniture anyone can make.” There is some absolute gold in making boxes and shop fixtures. I did t have a table saw for the 1st 4 years. Did everything with a bandsaw, a scroll saw, a router, a drill, and a sander. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post treeslayer Posted July 2, 2018 Popular Post Report Share Posted July 2, 2018 That’s a good start to your working journey. I wish I had pictures of my first stuff but they didn’t have cameras back then. 1 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzed Posted July 2, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 2, 2018 I live in a little "Mayberry-like" town here in Ms, going to the library today to see if they have any books on woodworking. Can anyone suggest the most simple of woodworking project books that would be of help. I've looked at used books on amazon but really don't know how informative they'd be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardA Posted July 2, 2018 Report Share Posted July 2, 2018 1 hour ago, treeslayer said: That’s a good start to your working journey. I wish I had pictures of my first stuff but they didn’t have cameras back then. Hell Dave, they didn't even have tin types then. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Chet Posted July 2, 2018 Popular Post Report Share Posted July 2, 2018 Look for a book called Woodwork - a step by step photographic guide to successful woodworking. Its a great book for learning the basics. Better yet, PM me your address and I will send you my copy. By the way, I think you are going t like that saw. There are a number of people here that have that model or had that model when they started. And finally, Welcome to the forums. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzed Posted July 2, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 2, 2018 Just now, Chet said: Look for a book called Woodwork - a step by step photographic guide to successful woodworking. Its a great book for learning the basics. Better yet, PM me your address and I will send you my copy. Wow that's great, thank you so much. Now to figure out how to pm ha...I'm still feeling around in the dark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Swanson Jr. Posted July 2, 2018 Report Share Posted July 2, 2018 2 hours ago, Bombarde16 said: your first project with the new saw should be a stuff to keep you safe and accurate during whatever you decide to build. This is the design I use for push blocks. (Others work quite well also.) Then build a crosscut sled. Everything he said! So,you've come to a woodworking forum to lament the fact that you bought a table saw to begin working with wood? Gee, what a terrible fate. Instead of whining, get busy. Do what bombarde16 mentioned - build a crosscut sled. Then an outfeed table. Watch stores and Craigslist for deals and buy a router and a thickness planer. Then you can dimension stock 3 ways and a whole lot more. When you have those things, build a Router table. Buying my first table saw had me giddy with excitement. I don't understand coming here to complain about buying a new table saw on impulse. Have fun with it, and work safe. Make things for around the house. Simple things to start - cutting boards, bird houses. Pick up equipment as you can afford it. Buy hand tools if/when a machine is out of reach. Welcome to the craft. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzed Posted July 2, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 2, 2018 31 minutes ago, applejackson said: Everything he said! So,you've come to a woodworking forum to lament the fact that you bought a table saw to begin working with wood? Gee, what a terrible fate. Instead of whining, get busy. Do what bombarde16 mentioned - build a crosscut sled. Then an outfeed table. Watch stores and Craigslist for deals and buy a router and a thickness planer. Then you can dimension stock 3 ways and a whole lot more. When you have those things, build a Router table. Buying my first table saw had me giddy with excitement. I don't understand coming here to complain about buying a new table saw on impulse. Have fun with it, and work safe. Make things for around the house. Simple things to start - cutting boards, bird houses. Pick up equipment as you can afford it. Buy hand tools if/when a machine is out of reach. Welcome to the craft. I didn't intend to rant or cry, I thought I was merely stating the fact that since I was totally new to wood working I probably should have started off with some basic handheld tools as opposed to jumping right into a table saw. But then I guess to the more experienced woodworkers my post would be annoying. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted July 2, 2018 Report Share Posted July 2, 2018 33 minutes ago, applejackson said: I don't understand coming here to complain about buying a new table saw on impulse. I didn't really get that he was complaining about anything. I am guessing that he was searching for a way to start a conversation about being new to woodworking and needing help. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mat60 Posted July 2, 2018 Report Share Posted July 2, 2018 17 minutes ago, jazzed said: I didn't intend to rant or cry, You didn't and don't even worry about it at all. Its great that you are here and I enjoy seeing new guys learn stuff and never be afraid to ask anything. I even got some help on what oil to use in my tractor here. Nice first project also. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted July 2, 2018 Report Share Posted July 2, 2018 Does Mark have a video on using the table saw? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzed Posted July 2, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 2, 2018 It's all fine, just didn't want to make a bad first impression coming off as a complainer...you guys have already been a tremendous help and inspiration to move forward. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardA Posted July 2, 2018 Report Share Posted July 2, 2018 Now, all the talk is done, you have recomendations, you have a place to learn, go get some wood and make mistakes, it's okay. We all even the most experienced of us make mistakes daily, some days we don't, that's a better day. But any day making sawdust is a good day. Make something, anything. It's the first step in learning this very expensive craft. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post woodbutcher74 Posted July 2, 2018 Popular Post Report Share Posted July 2, 2018 When I first started I would buy magazines and project magazines at the super market. Picked out the ones I liked and subscribed. Now days with the internet you can google wood working plans and find all kinds of plans and ideas for free. I started before Al Gore invented the internet. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyokahn Posted July 2, 2018 Report Share Posted July 2, 2018 A 4512 and a drill? man! you're all set up for a good start! Just make sure you understand table saw safety before you start working with it. Really, I have that saw and I couldn't think of anything better for its cost. A drill alone gives you a few options for joints: dowels, screws, pocket screws, screws + plugs, forstner + holesaw, etc. While the tablesaw has dadoes, half laps, tenons, box joint and more as you add jigs. 4 hours ago, Chestnut said: I was also working in the space between the front of my car and the wall of the garage in a single stall. I did buy a miter saw but DON'T they aren't worth it for woodworking. I used it after the fact for construction stuff but even still not worth it. That looks about as much space as I have right now to keep all of my stuff, though at least I have some space to roll them out. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gee-dub Posted July 2, 2018 Report Share Posted July 2, 2018 41 minutes ago, jazzed said: It's all fine, just didn't want to make a bad first impression coming off as a complainer...you guys have already been a tremendous help and inspiration to move forward. As with any bag of mixed nuts, you’ll find different types here. Most jokes and insults are intended good- naturedly. You’re at an exciting stage in that you’re just starting to acquire tools and think about the things that you may want to do with them. This craft has brought me more joy, peace and happiness than many other things I’ve tried in my life. I guess you’d say I’m hooked. Enjoy the journey. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzed Posted July 2, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 2, 2018 kyokahn, I've read a little bout the dadoes, gotta study up on their functions and how to use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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