A Starter Kit for the Carpenter

Carpentry implies crafting wood into useful and sometimes decorative articles. The raw wood must be operated on in various ways and then assembled to produce the desired article. The basic operations are cutting, planeing, and shaping. None of these can be done with bare hands. Tools and equipment help the carpenter to do these arduous tasks conveniently and quickly. Today we have a number of power tools which further facilitate these operations. The carpenter will also require some supplies like nails, screws, glue and wood polish to complete his project. All these tools, equipment, and supplies can be obtained from hardware and woodwork stores.

As a novice carpenter you should find a local store from where you can buy your supplies. Alternatively, you can source your supplies from online stores which abound on the Internet. Here is a brief rundown on the essentials you should get together for your new venture into carpentry.

The first order of business is to order a good, reliable table saw. This power tool is used to cut wood. The table saw will see duty every working day, and that too for relatively long periods. Therefore it should be a heavy-duty, industrial grade machine. This machine will singly do the majority of the work in your shop. So invest in it wisely.

I have already said that the table saw will do the majority of the work in your shop. It will be required to carry out some really tough jobs, like cutting through beams, posts and planks. Look to your budget and buy a reliable, good quality machine. In case your budget is a little strained, look out for a pre-used machine in good condition. Maybe a carpenter friend is upgrading his table saw. It will be worth your while to inspect it and consider buying it.

Most people see the band saw as an unnecessary tool. Not so. The band saw is worth its weight in gold when it does those jobs which are either very time consuming or downright impossible with other tools. You use a band saw to crosscut, cut out large circles, and rip lumber. This power tool is the second-most important tool in your armory of tools.

Almost everyone knows the power drill, our next tool. It is basically used to drill holes in and through wood. Drill bits come in various diameters and lengths to enable you to drill holes of specific sizes. A boring bit cuts out rather large holes in wood. The drill can be fitted with a number of alternate tool bits to do multifarious tasks. For example, you can fit a sanding disc on the drill, and sand down the surface of wood. A buffing attachment will let you buff the article after polishing. The drill can screw and unscrew screws and bolts, and run nuts.

You will need an assortment of smaller hand tools and measuring equipment. Hammers, pliers, pincers, and chisels are some of these. You will need a steel measuring tape, and a protractor to measure angles. Remember, everything in carpentry depends on getting the dimensions right. One wrong dimension can turn days of toil into a failed project.

A router can round off the edge of a plank. It can make flutes along the legs of a chair or table. You can use it to cut intricate grooves for a design on a wood panel. A router comes with an assortment of bits and routing blades. The fancy designs you produce with the router will give your project an aesthetic look apart from it being solidly constructed.

These tools are like so many servants at your beck and call. They don't get tired or grouchy. But yes, they do require maintenance. Proper maintenance will add years of service to your tools. They must be protected from moisture and dirt. Moisture causes these tools to rust. Dirt will cause the tools to operate below par. So you should make sure that your tools are cleaned properly every day. Then use a dry cloth to wipe them dry. Finally put a few drops of a good quality preventive lubricant on a piece of cloth and wipe the tool with this cloth. The thin film of oil will prevent moisture from getting to the tools, and this in turn will ensure that rust does not set in. Your tools represent a sizable investment; apart from that they are your active partners in your work. Just imagine your table saw going down for just a single day! Your entire production will come to a grinding halt! So you lose money on getting the tool repaired, you lose more money on the loss of production, but most importantly, you lose out on getting the project finished on time!