Stop buying BAD TOOLS! (A message to NEW woodworkers)

[@Craftswright]

Hopefully, some of these tips will help you on your woodworking quest! Join us on Patreon -> bit.ly/3yuzWBE | "Be regular and orderly in your life, so that you may be violent and original in your work." is the quote I was trying to remember.

[@thelinns]

Thank you, Mr. Craftswright! I would love to see the process of breaking down your old shop and building it back up again. I have so much crap in my garage that the cat slaps me because she can barely get to her litter box and I need the inspiration!

[@Craftswright]

Hahaha that pesky cat! I hope I can be of some help, that's for sure. I've got one or two videos planned before I tackle the shop, but it's on it's way :)

[@anneoreilly4900]

I’ve always enjoyed your mix of modern tools and hand tools. It opens up possibilities!

[@terristroh3965]

“Mr Craftswright’s lost his mind!” 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@G.I.JeffsWorkbench]

Thanks for the candid advice & humble presentation. Sure beats others’ ways of handling this topic.

[@BartzAJohnsonJr]

This is my third video into your channel. I don’t know yet, but this might be your most valuable share. Thank you.

[@Anglesandacid]

Absolutely interested in seeing you build back up the shop :)

[@Craftswright]

It’s looking like I’ll be making some build-back videos haha

[@tylerquarterman8571]

Most definitely want to see the reorganization process!

[@Craftswright]

Thanks Tyler! Got a couple votes for that now

[@pamscottt]

I believe it's important to have skills from many years ago and know how to use those manual tools. If shtf and there's no electricity that knowledge will be priceless.

[@arthurrsaker8893]

Wise words Pam. My hand tools are as much part of my 'preps", as they are key to the therapeutics of working with wood. And if it all goes pear shaped a lot of folk will need an awful lot of therapy, so when you have fixed your own roof, woodworking competence will be a very tradeable asset for needs which are outside your skill-set. Power tools can be nice to haves sometimes, but, what can't you make with handtools? Sure, it takes longer, but there is a priceless emotional dividend as your reward.

[@pd417]

100% correct. To this day, I still use the skills I learned in 7th grade woodshop. Only after we mastered those skills, then our teacher would let us use the machines.

[@Craftswright]

It’s such a shame that so many schools have done away with those programs, when we arguably need them more than ever 😕

[@nialstewart8263]

Coverage of thoughts behind the shop reorganisation, then doing it, would be good. 👍

[@Craftswright]

Noted, Nial. Thanks!

[@unfi6798]

Great advise mate, learning from our own mistakes. I have similar problems with the workshop. The wife just said, expand the workshop lol, only after I built her a sowing room. Taken for ransom.!! Anyway I am converted, will be watching your show for tricks & knowledge also passion. You're OK.!

[@MCsCreations]

Awesome tips, dude! Thanks a lot! 😃 Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@Craftswright]

You too MC!

[@chrisdzisiak7540]

Perfect explanation of a good life also. Learning about your passion first is how you become good at it. Used quality tools will out last you period. My. RAS is as old as I am and will still be very very good when I stop using it! As a side note I’m just in the process of reestablishing my wood shop and the first thing is structural,then electrical and then my dust control system.

[@flyingwoodshop1545]

Def show us some shop build videos! Thanks for the great content!

[@Craftswright]

Glad you like it!

[@duane20]

Really good advise. For me, each tool has to "earn its right" to be in my shop. My first choice is to use what I have, which is a basic set of tools. I often find that it is my lack of skill that is the shortcoming and than a task specific tool as a solution. After all, for me it is a hobby with the luxury of time and not a profession where efficiency and predictability often drive to task specific reliable equipment.

[@Craftswright]

I definitely think it’s a mixture of both. Hand Michelangelo a mop and a bucket of mud and he’d still paint circles around you. Hand him some top of the line paint and brushes though…. 👌

[@aaronwilson9763]

5:37 "don't be afraid to punch under your weight class." ... ALSO, "don't be afraid to punch above your weight class!" By finding what combination of power and hand tools, that allow a modern homeowner, hobbyist, or beginner (man or woman) to maximize time with tools with a full life away from the workbench, workshop, or garage. I said above your weight class because you can really add value to your quality of life with project scale, size, and material choice. Keeping challenge, creativity, and enthusiasm moving in the right direction because you selected the specific combination of tools to accommodate your lifestyle, skill level, and room to work (with your tools). Thanks for sharing this video and the tips in it!

[@clausandersen8469]

Very nice video! I´m looking forward to seeing you rebuilding your workshop. I prefer handtools, it is good to see things progress slowly. I need however a few machines for making precise holes for tenons in doors. Keep up the good work.

[@Craftswright]

Thanks Claus! I definitely am starting to see myself as more of a hybrid woodworker where I used to be mostly power tools. You just can't beat the finesse of a well tuned hand plane or how quickly you can make a cut with a good handsaw (no setup time), ya know?

[@Joey.Darkwoods-Studio]

Great advice!

[@asandwichsowonderful]

I think it’d be cool to see your shop reset. Also, if you go sans table saw, you’ll be blazing a trail for other new to intermediate woodworkers. I have a table saw, but I love using my bandsaw as much as possible. I’m always wondering what life would be like if I ditched the table saw and paired my bandsaw with a track saw though.

[@Craftswright]

That’s EXACTLY the route I’m thinking: bandsaw and track saw. I think I might still keep a very small job site table saw for a few things, but maybe not. Another crazy idea? Thinking of going sans-miter saw too 😳

[@asandwichsowonderful]

You’re off the chain.

[@tracdfar]

For a time, I did just that. I even built my own MFT style table. I did mostly on site jobs and couldn't lug a decent band saw around. So, I had to bring back a job site saw for long rips on narrow pieces. Otherwise, I think you're right. A good band saw, track saw set up, and router table can do 99% of what table saw saw does. The issue is once you have all the alternative tools, you've spent the same as or more than a decent table saw. So, it usually comes down to preference.

[@TomBuskey]

I don't have a table saw, just the bandsaw. I have a track saw I rarely use. I have an old style miter box (a metal guide with a long saw) that can cross cut 8" easy.

[@jimcarter4929]

That is what I have been thinking. Get rid of 10 inch band saw and 10 inch table saw. Get 16 inch band saw for resawing , etc, and use track saw for rare plywood projects..I think track saw is safer and just as accurate as my table saw and dado are easier with the electric router in ply. My solid wood projects are usually quite manageable with hand tools which I prefer anyway.

[@Toyotajunkie]

Lmao to the dogs. Have three in my neighborhood that do the SAME thing. (Love animals, just hate the nonstop barking 😁)

[@NormanFolkie]

Nice Video! a lot to think about. I need to apply some of the concepts in my shop hehe

[@Craftswright]

Glad you liked it!

[@Rodbuilder109]

I like to see the progress of your shop. And how you progress earlier process. Cuz I'm trying to set up a shop of my own and don't have a lot of space would like to have some ideas.

[@Craftswright]

Thanks Lance! Us tiny shop peeps have to stick together

[@JohnyW87]

Your dam right.I’m about to move my shop and just took a look around in my shop,looked at the equipment if been collecting over the years and asked my selfe just one simple question cause,I won’t have that much space as before.How much of the tools do I really need?How many of them are just getting dusty,and someone else could use them more often? and by the way…how much worth is all the stuff? And than I wonder where all the money is that I earned.I think I’ll go back to a little bit of minimalism and don’t need 3 routers a coping saw if I have bandsaw or a 6hp chainsaw just for a onetime job cutting gardenbenches from full logs.Every tool might have its time,but theire all to good to get forgotten or just collecting dust.

[@rattlejake0422]

Please let us (me) know what jointer/planer combo you find/end up getting, if you do, as I've been looking for similar myself but have come up short for anything under a $1000 here in the states. Otherwise, a good video, I kinda like just listening to you talk; and some great advice!

[@Craftswright]

Will do Jake! That is the downside though, I don’t think there’s anything worth the money here in the states less than $1000. BUT, by the time you invest in a good jointer and a good planer you’re over $1k anyway. I just picked my combo machine up (used) and should have a video out in the next couple of weeks. Thanks for the kind words my dude!

[@Ashdad99]

Im in Florida and would give my left test@%#& for insulation and a/c in my one car garage. Its so hot that I just dont do much in the summer and if I do all the doors are open, letting in all the moisture of the south and so fighting rust becomes my main shop project. Clutter is also the enemy when you have a family. All of these things are a problem when you dont have the best solution- $$$$$. I enjoy your content keep it coming

[@Craftswright]

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not rolling in the dough either, just finally ready to fix what bugs me, however I can. I feel ya brother, there’s a reason my channel seems to disappear every winter for 4 months… too freakin cold up here! What part of Florida?

[@nefariousyawn]

Fellow Florida man here. It can be hard to get in the mindset some days, but you have to embrace the heat and the sweat. There is a huge industry where people willingly pay a membership fee to sweat their assess off in gyms - but we can do it for free in our own garages, and actually create something in the process. Go get sweaty.

[@Craftswright]

That should be on a t-shirt lol

[@MarcosElMalo2]

@@Craftswright Winter is when you take up welding. Or think about it, if you’re more like me. 😄

[@joeburttschell1286]

Straight claw is a must. Just from my experience.

[@willjbrown]

I noticed you using a Ryobi Belt Disc Sander in some of your videos. I'm looking for a decent entry-level sanding solution and I'm curious what your experience has been with yours? Thanks!

[@dragonflytoo]

My rv was sidelined for 3 weeks because of a roll pin that would NOT come out with the punches I had. I gave in, accepted this old body did not have the strength to do it, and took the rv to the shop. The technician took ROLL PIN PUNCH and knocked it out with 3 whacks. I now have a set of roll pin punches 😂.

[@HBSuccess]

New sub but heads up - U can’t use “keep up the good work”. EC has made that his tag for several years. Also- speed it up. It takes an awfully long time to figure out what you’re trying to get across.

[@Craftswright]

Thanks for the feedback! Few things to unpack here: - I agree about the tempo. This isn’t one of my best videos and I was testing out a new format. Done is better than perfect when it comes to KZbin, though, so I posted it. - Not familiar with who EC is? - with as many creators as there are on here I would think it’s almost impossible to not have an identical opener or closer to someone else, “Hey guys, welcome back to the channel!” and the like. If EC is someone in the same niche as me it might be something to look at, but I’m sitting here thinking what else could sum what I want to get across to my audience just as well, if not better, and I’m drawing a blank. Only thing that crosses my mind would be “keep working hard to make your life easier” but that sounds almost infomercial or guru-ish 😒

[@joshgay2385]

Essential Craftsman I assume.

[@rkalle66]

If you're woodworking only ocasionally don't buy cordless powered tools. Did you ever see someone using cordless powered tools older than ~8y?

[@Craftswright]

Definitely don’t get them if you don’t need them but the modern cordless tools are pretty useful

[@MarcosElMalo2]

Yes. Until a month ago, I was using a 12-year old Dewalt 18v system. The hammer drill finally pooped out (although I might have tried to replace the brushes). I finally settled on a 20v Li-ion set (drill and impact driver) that I bought on sale. After weeks of agonizing over which brand, I went with the one on sale, which happened to be Dewalt. Not brushless because I don’t use the tools all day, every day. A nice side bonus is that the 18v circ saw and reciprocating saw can accept a battery adapter and use the 20v batteries. That said, I do like corded tools. When I needed to drill a bunch of holes in masonry, I bought a relatively cheap corded hammer drill. My palm router and my sanders all have cords. My main circ saw has a cord. With corded tools, there’s one less thing to go wrong or keep track of. However, you really can’t find corded drills with the functionality of a good cordless drill. If they do exist, I would bet they’re as expensive as a decent cordless.

[@danielcookeb90]

Funny! 🤣🤣

[@OneDollarWilliam]

Good video. It's not a crisis, but going forward if you're talking about being unable to do something because of a physical limitation the word you want is disability. Handicaps result from external limitations: if you can only do woodworking with power tools it's because of a disability; if you could only do woodworking with power tools and you lived in 1870 you would be handicapped in your ability to woodwork.

[@matthewwright57]

Except for Lathes. If you are going to do woodturning, but a lathe with a 16" swing. Otherwise you either quit or buy a bigger one.

[@Craftswright]

No experience with a lathe so I appreciate the input!

[@mrbamfo5000]

I used a lathe a few times in woodshop, but didn't think I would want to put one in a shop of my own. But years later when I was setting up my shop, I ran into one for a decent price and thought what the hell. So I bought it, the thing is fun, I like it alot and now I can turn my own legs or whatever. Obviously not a "necessary" tool, but cool none the less.

[@bonesrhodes3762]

---- generally, not always the greatest of advice. He starts with entirely the wrong advice - that hammer. The one he shows IS a bit of garbage, but at least it is the correct type of hammer for 95% of the jobs and 95% of non professional carpenters. A framing hammer is GREAT - for someone who is a framer. It is too heavy, too long, and not designed for work where hammer damage isn't OK - then there is the job of nail pulling - it is entirely wrong for that use and leaves beaucoup of damage when it is used for nail pulling - a curved claw hammer is ( if you buy a good one such as Estwing ) designed with mechanical advantage for nail pulling and for finish and delicate work where hammer marks aren't particularly welcome. If you are doing nothing but framing and never pulling a nail , buy a framing hammer: if you are looking for all around use, curved claw is the only choice ( and you can get a 20oz to use when framing ) - you will find as you progress in wood working that the Estwing curved claw 12oz hammer is a wonder tool but is stolen often chisels - absolutely buy good ones - plus a cheap set - otherwise you will end up ruining your good chisels - NEVER loan your BIL your good ones as for the planes - you will find you use them seldom in general work and never in framing - instead, invest in a good belt sander - either a 3 X 18 or a 3 X 21 - generally, you will find a 4 " wide sander too large and too heavy --- and that jointer he was talking about getting rid of - it's an absolute everyday go to - get a 6" with cast iron table and invest in an insert cutter head - the main reason people don't use their jointers is the blades are dull and are expensive and difficult to replace, hence the insert cutterhead upgrade - the good thing about the jointer is they are a last forever tool - buy an old one and upgrade it with an insert head - do not buy one of the 4 or 6 inch self contained table top units - they are useless clamps - there is no such thing as having too many clamps - cheap clamps have their place but good clamps are from heaven power mitre saw - absolutely indispensable tool - buy as good of one as you can afford - cheap is basically worthless : it will not be accurate - anything smaller than a 10" is a waste of money - 12" is best - a slider is not necessary but nice though they take a LOT of space and are cumbersome to move about - this is a tool you will actually wear out - with ALL power saws good blades are essential - the more teeth the better table saw - another must have tool - again, only buy a cast iron model - with cast iron wings - again, old is OK because you can get them cheap and then upgrade them - sink your money into a high grade fence system - somewhere along the line you are going to upgrade to an even better fence that will cost you 4 times what you paid for the saw - none of the big box stores even offer a minimally acceptable table saw - if you get into serious wood projecting, you will end up buying a mitre gauge for your saw that will set you back what the highest price Lowes/Home Depot table saw cost circular saw - main thing in buying is : are you left or right handed ? if you are right handed , get a saw with the blade on the left side - that way you can SEE where the blade is without having to look around the saw and your hand - best ones will be gear drives - while heavier, they are stronger, give way better control, and are way easier to push - router - depends on what your goals are - hobby projecting they are must have / general maintenance they are nice but not an absolute have - radial arm - these used to be one of the first tools bought - and the least used - power mitre saws generally do what people used the radials for - unless you have loads of room and are making multiple repetitive cuts they aren't really of general need

[@Stinktierchen]

Sadly you stopped making videos. I absolutely like your way presenting and explaining stuff. Even tho I am in the metrics side of things(so inches bother me a bit) and there are plenty German channels. But you are a likable dude, just watched 2 videos and liked them!