Hello all! I'm so glad to have found this forum! I have wanted to get into woodworking for a long time. Years ago, I bought a table saw, having no idea what I was doing. My friends and mom were very worried that I'd cut myself, and it got to me, so at that point, I started searching for a class to take or someone to show me how to use the table. After about a year, having found no one, I finally sold the saw. I never even used it. I have made some basic things so far, but I have the lumber yard make the straight cuts. I have to modify my designs to fit what they'll cut for me, which isn't much.

Another problem is that I live in an apartment, so woodworking with power tools is too loud. However, I really want to design and build furniture. I read about it all the time, but it's not the same as doing it.

Can anyone suggest what I can do to learn to use different power tools safely? Watching shows and reading doesn't seem to be enough. Is there a saw that will make straight and miter cuts that is less intimidating than a table saw? And what can I do about the noise level since I live in an apartment?

Any help would be much appreciated! Thanks.

A band saw is certainly safer than a table saw and is very, very versatile.

Where do you live? We might can help you find some good training.

Johanna

in the Land of Enchantment

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Johanna - in the Land of Enchantment

Hi Johanna,

Thanks for responding! I live in the Ft. Lauderdale area, and I've searched. So far, all I have seen is some woodworking guild, and from what I can tell, those in it are very experienced. The workshops seem to be about advanced topics. I could try it, or maybe they might know. Also, any ideas about doing cutting with a saw in an apartment? Is there such a thing as a noise diffuser?

Thanks,

Mathchick74

Mathchick-

Constantines might offer weekend classes and seminars - here's some info:

Constantine's Wood Center of Florida Inc. is located at:
1040 E. Oakland Park Blvd.
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33334

I've been buying supplies from them for years, and I suspect they might have a bulletin board in their store with info about local woodworking groups and/or classes.

Their site is: http://www.constantines.com

I would definitely start there.

As far as tools go, I suggest looking for a continuing ed class with your local college or high school. I taught those classes for years, and they were great for teaching the basics. The fees were reasonable, and by the end of a couple of classes, I had students who were building anything from beds to tables, kitchen cabinets to home accessories.

Just my personal opinion, but a tablesaw is the heart and soul of a woodshop. If you don't have one of that tool, it's going to be difficult to do many common operations. So check out lessons, learn to use one safely, and then decide if you want to buy another one or not.

Good luck,

Jamie in Las Vegas
http://wooditis.blogspot.com

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Jamie in Vegas

Wood It Is! Custom Cabinetry
Las Vegas, NV
www.wooditis.com
www.wooditis.blogspot.com

I would suggest that because of your restrictions you consider using mostly hand tools. IMHO it is difficult to make really fine furniture without a working knowledge of their use as an addition to power. As your conditions change you might be able to add power tools. A bandsaw is a relatively quiet tool that you could probably use in an apartment.

A really good site for hand tool questions and resources is http://www.woodcentral.com/cgi-bin/handtools.pl



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Barbara

The first suggestion might be to dive into ANY class that you can find.. Although many may be experienced there is always someone that loves to share knowledge with a newbie.. we ALL started there.

As far as a saw, I used for quite awhile a small cordless power saw to cut sheets down to size.. which seems to be your initial question-challenge. They are gutless, BUT if you are only doing a little at a time (which is probably your only choice in an apartment) they work fine. I cut 3/4" particle board sheets to what I need to make smaller pieces that are easier to handle even if I do have a table saw. They are relatively quiet. You can even drop your sheet down in the middle of a lumber yard parking lot and cut right on site as long as you carry along a straight edge and a few clamps to quide your travel (and a few chunks of junky wood to keep it off the ground). Batteries don't last long so you have to keep that in mind and their too weak to cut solid wood unless its pine.

Noise is another mater. Just doing research on that for my own personal and business shop will add something to my website when I get some brilliant ideas.. good luck K

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For the love and maybe addiction of working in wood



2WoodworkingWomen.com a website to share our love of woodworking

mathchick74, you should immediately attend a meeting of the South Florida Woodworkers Guild. We are experienced and accomplished. The thing is, we didn't start out that way. I love to pass on my feeble knowledge to anyone who is interested. We meet the second Tuesday of the month at 7:00 PM at the Woodcraft Store in Pompano Beach (in the Pompano Center south of Atlantic on Federal-with Joann's Fabrics, etc.) The store also has a wide range of classes for anyone interested in woodworking.

As for living in an apartment, we have several members who are glad to have you come to their shop as you are learning. After a while, you will know enough to be able to figure out how to work in your apartment.

Occasionally, the Broward County School District conducts wood working classes in the evening at a number of different schools. You should receive that catalog in the mail at lest twice a year.

You might check out our web site - sfwg.org It will give you a good deal of information.

Looking forward to seeing you at the Guild

Jim

While I agree bandsaws are relatively quiet, I can't imagine using one in an apartment. I know the neighbors in the apartments I've lived in would not have been happy about it!

Have you considered trying Intarsia or Scrollsaw work? A scroll saw is much smaller and even quieter than a bandsaw and there are a number of crafts that could make use of it. Another option might be turning pens and small bowls on a mini lathe. Also I think quieter and definitely smaller than a bandsaw. I know a lady that makes jewelry from wood on her scroll saw set up in a corner of her spare bedroom. She put plastic on the floor under it to collect the mess and keeps a hand vac handy for post work cleanup. She does beautiful 3-D scroll work and then paints the pieces for lovely little mini sculptures. Mostly she does critters like dolphins, swans, and other birds. She started after taking a scroll saw class at a local Woodcraft store.

You could also make small boxes in a spare bedroom workshop. These are lovely little art pieces very worth getting skilled at. Tiny little dovetail joints make beautiful pieces! If you later have a place to get larger equipment you will have the skills already in hand. It will just then be a case of transferring them to larger pieces.

Betty

well i appreciate your interest in wood work and i am shocked that you didn't find any one who can help you..well where i think so the work which you can do with table saw not with the lumber

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The above ground pools are becoming common in the swimming pools as their pool supplies are also available everywhere.

I agree with trying to find a woodworking class. Using a table saw is very important. It is not a tool that should be used if you do not know what you are doing. Living in an apartment is a challenge and besides the noise, the dust is also a huge problem. If you can work outside it is much better. Good Luck!

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Monica Hughes
www.nakedtreewoodworking.com

We are woodworkers, and we love woodworking, you could come to us for friends.
http://www.routertabledepot.com
questions@routertabledepot.com

An interesting challenge.
I would look for anything that deals with antique tools, and furniture, and how both are made.
Purchase anything from Roy Underhill, I have had very limited exposure to his program, but as I remember it, he uses only hand tools from the 17th and 18th century.
You might also try and find videos from colonial Williamsburg
Just about every thing we do today, they did then. They used hand tools, and we use power.
Just remember, it is not the tool that determines the quality of the final product but the skill of the craftman.

Hang in there.

Joe

Hi Mathckik, I lived in an apartment for many years and enjoyed woodworking in it.

I had a standard bench that fit in the closet, so I only had front access to it.

I used handtools such as planes, saws chisels etc, and had an electric drill press and a bandsaw that I used in the apartment.

A bandsaw is far quieter than a scrollsaw, and can be used for sawing large items. I also had a Nilfisk vacuum (similar to Fein), very quiet, far quieter than a home vacuum.

Handplaning is silent, so really is the drill press (useful for drilling holes, drum sanding, and mortising).

You may also be able to join a club in your area and use some of their tools for jointing/planing.

Welcome to the most hospitable forum on the net......Regards, Rod.