Any woodworkers?

You can find budget tools that are decent quality.

You can get quality cuts out of lower end stuff. Just have to work a little harder at being more accurate.

 

Thanks for the vote of confidence.

Permanence (I rent housing, moved cross country) is an issue. If I was more than "experimenting, but trying to be competent" I might. That end-table bottom did turn out rather well, until you get close and see the overlapping joint in the middle of the "X" is rough. I figure if I can get good controlled cuts with current tools then even low-end table saw or router table I will be making clean product.

 

Busy day in the garage. This is what's left of my work bench.

 

don't get to check this site out as much as i'd like, but definitely like checking out this thread. some real nice-looking stuff!

only made one cutting board, so gotta remember how to upload a pic. oh, there we go.

 

i've got an electric brand that LOML got me, and it can be tricky. i'll do tests with similar woods that i want to stamp, but it still doesn't always turn out so great. for the next one, i think i'll make a jig the size of the brand that i can tape to the piece, so i can redo if i need to. that's the plan at least!

 

A jig sounds like a good idea.. I'm still practicing with my homemade brand... definitely a learning curve.

 

This is literally the story of my shop.

most of my tools are ryobi or craftsman.

and 40% of my tools are purchased via credit card points turned into Home Depot gift cards

 

My tools require me to check and double check accuracy and tune them often. As long as you slow down and do your due diligence, you’ll almost always end with accurate cuts. 95% of my woodworking tools are ryobi, craftsman, or harbor freight.

and I don’t own an actual table saw (mine is a portable craftsman). Jointer is a 6”. Planer is a 16” craftsman.

you don’t have to have festool to make cool shit.