[look 171]

Originally Posted by masraum

I've had lots and lots of great suggestions. The plan is going to be to build a workbench first. I'll be gluing up a bunch of boards to make the top, and probably legs and maybe stretchers too. I've had to deal with light-weight, flimsy, rickety benches in the past and don't want to do that this time.

Below is the bulk of the list of tools that have been suggested. I've divided them into 3 sections, power (electrical), air (really just compressor and nail guns) and hand. There's probably some things in the hand tools list that may not have been suggested.

I probably still have a couple/few of the hand tools. I may have 1 or 2 hand planes, probably both #4 or maybe #3. I may still have a coping saw. I have a set of Milwaukee M12 tools, driver/drill (for hex bits), drill (w/chuck) and small saw. I think I also have a 5/8" Makita corded drill/hammer drill.


POWER
circular saw or track saw
12” sliding miter saw
table saw (sawstop or old, then a good fence)
jig saw
planer 3 1/4”
router table
dust collection
cordless drill
corded drill/driver (w/hammer)
belt sander
palm/orbital sander
sawzall
oscillating cutting tool
heat gun
impact driver
angle grinder
router

AIR
air compressor
finishing nail guns

HAND
coping saw
hand saw (Japanese or standard)
back saw
Squares of some sort or multiple sorts?
hand plane (4, 6, block, scrub)
clamps (bar, pipe?)
level
bench dogs
holdfast
prybars

I'll see if I can find some yard/garage/estate sales to track down some old tools or maybe I'll find some stuff laying around "antique" markets that will be usable without being priced crazy.


Now I need to figure out what to get first. The first work that I'll be doing will probably be building the workbench.

I know that there are some things that I might need sooner and some later. I can see using a sawzall to clear away some small trees and stuff around the house that's too big for loppers and over grown. After that, who knows. I'll have to think about it and try to prioritize.

I used to have a bunch of cheap Irwin Quick Clamps. They were great and easy for small items, and I think I was able to buy multipacks at HD so I probably had 10 of them that were 12-18".

I also had, I think, two 3' cabinet bar clamps two 5' cabinet bar clamps like what is pictured below.

I'd never heard of pipe clamps, but I've seen those recently. They look like a budget version of the bar clamps. Is it worth getting the pipe clamps? It seems the nice, long flat clamping surfaces of the cabinet bar clamps are nice.

Personally, I would take out the following:

Hand, coping, and back saw (unless you are planning to cut a lot of hand cut dovetail joints. Must siimple joints can be cut on the table saw)
I don't think I have used a coping saw since I was 12. Take a jig saw to it and be done with it in 1 min and a hell of a lot more accurate too.

Try to get the steel I-beam bar clamps but they are lots more money then pipe clamps. I love these old fashion ones and they just work and work. Nothing fancy. Steel, and indestructible. Don't buy those alum square tube junk. Bessy have them too, maybe rebranded?https://www.amazon.com/Jorgensen-7272-72-I-Bar-Clamp/dp/B0000224CK/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=jorgensen+bar+clamps&qid=1605772118&s=power-hand-tools&sr=1-6

My second choice and they have their place for a certain glue up application https://www.amazon.com/Bessey-KRE3540-REVOlution-Parallel-Clamp/dp/B07BTPLQ3R/ref=sr_1_25?dchild=1&keywords=bessey+bar+clamp&qid=1605772273&sr=8-25

You will need some of these https://www.amazon.com/Bessey-Clutch-Clamp-Set-4-Piece/dp/B00P9G1LCQ/ref=sr_1_8?dchild=1&keywords=bessey+bar+clamp&qid=1605772405&sr=8-8 We bought a large amount of some expensive ones for a large hillside deck build that required lam. bend rim joist that ran 50'. Clamps had to be left overnight for glue to dry. I will see about digging some of them out and get you a few so you can get started. There's a bit more room in that box. Man, that's going to be a big bill on shipping