Reply To: Necessary tools to do quality work
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That’s a reasonable list. As for priorities, you can skip the cross-cut saw at the beginning and maybe for quite a while. Rather than buying a dovetail saw, just buy a tenon saw around 12 tpi (13 ppi). Mine is an old Diston, 14″ with 12 tpi. After sharpening and reducing the set, I cut everything with it. I cross cut to length (with a double knife line), cross cut tenon shoulders, rip tenon faces, and cut dovetails. I even make long cuts in ply and solid. I have a fancy LN dovetails saw, and it just sits on the shelf because I can’t be bothered tor each for it when this works just fine. A gents saw is a nice idea but I’d not suggest it on a limited budget because it can be skipped and it is hard to sharpen. 12 tpi you can sharpen, and you must learn to sharpen. Same story for a dozuki. It’s not a bad idea and many people like them, but I think it’s worth committing yourself to learning to sharpen. The 12 tpi tenon saw will do everything except for big ripping down to size. So, you do need one full size rip handsaw. This must be a coarse saw, not a little dinky 10 tpi jobber. Mine is 6 tpi.
Oh. You need a saw set. Make sure it goes to small teeth pitch, like 12 tpi.
I agree you will want a 1/4″ chisel even if just for cleaning shavings out of mortises. You are going to want a 3/8″ chisel for dovetails. Narex aren’t expensive and the Aldi are even cheaper. Many people horded many extra sets of Aldi. I wonder if there’s a way to set up a small purchase? (Alas, I did not). A minimum set of chisels for making a desk is probably 1/4, 3/8, and 1″. The 1/4 and 3/8 emphasize most common mortises and 1″ lets you true up shoulders without nibbling away at it.
For “straight file,” you mean single cut 10″ bastard? If so, I agree. Skip double cut for now. I’d add in a combination “file” which is flat on one side, round on the other, and has 4 types of teeth. It’s really a rasp. Here’s a picture, but if Bahco makes one, that would be better. https://www.amazon.com/Nicholson-Combination-without-American-Half-Round/dp/B006P2X4Q4
If you can find a sensible, inexpensive 6″ steel rule, you will find it helps your accuracy. General 676 is less than $10. This is *not* essential. You can just use your combination square, but I do find it handy.
My biggest worry is the workmate. I’m afraid it will move around on you too much. Maybe others can comment on this aspect. I am also nervous about the oilstone. If you get the right one, you’ll be fine, but many will not do the trick. I don’t have much experience with oil stones, so I’ll let others comment.