Elephant in the Room

This is what I imagine when I think of a woodworkers garage.

Tools as far as the eye can see!

When I think of wood working I think of an old shed, with walls and walls of tools (like the above pictures); hand planers, lathes, every kind of saw and sander you could imagine. If you’re anything like me, then you probably think woodworking is way out of your reach, but I’m here to tell you, it’s not!

What do I mean by the elephant in the room? TOOLS! A woodworkers tools define what they are capable of doing, sometimes we buy tools we don’t fully understand how to use (I’m very guilty of that), but the bottom line is that a woodworker needs tools! But what kind of tools do you need?
Now I started out fairly simply, I had some sand paper, a drill, a circular saw, and some elbow grease. When I started working on the table I refurbished (see other posts) I collected some new tools, like a dremel tool and a detail sander.  It seemed like a relatively moderate investment, and it certainly helped make my life a little easier in the garage. But every project presents new problems, and sometimes a new problem means you made need a new tool. Big or small, tools help me define the problem, and come up with a solution!
I’m writing this blog, because as much as I love woodworking, I’ve been frustrated by feeling like I never have the right tool. This in turn frustrates my wife because I go out and buy the right tool! My collection grows with every new undertaking and I think that’s ok (as long as you don’t over do it). I know my collection is modest at best, but it gives me the ability to do the kind of work that I really enjoy. Building my collection has given me the ability to take on new and more challenging projects, and really put those tools to good use!
So to answer the question I asked earlier, what kind of tools do you need? Well the answer isn’t that straight forward. I’ve found the best way to figure out what kind of tools you need is to ask questions from people who have been woodworking for a lot longer than you have! That’s how I got my kregg joiner, which I used for the first time on my most recent project. So my recommendation for tools is two fold; don’t pick a project unless you know what kind of tools you’ll need (and the investment that comes with it) and don’t be afraid to ask someone more experienced than you for help!
I hope if you’re a new woodworker, I hope this helps a little bit. And if you have any questions, please ask! I’m happy to help in any way I can.