[Pedropete]

Hello all,

I've used this forum - and the knowledge you all share so generously - a few times in the past. I'm about to get stuck into some finer (but far from 'fine') cabinetry for personal use and need to up my game, so I decided to do the decent thing and register before shamelessly sponging any more knowledge!

Been an amateur carpenter/joiner and woodworker since school to one degree or another, with my interests tending more towards meeting specific requirements rather than a general desire to be in the workshop (would rather be cycling if I'm honest), i.e. making a bookcase for the home study or knocking together a podium for a prize giving at short notice, stuff like that.

I've a reasonable amount of handheld experience in 1/4", 8mm, 3/8" and 1/2", but no table mounted work to date. About to build a table for my 625 so I can plough through all the rebates and housings needed for a larger cabinetry project at home and am looking forward to making as much of it as possible myself.

Thank you to all for what I've learned so far and for what I'll undoubtedly learn in the future, and I'll be sure to share and contribute where I can do so productively.

Pete.

 

[Danman1957]

Welcome Pete,

You will surely find any advice required within the vast membership including several from the UK. We are called the Router Forums but most members are well experienced in all aspects of woodworking.

Cheers,
Dan

 

[sreilly]

Welcome back Pete. This place has a ton of knowledgeable craftspeople that willing share. Of course you'll want to post pictures of your projects to show others. I've found that I don't scratch my head as long anymore since joining up which is good because it's thinning.....fast.

 

[JOAT]

Welcome aboard.

 

[DaninVan]

Hey, Pete; welcome! Just out of curiosity... I noted that you don't have a tablesaw...how are you cutting your plywood? I've made an assumption that you are in fact using plywood rather than solid lumber, but i guess the question would remain the same(?).

 

[DesertRatTom]

Glad you decided to officially join in the fun. Many of us have exactly the same lifelong do it yourself experience. I know that my first table saw, and making cabinets were what really got me hooked. If you don't have it yet, I've attahed a pdf of the 17 things that helped accelerate my learning curve. The specific tools mentioned may or may no be available in the UK, but the general information may be useful. The high taxes in the UK and Europe in general, may limit what you can add to your shop. I was shocked at the prices on tools, more than double similar tools here. However, to start with, a table saw, router (+table), drill press, and some form of sawdust collection and protection are critical basics. Again welcome.

 

[Nickp]

Welcome, Pete...ask away when you're ready to start your project...

 

[RainMan 2.0]

Welcome to the forum Pete, thanks for joining

 

[sunnybob]

Router tables are like racing engines, you cant beat cubic inches! make it big, make it wide. Mine is just under a metre square. If I'm not routing on it, I'm using it a a lay and glue up table.

Oh, i'm also English, even though i live in Cyprus.

 

[MEBCWD]

Welcome to the Router Forums Pete. I hope we can help out if needed.

 

[thomas1389]

Welcome Pete. There are loads of answers here to any questions you might have. A knowledgeable bunch, to say the least.

 

[Pedropete]

Hey, Pete; welcome! Just out of curiosity... I noted that you don't have a tablesaw...how are you cutting your plywood? I've made an assumption that you are in fact using plywood rather than solid lumber, but i guess the question would remain the same(?).

Thanks! That's right, no tablesaw and unfortunately no space for one with sufficient in/out feeds. Have made do for years with circ saws, good blades and shooting boards for cleaner cuts, along with lots of scoring and taping. I did recently invest in a plunge saw though, and am in the process of building a knockdown mft. My workspace is a small shed that also serves as general storage and bike workshop so space is tight. The router table will also be a knock down design. And yes, I work mainly in ply as I'm fortunate get lots of (large) offcuts of good quality low-void birch. Solid lumber is terrifyingly expensive in the UK, but I've always loved what you can do with ply, so I don't feel too hard done by.

Glad you decided to officially join in the fun. Many of us have exactly the same lifelong do it yourself experience. I know that my first table saw, and making cabinets were what really got me hooked. If you don't have it yet, I've attahed a pdf of the 17 things that helped accelerate my learning curve. The specific tools mentioned may or may no be available in the UK, but the general information may be useful. The high taxes in the UK and Europe in general, may limit what you can add to your shop. I was shocked at the prices on tools, more than double similar tools here. However, to start with, a table saw, router (+table), drill press, and some form of sawdust collection and protection are critical basics. Again welcome.

Thank you, Tom. Some really helpful tips there.

 

[DaninVan]

A lot of guys use 'pop-up' shelters over here, for mostly job-site shelter. Great to gain some extra temporary shelter if you're at ground level.
https://www.amazon.ca/ABCCANOPY-Ins...=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B01AQIH2O2
You probably have similar over there(?).

 

[old55]

Welcome to the forum Pete.

 

[sunnybob]

Table saws dont have to be big.
After 4 years of trying to find a way of fitting a big old cast iron saw in my little workshop i gave up and bought a De Walt 745 site saw. Its just about liftable at 22 kgs. the fence is a brilliant design, and the overall performance has greatly exceeded my expectations.