That is a great place to start. Even if I don't save money making my own furniture I get a sense of satisfaction each time I use it. Have also made furniture for my children and hope that they hink of me when I they use it.

Congratulations and welcome to the fraternity!

 

Nefris, there is not a great deal of difference in the noise levels of jointers/planers... they are all very loud and hearing protection is a must. Be smart about it and always wear your safety glasses and hearing protection when working with power tools. I think your first project turned out just fine. We are all our own worst critics; we see the little flaws that other people will not notice because we know they are there. I think you are off to a great start and look forward to seeing your table.

 

Nice first project. Good idea.

Quieter planer? You don't say which one you have, but I put a BYRD Shelix head on my Dewalt DW735. It would wake the dead before. Now I can use it without hearing protection, if I chose to. Still recommend the protection though.
Added bonuses are smooth planing of figured wood, and if you get a chip in a cutter, turn the cutter, instead of replacing the knives.

 

he has this planer

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00002239D

==

 

:nhl_checking:I have a Ridgid planer, never thought of it as being too terrible for noise, but then maybe all the years I have spent pounding on Tin have something to do with that?

 

You're of to a good start.
As for loud planer, I've found that the blunter the blades, the louder it is.
When they're blunt, they're hammering more than slicing.
Search the internet for all the ways of sharpening planer blades, you'll need to at some point even if that's not the problem now.

 

I checked my blades, and they do need sharpening.. also have some nicks on it..

P.S

Thanks everyone for your comments.. Can't wait for another warm day to start my next project

 

You should be very happy with your results. My first project ended up in scrap lumber and sawdust!!!!

 

Loudest was the planer I made sure that by 5pm i was done working with it.. way too loud for my neighborhood.
Any recommendations on a quieter planer?

Hand planes are quieter, a lot quieter than powered planers. I don't own a powered planer. I don't think that hand planes are than much harder to use, in fact I don't think hand tools in general are that hard to use and they are very handy to have around both for when you need to be quiet and when electrical power is an issue, and they are generally cheaper as well.

Darryl

 

Hand planes are quieter, a lot quieter than powered planers.l

Aha. We have a neanderthal among us.

But yes. Dull blades don't help anything.

 

Darryl; no argument from me on your ode to hand planing, however, personally I prefer the speed and accuracy of my planer (thicknesser). When I'm making a project it's because I need the finished product, not because I want to spend more time making it.
This doesn't take away from the pleasure of using a perfectly sharpened plane and making shavings, while still being able to hear the radio in the background. Just different priorities. (My favourite is the block plane)

 

Dan,

thanks for your comment about working quickly, which is true - I'd love to have a thicknesser. What I was saying though was that you can also get a job done quickly with hand tools as they allow you to work at times of the day and night when the noise of power tools would get you into trouble.

Not having a thicknesser, I have learnt how to set up the table saw to get fairly accurate sizing with a fairly smooth surface. A few swipes with the hand plane is usually all that is needed after that....

Darryl

 

Nice cutting board, be proud of Yourself and I am glad to hear You are thinking SAFETY FIRST remember what these tools do to wood and think what they would do to fingers and limbs especially Your table saw .....Most people get hurt from table saws before anything else..... Use push stick and featherboards when You can they really help.....

 

I am being very careful, specially when i came across this this site Sawstop

Very scary.. My gf wanted to buy me one, but when she saw it was almost 2k, she said omg... we don't have that kind of money to spend on a hobby :'( i do understand since we are both still far away from decent paychecks, or jobs.

Also bought myself a Full Face Shield here

 

Plane English

Nefris, are you talking about an electric portable plane(r), or a manual Plane?
"Any advice favorable size for hand planer?"
I've had an electric plane for years but never think to use it. As Darryl points out, for the type of job that an electric plane excels at, a hand plane works as well. We'd all be less confused if we called a portable planer a thicknesser, and an electric plane just that. Damn English language eh?

Makita Planers - Makita Woodworking Tools - Makita Tools - Shop By Brand

 

Any project from scratch is a great learning experience, and an opportunity to learn how to use your tools. What a great sence of satisfaction!