Woodworking Tools // Watch Before Buying
Woodworking Tools // Watch Before Buying
This video covers the worst woodworking tools I purchased early on. If you want to save money, watch this entire before buying. There are plenty of videos talking about what tools you should buy, but none talking about what you shouldnt buy. I wasted a lot of money starting out, let me help you avoid that before you buy something thats a waste.
Links to products mentioned
Kreg K4 – https://amzn.to/2OHdZhH
Dewalt Clamps – https://amzn.to/3a11GE7
Measuring Tape – https://amzn.to/3seeNIq
Japanese Pull Saw – https://amzn.to/3g5sHdA
Flush Trim Saw – https://amzn.to/3uGLPCI
Micro Jig Grr-rrriper – https://amzn.to/2QZyYNg
Measure in metric –
Damn helpful, thankyou! Been woodworking for years and found this video to be spot on with everything I had experience with. Also learned few things…still learning the cheap clamps lessons, unfortunately. Just bought my 1st set of pipe clamp ends from HF. and almost instantly, while using them for the 1st time, regretted it.
I have to disagree with you on the Kregg pocket jig, I own both the handheld jig as well as the tabletop. Try putting a pocket hole into plywood that’s already installed in the back corner of some recess of a dark cabinet corner, you can’t get the tabletop jig there! I think it’s worth every penny!
Or just learn to read a tape measure!!
I had gotten a gripppper after a lot of debate – ended up a birthday gift or something. Only used it a couple of times (thank you wood prices), but already noticed a nick where the blade caught just barely in a tiny spot.
The measuring tape thing … uh guilty! Thanks for the tip!
I just want to point out that your audio when you talk is coming from the left channel only. Not sure what editor you are using but you can turn a single channel stereo track to mono or center it usually within the sound properties.
Beginners, get a metric tape measure. So much easier.
Have Irwin clamps and dewalt, and harbor freight quick clamps. You are right they suck and they broke on me, remember to buy once, cry once
Kreg is nice, but I prefer the Armor pocket hole jig. However, your logic is right-on. Don’t waste money on the clamp and the smaller jig. Go for the K-4. As for clamps, the Irwin clamps are awesome! I also have a couple Dewalt clamps and love them as well! I did learn rather quickly not to pull the trigger clamp too tightly on the smaller ones (Note to self: add a new clamp to my Lowe’s shopping list…) because you’ll snap the head off the thing real quick. I also have a number of Jorgensen clamps, which are very versatile and I really like them! As for tape measures, I used to buy the big bulky ones that were 30′ long (compensation, I guess) but, in all honesty, I’ve never needed one longer than probably 12 feet. So, while I still have the really big ones, I use the 12-foot Dewalt tape measure for 99% of my work. It’s also small enough to just throw in my pocket when I go to the lumber store. And here’s another great idea….learn how to read it and not have to rely on the fractional numbers printed on it. It’s simple. +1 for the Japanese saw!! They are great! And so is the Gripper! Pricey, but much cheaper than getting fingers sewn back on.
Thanks again for a great video!! Looking forward to many more!
all I hear is your voice in my left ear.
I use a metric tape measure and love it. Is the left channel sound out or is it just me ? @ 6:15 i seen a guy on another video use his router for flush cuts.
Just found the channel. Like the videos and content. I hope to get my channel going soon as well. Just made a nice solid walnut table and I have bought my fair share of junk !
what’s wrong with the audio
I have both Kreg jigs you discuss here. Two different applications. I sometimes use Kreg screws to hold together 2×4’s out in the chicken coop. You cannot use the tabletop jig for the end of a 10′ 2×4. The little one works great. I also hold it in place just fine with an ordinary F style clamp. Great video, thanks for sharing.
I have been very relieved at the end of the video. I also use two versions of the gripper and I am incredibly happy with these products. I also agree with all the rest.
I wish I would have seen this video a couple years ago. I thought I got the less expensive kregg jig including the clamp for a good deal at about half price of the more expensive setup. I still wish today I would have spent the extra money for the more expensive setup. The hand clamp isn’t always easy to line up properly and can slide away.
I "HATE HATE HATE" the tapes that have the fractions on them, they just clutter up the tape, I’ll just glance at the 1/4 markes and it’s easy to see where I’m at from there.
Chisels are a good one to avoid the cheaper, beginner models on. Often, the steel quality is inferior and won’t retain an edge for long, the bevel isn’t shaped properly requiring significant work to square it up, and more than once I’ve had cheap plastic handle ones given to me as gifts that break when tapped with a mallet. If you do a lot of precision hand work, you want a tool that is square, will maintain its edge for a while, and can stand up for those times you need to make an indent.
With a lot of people I’ve worked with, they say at first that they hate the experience and the results when using hand tools in woodworking, when really it’s just that they’ve been using the cheap hand tools. Once they upgrade, they get better results and enjoy woodworking overall that much more.
With the caveat that my woodworking journey started with carpentry, went to machine woodworking, and is now almost entirely hand tool woodworking: a better handsaw would be some old wooden-handled saw from a garage sale or such. Reason: they can be sharpened. I had a Japanese pull saw, but they, along with the home center saw you showed, cannot be sharped and are designed to be thrown away (or at least the blade). Which is what I did when mine went dull – and I did not buy another. Right now I’m using saws that were made many decades ago and cost about a dollar each, but cut like butter because I got a cheap saw file and sharpen the teeth. The saws will outlast me. They’re used in fine woodwooking, BTW. 🙂
Love your channel, BTW. Just discovered it but you offer a great point of view. Thank you for what you are doing.
The Harbor Freight Bremen clamps are good and reasonably priced.
when using the Japanese style saw say cutting off a plug I see you have cut it what looks like absolutely flush. How is it you don’t get teeth marks across the surface?
SO glad you said the gripper was good, I love mine, it makes using a table saw not as intimidating as when using a push stick,
and really helps new users get a better longer cut with more precision. 🙂
Yep. I’m a "two lines past the third big line" measurer. So I switched to metric. Much easier to count in tens.
I use all the "sucky" clamps and I’m okay. I do very little wood working as I a m a different hobbyist and just make tables and simple cabinets but your advice is invaluable
You can use metric when you use your tape measure
i got all 4 of the non recommended tools
Worthless video.
Should have watched this before building a table, literally bought the first two things you said not to last week haha
It’s all about that left, left channel, don’t need that right, right channel.
I bought a couple of the bessey 90 degree corner clamps and I agree, they are cumbersome to use. thanks for the tip.
Support the channel by visiting my Etsy Shop and using affiliate links in the video description. Do it – and I’ll keep making videos.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/LincolnStWoodworks?ref=seller-platform-mcnav
Great info, God Bless!
Your audio is only on one channel…come-on man!
Hi John, I will mainly be using 4 x 2 timber in my projects and in the UK our 4 x 2’s are actually 1¾" x 3¾" unlike American sizes of 1½" x 3½". I bought the Kreg K5 for £134 but couldn’t actually use it as UK timber sizes are slightly on the bigger large. Is the Kreg HD the only pocket hole jig available for me to use?
The only thing worse than that Bessey corner clamp is the Kreg auto adjusting corner clamp.
I regret buying a palm router instead of going with a router table. Free hand routing wasn’t for me. The table and router I picked up cost less than my palm, is accurate router and more fun to use.
Solution to making your tape measure easier to read would be to buy a metric one 🙉
What if I’ve been using tape measures professionally for 20+ years and know the difference between 5/8 and 9/16 … would it be okay if i continued to use my fraction-less model? I joke of course. enjoyed the video. I get sick of people thinking they’re making "this old house" and have 15 min intros, music, sponsors and in video ads when they don’t actually have that much of importance to say.
@ 4;30 you say "I’m going to give you the Most important Advice I can give you"? Sorry but that’s Fake News! LEARN How to Read Fractions is the BEST Advice I can give you! LEARN the Difference between 3/16 and 13/16——10/16! Good video for the Beginners.
I’ve been an industrial millwright for 15 years and I always hated tape measures with all the details on them. Too crowded! The simple one you showed at first is definitely my preferred one. After a few weeks of using it, you’ll just know what all the increments are in an instant; a minor skill that’ll serve you well for years to come!
on measuring tapes…. every non American…. just use metric!
I own most of that crap, made those mistakes lol. You are absolutely right!
I’m sick of people pushing Japanese pulls saws. You just don’t know how to use a western saw. Learn.
Whats wrong with the audio
Cheap table saw cut very well and accurate enough for me but the fence only locks on one side so can move during cutting . Spoils the whole thing.
For the measuring tape I have a very good advice: go to metric! 😀
Dont save in consumables like Jigsaw blades, sandpaper, drills. Yes it is always nice to have some on hand to ruin them, but when you you buy a tool, you most likely will get some crap with it. So keep it for ‘special’ occasions and some quality bits with the tool.
I know this is an old video but is it just me that the audio only works on left channel? I wear my Bluetooth headphones to listen and noticed.
dude’s really gettng cozy in me left ear
I regret starting on one Orange & black platform & then jumping to the big red & black 10x better platform. I started with the lifetime service agreement option just in case something failed or if I were to break them. But I take really good care of my tools especially compared to anyone I know. Plus the 5 years I get now is enough for me. & at first I looked at the price & “cheaped out” which I’ve made that mistake more times than I care to admit. Instead of having to upgrade later on I wish I would’ve just got the best quality choice I could get & I could always grow into it so to speak.