Carpentry - worth it?

[snappers15]

As MMM stated, sometimes the best way to get all of your tools is from someone liquidating an entire shop worth of tools.  I'm not sure how pricing should work with that though.  Is $6,500 for all of these tools sound like a decent deal, or am I just crazy?

Delta unisaw 10" table saw with tilting arbor, extented table
(2) Woodmark professional, heavy-duty work benches
(2) Professional grade router tables
Delta DC-380 planer
Delta Jointer
Delta hollow chisel mortiser
Delta dust collection system with hoses and clamps
Performax products 16-32 plus standing belt sander
Powermatic standingdrum sander
ShopSmith 20" scroll saw
Dewalt 12" milter saw
Skilsaw mag 77
Craftsman 10" drill press
Craftsman 8" bench grinder
Craftsman recirocating saw
Complete set of wood clamps with stand
Craftsman tool box
Porter Cable hand sanders
Porter Cable routers
Many router bits
Airmark air compressor
Selection of hand tools
Stains and finishes
Sander belts and sandpapers
Variety of hardwood
Several jigs
Tables and stands for most equipment

[DaveR]

That's a lot of gear... have a lot of space?
I didn't go price checking everything, but that seems like a solid deal, particularly if things are well maintained. People like to think gently abused should price out at 97% of like new. And yep, there is value in "one-stop shopping."

Don't be afraid to haggle...worst case is you get a 'no.' But "I'll take it all off your hands tonight for $5,000 in crisp c-notes" might also get you a shop full of tools.

[snappers15]

DaveR - I have a 3 car garage that I lucked into with a fixer upper house.  With only one car, that left quite a bit of space.  I took your advice.  I didn't get down to $5k, but $5,800.  I had a colleague come with me who helped a little with the negotiation, and quietly told me I could sell half the stuff (what I don't need) and get all of the money or more back.  Hopefully he's right.  It's a crap load of work to move all that stuff though!

[DaveR]

Nice! I'm envious--I lucked into a 1 car garage and have more (classic) cars than that. I wish I had the space for the sweet shop you now have.

A thought: since you do have a complete shop now, before you go selling things you don't need (for immediate projects), think about how you might use it for a side hustle. E.g. I saw a guy "flipping" furniture: buy on craigslist, fix/refinish, resell. He didn't even have much of a shop. You have a set up now to do custom cabinets. Maybe not kitchens, but think bookcases, desks, bathroom vanities, etc.

[Bob W]

I vote crazy.   If you aren't into it enough to know the price points and what a deal is,  I would surmise this is a passing fancy and to just let it pass.   I have a $45 circular saw and a used miter saw, hammer, hand saws.   Remodeled an entire house.   The tools you are showing would be more in the realm of woodworking tools.  Something more suited to building cabinets.  Since I can buy a complete set of very nice Chinese box cabinets for under 1K I would never consider building any. 

IMHO

[music lover]

I vote crazy.   If you aren't into it enough to know the price points and what a deal is,  I would surmise this is a passing fancy and to just let it pass.   I have a $45 circular saw and a used miter saw, hammer, hand saws.   Remodeled an entire house.   The tools you are showing would be more in the realm of woodworking tools.  Something more suited to building cabinets.  Since I can buy a complete set of very nice Chinese box cabinets for under 1K I would never consider building any. 

IMHO

I have a few more tools, but agree. I reno'd an entire house, built a garage and sunroom and decks and did 99% of it with a half dozen basic tools.

[snappers15]

I vote crazy.   If you aren't into it enough to know the price points and what a deal is,  I would surmise this is a passing fancy and to just let it pass.   I have a $45 circular saw and a used miter saw, hammer, hand saws.   Remodeled an entire house.   The tools you are showing would be more in the realm of woodworking tools.  Something more suited to building cabinets.  Since I can buy a complete set of very nice Chinese box cabinets for under 1K I would never consider building any. 

IMHO

Probably right.  I dove into it all last night.  Took 5 guys 4 hours to move most of the stuff, after my wife boxed as many tools as she could.  Lots of car tools as well that I hadn't expected.  A lot of hardwood in the attic that I didn't know about.  I even got a snowblower, golf clubs, desk, and office chairs that I won't use that I can hopefully sell and get some money back.

Still, my wife reminds of me some meme she saw that said "why would I spend $15 on that item when I could make it with $150 of craft supplies?"  Hopefully that wasn't me. 

All of the big stuff prices out to around $15k-$20k new, at least, which doesn't include the hand tools, frames, etc.  Maybe I should liquidate and make some money by selling everything one off. 

[Bob W]

I vote crazy.   If you aren't into it enough to know the price points and what a deal is,  I would surmise this is a passing fancy and to just let it pass.   I have a $45 circular saw and a used miter saw, hammer, hand saws.   Remodeled an entire house.   The tools you are showing would be more in the realm of woodworking tools.  Something more suited to building cabinets.  Since I can buy a complete set of very nice Chinese box cabinets for under 1K I would never consider building any. 

IMHO

I have a few more tools, but agree. I reno'd an entire house, built a garage and sunroom and decks and did 99% of it with a half dozen basic tools.

  Yeah,  I had a used level, used chalk box and a few odds and ends like drywall tools, drills etc.   

Looks like the OP went for it anyhow --- Buyers remorse should only take about 72 hours to set in. 

[DaveR]

Looks like the OP went for it anyhow --- Buyers remorse should only take about 72 hours to set in.

I know OP is a grown up, but I feel a tinge of responsibility for prompting buying 5x (10x?) more than needed. *hangs head*

At least it sounds like he got all the tools he could possibly need and can sell off those that he doesn't. I'd guess once all the time to move/list/sell things is factored in, it will be break-even on a cash basis. Or net positive since he'll keep some items that will be needed.

[nereo]

@snappers15 - good challenge for you!  Now that you've successfully negotiated the price down and moved all 'dem tools, pick out the ones you actually want to hang onto and see if you can sell the remainder in individual auctions to recoup what you paid.  So many of the items you listed are pluralized... you could sell half and still wind up with my wet dream of a woodworker's shop all for a net total of ~$0.

just my 2¢

[snappers15]

@snappers15 - good challenge for you!  Now that you've successfully negotiated the price down and moved all 'dem tools, pick out the ones you actually want to hang onto and see if you can sell the remainder in individual auctions to recoup what you paid.  So many of the items you listed are pluralized... you could sell half and still wind up with my wet dream of a woodworker's shop all for a net total of ~$0.

just my 2¢

Great idea!  I'm thinking I can probably recover half.  Won't be as inexpensive of a solution as Bob W. (which is pretty impressive really), but should be a lot of fun.  I like the side hustle idea from DaveR as well. 

[jba302]

I vote crazy.   If you aren't into it enough to know the price points and what a deal is,  I would surmise this is a passing fancy and to just let it pass.   I have a $45 circular saw and a used miter saw, hammer, hand saws.   Remodeled an entire house.   The tools you are showing would be more in the realm of woodworking tools.  Something more suited to building cabinets.  Since I can buy a complete set of very nice Chinese box cabinets for under 1K I would never consider building any. 

IMHO

This is exactly what I was thinking, this is more of a woodworking shop than a carpentry kit.

Still, my wife reminds of me some meme she saw that said "why would I spend $15 on that item when I could make it with $150 of craft supplies?"  Hopefully that wasn't me. 

You can usually buy IKEA way cheaper than you can DIY, but you can DIY cheaper than buying high quality wood stuff (once you get really good). If you aren't going to build your own desks and tables with wood you hand picked from a lumber yard, you probably want to dump the jointer, planer, mortiser, and probably the scroll saw and drum sander at least. I imagine the rest of it you can find use for around the house.

[frompa]

Hey Snappers15, a big factor in whether your purchase was a good idea is the intangible of how much you enjoy doing the kind of work you are now seemingly fully equipped to do.  If you are likely to enjoy it, this was an awesome purchase.  I've considered doing the same, but haven't yet pulled the trigger.  Not everything comes down to a dollar and cents calculation.  Yeah, I'm a bit jealous, if that makes you feel more secure in your purchase. 

[zolotiyeruki]

If you're in the Chicago area, I might be willing to buy some of those tools off you :)

[Le Poisson]

In my garage I have:

16" Bandsaw with 2 blades - $150
8" Arbor/Table Saw with large blade assortment and tapering jig, mitre sled, spare rails, 2 fences, etc. - $350
Big-ass Drill Press - $50
Router table with 2 routers - $100
Workbench - Free
Belt/disk sander - $125
Dust collector - $80
Thickness Planer - $225
Shaper - $50 (needs tooling)

So for just around $1000 (not including hand tools) I've outfitted a full-on woodworking shop - all used stuff off Kijiji. Now some of what you have is really high end (Unisaw jealousy kicks in) but unless you are a really serious woodworker, that stuff is more tool than you'll be needing. If you are skillbuilding, you may work up to a professional grade tool (Unisaw jealousy increases) but more likely you will find conflicting priorities means it gathers dust while you gather plans and nothing ever gets built. (Unisaw envy intensifies)

How about that, a used unisaw is $700CAD up here - you can keep yours. http://www.kijiji.ca/v-power-tool/oshawa-durham-region/10-delta-unisaw/1102179624.

FWIW, my next buy will be a nice little lathe - I'm targeting the $50 pricepoint.

Many woodworking tools are selling for scrap value ATM, and I wouldn't want to be in a selling position.

[Uturn]

woodworking and carpentry are not even close to being the same thing.  The main difference is tolerance.  Carpentry - eh, I can caulk a 3/8" gap.  Woodworking - holy fuck, where did that 1/32" gap come from?

I would never suggest a table saw, jointer, or planer for carpentry.  Also, you need to know what you like doing.  I love to hang in my shop hand working some nice furniture.  I have no desire to build a shed for fun. 

[nereo]

I would never suggest a table saw, jointer, or planer for carpentry.  Also, you need to know what you like doing.  I love to hang in my shop hand working some nice furniture.  I have no desire to build a shed for fun.

really??  Those seem like pretty important tools for carpentry to me - particularly the table saw.  Every carpenter i know starts with the table saw to cut the wood to size.  I'm far from a master carpenter (more of a beginning hobbiest) but every person, blog and book I've ever referenced considers their table saw to be among the most important piece of equipment, with a good planer and joiner to be welcome additions.  I'm considering anyone who builds complex furniture with wood, wood glue and no metal fasteners to be a carpenter - where a 1/32" gap does indeed make a difference.  If not - what am I missing?

[Uturn]

I'm considering anyone who builds complex furniture with wood, wood glue and no metal fasteners to be a carpenter -

This is where we are differing.  What you just described, in my mind, is woodworking.   Building structure is carpentry. Don't get me wrong, I'm not talking down about either.  But the tools and skills required are different, as is the level of enjoyment achieved by the worker.   

[nereo]

I'm considering anyone who builds complex furniture with wood, wood glue and no metal fasteners to be a carpenter -

This is where we are differing.  What you just described, in my mind, is woodworking.   Building structure is carpentry. Don't get me wrong, I'm not talking down about either.  But the tools and skills required are different, as is the level of enjoyment achieved by the worker.

oh ok - i get what you are saying now.  So i agree that a planer and a joiner might not be super important to a carpenter, but a table saw?  I see them on every single job site I've ever been to.  How else do you cut large stock for cabinets, siding etc?

[Uturn]

Depends on the type work being done and the person. Personally, unless I need to make repeated rip cuts, I prefer a circular saw.  At construction tolerances, a circular saw is fast.  Knocking down sheet goods with one person on a table saw can get dicey.  Even when I had a table saw, I would use a circular saw to cut it down to a manageable size for the table. 

[Le Poisson]

Depends on the type work being done and the person. Personally, unless I need to make repeated rip cuts, I prefer a circular saw.  At construction tolerances, a circular saw is fast.  Knocking down sheet goods with one person on a table saw can get dicey.  Even when I had a table saw, I would use a circular saw to cut it down to a manageable size for the table.

So how do you cut dadoes in a bookshelf? Just curious. RAS?

[Uturn]

So how do you cut dadoes in a bookshelf? Just curious. RAS?

14 ppi cross cut carcas saw and chisel.  Clean up with router plane.  If it is a stopped dado, skip the saw.

Before I learned to do it by hand, router with spiral bit and shop made jig.

[Kaplin261]

I didn't get down to $5k, but $5,800.

This is like my wife saying she just bought $5,800 worth of sewing equipment and needs a 250 sqft shop to put everything. Will never have to buy clothes again but the money we earned on that $5,800 in interest was $400 a year and we didn't even spend that on clothes to begin with not to mention the costs of materials to make the clothes.

If this was a investment I would start selling everything ASAP until you get your $5,800 back

[Papa bear]

Depends on the type work being done and the person. Personally, unless I need to make repeated rip cuts, I prefer a circular saw.  At construction tolerances, a circular saw is fast.  Knocking down sheet goods with one person on a table saw can get dicey.  Even when I had a table saw, I would use a circular saw to cut it down to a manageable size for the table.

So how do you cut dadoes in a bookshelf? Just curious. RAS?

You can use a router with a jig or use a circular saw with 2 straight edges clamped in place on either side of the guide to get your dado width.  Set circular saw depth to what you want. Repeat cuts with circular saw through until dado is cut out completely.

I used the circular saw method to build a bunch of garage cabinets before I bought my table saw. 

Love my table saw and it's just a cheapo "contractor" style. Faster, easier, and cleaner. 


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[snappers15]

I didn't get down to $5k, but $5,800.

This is like my wife saying she just bought $5,800 worth of sewing equipment and needs a 250 sqft shop to put everything. Will never have to buy clothes again but the money we earned on that $5,800 in interest was $400 a year and we didn't even spend that on clothes to begin with not to mention the costs of materials to make the clothes.

If this was a investment I would start selling everything ASAP until you get your $5,800 back

Fair point. 

What if she wanted to spend her time sewing anyway, and made over $400 a year selling clothes to others.  Would it then be considered a better investment?  Granted you have to figure in depreciation on the equipment, etc.  So call it more than $800 per year in clothes.

Just a thought.

[GuitarStv]

My approach has been to buy tools as you need them.  You really don't need much to do a whole heck of a lot of work.  I finished an entire basement on my own with a 10" circular saw, cordless drill, and a rotary hammer.

This kept me from amassing a huge collection of stuff I didn't need that would just clutter up a corner of the garage or attic.  It also meant that I had lots of time to research and decide exactly what the best tool for my uses would be before purchasing.

[sethdrebitko]

Honestly I would caution against selling. To be honest waiting to buy so many tools would have been better, but selling now could be bad.

If you sell and end up really digging wood working you could end up paying more to buy things you already owned back. I'd inventory everything and just start getting into woodworking.

Keep track of what you do and don't use. Over time you might find that certain things you don't use are worth selling. On the flip side if you are not into it at all you can just offload without worry.