Beginner Builds, Tool reviews and Honest Advice. Mistakes and all.
Whether you are just starting out, somewhere in the middle or an expert looking to be part of the kind and generous community that has developed around this channel, welcome.
My name is Mark and this is Start Making. All I aim to do is add a little inspiration and encouragement for anyone who is watching.
Regarding the size of the saw holder- the angled pieces are bigger than needed, the top 2/3 of the angle isn't serving a purpose. Instead of an angled piece of plywood that goes all the way to the top you just need a small wedge down in the bottom of the slot glued to the back side of the next vertical piece.
Buy once, cry once rhymes. Be careful of advice that rhymes. It can outlive its usefulness because its catchy. I have many good tools and many cheap tools. They are decent cheap but still cheap. Many of my good tools were inherited, found, or bought cheaply used. Often traded. Buying expensive retail tools is a suckers game.
Most are free from the manufacturer as they see that this is a win win. They get advertising directly to potential clients and it only costs them one machine.
still building my shed ... could you please give details of your router bit. to get one. your vidios are really helping me and my 17 year old son do the prodject toghether.
I's love to see some solutions (keats) for Wood turning chisels. The tend to be longer like that pull saw. but seeing them is a MUST, similar to the chisels you made here. However you tend to change back and forth and have at least a dozen of them
Great advice. I'm two years into my own accumulation of tools and building my workshop. A few good reminders and lot of advice as you stated “I wish I knew earlier”. My favorite and the advice I need to heed the most is “slow down, take breaks, plan, and don't point out the flaws in your work. I've just come across your channel and I've watched three of your videos. Well-presented, were you a school teacher? The problem I'm having is that I want to watch more, but I should be wood working 😁👍👊
I have watched. So many woodworking videos and in particular recently, bench building videos. This is THE BEST by far. Very clear and concise narrative all the way through. Thanks. Will be watching for more. Cheers.
The remote would be useless if the extractor used a nvr switch which unfortunately covers most workshop dust extractors that use 4 inch hoses built in the last few years
Fair enough. Mine is older than that. I guess it is still good advice for people who don't have newer systems. Plus I guess you could use them for other things. I have my lights on them still so I don't have to reach up to each light individually.
@@startmaking1@startmaking1 Yeah, NVR switches are a pain.I understand them on machines with dangerous spinning parts but I think a dust extractor is pretty safe after a power outage. There are several solutions for machines with NVR switches, but they are normally £100+
As a full on cheapskate, I have a versatile solution to the clamping dilemma. I have a grid of holes drilled through the worktop with M8 pronged t nuts on the underside. I have a selection of bolts and threaded bar which give me lots of clamping options. If I find there isn’t a hole where I need one I just put one in. For even more versatility- the worktop has a sheet of perforated hardboard on the top. That has a grid of perfectly square holes in it which take 6mm dowels.
Really solid advice. The only piece I'd add is to not go too deep too soon in terms of cost and complexity, if you've barely wielded a saw before then going to town on an expensive piece of spalted maple in the hopes of creating a centrepiece of complex angles and friction tight joinery for your front room is probably not wise. Do a mock-up in cheaper wood first so those inevitable mistakes are less costly and leave you more experienced and better prepared
@startmaking1 I've really enjoyed your content and the £10 is just a token to say thank you for the french cleat footage. I've loved the transformation in my garage 😊
I struggle as I have to make videos and need to do talking bits so mine is more like,, day 1, clean up, then build then clean. day 2 repeat. Not that I am moaning. It's more that I am incapable of planning to talk one day and build the next. Fun times.
With the panel carry, i feel like you should not be making statements like that ("its better on the body to do this, instead of this") unless you actually have some scientific knowledge to back it up, not just because you feel better doing it that way. Because i get the feeling that having it pull directly on the shoulder joint instead of spreading it across the 3 joints in the arm is not good on the body, but it would take a doctor who specializes in the joints of the body to be able to clarify which is right. Now, i do realize i kinda just did the same thing, but im just some guy in the comments, not the person presenting facts in a video to thousands of people who watch it. Also, with that jig, you have to lift the panel first to slide it underneath, so you would probably need the Kregg one to lift it first then slide the homemade one under the panel before you can carry it away. Where the Kregg product lets you just lift and go.
Hi Paul. I followed the review directly with the line, I am no expert in anatomy but that feels like it should be better. I think that this is enough to show people that I am not considering myself to be an expert dishing out facts. though I do get your point. I also hear what you are saying about having to lift the panel but you dont need to in its entirety. You can just lift one end and the carrier pops underneath. But go in what ever direction you feel is best, I am just a guy talking about his experiences. I appreciate the feed back thank you.
@@startmaking1 Thanks for your response. I guess my main point, that i didnt really articulate properly or maybe at all was, when it comes to the way we move and use our bodies, just because it feels like it is the best or easiest way, doesnt mean that it is, and can cause unnecessary problems later down the line.
| 100% agree. And you are right. I do need to be careful about not giving advice in areas that I dont have experience / expertise in. My line that I am not an anatomy expert is vague but I did cut a chunk out about taking advice from someone qualified. I get annoyed when editing these videos as I cut out hours of talk that actually is quite relevant but people just wont watch something that long. I appreciate the heads up. It is good to have these things in mind when I film the next video. Thank you.
lol i totally thought the router table was wayyy bigger and sitting in the corner until you put your hand on it and i realised its a benchtop table :) . The whole time i was thinking, thats a smart idea to put the router plate into a big table and make a tall fence with a 4 inch dust port in the fence and all of a sudden i was like whatttt.
I'm not really a woodworker yet, but this all seems like very good advice! Except, the one with the tape measures. Just throw out or return the bad ones, life's too short for inaccurate tape measures. Check any that seem questionable (and new ones), against a known good reference, like a decent ruler, combination square etc. You can of course keep the bad ones for less critical tasks, if you mark them clearly somehow. (Although I do agree that using the same measurement device for related parts of a project makes sense, there may be minor details in how you use different ones that might throw you off a bit.) On the topic of measuring, I wish I had learnt sooner that you should measure less, and reference more. Using the same off-cut as a spacer etc. Eliminates the very real risk of compounding errors.
great tips i need to make a panel carrier , how about adding a padded hooked bungie to hold the panel from tipping out on you (when you open the door or such)??? great vid enjoy you always have fun from Oklahoma
You know, I was torn for so long before I bought the table saw and I am still not sure whether I have made the right choice. I love what Peter has done. Especially as he has quite a small work space. There is a track saw in my future I am sure. Thank you Derek.
'Just buy aluminium ones.' Why buy? We are makers, aren't we? Could not be simpler- buy a length and cut up. Lots of other clamps can be made too. Dovetail slot along the apron- you can clamp to an apron anyway- that is what it is for... G clamps are way stronger, and can be picked up in flea markets. They have been making them for centuries. For good reason. You should NOT, repeat NOT use bridging push blocks on a table saw- because you need to remove the blade guard- which you should NOT do. Circular saw- save the money and put to a tracksaw. Way more useful. Speed squares - you can also get speed T squares. Auto-detect power modules are around £30- well worth it. Tape dispenser- make it! For several tapes, while you are at it. Great info on card scrapers!
@Tensquaremetreworkshop I didn't really understand what you meant in the first line. A length of what. Happy to learn here. Ps I am planning on making quite a few tools but sometimes these videos being aimed at beginners need to recommend tools etc that don't need to be made. Not all beginners start with the skills and tools to make everything.
@@startmaking1 Metal suppliers offer aluminium bar in a range of sizes. You can get 3/4” (US) or 20mm (rest of world) for dog holes. Cut to length you desire (hacksaw). A fraction of the cost of commercial dogs. Steel (tube will do) also available- or brass if you want to be fancy. I have a couple of videos on making clamps for dog hole arrays.
Portable drilling the Millscraft is rubbish. It will drill semi straight holes but Plastic bearings make any hole you drill wobble like crazy. The wooden corner brackets are great. Turn the ply sideways so it is 2inches or wider and the stability increases dramatically. Thanks for the tape wrap on the handle . Brilliant.
Another great video. I always love a homemade solution over just shilling for companies. Having said that... If I took the time to tell you how addicted I am to Microjig I wouldn't have time to buy more stuff from them. A possible fix for your push paddle, microjig used to sell the rubber pads with self adhesive backing in the replacement parts on the website. It has been a while since I needed one, so I am unsure if this is still the case.
Hi Corey. Hope you are doing well. I am planning a video with the build of this, although it is relatively simple . And am compiling some more to add to it. Life is really expensive and we have loads of scraps, especially ply. Oh and Micro Jig , although I am kind of pushing the clamps while saying make your own paddle, are still about to get a fair amount of my trade in the coming months. Im hooked. Great shout on the replacement pads. I will take a look. Thank you.
Hi Mark. I’ve been wanting to use those remote sockets for my dust extractor for a long time now but the motor on my has a NVR switch on it and can’t figure a way of bypassing it without the help of an expensive electrician. Have you any experience on this for a novice to do. Or could you possibly do a video on this issue. Thanks in advance.
Ah, I didnt think about that. Good point. I have seen a couple of videos about how to bypass but am very wary as to whether I would want to. I am sadly not qualified or experienced in this area. Maybe in time.
For the freehand bits (like the name and unicorn horn), can I suggest using a Dremel with a flexible drive? It give you loads of control, like using a pen. Great videos Mark ... I hope I have your name right.
This is sound advice and I crave that tool. Before, when I made this, I didnt have any kind of dust collection and was a little nervous about bringing in a say dust creator like a Dremel but now I am in a proper workshop it would be a brilliant addition. Thank you and yes, I am Mark. Appreciate the comment. this was one of my favourite builds.
If you want to go even cheaper on bench dog clamps just a couple wedge of wood pushed in with a mallet against a regular bench dog will work just as well. Similar idea to the ujk peanut system
Hey Mark, really like your small Microjig table you made. Here is something to consider: Since it is so thick, why not cut dovetail grooves on the bottom side in the center of the grooves that are on top? This way you can use a couple of Microjig clamps to attach it to your table without sacrificing any strength of the slab itself.
Now that is a great idea. The bottom was going to be my spoil board or sorts, something to put under a piece when you drill it but as |I am yet to use it for that I think I will try your idea. thank you.
