First Five Tools for a Newbie from Woodworking.com

The poster who started this thread is in the process of converting his garage into a workshop and wanted a list of the first five tools he should acquire. - Editor

"I want to turn my garage into a woodworking shop. I can't buy everything at once, so please make me a list in order you would buy for a new shop. I have a [circular saw] and a jigsaw. Thank you." - Volt Amps

He got consensus on the first one. - Editor

"A good table saw would be my first purchase, for sure."- Josh G.

"That'd be my first choice, too." - Scott S.

But, after that, the discussion seems to have hit a roadblock. So, eZine faithful, any advice for him? What tools would you put on the list for numbers 2, 3, 4 and 5? - Editor

What Size Rabbet Bit Do You Use Most? from Sawmill Creek

An impulse purchase of a rabbeting bit led this woodworker to wonder if he did the right thing -- or if a different size, or a different purchase, would have better served his needs. - Editor

"I bought a rabbeting bit on a whim today. It's not a huge purchase but, on a tight budget, I'm trying to make every purchase count. They had 3/8-inch and 1/2-inch to choose from. I didn't know what one to get and, since I was on a limited budget, I only got one. I took the 3/8 but now I'm wondering if I should have bought the 1/2 instead. What would you use the 3/8 rabbet for? Any specific projects? Is one more useful than the other? When I bought it, I was thinking about edge routing on 3/4-inch thick boards also, but that means routing the wood upon its edge instead of lying flat, right? If I routed it flat, then all I'd be doing is rabbeting the board along the flat side. I was thinking at the time that the bit would be useful for making furniture backing from luan plywood and rabbeting out the edge for it to sit on. Doing this on the broad side of the board will make the rabbet too deep. Upright on the edge seems like it would be wobbly and best done on the table with a straight bit instead of freehand, so I might have bought a bit I don't really need. Is it really that bad if I routed a 3/8 rabbet for 1/4 inch laun ply to go into? I want to say no so I can just use the bit for this and life is easy, but there's part of me that thinks that's the easy way out and not the level of quality I want in my work." - Duane B.

Some thought the rabbeting bit was the wrong thing entirely. - Editor

"I don't use a rabbet bit with bearing for the very reason you state. To use that 3/8 like you intend, you have to route on edge. I use a 3/4" straight bit and a edge guide. I lay the board flat. Set the bit 3/8 deep. Set the fence for the thickness of the plywood back. Plywood is metric or slightly undersized, so a 1/4 or 1/2" rabbit bit would not be perfect either." - Cary F.

"Not sure if I'm following you right, but sounds to me like what you really need is an edge guide or better yet ... a router table! I use rabbeting bits that come with a full set of bearings so that I can adjust the depth of cut to whatever I need. If I can't get it exact with the bearings I run it on a router table or with an edge guide or, depending on the circumstance, with just a straightedge clamped to the piece. Always more than one way to skin a cat!" - Jeff D.

And this respondent thinks he should wait until he could get a kit with all sizes at once. - Editor

"I use a 1/2" rabbet the majority of the time. This is usually to create rabbets for 1/2" backs. Using a 1/2" allows me to use nails or even screws if necessary to hold my backs in place. It also leaves less meat to sand flush after I'm done. My advice would be to return the set and wait until you feel comfortable buying a rabbeting set with multiple bearings. I believe my set allows for six different widths." - Johnny M.

What about you? Do you use a rabbeting bit? If so, what size do you prefer? - Editor