Don't worry - my sense of humor is probably more weird than yours.
I really enjoy the process, but since the end product is something that I use every single day, I want to finish it ASAP.
Hopefully I can inspire someone to realize their dreams. Woodworking is not hard to do, and the necessary tools aren't that many. I do mill my own lumber to desired dimensions since I own a planer / thicknesser, but any good wood-store can help you out just fine.
My best tool-tips for anyone considering this:
1. Buy a high-quality plunge router; it is the most important tool of them all. It should have micro-adjustment knobs on the height setting and on the side fence add-on, so that you can dial in the cut precisely.
2. A set of router bits. You'll need a copying bit, a few groove bits, a 45 degree bevel bit and perhaps a roundover bit or a shaped bit (your preferance goes here).
3.You'll also need a battery-powered drill (a great asset in any home anyway) and a bit set
4. A hammer
5. A set of 2-3 flat chisels (different width, one very narrow and one very wide is sufficient, but get that middle one as well)
6. A screwdriver set (el cheapo works great)
7. A square (plus a big one too, if you want to)
8. A pencil (doh!) - or preferably chalk, it is easier to remove
9. A measure tape and a caliper. The caliper should be of good to professional quality. Digital ones are great, but for woodworking it's overkill. A protractor is a great asset, although not that necessary.
10. A miter saw, preferably electric. Do not go low-budget here, but you do not need professional grade tools if you want to save money. The miter saw is a must-have for any home owners that want to do some maintenance themselves.
11. A Japanese pullsaw. Expensive, but cuts fast and accurate. You can actually do most of the cutting with it!
12. A set of files and a card scraper, and some sanding paper for finishing.
Other tools that might be handy - or in some cases necessary:
- a hand planer. As expensive as you can afford. Lee Nielsen or Stanley. There are different types out there (smoother, jack plane, planing planer, dado planes...). I would get a semi-big one; it can be used for a lot of tasks.
- Band saw. For almost every kind of cutting. But it is expensive, and you should get the biggest one you can fit in your shop / workspace.
- Table saw. Could be VERY expensive, and you can do most of the cutting with a band saw or even hand tools. But a good quality one will make your life as a woodworker much, much easier...
- Random orbit sander. Great tool, but you can use sanding paper and a block of wood if you want to save money. And sometimes you need to sand manually anyway!
- Planer and/or thicknesser. Get a combo model, you'll need both. You can't mill a board with parallell and square sides with one or the other. Bigger is only better for longer boards. I get my rough boards planed on two faces at the wood-store and then do the rest of the work at home since my planer/thicknesser won't do any good for boards longer than about 100cm / ~3 feet.
But here's a warning for you: woodworking is highly addictive, and you can spend a LOT of money on tools that you just have to get.
In many cases you will save money buying furniture from a store, but knowing that you built that table yourself....
Anyway, before I ramble on here too much: if any of you have questions I am more than happy to answer them providing I know the answer.
If you want to learn (a lot) about woodworking in general, I highly recommend that you download iTunes and subscribe to the woodwhisperer video podcast. There's a few other video podcasts as well, but the woodwhisperer is by far the best - and the most entertaining as well! Another great podcast is the woodtalk online podcast (mostly audio). One of the guys is the woodwhisperer, and you'll get a lot of laughs listening to the two wood-heads!
So take the plunge and become a woodworker! Remember that if you look for obstacles rather than ways around them, you'll get nowhere in life!
Comprende?