I have been stuck using a miter saw and nail guns for construction type projects for quite a while. I am now going into my cabinet making phase. Just finished a basement, a dog training building, a playroom for my daughter. I am finally trying to make a real shop. I need places to put things, cabinets, bookshelves, tool stations etc.
I would like to make some: nice doors for cabinets, drawers, shelves, later on furniture. I like the idea of making dovetails, finger joints and mortises & tenons by hand. I think it may also be possible to do edge round overs etc. with hand planes instead of a router.
I had a few old basic planes (Jointer, Smooth, Jack) and a few old not so hot chisels, rasps and clamps. I have good power tools that I use on sheet materials, but I prefer working with real wood with the hand tools.
I probably started out with something that many people would never buy. I have always had this thing for sharpening and grinding. I have lusted after a super sharpening tool for ages so I got a Tormeck Supergrind 2006 system for Christmas. I have since added a set of kumagoro Japanese chisels, a Veritas low angle block plane, Silky Woodboy 240 (Dozuki) saw, Veritas Scraper holder & burnisher, Bessey K body clamps (2-31", 2-40", 4 KP Blocks) and good sandpaper and sanding blocks. I got a good workbench for my birthday back in September, the smaller Hammer. One day I will make a bigger one.
Other things on my list are:
Hand saws-I was planing to buy either a Silky Woodboy Kataba or one of the new fangled frame saws with a Japanese blade. My local woodworking hardware Highland Hardware (Atlanta) was out of both of these saws after Christmas. I like the Japanese saws; I have used them for pruning my fruit trees etc. for many years and appreciate their speed & accuracy.
Planes- Those Veritas planes get me going. I saw their low angle "Jack" plane and it was love at first sight, even before I saw the excellent reviews it has gotten here.
Chisels- I am not sure whether or not I should invest in a couple mortising chisels or not. I am planing to make some heavy duty outdoor picnic furniture and dog training obstacle course stations (climbing wall, cat walk etc.) I think the Japanese chisels (30 degrees) will handle the inside stuff I have planned and I sort of doubt that mortises and tenons will come into play in the outdoor woodwork. I am also thinking about cranked neck, swan neck, Veritas detail and skew chisels.
I am hoping some of you old "handy" guys can help me with other hand tools that will make life easier on the projects I have in mind.