I've been putting together my shop for a month now and have been acquiring various tools along the way, but have never really used them. I used my table saw some when resurfacing a bench, but that's about it. Well, tonight I was out practicing my very first rabbets in preparation for the "real thing" when I cut them in the legs of my future workbench.
So...I got to make my first cuts through 4" stock on my sliding compound miter saw. That was very cool! Then I took a scrap piece of 4x4 and I tried a dado technique on my table saw. But without a dado blade, cutting 1/8" at a time got a bit tedious, especially since I am going to have to do 16 cuts, each 3 1/2 inches. So, I opened the box on my router, skimmed the highlights of the operator's manual and inserted a 3/4" mortise bit. I looked like a woodchipper! I could hardly see across my shop and it's not even 8 feet wide! Anyway, that seemed to do the trick in finishing my rabbets. I'm going to practice again tomorrow though so I end up with a "smoother" finish.
At my favorite fishing site (www.gamefishin.com) we always post "lessons learned" so that others can benefit from your mistakes/experience. Well, I'm am absolutely certain that everybody here already knows everything I learned tonight, but I'm feeling kind of giddy and am going to post my lessons learned anyway. Here they are:
1. Miter saws make a lot of sawdust.
2. Routers make a lot of sawdust.
3. Table saws with regular blades are slow and boring to dado with.
4. Table saws are really loud.
5. Table saws make a lot of sawdust.
6. Sawdust stacks up quick on the floor and everywhere else--even if you weren't even near that spot.
7. Eye protection is a good thing.
8. Measuring carefully is worth the time it takes.
Yup, I have sawdust in my ears and my nose, but it feels pretty good. Tomorrow I have a date with the hardware store to get a dado blade. I am also going to get some ear plugs to save the hearing I have left (3 years in Field Artillery took a chunk of it). Tomorrow night I may get sidetracked and try out all those other router bits--this workbench I'm building may never get done. Oh well...
Wade
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. I can jump to some conclusions? 
I find few things more satisfying than woodworking. Seriously though.....read those manuals carefully! Routers, saws etc. are tools that can become dangerous toys! Read and understant how to use them safely! Short term safety involves keeps one's body in one piece without stitches etc.....wear that safety equipment........safety glasses......use those safety devices on your saw...use push sticks etc.! Long term safety issues are the ones that just "creep up on you" .....one day you wake up totally deaf.....coughing up woodfiller for your next project.....wear those ear plugs, ear muffs, respirator and use dc! 
Originally Posted by Wade Samuelson
When you get into ANYTHING, the money really starts flowing...outta your wallet!
