woodworking projects for a small apartment?

[John Hollander]

I recently moved for a job. Where I lived before I had access to a shop. Now I am in an apartment and am shopless. I am looking for some suggestions on some woodworking projects i can take up that don't require any power tools, small amount of space and make a relatively small mess. I can do some sanding and finishing outdoors if needed. Does anybody have any suggestions? I have been away from woodworking for almost a year now and its driving me crazy.

[Jim Neeley]

John,

With some version of a moxon vise (benchtop clamp-on), some chisels, planes, saws, layout and sharpening tools you could make anything from dovetailed boxes, bookcases, end tables, even entertainment centers with a minimal footprint.

Hand tools are quiet, don't require any power, work in a small space and pack away well. Because most things can be finished right off of a sharp plane (don't need sanding), you don't get the fine sanding dust all over either.

To learn more about this approach visit the Neanderthal forum here.

I have a shop with both power and hand tools. I started out with power and got pretty darned proficient there but the last few years have found myself doing more and more of the work by hand. One thing is for sure: I've never hacked up a plane shaving, something I cannot say about fine sawdust. :-)

Jim in Alaska

[Roy Harding]

Jim is absolutely right. I first started wood working when we lived in a little apartment and needed shelves for our records (the vinyl ones - I know that dates me). I bought a handsaw and some nails and went at it. It wasn't a piece of art - but it held the records.

Over the years I've accumulated an awesome number of power AND hand tools - there is absolutely NOTHING than I can do with power tools that I can't achieve with hand tools - I go for the power tools mostly for time considerations (I make my living at this - time is money). For a quiet and satisfying afternoon, however, I still reach for the hand planes, chisels, saws, and make something small for somebody - often this is a small custom designed box for someone close to me who needs a good way to store something (could be anything - I don't know HOW many "tea boxes" I've made for friends and family). I love those afternoons, and I'm actually somewhat jealous that you CAN'T use power tools - the satisfaction you get from working directly on the wood without a motor whining and spraying stuff everywhere is priceless.

I agree with Jim above - visit the Neanderthal forum, you'll soon have ideas.

[phil harold]

Woodcarving

[Scott T Smith]

John, I've had several customers that live in apartments that really enjoy the use of Festool equipment. With the high quality of the dust collection system, you can sand inside w/o a problem and the systainer system makes it easy to store the tools when not in use.

The apartment workbench plan from Lee Valley would make a great project, as it would serve as a great bench for future woodworking projects in your apartment. http://www.leevalley.com/US/Wood/page.aspx?p=69603&cat=1,46158,56642&ap=1

[Tom Walz]

We are posting a new link to woodworking ideas daily M - F on our blog at http://blog.carbideprocessors.com/

Some really cool simple, things you can make in an apartment. Some huge projects that are fun to look at.


Tom

[Richard Coers]

Festool? You got to be kidding me. Only took 5 posts for someone to tell a guy asking about hand tools to buy Festool. What a hoot! Woodworking was done for centuries without power tools, and that INCLUDES Festool. Study how the Japanese did their work on not any more than two low saw horses and a beam. They never used a vice, never used electricity. Those tools have no issue with dust collection, and you don't need a $700 vacuum to control the dust. Nope, not even a systainer to hold the tools. There is nothing you can't make with skills and hand tools. So start small with the low saw horses, then maybe some storage, then the sky is the limit!
Here's some inspiration for the low horses, and these look like they knock down for storage. http://joinerynotebook.blogspot.com/2011/11/basic-sawhorses.html



John, I've had several customers that live in apartments that really enjoy the use of Festool equipment. With the high quality of the dust collection system, you can sand inside w/o a problem and the systainer system makes it easy to store the tools when not in use.

The apartment workbench plan from Lee Valley would make a great project, as it would serve as a great bench for future woodworking projects in your apartment. http://www.leevalley.com/US/Wood/page.aspx?p=69603&cat=1,46158,56642&ap=1

[Robert Tutsky]

Hi John! I can totally relate to what you are saying. I moved from having a large, complete shop with all the extras to a small 2 bedroom apartment where I have one of the bedrooms set up as a "shop". While I do some of the woodworking with hand tools I did manage to buy a drill press and small band saw. With those tools I eventually built a small workbench with a top measuring 24" x 48" using dimensional stock from the big box stores (went together quickly over a weekend). Early on I purchased a shop vac from Sears which picks up any shavings and dust very effectively considering my apartment is fully carpeted. My intention was to make small boxes and do some carving, both of which I love to do. If I were you I would consider some kind of bench with an end vise and a few hand tools (Stanley #4 plane, a couple of saws (rip and crosscut), measuring tools, chisels, clamps, glue, finishing products, etc.) and have some fun with it. Unfortunately, once you get started you will always find an itching for that "I gotta have it" tool (I believe the popular term is the "slippery slope of woodworking").

If you really need to start a small scale I would recommend carving. Not much space is required and a small collection of knives/chisels to get started. Good luck with your woodworking adventure!

[Scott T Smith]

Woodworking was done for centuries without power tools, and that INCLUDES Festool.

So what? Farming was done for centuries without tractors, but there is no question that productivity and comfort is much higher using modern technology. Festool products are well engineered and a joy to use, and I would much prefer to rip a long board with a track saw as opposed to a hand saw.

To each their own.

[glenn bradley]

Festool? You got to be kidding me. Only took 5 posts for someone to tell a guy asking about hand tools to buy Festool. What a hoot!

Well, a few years ago it was EZ-Smart. You want to make a good lasagna? Let me tell you how to use your EZ Smart for that :D:D:D.

John, first of all my sympathies to your dilemma and my congrats for surviving this long. If you enjoy scroll / fret work, a good coping saw and a bench pin (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=max3rDdH3Iw) could give you an outlet. The bench pin could be clamped to the kitchen table and the spoil would stay reasonably controlled and could be swept or vacuumed up when you're done. Window hangings, ornaments of intarsia could all be pursued with a few simple tools. Just tossing out an idea.

[Jim Matthews]

I would recommend making a footstool using dovetail joinery.
Here's an excellent example (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?190678-Hickory-stepstool), from a fellow Creeker.

Any "one board" project, where you can get the dimensions down shorter than whatever counter space is used as a bench would be my suggestion.
Although ambitious, I believe you could make a few chairs in the confines of an apartment. Rather than turn spindles, a drawknife and small plane will do.

Essentially, if you're not dealing with large panels, you can manage building most anything by hand as you mentioned.

The usual proviso follows; you won't be faster this way but every joint, surface and component will "yours" with a minimum of apparatus between you and the artifact.
Even handsanding will generate noticeable dust. It maybe worthwhile to make a downdraft table that can be attached to a vacuum. I was trained to plane every surface, and sand to 220 grit so finish will stick.

FWIW - I like the VIKA folding shop table (http://www.amazon.com/home-improvement/dp/B001O3FUC0). It's not the ultimate in rigid work surfaces, but it's flexible and folds small enough to fit in a closet.
There's merit to building shop jigs, but if you're in a small space - a workbench can't be out in the open. I would invest my time in things used by everyone else.

Lastly - there may be a lumber supplier that can provide you material that's S2S or S4S for a small premium. That allows you to start projects with most of the "donkey work"
already done; if you have lumber that's close to the final dimensions, you can get on with the fun parts of putting things together.
This can be MUCH cheaper than owning a garage full of power tools, too.

[Raymond Fries]

Maybe scrollsaw work. I used to do this in a carpeted room in my home with a painters tarp under it. Not loud and not much dust. Chip carving might be cool as well. I bought a set of knives sometime back but still have not tried them out yet.

Take care and find something you will enjoy.

[William Adams]

Any interest in archery?

A wooden bow from a board or stave is a nice project --- there're web sites on it, and old books such as _The Flatbow_ are available free on-line.

[Tom Walz]

Mr. Bradley,

Loved the lasagna comparison. Thanks for strating my week off with a laugh.


Tom

[jeff friedhoff]

I love lasagna...as Phil already said, take up woodcarving.

[Andrew Pitonyak]

Not sure if I can post a direct link, so use Google and search for "milkmans workbench", it was featured in Popular Woodworking recently, and there is an article about it on Chris Schwarz's blog.

Interesting little wokrbench, I think that author of the article claimed to take it with her when she traveled.

[Tom Walz]

Rootsinrust.com
264682
Today's idea from our blog

Tom Walz
blog.carbideprocessors.com

[John Hollander]

Wow, so many great suggestions! I bought some basic hand tools (low angle block plane, dovetail saw, coping saw) to go with some of the hand tools I already have. I think I'm going to try doing some dovetails, maybe try my hand at some boxes or footstool.

I'd love one of those milkmans workbench's but I don't think I could do the proper jointing or all the work for the hand screws with the tools I have. Does anybody sell a pre made version?

[Pat Barry]

I also suggest chip carving. All you need is a waste basket, a sharp knife, some basswood chunks and away you go.

[Roy Harding]

I'd love one of those milkmans workbench's but I don't think I could do the proper jointing or all the work for the hand screws with the tools I have. Does anybody sell a pre made version?

Try these:

http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=69603&cat=1,46158,56642
http://www.shopnotes.com/plans/fold-down-bench/
http://www.shopnotes.com/plans/fold-down-work-center/
http://www.shopnotes.com/plans/knock-down-shop-workstation/
http://freebies.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=freebies&cdn=hobbies&tm=9&f=20&su=p284.13.342.ip_&tt=3&bt=3&bts=33&zu=http%3A//www.diynetwork.com/how-to/how-to-make-a-fold-down-workbench/index.html

There are many more - but you get the idea.

Best of luck to you.

[Mark Patoka]

I had to stay in a 1BR apartment for about 8 months during a job transfer and picked up a scrollsaw to satifsy my shop fix. Minimal noise, vibration and dust. There was also a local Woodcraft that has a woodshop and tools available for rental time. I also discovered after I moved that a local woodturning club was meeting in the school right next to my apartment. You just have to look around.