Start-Up Tools

Getting your side-gig armed for production. News and views from the DustyNewt Workshop 03/12/2025

Today’s “17 Step Commute” Dashboard…

• Temp: Currently 68 degrees. High of 78 today 😎

• Humidity: 2 on the “Soup” scale. (1=light broth, 5=thick chowder)

• Today’s Playlist: Warren Zevon anthology.

• Conditions: Beautiful Florida Spring!

• Estimated Travel Time: 18 seconds

• Food: Cereal and banana for breakfast. Beans & rice for supper.

• Coffee Level: 1/4 Tank

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Sneak Peek Slideshow

Here is a quick view of the orders carved and shipped from my DustyNewt workshop this week.

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Start-Up Tools

Once you have your product(s) in mind and your plan of attack roughed out, launching your side hustle starts with the accumulation of the tools and materials you will be needing to get things moving.

If I had to put together a bare bones workshop to produce what I currently make, I could do it for less than $1,000.00.

You can get started with a minimum number of tools. As you progress through your work and it starts to sell, you will discover peripheral tools that will make life easier for your craft.

To keep costs down, I recommend you pick these up as you find deals on them. Or, you can visit garage sales, flea markets and thrift stores to get great deals on tools you may likely have use for.

Basic Hand Tools

Some of the hand tools I use daily are:

• Wrenches needed to adjust my power tools

• Awls

• Knives

• Chisels

• Hammer & Mallets

• Small files and riffler rasps

• Jewelers/Fret saw

• Sandpaper - 60, 120, 220, 300, 400 and 600 grits.

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Although the tools I will be discussing are basic for any shop, they can be tailored to any craft specific to your needs. These are the primary power tools you will need to do small woodworking projects as I do.

Power Saws

Your major tool expense will likely be your saw. Do your research and get the best you can afford. Getting started with a cheap discount saw will be a discouraging frustration in vibration, broken blades and kindling for your fireplace. These are the two options for my methods.

Scroll Saw - My preferred go-to saw today. These machines are simple saws that make a 5 inch sawblade go up and down, similar to a sewing machine. The wide selection of blades available allow you to cut with fine precision or rough out stock. I regularly cut ¾” hardwoods with no problem for a new blade. The detachable blade lets you poke it through a hole in your work piece, reattach and make inside cuts. The motor speeds can be adjustable, but I usually run it full speed for my woods. The new prices on these saws run $200 to $2000+ (DeWalt has a decent mid-level saw for about $500 that I keep for backup), but a good used machine can be had for $100-400, with a little patience.

In 2012, I traded my work for this used Hegner, 18” scroll saw and fell in love with it. With its precision, low maintenance and versatile abilities, it sees hours of use every day. My main blade is a versatile #9 skip-tooth, though others are useful for finer or coarser work. I tilt it towards me to make the hours with it more comfortable and the dust and chips vibrate into my lap.

Band Saw - This is what I used to carve names for my first 20+ years. The blade (band) runs continuously downward and is fast for carving names without any inside cuts.

My 1982 Sears, 80” bandsaw is still going strong and handy to have around the shop for roughing out stock. You should be able to find a good used bandsaw for less than $300. Before buying, make sure you can still find the length and width blades you will need to use it. Custom lengths can be ordered, but can be pricey and not perform consistently. Avoid “3-Wheeled” band saws. Blades beak for no apparent reason.

Table Saw - Handy to have for roughing out blank stock. I picked up a used Ryobi jobsite saw about 16 years ago for $75 at a yard sale and it is still going strong. YouTube some safety videos to learn how to use it.

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Drills

A benchtop drill press is indispensable to keep within a scooch from your saw. You will regularly be making holes in your workpieces. It should have a depth lock on its spindle to make repeatable holes that don’t go all the way through a piece. I got the one I use now at a garage sale for $50 about 15 years ago. New or used doesn't matter much with these. They are simple machines and don’t wear out very often.

You will also want a hand drill and Dremel-type rotary tool. Get a basic “accessories” kit with each and add to them as needed with better quality bits. They are tools that are handy around the house anyway, so why not deduct them on your taxes?

Sanders

For my methodology, I recommend a benchtop belt sander bolted to your workbench. They have plenty of power to shape smaller woodstuffs, like I do.

The style I prefer has a 4” wide by 36” belt and also has a 6” disk sander situated on its front side but lower than the surface of the belt platen and dust collection assembly, which is mandatory for clean air, safety and maintenance.

There are half a dozen brands with this design and specs, but they are almost identical and probably made in the same Chinese factory. They are inexpensive (less than $150) and have a life expectancy of 3 or 4 years when used daily as I do. I do not buy these used, unless it is in new condition and a great deal.

The actual belt sanding area (platen) is 4” by about 12”, but because its surface is uppermost on the tool, you can go off either end and sides, enabling you to sand longer and wider pieces. You can even taper and bevel pieces.

The belts are quickly changed (2 or 3 minutes) as you progress through your grits. Don’t be skipping grits to save time or money. You will end up with an inferior finish.

To speed up production in my shop, I now have five of these sanders in my production line, each with a different grit (80, 120, 220, 300 and 400). I use the front mounted disk to sand end grain and chamfer the ends of my chopsticks.

What tools are essential to your start-up?

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I currently sell my work on Etsy ONLY. Beware of spoof sites, using my photos and descriptions. You will be disappointed ordering from them.

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DustyNewt World ~ A map of where I have shipped my woodstuffs. See if your town is represented.

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If you are enjoying what you see… I like it hot and black. 😉

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