An Aussie abroad!

Hi all,

Just a little introduction and why I'm here I guess. For all intensive purposes I am a complete novice to woodworking, I'm not totally clueless having studied it in school but that was a while back and these days beyond a few hand tools and an electric drill and jigsaw I don't have any tools to speak of.
However I'm starting a telescope build and when I have finished with grinding the mirror I will need a bit of WW knowledge to build the rocker box and casing and seeing as I would like to make it a bit nicer and more interesting than the standard box job.

The other thing that I really want to do is build my own orreries and in researching those I have come across many other things that have piqued my interest like clocks and other geared objects.
Again though I'd be starting as a blank canvas so will need a bit of guidance in undertaking these projects I'm sure.

So I thought with Christmas coming up now is the perfect time to obtain some tools and seek some advice, I figure that my basic tool requirements are going to be along the lines of some bench top tools like a scroll saw, drill press, sander and maybe a dremel. There is probably more but that at least seems to me enough to be able to finish the telescope without to much fuss.

Anyhoo, that's a bit about what I'm up to and what I want to do so any questions or advice and I'm all ears.
I look forward to joining the community and having a look around in the mean time, this place looks like there is loads of info and inspiration so I'm sure I'll find it worthwile.

Cheers.

Paz.

welcome Paz !
Nice plans !

Welcome to the forum Paz

G'Day & Welcome from "Downunder" Paz,
What are you doing in Belgium.
You'll find a heap of helpful & knowledgeable blokes & ladies on the forum and for most very willing to assist.
Make sure you show off your handiwork as everyone loves a photo, especially WIP photos with build notes.
Enjoy the forum.
Enjoy your woodworking.
Cheers from "On Top DownUnder", crowie

PS - Don't forget to have a look around yard sales, garage sales, car boot sales etc, etc for some good cheaper secondhand tools to get yourself up and going....

Thanks guys for the welcome. :)

crowie, my wife is French but works in Brussels so I moved over a few years ago now from Adelaide.
When I'm up and running I'll definitely want to document my build and share, I should get cracking on that as I have to design it around the mirror and at least if I can show some initiative the wife will be more sympathetic to a few purchases.
Keeping an eye on the second hand market is a good idea too.

Thanks again for the welcomes.

Welcome to the forum http://smileys.sur-la-toile.com/repo...bienvenue5.gif

A big welcome from me too Paz. I see that you are starting with a couple of really simple ideas :o

A telescope and orreries !!! What size final objective are you doing on the scope?

If you have 'vide greniers' up your way I do hope that they have less carp than they seem to have down this way. I have wandered around a fair few and not bought anything yet. I keep trying and hoping though. For all you guys down there a 'vide grenier' is a car boot sale. It literally means 'empty loft'

Merci for the welcomes guys. :)

I guess astronomy is my main hobby so I figure it's a good as place as any to start, I could take a simple design easy enough but I want to do a nicer travel dobsonian. My glass blank is 8 inches so it's not too small but not as big as it could be for a first project.

It seems to be more antique sales here, they do have the odd street market in each commune once a year and they have either old worn out gear(I know from a couple of poor purchases) or high end almost new tools at cost.
Still it's always worth a visit just in case.

One thing I'm not certain about is if I will have any trouble with using UK power plug as opposed to an EU one?
Ultimately I'd prefer EU plugs if possible though.

I know UK to EU and EU to UK plug adaptators are avaliable in some traveller's supply shops...

You can get little adaptors that plug onto a U.K. style plug. They are only designed for occasional low wattage use and you shouldn't use them full time on high wattage appliances. They have been known to burn! The most difficult things are the transformer plugs you get with USB type power plugs. I have several converter leads with french plugs and U.K. wander sockets on them for these.

When I wired up my workshop I put a small consumer box in and wired the sockets off of that. Most of the tools I have have got U.K. plugs fitted and I have several multi piont extention leads fixed to benches around the workshop. There isn't any chance of them being overloaded because there's only me that works in there.

I personally don't like the French plugs or sockets. They aren't anywhere as good quality as the U.K. ones and with the wall sockets having 2 sockets, line/neutral, and an earth pint for earthed appliences and the non earthed wall sockets just having the 2 sockets with the place for the earth pin blanked off means that you can quite happily plug in an applience that needs an earth into a non earthed socket.:no:

I, and a lot of others, have found that one of the best places to get tools from is from Axminster Power Tools, just google it. Also, if you aren't sure about what you want as opposed to what you need then a phone call to their tech guys will put you on the right track and they will advise what you need as opposed to what is more expensive. Just a satisfied customer of some 15 years or so..:cool: :cool:

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Originally Posted by Jonzjob

means that you can quite happily plug in an applience that needs an earth into a non earthed socket.:no:

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:frflag:Freedom's country ! But freedom is at your own risk !
:biggrin2:

I had wondered about the earth on those plugs at times.

I have loads of adaptors but as you say I was worried about them possibly burning out. I don't imagine I'll be using them more than a couple of hours at a time on and off because the kids take up lots of time too at the moment.

I like the idea of wiring up a few sockets, if we weren't renting I'd be on that like a flash.

I'm looking at axminister now, they do seem to get a lot of positive comments from what I have seen. I have found it generally cheaper to buy from UK, Germany or France than to buy locally, it's a shame really.

I guess the other thing I'm not certain on is if I need a band saw or a scroll saw, both would be nice but I hear the SS isn't as good on large circles which I need for the rocker box on the scope.
I do have a jigsaw but not sure how fine a circle I can get from that.

G'day Paz and welcome to the shed. Good to have you abard!!!:2tsup::2tsup::2tsup:

You cetrtainly have chosen the deep of the pool as a starting point!

Luckily for you there is more than enough advice here!!

If you have a router cutting rounds of almost any size is a doddle. I had a job a few years back of cutting 5 X 5 foot diameter table tops from 1 1/4" chip board, no problems.

For the size rounds you wish to cut a band saw will do it with no problems. Even if you get a small-ish job there are lots of plans on the web for jigs to do it. It is possible with a scroll saw, but if I wanted to do it that would be one of the last resorts for me. I ain't that good with it..

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Originally Posted by paz

I guess the other thing I'm not certain on is if I need a band saw or a scroll saw, both would be nice but I hear the SS isn't as good on large circles which I need for the rocker box on the scope.
I do have a jigsaw but not sure how fine a circle I can get from that.

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With a fine blade & taking you time the jigsaw with a simple circle cutting jig would work.
I'd start with the bandsaw over the scrollsaw.....

Welcome to the forum. That's a good attitude to have in tools get what you need to finish the task at hand and continue to look for tools that will assist int he next project.

Thanks artme for the welcome. :)

Cheers Jonzjob and crowie for the tips, I read a few things last night and think I'll chance it with the jig but as you say I will need to get some finer blades. I've got a piece or two of scrap laying around as well so I will practice on that first.

I think I'm settled on a band saw now although a router may follow soon after.

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Originally Posted by Christos

Welcome to the forum. That's a good attitude to have in tools get what you need to finish the task at hand and continue to look for tools that will assist int he next project.

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Cheers Christos, I think that's the best approach to take for now as I'd rather get a few tools that are good at what they do and get a handle on using them rather than rushing in.