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SketchUp - Very Easy, Powerful, and Free

SketchUp is an easy to use and powerful tool that has seen interesting changes in ownership since it's debut in 2000. Originally created by @Last Software of Bolder, Colorado, it was purchased by Google in 2006. Google SketchUp was the name of the software that's just called SketchUp today. In 2012, Google SketchUp was bought by Trimble Navifation, Ltd.

As you may have noticed on HomeCabinetBars.com, there is a section of this website dedicated to Google SketchUp. This shows the age of this part of the site, since SketchUp hasn't been owned by Google since mid-2012. Nevertheless, the information and embedded YouTube video instruction is still solid and relevant. The reason for a section of HomeCabinetBars.com being dedicated to SketchUp is simply that it is a great tool for designing almost anything. In particular, it has been a very useful piece of software for aspiring woodworkers and professional woodworkers alike.

The aspect that I like the best about the program is the Push/Pull method used to turn 2D shapes into 3D forms. The push/pull aspect is easy to get used to, and there are numerous free resources online to walk a newby through the steps to create plans, schematics, and 3D representations of almost any object imaginable. Here's the best part; it's free! Yes, you can download and use SketchUp for free from SketchUp.com. In addition, since it has been adopted by many people for countless design projects, there's a wealth of free SketchUp files that can be downloaded and used as is or modified.

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Jigsaw Review B&D JS700K

  Alright, let's get to the point for this review. You're here to get some idea if this is a decent jigsaw or not and I will tell you, without question, it is not a decent jigsaw. How can I state this? Well, I recently had the opportunity to play with one. I ordered the JS700K jigsaw from Amazon because I had seen the scroll saw feature on a few jigsaws over the years and I wanted to give it a try. I had hoped that this jigsaw would become a back-up jigsaw and one that I could loan out. What follows is a brief jigsaw review for the Black and Decker JS700K.

This jigsaw review is based on my time spent with the JS700K that was delivered to me, and I must state that I did not cut anything with it. I have a good reason for not cutting anything; the shoe could not be secured in place. As you may know from my previous review of the Black and Decker FS1800D cordless drill, I am not a person that bashes Black and Decker without reason. I truly love my drill, but Black and Decker is ultimately a more budget-friendly brand and this is very evident on the JS700K jigsaw.

I will just list what I disliked about this model to make this jigsaw review brief and easy to interpret:

The tension wheel to tighten or loosen the shoe is designed very poorly and, at least for the particular jigsaw I received, I could not get the tension tight enough by hand to hold the foot in place.

The overall construction and assembly of this jigsaw is very lackluster. There were uneven seams where the two sides of the case didn't come together well, and there were a number of jagged plastic edges. One of the areas with jagged plastic remnants that should have been removed cause the trigger to hang in the on position…yet another reason I didn't want to cut with this saw.

The scroll mechanism doesn't turn smoothly. In fact, within the 360 degree turn I encountered 3 positions that seemed to have much more resistance to the turn, which would make it difficult to get accurate and clean scroll cuts by using this feature.

The shoe is a basic formed metal shoe and not a cast aluminum shoe. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, except that this shoe had a few black plastic projections on the bottom that prevented the show from making complete and even contact with a surface. The protrusions were only about 1 to 2 millimeters, but that can make a difference in fine cuts and beveled edges.

Not even the case met my very moderate expectations. The case for my Black and Decker Drill is strong and durable, but the one that came with this jigsaw was flimsy and made from significantly thinner plastic.

I may be leaving a few things out, but I can't attest to it's power, vibration, or actual cut accuracy. I would expect that only the power would have met my expectations and that vibration as well as cut accuracy would be very poor. You may notice that I didn't have a list for the things I liked about this model in my jigsaw review. Simply stated, I can't think of a single positive thing to say. I once thought that the overall look and design of the saw was noteworthy, but after handling it I now realize that I was wrong. Based on the issues noted above in this jigsaw review, I don't recommend this jigsaw for anyone.

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My Firestorm Cordless Drill Review

I have been wanting to write a review for my Firestorm cordless drill for some time now because this drill deserves praise. I often find that the higher quality power tool models from Milwaukee, Bosch, Dewalt, an the like are simply made better and perform better than the more budget oriented brands like Black and Decker. However, as will all rules, there are exceptions. The FS1800D Firestorm cordless drill is an example of this.

I remember the first time I saw this drill a number of years ago, while working on a small apartment renovation. A guy I was working with had this Firestorm cordless drill and I was impressed with it's power, but I was even more impressed with its design. The removable chuck design seemed brilliant and helped him to work quicker than I could with my Skil drill. I meant to shop for the Firestorm cordless drill, but it slipped my mind after the apartment repairs were complete.

Then, a few years later, I was working on some rails for a large front porch and switching back and forth from a drill bit for making pilot holes to a driver bit. I thought that there had to be a better and faster way. I had seen and used some of the quick change bit kits in the past and they were useful, but some requires special drill bit with the hexagonal design. Then I remembered the Firestorm cordless drill and I decided I had to get it. At that time it was a little dated model and the only place I could find it in stock was on eBay. I grabbed one that was new at a fair price, and it came with two batteries and a dual battery charger.

I have now had the drill for over 3 years, maybe even over 4 years. While battery technology has improved since the time of manufacture for the Firestorm FS1800D cordless drill, the old-school 18 volt batteries used by this drill have been very reliable. Over the past year I have noticed that they don't last as long on a charge than they used to, which is typical of the older batteries. Other than this, I have had absolutely nothing bad to say about this drill and this is rare for me. I tend to find at least one aspect of a tool that just doesn't satisfy me. However, after years of consistent use on some tough projects, this drill has proven itself time and again.

As mentioned, it has a very good amount of torque output. Also, it can take a beating and still work fine. This last point is important because the budget friendly brands usually produce tools that aren't heavy duty or designed to take abuse. Also, drills tend to be dropped and banged around frequently. I have dropped this drill from roofs onto some fairly hard ground a number of times and it has never stopped working. Sure, it has scratches and marks all over it, but it works like new.

There are some features offered by this Firestorm cordless drill that aren't standard things you'll find on budget drills. In fact, the combination of features on the FS1800D cordless drill allow it to be used in nearly any situation calling for a drill. The removable chuck makes it very easy to switch between drilling and screwing in seconds. It has a torque adjustment that offers many setting to keep a person from driving screws too deep, which is important since this drill has the power to send screws further than intended. Also, it has two speed settings with the lower speed setting being the higher torque option. I have very rarely used the higher torque option, but it's a nice feature to have. The comfort of the grip is as good or better than any drill I have ever used, and the drill is well balanced when the somewhat heavy battery pack is attached. It even has a few places on it to store drive bits.

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Jigsaw Review - Skil 4495 Orbital Jigsaw w Laser

I'm writing this jigsaw review soon after finishing a significant home repair. Our house, which we have been trying to sell, had a water line break when the outside temperature reached -35 degrees F at night for a few weeks. The house is about 200 miles from where we currently live and we failed to have anyone check on it for a few weeks. The heat was set to 65 degrees, but this just wasn't enough. The water was supposed to be turned off, but we had the utility company turn it on for an inspector to check the plumbing for a potential buyer. The buyer backed out and the inspector never showed. It was during our wait for the inspector that the water line froze and broke.

What does this have to do with the Skil jigsaw? Well, I had to grab a jigsaw once I arrived at the house to start repairs because I didn't bring one with me. I bought the Skil 4495-02 jigsaw from Walmart for about $50. Since Skil is owned by Bosch, and this jigsaw is rated at 6 amps, I thought I was buying a decent jigsaw to get the job done. This jigsaw review is based on my experience in using the Skil jigsaw for one week. I only used the one jigsaw, so this jigsaw review is only based on the one saw and it could be possible that any shortcomings of this saw might not have been found in one of the other jigsaws on the store shelf.

To start, here's the basic specs:

Skil 4-Position Orbital Jigsaw with Laser Guide, 4495-02:

Powerful 6A motor

Built-in laser guide for accurate straight cuts

4-position orbital cut control for fast or smooth cuts

Variable speed trigger adjusts speed to cut

Custom molded tool rest design to prevent blade from damaging material

Tool-less blade change accepts both T & U shank blades

Tool-less foot adjustment for easy angle changes

On-tool blade storage keeps blades handy when needed

I'll rate my experience on three criteria; Cutting Power, Features, and Cutting Accuracy. Any jigsaw review, or power tool review in general, must be completed with some set criteria in mind, and the three criteria noted here will give a good idea of what you can expect from the 4495 model Skil jigsaw.

To begin, let me tell you that this saw has plenty of power. It never struggled to maintain a cutting speed, even through some very dense wood. A 6 amp motor is enough for nearly any cutting that a person might do with a jigsaw. The features I'd like to mention in this jigsaw review are noted above. The orbital action performed as expected. The fact that the saw can accept both the T and U shank blades is nice. Vibration was dampened well too. As you can tell from the picture, this is also an awesome looking saw. It looks like it could really kick some ass!

This is about all of the good I can say in this jigsaw review. The remainder of what I can report on is based on a number of poor qualities. First, the variable speed trigger is only OK. It works, but the mechanical motion of the trigger isn't as user friendly as some models. The foot design is a standard molded metal and not the more desirable cast foot. The laser guide is nice and is also adjustable, but this doesn't really matter because the bottom line is that this jigsaw simply doesn't cut straight. In fact, to cut on a straight line, I had to twist the jigsaw by about 5 degrees counterclockwise. All the features in the world don't matter much is the saw doesn't cut straight.

So, based on this jigsaw review, would I recommend this jigsaw? My answer is no. A person is better off using a jigsaw that cuts straight, even if they have to sacrifice some fancy options to get an affordable jigsaw that cuts accurately. It's possible that I just got a dud, so you may try one of these for yourself and get lucky. In fact, if this jigsaw cut accurately, it would wholeheartedly recommend it. It has plenty of power, some nice features, looks cool…if only it could cut accurately! I returned the jigsaw to Walmart and I look forward to using a Bosch or Dewalt again.

Oh, and just in case you're curious about the home repair, I'll post a few before and after pics below. One full bathroom was destroyed along with part of a laundry room and the flooring in a bedroom. This jigsaw certainly helped with this repair, but getting accurate cuts took a lot more effort than it should require.

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A Deal I Had to Share! Ends March 3rd.

  WEEKLY SPECIAL – FEB 22 – MAR 3 WOODCRAFT MAGAZINE Take an additional 45% Off $6.57 for 1 Year with coupon Use coupon code WOODSPEC during checkout

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Table Saw Intro

Oh, the table saw…what an awesome tool! Few other tools used in woodworking can do all that a table saw can accomplish. With some creativity and knowledge of how to mage jigs for a table saw, a person can accomplish a long list of woodworking tasks. Some of the unexpected types of cuts that can be done on a table saw include dovetails and compound miter cuts. However, these aren't the cuts that a table saw is usually used for.

Most of the time a table saw is used for ripping boards and fairly simple cross cuts. It's hard to beat a decent table saw for ripping boards. A table saw really is an extremely useful tool for a new woodworker to have. New woodworkers may not have much experience with table saws, so this intro is meant to help a new woodworker to understand the basic uses of a table saw. More than just knowing what a table saw can do, a person needs to understand table saw safety. Of the various tools used in woodworking, the table saw is one of the most useful and yet most dangerous.

The danger of a table saw doesn't necessarily come from the design of table saws, although European table saw safety is generally considered superior to the safety aspects built in to American table saws. Maybe we just want to live dangerously, or maybe we're just stubborn. The point is that the table saw can be dangerous, but the majority of the danger is from people underestimating the risk and dangers of using a table saw. Since it is essentially a circular saw mounted in a stationary table, it is common for a new woodworker to get a little too comfortable around table saws. It's often the inattention or false sense of security that can lead to very serious injuries.

Alright, so the message is be safe, use caution, and try not to get too comfortable around a table saw. But what should a new woodworker look for when choosing a table saw? As is often the case, a person's budget will play a big role in this decision. Assuming a person has a modest budget, a general contractor's table saw may be an affordable way to get a decent level of quality and durability. Such a table saw is generally more mobile than a heavy cabinet table saw, which can have advantages but also disadvantages.

A person just getting started in woodworking is probably not going to have a true wood shop with ventilation and filtration systems, which can be costly. Having a mobile table saw allows a new woodworker to take the saw outside of the garage or shop and make cuts in the fresh air. Also, a portable table saw allows a person to quickly and fairly easily move the saw around the garage or shop as needed. A cabinet table saw has the advantage of being very sturdy and reliable, but often require a 220 volt power supply and are usually not as easy to move. A good cabinet saw is a superior choice for many realms in the woodworking world, but the cost of such a saw may put them out of the reach for many people just starting.

The best advice I can give to someone shopping for their first table saw is avoid the temptation to go cheap. You may be able to find some great sales or bargains which can help you get your hands on a better quality table saw. However, any table saw with a MSRP under $200 is best avoided unless one's budget only allows for a bottom dollar model. In the case of a basic mobile table saw, you should look for a 15 amp motor. A cast table top, made of either aluminum or iron, is better than a formed top. Also, look for metal knobs and adjustments because plastic versions of these simply don't hold up well. Also, a vacuum duct is a good feature to have sine it allows a person to attach a simple shop vac to the saw during use. A dust collection bag is fine too, but not as efficient at collecting dust as a decent vacuum.

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How to Use a Drill

Is there any other portable power tool more recognizable than the drill? The majority of people out there have used an electric drill, but just in case you're brand new to woodworking and have never used a drill before, you will find some brief videos below that will help you learn how to use a drill. If you are brand new to using a power drill, I'd like to congratulate you for seeking out information on how to use a drill correctly.

What kind of drill do you need? That, of course, depends on what the heck you're going to use the drill for. The vast majority of DIYer's and beginning woodworkers will get by just fine with a basic 3/8" corded drill. If your funds are tight, this is one tool you could go a little cheaper on in order to put more money towards an expensive tool, such as a table saw. You might consider going cordless. The convenience of cordless is great, and battery as well as charging technology have improved a lot over the last few years. However, if you go with a budget cordless drill you should consider getting an extra battery.

The budget cordless drills tend to have shorter battery lives and longer recharge times. Also, rechargeable batteries only have so many charge cycles before they start to hold less and less power, eventually becoming useless. This means that if you decide to buy a cordless drill, you will probably end up buying replacement battery packs for it a few years down the road.

Knowing how to use a drill correctly is important to getting straight holes and secure joints fastened with a screw. A better quality drill will be more balanced and have a more heavy duty case and motor so it can take abuse without breaking. For the beginner, a simple corded Black and Decker drill will probably be fine. Some of the options, such as speed sensitive triggers, adjustable clutch, and built in level indicators are nice to have too, but a person can get by without these as long as they are careful about how they use and handle the drill.

Knowing how to use a drill goes beyond simply knowing how to hold it and squeeze the trigger. You also need to understand some basics about drill bits. There are a number of different types of bits, and a wide range of quality differences. If you buy the cheapest drill bits you can find, you will end up spending more in the long run when the cheep bits constantly break or become dull quickly. Since you may need a variety of bits for any given project, a variety pack of bits from a reputable company is a good way to go.

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How to Use a Circular Saw

Back in 1937 Skil Power Tools developed the circular saw. Originally invented in 1924, the circular saw would come to be known as the "the saw that built America". It's still common to hear people refer to portable circular saws as "Skil Saws" today, but there are many more brand names to be found on the various circular saws on the market.

It can be a versatile tool when combined with a some skill and knowledge of how to use a circular saw. With a guide, a person can cute very straight lines. Large panels are easily cut into more manageable sizes with a circular saw. They are also extremely handy when building outdoor structures such as a deck. They pack an impressive amount of power in a small package, which can sometimes contribute to people underestimating how dangerous a circular saw can be. In the hands of a skillful craftsman, a circular saw can be used very safely and productively, but in the hands of a novice it can become a major safety risk.

Some circular saws have the same power as a contractor's grade table saw. As with all tools, and especially power tool, it's important to take a few minutes to learn how to use a circular saw. Some people learn how to use a circular saw by helping a family member with a project. However, some people don't have such experiences and must rely on structured woodworking classes or teaching themselves how to use a circular saw in a safe way.

The most common mistakes made when leaning how to use a circular saw is neglecting to monitor the depth of the cut and ensuring the power cord isn't in the path of the cut. If the depth is set to an excessive degree for the material being cut, a person can cut through their workbench, sawhorse, or other unintentional items. Cutting through the power cord isn't a concern with the battery powered models, but it can certainly happen with the traditional models with a cord. Another cause of mistakes or injuries is using one these without adequate lighting. After all, you need to see where you're cutting, right? Eye and ear protection is a must.

When a person knows how to use a circular saw and has developed some skill in using it, a variety of cuts can be made. Beveled cuts of both short and long lengths are fairly easy to do. Miter cuts can be accurately made with the use of a guide, though some people can make such cuts without guides with the help of a guide line. Even compound miter cuts can be made with a circular saw. Some woods and some types of cuts may requires specific types of blades, but changing blades is usually quick and easy on most models. A part of knowing how to use a circular saw is also knowing when not to use one. While one of these saws can be used for a variety of cuts, some of these cuts may be more accurately and safely made with other tools, such as a table saw, power miter saw, or jigsaw.

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Winsome Newport Expandable Wine Bar Review

The Winsome Newport Expandable Home Wine Bar will add some classic style to your living room decor without sacrificing valuable floor space. This expandable wine bar conveniently stores your wine glasses and wine in one compact cabinet, with the ability to unfold when your guests arrive to reveal a complete wine bar.

The built-in wine rack gives you room for storing up to nine bottles. The sliding slot style wine glass provides room to store 9 wine glasses. There is also a convenient drawer for storing all of your wine accessories. Of the over 45 total customer reviews found online, the consensus is very favorable for this home bar. At Wayfair.com alone, there are 20 reviews that bring the average owner satisfaction to 4.5 out of 5 starts…that's darn good! Assembly is required and most customers have it fully assembled in 45 minutes or less. Comments are also complimentary towards the finish of the wood and overall construction. If your space is limited, or you just don't want a full bar that's constantly taking up space, this may be the perfect home bar or wine bar solution. Especially if you're looking for a bargain…read on…

This expandable home bar offers great value, especially considering the list price of $344.99. At the time of this review, it can be found at Wayfair.com for the almost unbelievable price of $197.99! Now, that's an awesome price, but add free shipping on top of this price and you have a deal that's hard to pass up. This wine bar has also been seen on Amazon.com for the same amazing price, but we don't expect this sale price to remain this low for much longer.

Basic Features:

Practical and stylish wine bar

Finished in walnut

Crafted from solid wood

Compact wine unit when closed

Expands to a bar counter for serving when opened

9 Individual bottle compartments

1 Pull-out drawer

1 Open storage shelf

Stemware holder

Perfect for entertaining or daily use

Ample space for storing bottles behind the counter

Assembly required

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Bandsaw Videos

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Wood Sawing with Handsaws

These days it seems like most people think of power tools when they here the word saw, but for many generations wood sawing was done with handsaws. In fact, the wood sawing was done very well using handsaws. This is easily evident in some of the antique furniture that comes from eras before power tools were common. The craftsmanship and time required to make quality furniture was greater in those days.

Woodworking is yet another area in which technological advancements have had both positive and negative effects. The efficiency and capabilities provided from modern power tools for wood sawing has opened-up the world of woodworking to many more people, and has allowed many people with minimal woodworking training to produce useful and attractive items. However, reliance on modern power tools has also led to a decline in classic woodworking skills, such as the ability to correctly choose and skillfully use a handsaw for wood sawing tasks.

In an attempt to help promising woodworkers to understand the basics of handsaws, and to help prevent further decline in basic wood sawing skills, I'm posting a few videos and links below. Please enjoy the info.

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How to Use a Jigsaw

A jigsaw is such a tremendously versatile tool and can serve many functions around the shop. Given enough power, appropriate saw blades, and a little skill, a person can make nearly any type of cut commonly needed with only a jigsaw. Cutting guides can be used to help make long straight cuts or nice circular cuts. Beveled cuts, curved cuts or angled cuts can all be done with a jigsaw. Granted, the jigsaw isn't the best choice for all these various types of cuts, but it can do the job in a bind. If you're on a budget and just getting started in woodworking, I'd definitely recommend getting a jigsaw as one of your first tools.

Don't let the outwardly appearance of jigsaws fool you; great jigsaws are packed with complexity which, ironically, makes using them much more simple. With some cheap jigsaws you get a less-complex tool that makes getting clean and accurate cuts more complicated and difficult. I don't like to waste money, but I have been guilty of buying cheap tools in the past to save money. I had the mindset that the expensive big name brand tools were only expensive because of the brand name they are labeled with. While the cost of the expensive tools might be inflated a little due to the brand names on them, they are by far worth the extra money.

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Hand Sanding

Hand sanding is essential for getting a great finish of a wood project. Machine sanding can make things easier and quicker by taking care of the bulk of the major sanding, but careful hand sanding will still be needed. Some of the basics of sanding by hand are presented in the videos below, but I'll also touch on a few things to keep in mind. First, always hand sand with the grain of the wood. This is important but not always easy to do, particularly in tight corners or hard to reach areas. Also, some woods with a more random grain pattern or figured boards can present challenges. In such cases, the key is to gradually increase the grit of sandpaper you're using so that any marks from the previous and slightly rougher grit are removed.

Second, be careful around edges and corners. A little too much pressure or time on an edge or corner can cause more wood to be removed than desired. Also, the more course sandpapers can leave marks that aren't easy to correct, so gentle sanding should be used in these areas. Third, use a sanding block for large flat areas. A sanding block will greatly help to ensure a more even and consistent sanding. If you simply use your hand, there will be higher pressure areas applied to the sandpaper and, consequently, to the project. This can lead to some areas of a project being barely sanded while other areas are overly sanded with any particular grit level. A simple 6 inch piece of a 2×4 can make a fine sanding block.

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Build a Bar for the House - Free Plans 2

Here are some illustrations of another home bar design. If you plan to build a bar for the house, the images below may give you some ideas for your own plan. These free plans to build a bar are somewhat based on a folding bar or hide-a-bar designs. You'll notice that these plans don't describe the details of the build process. They also don't show details of recommended joints. These are meant to help you come up with ideas and provide a little guidance.

However, I'd like to make a few recommendations if you decide to build a bar based on the images below. First, I'd recommend the use of half lap joints where such a joint style is appropriate. This is pictured here and is one of the easier joints to make. While it's an easy joint to make, it offers much better strength than a standard butt-joint, which is typically a weak joint unless dowels are used. Second, remember to keep a constant eye on your angles to ensure the final piece is square and that the doors fit and move correctly. Even being off by only 2 degrees can make a difference in the final bar, so it's worth double or triple checking joints after applying glue and clamping them. It's much easier to correct a slight angle issue in a joint before the glue dries.

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Bar Top Ideas - Mosaic

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Miter Saw & Box Intro

Whether you spell it mitre or miter box, you're most likely referring to a type of box that guides a particular type of saw, called a tenon saw, in making angled or beveled cuts. This is most useful for installing trim, such as chair rails or baseboard trim around a room in the home. The angled cuts that bring trim together in or around corners in a room must be cut very accurately to ensure the two pieces of trim come together well without any gaps, overlaps, or tension. Making such cuts by hand would be tricky, though it can be done. A miter box and a sharp saw make up a very simple yet effective and accurate way to make angled cuts consistently.

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You Need a Hand Plane

Have you ever used a hand plane, such as a block plane, smoothing plane, jack plane, or some other bench plane? If not, or if you have only ever used a poor quality budget model, you may not have a good perception of them. However, hand planes are awesome tools to have around and if you're going to be working with wood regularly, it's a good idea to at least have a jack plane and a small block plane.

There's something about hand planes that draws me to them like some people might be drawn to look at a painting by van Gogh. I can't quite put my finger on what it is about hand planes that I find so alluring, but I'd definitely have a huge collection of them if I didn't have to justify the expense to the wife;) I think these wonderful tools are works of art and science. The simplicity in the concept behind how a hand plane works is an idea that I find soothing enough to use during meditation. Well, I would use this idea if I regularly meditated anyway.

Don't let the simplistic appearance of these tools fool you though. A good hand plane has a lot of design history and science behind it. There are differences between a budget hand plane and a great one. The biggest difference most people notice is the price. A great hand plane, such as those from Lie-Nielsen, don't come cheap, but they do come extremely well made. You don't have to drop over $200 to get a good hand plane as long as you're willing to put some effort into tuning the hand plane and improving the shortcomings that will inevitably come with a budget hand plane.

There are ways to get a great hand pane at a big savings. One way is to buy a less expensive hand plane and do a very thorough revamp to turn it into a useful precision tool. Another option is to buy a good used hand plane, such as one of the many used Stanley hand planes from the 1940's and 1950's. These are sold all over the internet on various used tool and auction sites. These may require a little cleaning and refurbishing, but the age isn't a big deal if they have been maintained well. This is a good argument in favor of dropping $300 on a new hand plane; a great hand plane will last for generations…yes, generations! If you buy a good one, you should never need to buy another one of the same size. If, on the other hand, you buy a cheap hand plane, you may get frustrated with it or it may break in some way that can't be fixed, which will lead to you either giving up on using hand planes or buying more of them.

I have personally spent the time tuning a few Groz planes, and although there were some significant fine-tuning issues, I turned them into some great planes. It takes time though. I spent about 3 hours on each of the Groz planes to bring them up to a level that would meet my performance expectations. These hand planes worked right out of the box, but their performance was only barely acceptable. I love them now and wouldn't trade them, but I could have saved myself at least 5 hours by buying a higher quality hand plane set to start with.

I suppose it really comes down to how much your time is worth and your skill level in tuning hand planes. Regardless of how you get one, just be sure to get one soon if you're going to build a custom home bar or any other type of furniture. Just having a hand plane or multiple planes isn't enough; you will want to practice using a hand plane and get comfortable with using it before you touch it to something important, such as a bar top. Trust me, there will be times that you'll be very thankful to have have a well tuned hand plane and block plane.