STEP 1: Cheap Materials

The first step to cheap woodworking is finding cheap materials.  Here's my top ten list of suggestions:

10. Your Own Scrap Pile -- Yeah, you're going to have a lot of wood leftover from building projects.  Don't throw that scrap pile away.  Anything larger than your computer mouse will have a use.  Find a good way to store and sort it so you have it when you need it.

9. Harbor Freight -- I am a big fan of Harbor Freight.  They regularly have coupons for good deals, sales, and even a tent sale.  You won't find lumber here, but for screws, hose clamps, and other miscellaneous hardware, start here.  The quality is limited, but it works for a lot of projects.

8.  Craigslist Material Category -- This category is for people getting rid of extra materials, usually leftover when contractors have stuff extra from a project, from cancelled projects, or from DIYers that got too much or got in over their heads.  Unfortunately, a lot of these folks are looking to make too much money off these items, so pick and choose to get good deals.

7.  Businesses --  Crates from lawnmower shops, palettes from shipping are good for some projects and you can grab them from businesses for free or cheap.  The wood isn't great, it will take some work to prepare it to use, but there are lots of plans out there for making stuff out of it.  Be careful of the type of wood you get and use, because some of it has chemicals that should be used outside only.

6.  Firewood -- There are a lot of folks now realizing that there is good hardwood firewood available that can be converted for projects quickly with a bandsaw, tablesaw, and planer.  Make sure you identify the wood before you buy it.  As an added bonus, with a small woodburner you can use leftovers to heat your shop.

5.  Yard Sales and Garage Sales -- Craigslist and your local newspaper are an excellent spot to look for weekend sales that might have hardware, lumber, used items, etc that you can use for cheap woodworking.  Pick and choose wisely, or you can spend more on gas than what you will save.

4.  Trash -- A lot of people throw away good stuff.  Old furniture is usually the best find, and though it may have issues, it may have lumber and hardware you can use.  Watch out for insects from trash.  Bedbug infested stuff, in particular, can turn into a big problem.

3. Estate Sales -- This is an excellent place to find used tools, lumber, furniture, and miscellaneous hardware.  Most of these people aren't going to argue a over a discount, so haggle your way into a good deal.

2. Craigslist Free Category -- With a pickup truck, a friend or two for labor, and some time, you can pick up a lot of stuff for free. Lumber and hardware are obvious choices.  Don't forget that used furniture, especially older stuff, can be a good source for wood and hardware.

1.  Hardware Store Scrap Pile and Bulk -- Menard's is my favorite, but lots of hardware stores have scrap piles for cut offs, warped stock, clearance, and last season items.  Keep your eyes open and you'll find a good deal.  Worst case, grab what you can from their bulk section to get a decent price.