Woodworking YouTuber's 'Simple Beginner Project' Requires $47,000 in Equipment

Popular woodworking YouTuber Jake Caldwell has released a video titled 'Easy First Project for Absolute Beginners!' that requires a table saw, a jointer, a thickness planer, a drill press, a bandsaw, a CNC router, a wide-belt sander, a vacuum press, and a spray booth — equipment totaling approximately $47,000 at retail prices. The video, which has 2.3 million views and a comment section that reads like a support group, walks beginners through the construction of a simple floating shelf. The shelf is beautiful. The process to create it is available to perhaps 400 people in North America. 'This is super straightforward,' Caldwell says at the 2:14 mark, feeding a board through a $9,000 wide-belt sander. 'Just clean up the surface with your drum sander and you're good to go. If you don't have a drum sander, a random orbit sander works too,' he adds, in the tone of someone suggesting public transit as an alternative to a private helicopter. The comments section has become a gathering place for frustrated beginners. 'Step 1: Buy a house large enough for the shop,' wrote user NewToWood. 'Step 2: Take out a second mortgage to fill it with tools. Step 3: Make shelf.' Caldwell has responded to the criticism by pointing out that all of his tools were acquired over fifteen years. 'You don't need all of this to start,' he said. 'You just need a table saw, a jointer, a planer, a drill press, and a bandsaw. That's like $8,000. Very accessible.' He then demonstrated a 'budget alternative' using a hand plane that costs $375. The shelf retails on his website for $45, which several commenters have noted is $46,955 less than the equipment required to make it.