Good skill saw, jig saw, and a couple diff size sanders. You can use guides to cut the straightest cuts with the skill saw. Unless your going to build a lot of cabinets, then you need the table saw, and a planer wouldn't hurt. Power sander table thing might be nice.

There is a book mentioned in a past issue of Wooden Boat Magazine that is about maintaining and correcting or trueing shop tools. That is a must before anything.

What might you like to build?

I'd hang on to the money, and pick up what I needed as I found it, or needed it.

I'd like a laundry basket full of diff. clamps, and a good bench clamp.

I've just learned that I prefer old hand tools over some power tools. My drill, not a driver/hammer/drill combo, would grab and dig too deep when making small countersink holes for screws. Drill would then overtighten and strip too many screws in the wood. I knew where to find the old hand tools, and bought an old yankee screwdriver (that takes the obsolete screwdriver inserts, but I found those too) and a hand drill. Now I can drill, countersink, and put screws into soft wood all day long, and not ruin any of them.

Hope you find something of substance in this ramble.

Kevin-building a boat or two, then an airplane

if its a hobby then stick with hand tools . theres nothing likejoining boards by hand with a good #7 and the yankee screwdriver is a god send for doing doors and cabinets. but if you are goin pro hit pawn shops and auctions. ive seen stuff at auctions that were to die for and went cheap. if your looking for pro tools at great prices try toolking.com ive gotten all sorts of power tools at awesome prices. they sell factory reconditioned tools at great prices.you can join with a tablesaw and plane with a router. the tablesaw jointer i saw in a recent fine homebuilding mag, the router planer ive seen in various mags to plane slabs it envolves angle iron guides and a frame for the router. ill try to find the issues for you. if youre going to do this as a hobby i would say no to a pwer saw a good cheap(vaughn)japanese style hand saw rocks. i love being able to work in enviroments wher i can use hand saws and planes. less hearing damage and the plus of building up you arms and burning calories. i would recomend checking out fine home building past issues for tool buying. they have great reviews by real pros. ive been impressed by ridgid tools from homedepot. good luck and have fun making dust.

for 1000 bucks, i think i would invest it in some sort of high yield investment so i would have more money to set up my shop properly.

that said, the tablesaw is the single most important tool to get. i dont mean the cheapo makita with the annoying turn knob, i mean at least a rigid/bosch/dewalt benchtop saw, preferrably a contractor model or cabinet saw jet, and grizzly both are relativley inexpensive and common on the used market. seccond, seeing as i only have a grand, i would track down a hitachi 8 1/4 inch slide compound mitre saw in the little nickle or at the local bar. that saw in my opinion is indispensible. a joiner would be nice but since your budget probably dosent allow it, a porter cable portaplane is an excellent indispensable tool it is a 20000 rpm side mounted router with a base and a spiral cutter. also a router or a bunch of them is good. dont get anything that says ryobi,skil,black and decker, grizzly, or anything even remotley harry the homeowner porter cable #690 is the industry standard, and can be upgraded with all kinds of attachments. remember that industry standards are that for a reason.

oh my, you said no power tools......uh in that case.....uh

hit up grampa , estate saled, or convert to ahmish lifestyle.

:)