> 	1) Any comments on the above list for a very basic starting
> set?  Additions?  Removals?  Extra considerations?

You might look some more at how you're going to measure stock.  A 
marking gauge is really handy.   You'll either want to plan on making 
or buying a mallet 'real soon' too.  

Are you planning on drilling any holes?   Ever need to cut a curve?  
How about shaping a curved piece?  How are you planning on sharpening 
those chisels?  They won't come sharp and won't stay sharp ;-)  In 
short, while I applaud your short list, there are some basics that 
probably should be on it.  If I were you I'd head to a flea market 
and pick up 

1) brace and some bits
2) coping saw
3) spokeshave
4) 10" mill file & at least one sharpening stone
5) block plane (eg - Stanley 9 1/2 or 60 1/2)

....and, if you can afford to drop another $7-10, find a Disston D-8 
to replace that Home Depot saw.  

Some here will cringe but personally I couldn't live without my dozuki 
saw, mostly because I can't afford to buy a really good dovetail saw.  
The unsung advantage of the Japanese saws is that good ones are VERY 
cheap relative to good western saws.  If you're on a budget, you 
might consider them.

> 	2) Will a smaller, finer toothed dovetail saw be suitable for
> small tenons?  I can't imagine it wouldn't be, but you all would

The problem, when you start talking about this stuff, is that you 
either have to get lucky and find a good one at an auction, or be 
willing to drop $125-150 on one.  If you're going to do dovetails and 
tenons you do need a fine-cutting saw (theoretically you need two to 
cut tenons) but you could get by with a $30 dozuki.

> 	3) What about planes?  That will probably be my biggest
> expense since any one nice plane will cost >$50.  

Assuming that you're not talking about shopping at Home Depot, you 
should be able to get a #4 smooth plane and a #5 jack plane cheaper 
than that at a flea market.  Both would be better than anything you 
can buy off the shelf for $50.

> Would it be feasible to look for an adjustable plane?  Hell, I don't 
even know if such things exist.

Adjustable in what way?  The difference between a smooth plane and a 
jack plane is mostly the length of the sole.  I guess another good 
piece of advice is to spend a whole bunch of time reading about hand 
tools, their use, etc.  A good place to start, of course, is:

http://homepage.mac.com/galoot_9/galtprog.html

>  How about this: what should I do about
> planes?

Read the survival tips and flea market tips on the site above (and 
everything else you can find on the subject) and then go to a flea 
market and buy yourself a decent #4 plane.  Clean and sharpen it and 
then play with it while you're learning more.   This should give you 
a feel for what you need or don't need in terms of more planes.  Let 
your projects and what's available at the flea market determine what 
you buy.

> 	4) Shopping.  Where do you folks go to look for quality tools?
> Internet stores and eBay are one option, of course.  If I end up in

You need some definition of 'quality tools' here, Clayton, and then 
you need to associate that with your budget.  You could have a lot of 
fun with a few Lie-Nielson planes, an Adria tenon saw set, and the 
like and they sure would qualify as 'quality tools' but you're also 
talking about spending several hundred dollars for a single plane.

> particular brands that I
> should look out for?  Either to consider or to avoid?  I'd like to
> avoid big box stores, if possible.  I've had a nice time looking

Here, I perceive, is your big problem.  You really need to learn 
something about hand tools before you buy any more than what you 
have.  The reason is pretty basic...you'll end up with a bunch of 
stuff that's not satisfying to work with and that costs you more than 
it should.  For instance, my guess is that virtually everyone in this 
forum uses Stanley and/or Miller Falls planes of one for or another.  
My guess is also that they wouldn't give you a dime for the Stanley 
planes sold from their current production.

So...answering your question is harder than you might think.  Most of 
the guys here do haunt auctions, flea markets, antique stores.  
That's where they do their buying and the reason is that the older 
tools are often MUCH cheaper and almost always MUCH better.

I'm something of a newbie at this myself so I know what you're 
struggling with.  The only thing I can suggest is that knowledge (and 
there's plenty of info on the web for anyone wanting to become 
knowledgeable) is the answer.  Just to give you something to ponder, 
here's my limited plane collection and what I've paid for them (rough 
USD cost as I'm in Canada):

Stanley #3: $19 (small smooth plane)
Record #4: $15 (standard size smooth plane)
Stanley #5: $10 (jack plane)
Stanley #7: $35 (jointer plane)
Stanley 9 1/2: $10 (block plane)
Stanley #54: $3 (spokeshave)
Stanley #48: $3 (spokeshave)

I've got several really small planes too but they're more specialized 
and not helpful.   I feel I'm really lacking in the area of rabbet 
and shoulder planes.

I could provide a list of everything I've bought at flea markets but 
it wouldn't further the point.  The bottom line is that my Stanley #5 
has nice rosewood handles, really nice, heavy cast sole, etc.  By 
contrast, I could have wandered into the local Home Depot (or Lee 
Valley for that matter) and bought a modern one, with its plastic 
(can you saw yuck) handles and I would have gotten to pay at least 
$50 for it.  

Now, it is the case that my $10 plane had some rust on it and it had 
what seem to be the inevitable paint spatter on it.  So...in addition 
to my $10 I had to pay an hour or so of my time to clean it up.  I 
also had to sharpen it but then you have to do that with new tools 
too.  I hope you see my point that you can save a LOT of money and 
end up with better tools if you'll just listen to all the good advice 
the Galoots have posted on their various websites and have written in 
the list archives.  I know I have and the money I did spend gave me 
very good working tools.

> around the Lee Valley website, but that's about the only tool site
> that I'm familiar with.

Again, then you need to do more websurfing.  Lee Valley is my 
favorite, though.  They provide great service to me in Quebec.  I 
don't buy Stanley planes from them but I have bought scrapers, my 
dozuki, finishing materials, sharpening stuff, etc., etc.....in 
short...probably way too much :-)

Hopefully some of this might help you.  Take it as coming from a guy 
who's no more than a couple steps ahead of you but maybe that 
perspective would be of some use to you.

-- 
Cheers --- Larry Marshall
Quebec City, QC