Workshop Set up

[Nuggett]

Hi would like advice on the following tools,ie Hp Brand/make etc.
Bandsaw (some resawing work)Jointer, Table saw, Thicknesser,And???
Or would it be cheaper and better if I purchased a "Combi Machine"

[John Saxton]

Primarily I guess the question comes down to what your budget allows, and what room you have as a workshop to the set-up you require.

If limited in room and no worries with money then a combo could be the way to go along with a decent bandsaw.
Check out the combo prices in your machinery section of your newspaper ...probably the cheapest way to buy one of these along with possibly many extras that may go with it.

Or another way and cheaper is with the Triton which has the availability of using a variety of functions to achieve your needs but you would still need a decent bandsaw.

If resawing with a bandsaw you will need one that will take a reasonable width blade that will allow you to resaw comfortably.
Buy the biggest and best you can afford.
I have an 18inch Jet that is OK with an inch blade on it but will handle a 1.1/2 inch blade with a 1.5 HP motor.

There are numerous tablesaws around most of them produced in Asia and one or two Australian produced ones that are not necessarily cheap all rangeing thru various HP levels depending on your requirements and with the search function at the top of this BB page you may find more on what you want to know.There are also pointers to web address's which will also point you in the right direction.
www.timbecon.com.au (http://www.timbecon.com.au) www.gregmach.com (http://www.gregmach.com) www.woodwarehouse.com.au (http://www.woodwarehouse.com.au) www.trembath.com.au (http://www.trembath.com.au)

Just some that I hope will help you out with.
Cheers http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/smile.gif



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Johnno

[Nuggett]

Thanks Johnno
Well I have a fairly new triton system, but I find it very light weight and now Triton are using more and more plastic in their hold downs for the power tools, so a lot of adjustments have to be made when the bench is bumped or moved.
I'm moving soon and I hope to have a very large shed. My budget is based on the quality of the product, that is you pay for what you get,so I don't mind waiting a bit longer to save up for a better made product. At present I have narrowed my selection down to two Combination machines. The two I like are the Kitty, which has 6 functions: planing,thicknessing,sawing,mortising,moulding and tenoning for $5000 & 3 separate motors as well!! The Hammer combi is next but this has the same functions but it's on special for just under $7000 but normally it's nearly $10,000!! So if I was to go the french way and add a band saw & a jointer I would have change from $7500 which I don't think is too bad when you consider what other hobbys can cost !!! What are your views?
Do you know of anyone that has a similar set up?

[Shane Watson]

Both myself & Johnno have a minimax combo machine. Personally I think its a great machine. BUT if I had the room I would prefer dedicated machinery. Big dollars though, but hey I have a $1000 dollar rifle sitting under lock & key that hardly gets taken to the rifle range. http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/wink.gif so at least me minimax produces an income of sorts.
Cheers!

[Nuggett]

Thanks Shane for the information.Where can I find out about a minimax combo machine?
I'm on the Gold Coast in Qld is there any one I can contact up here?

[John Saxton]

Nuggett check the Brisbane phone book for Gabbett which if I'm correct have agencies throughout Oz in most of the capital cities.

Ah found it they're at 3 Pendrey court,Woodridge 4114 ph 3208 0344 fax 3208 0191

If you have the time check everything out at the Brisbane Woodworking show in May.

Cheers http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/smile.gif

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Johnno

[This message has been edited by John Saxton (edited 09 April 2002).]

[Hague]

I've spent a long time going through all of this, I even work at a place that sells what you are looking for (not mentioning who it is though...don't want any of you to think I'm biased!). Buy individual machines, if you have the Triton set-up you know what a pain in the it is to change whatever it is you used to be using into the mode that you want to use (been there done that!). Also, you get more capacity, more choice and (usually) more horsepower in individual machines. If you haven't got a big enough shed, build a new one, I did and have not looked back since! Don't go for second best, if you have to wait six months to get the machine you really want, wait and buy it later, the way prices are going, in six months it will probably cost less anyway.

If you are going to go for one or the other, go the Hammer, normal price is twice that of the Kity and the quality it seems is in that direction too. For $7500 I know of a real good way to fill a workshop, with dust extraction to boot, something you have failed to mention... But still if a combination is the way to go for you I wish you best of luck with it.

[Shane Watson]

So Timbecon sell combo machines too? http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/wink.gifinteresting.
Though I have to disagree with the 'pain in the a&%e' theory about switching from one function to the other. I find it only takes a matter of seconds to change from one function to the other on my minimax.
Though I do agree about getting dedicated machines.
Cheers.

[JackG]

Minimax home page (now SCM I belive) is at http://www.scmgroup.com/ing/minimax/prodotti.htm

It seems to be fairly serious machinery at 390kg for the smallest model you dont wheel it under the bech when you are done with it, but then again you gotta touch it and use it to have a real opinion http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/smile.gif


Shane, just out of interest what minimax model do you have ?

Also could anyone anyone else tell us about combined machines they use and are happy with ?
Unfortunately my budget is a bit smaller than Nuggett, I am looking at under $2500 and I need a band saw buzzer and thickesser. I dont just look at combined machines for the $$ but also for the room, my shed is about 3m x 6.5m only. http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/frown.gif being a hobbyist woodworker my gear runs pretty much only on weekends only and I do not mind second hand machinery as durability is less of a concern than precision for me.

Sorry to post, more questions than answers I'll do my best to contribute.

Cheers

Jack

[Sandy Johnston]

I had a set of various Triton gear and thought I needed more versatility and so got a Riobi Industrial saw. Coulnd get happy with the bevel set up so looked about and got a second hand Shopsmith mkV (saw, lathe drill. sander planer +).
Happy as a mud puppy.
The machine is 40 years old and any parts I require I can still get NEW from their website. does everything I need and more.
Still have ryobi router 601 and 7"skilly for odd jobs but the space taken up is"about the size of a bicycle and suits me to a T.

Regard
Sandy across the ditch

[John Saxton]

Jack, both Shane and I have the Lab 30 combination.

Mine is kitted out with scriber blade but has the capacity like Shanes to run a 300mm saw.

I bought my one from one of my local distributers who had been in the "trade" before opening his own shop,and it was his own personal machine that he needed to sell to make room in his shed for a boat he was building at the time.
I reckon I got a good bargain all things considered at that time as I had researched for some time the new and second prices around.

Considering my limitations in room I reckon it's a Godsend but may well have to sell it soon with an impending move on the horizon.

Like Shane said it can be a pain in the a*%e changeing options from time to time ..but thats what you live with until something better comes along.

Cheers http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/smile.gif



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Johnno

[soundman]

the big question with combination machines is do you want to use diferent functions at the same time, trimm a bit on this machine cut a bit on that. i personaly would say seperate machines is the ideal.
the other consideration is are you using solid timber or panel goods. if you work mostly with board goods the priority should be a good table saw preferably with a sliding table as most of the functions of a combi will be redundant
most of the combi machines i have seen seem to be engineered arround solid timber in relatively short lengths. you would be hard pressed to put an 8 x4 sheet over them safely.
but I have spoken to a couple of fellas who do chairs or window frames who love their combi.
there is plenty of choice on the market and most of the decent asian cast machines will make the triton look sad in comparison.

[Shane Watson]

Soundman I cut sheetgoods regularly on my combo. Does it with ease & I don't run a scribe like Johnno.

[soundman]

yea but how long does it take to get rid of all the other bits and pieces. from what ever you were doing last.
how heavy was the sheet i bet it wasn't 24MM mdf or 32 mm laminated chip as a full sheet.
I still maintain combo machines are designed with solid timber in mind.

[Shane Watson]

Of course it wasn't the weight of a 24 or 32mm sheet. The two most popular size sheets are 16 & 19mm. I don't work with anything thicker than that unless it is solid timber & yes I regularly cut solid timber panels much heavy than manufactured boards. How long did it take to clear the machine? 15secs max! Mate I use the thing day in day out. If it didn't do what I needed in a time frame I need I wouldn't have had it in my workshop for the past 6years.
What I am pointing out here is that a combo (inparticular my minimax) does what I need and or require. This does not mean it will suit the purpose's of every other woodworker.
I cannot agree that a combo machine is designed solely for the use of solid timber. Whats so different between solid timber & manufactured boards. I believe combo machines are designed purely to save space. If that dictates that a combo is better at machining smaller stock, then so be it.
Frankly I agree with your previous statement.

i personaly would say seperate machines is the ideal.
the other consideration is are you using solid timber or panel goods. if you work mostly with board goods the priority should be a good table saw preferably with a sliding table as most of the functions of a combi will be redundant
What you say there is exactly what I tell anybody who wants advice about buying machinery. BUY WHAT WILL SUIT YOUR OWN NEEDS & BUDGET! If that means a triton, combo or dedicated machines so be it.
Cheers! http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/biggrin.gif


[This message has been edited by Shane Watson (edited 22 April 2002).]

[soundman]

I have considered the original question, small workshop and small budjet. Our friend would probably not be able to affod or house some of the machines some of we more fortunate may have.
It may be worth looking a workshop services such as "WOOD & YOU" in Brisbane where one can hire workshop time on a variety of machines by the hour.
One cabinet maker friend of mine owned no stationery machinery at all. He was for ever ducking over to "Wood & YOU" to do a cut out and assembling in his confined workshop.
Other services may be available in other cities.
My self if I don't have the machine I need, I often trade time in a mates workshop who has the sort of tool I need.
This service is good where you can batch work on machines you don't use often.
or where the machine work is a small part of the project.
worth a look.

[JackG]

Thanks for your replies, I still have about 3 month to find what I need and am actively looking at the trading post.

Minimax is a little bit too up market for me (and probably too big too) their current smallest models the L300 cost about $7000-8000.

I'll come back with more questions when I am set on a particular model.

Thanks

[John Saxton]

Jack, go with your instinct ...if you're moving to larger premises then dedicated machinery could well be your option.
Our local Sunday paper had a couple of combo's going for a lot less than your price for a new machine.
So saying that it's worthwhile also to consider that whilst buying from a private bloke with all the ramifications ..ie shonky folk ..there are also genuine folk you will sell you what you want with added on benefits that may save you heaps in extra saw blades ,Knives,and tooling that may well add a $1000 to your purchase of a new machine.

I intend tho to go back to dedicated machinery in my next move and may well hang on to the Comb with all it's extra's

I disagree with Soundman in that the Combo machine isn't suited to cutting large sheets http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/frown.gif ..these machines are more than capable in holding their own for those with limited room.I have had no problem catering with large manufactured board and have never had to trim once the initial cut is made apart from with a hand held router.

They have been designed with that intent in mind,in that they can offer full functionality perhaps with added assistance thru versatility in product support.

There's no doubt that for solid timber Cutting,trimming,shaping /moulding,planing they are a benefit but they weren't designed for that alone ..for if that so, they would not have a pressence in the market.
Cheers http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/smile.gif