Thread: Advice on Machinery/tools.

Before you rush out and buy machinery its better to consider what type of woodwork you are most likely to be interested in.

Maybe you should join a club or a mens shed and get a hands on feel.

Originally Posted by echnidna

Maybe you should join a club or a mens shed and get a hands on feel.

So that's what happens in mens sheds/clubs

Originally Posted by FINCO

Hi, I have always dabbled in woodwork as a hobby but have done this without precision tools and have never really got serious about it. I have decided to purchase some decent machinery/tools for my level and take my interest further.
I had decided to buy all triton gear, but after reading the forum I have since changed my mind and come up with this plan. I am budgeting with about $3000 over the next 6 weeks or so. If you guys with experience could comment and give your advice on my plan it would be much appreciated. I'm open to second hand or new.

1-Table saw rather than Triton 2000 workcentre. Have looked at Dewalt(DW744), Metabo(TS250), Makita(2704), Bosch(?). I don't need it to be portable though. Should I look at a more permanent set up such as the ST-10H from machinery house. They are all around my price range of around $900-$1000.

2 - Triton Router table/stand with Triton plunge router. Also considering the finger joiner and biscuit joiner to go with it. Im sure about router table but not with finger joiner or biscuit joiner.

3- Sliding compound mitre saw (I call them drop saws). Dont know what brand yet. Have only looked at a bosch one that I liked. What size is best?.

4 - Will consider after above three to look at Bansaw, linisher sander and thicknesser. If anyone has ideas on other machinery/tools which I have not mentioned.

I'm only new to this level of woodwork so your advice and comments will be much appreciated. This is a great site and has been very helpful. Thankyou,
FINCO.

Gday and welcome

I recommend you do some more research on the actual Triton router table top as some on this forum have said they couldn't get a flat surface.

Good luck and keep us posted re your purchases

Thanks Keith for that advice. I spoke to a salesman at Gasweld and he steered me away from the workcentre 2000, but when I asked him about the triton router table he said there isnt anything that compares to it. Do you know of anything similar to the triton router table that I could look at. Thanks,

Ben.

Ben

I've got the triton outfit - WC2000, saw, router and table etc. I have had no end of trouble with my router table - cant get it flat, never use any of the sliding attachments - all I really need is a suitable fence etc. I just invested in a jet cabinet saw with sliding table and will add a router table wing at some stage so that I can use the TS fence (with a sacrificial face on it).

Look at the TSC10HB that is sold by carbatec. It is about $1700, but is a quality machine and come with, I understand, a router table built into one of the wings. The router table will not do everything that the triton does, but it will do most things.

The triton router is great - I've got no hesitation in recommending it. It is a heavy beast though, so it is best for table use, not handheld.

There are plenty of other router tables around - I can't speak for them personally. Lots of people tend to biuld one themselves.

In terms of your other purchases, I would question the merit of the drop saw right now. I have a dodgy GMC one, which is OK, but if I need to cut anything accurately, I always use the table saw. My suggestion would be to skip the drop saw at this stage, or if you felt you really needed one, buy a cheap GMC etc that you can use for docking to length etc.

I'd then invest the other money into a range of other items - clamps, hand tools, jointer/thicknesser/drill press. Perhaps most importantly, you might want to think about a dust extractor.

For what its worth, if I was you and I was only looking at machinery, I'd go with something like this:

1. TSC 10HB table saw with router wing ($1700)
2. triton router ($300)
3. GMC thicknesser ($300) - saw them in the fathers day catalogue so they must be back in stock
4. 2hp dust extractor - carbatec ($300 + $200 for ducting etc)
5. jointer - perhaps jet or carbatec ($700-900)

A bit more than $3k, but you could always leave the jointer til later.

Hope that is helpful.

As someone who started down the triton path, I think you're on the right track looking at better quality gear now. Nothing wrong with triton stuff, but you can reach its limits reasonably quickly if you get into joinery etc.

Trav

I'm making a similar decision to yours, and I'm thinking about this ... a Ryobi BT3100:

http://www.justtools.com.au/prod2356.htm

The risk is that the machine may have been discontinued by the manufacturer (hard to get a definitive answer), but I also feel the future of Triton Workcentres is not assured.

Originally Posted by FINCO

Hi, I have always dabbled in woodwork as a hobby but have done this without precision tools and have never really got serious about it. I have decided to purchase some decent machinery/tools for my level and take my interest further.
I had decided to buy all triton gear, but after reading the forum I have since changed my mind and come up with this plan. I am budgeting with about $3000 over the next 6 weeks or so. If you guys with experience could comment and give your advice on my plan it would be much appreciated. I'm open to second hand or new.

1-Table saw rather than Triton 2000 workcentre. Have looked at Dewalt(DW744), Metabo(TS250), Makita(2704), Bosch(?). I don't need it to be portable though. Should I look at a more permanent set up such as the ST-10H from machinery house. They are all around my price range of around $900-$1000.

2 - Triton Router table/stand with Triton plunge router. Also considering the finger joiner and biscuit joiner to go with it. Im sure about router table but not with finger joiner or biscuit joiner.

3- Sliding compound mitre saw (I call them drop saws). Dont know what brand yet. Have only looked at a bosch one that I liked. What size is best?.

4 - Will consider after above three to look at Bansaw, linisher sander and thicknesser. If anyone has ideas on other machinery/tools which I have not mentioned.

I'm only new to this level of woodwork so your advice and comments will be much appreciated. This is a great site and has been very helpful. Thankyou,
FINCO.

I'm not the best qualified to suggest what you should do, but having gone through a similar process a couple of years ago, I can tell you some of the things you SHOULDN'T do.

1. Buy a contractor's saw instead of a cabinet saw, to save money / weight / whatever. It will cut just fine, but dust control is a real problem, because of the way the motor hangs out the back. Also I can't use a full dado set on mine, as the arbor isn't long enough. One day I'll sell it to someone who doesn't read this forum, and get a proper one.

2. Try to run your new 3HP saw on the existing 10amp service, cause the electrician can't come for a couple of weeks. Your 3HP saw will run just fine for a few weeks/months on a 10 amp service, but you'll end up blowing the motor.

As for the GMC thicknesser someone suggested, just remember to keep the receipt in a safe place. I've had good service from a number of GMC products but problems with a couple. Only the 2 year replacement warranty has kept me as a customer.

As for the sliding compound mitre saw, it's really a construction tool, not a precision tool. My GMC one is about ready to die (blasted thing lasted 2.5 years so no warranty relief there), but I won't be in a hurry to replace it.

Also remember that you need to allow at least $500 for bits and pieces (clamps etc).

You didn't mention a drill press (maybe you already have one). After the table saw, that's the tool I use the most.

Originally Posted by Ron Dunn

I'm making a similar decision to yours, and I'm thinking about this ... a Ryobi BT3100:

http://www.justtools.com.au/prod2356.htm

The risk is that the machine may have been discontinued by the manufacturer (hard to get a definitive answer), but I also feel the future of Triton Workcentres is not assured.

Gday Ross

I can understand what your saying about the Triton but that can apply to everything we buy. I wouldn't let that put me off buying a well proven product.
Also if you buy a Triton or any other product it should still be supported long enough to get it setup and working well, shouldn't need much after that.
Unless product bought at a clearance sale

My most used tools are:

Handsaw and Sliding compound cutoff saw
a few different sized chisels & mallet
Makita router
Stanley block plane
Milwaukee cordless Drill

These are the tools I could not live without.

I'd like to get:
a router table
bandsaw
drill press
small jointer
small linisher/sanding machine

I wish I had room for a table saw, but once the second list is set up, including a thicknesser, that will definitely be all the room in the shed used up. It's taken about 3 years for me to work out what I want, what I need and what I actually use, but the wait has been worthwhile.

cheers
Wendy

Finco: You are the opposite to a lot of us who started out with pretty ordinary power tools and have experimented, tried, broken, run into the ground etc tools along the way. My advice is don't spend up big straight away until YOU know what you want. Perhaps a Triton workcentre is the best option for you at the moment and 2 years later when you have mastered it, you will be ready to move on. Sadly there are tools for sale that have been 'used once' or 'still in packet'.

The men's shed is a great option if you can attend (probably need to be retired). The tools are there and you get to have a go - or at least a demo. Our one has a beast of a thicknesser and a small one too. There is no way i could afford the beast but i was also warned off the small one for a whole lot of reasons. Went ahead and bought a Triton that I am happy with. A learning experience for me.

Carry Pine

northwood has the jet table saw for less than 1200 great saw then you can buy a router attachment,carbatek jointer,just about any drop saw,dust collector,triton router tables are a good tool, cant please some people ,but for every knocker there are 50 who swear by them.drill stand,bobbin sander,morticer, all depends on what you want to make. but a thumbs up for jet table saw andtriton router table.. bob

Actually you really cant fault the advice given here... all right on the money... of course much dictated by personal preference and experience and so to a degree some bias... but thats okay cause Im gonna add my own now

Most used
1) 10HB table saw... fanbloodytastic saw! No router wing on mine I dont trust myself to lower the thing out of the way

2) Bandsaw... use it almost as often as I use the 10HB and will use it even more once I get it setup for resawing all the timber around this place that really REALLY should be resawn to boards

3) Router table with the big Triton router... this is the one from Carbetex with the dovetail attachment an excellent machine home this thing takes some getting used to but worthwhile

4) Drum sander... BRILLIANT THING!!! saves a stack of muscle ache I can tell you

5) Sliding Compound Mitre saw... this IS my most used machine.

6) spindle sander and disc belt sander these two do most of my shaping work and I would be somewhat lost without them.

Wooden mallet... make your own you will never ever buy another one... easy and great feel because you have made it for yourself.

Workbench... make your own... great time has been had by me every time Ive made one and Im now up to my 5th workbench and considering making anothery! And a bloke really does need at least one bench that he can BELT THE LIVING BUGGARY OUT OF WHEN SHE HARRASSES HIM!! great stress relievers are workbenches

A handplane... I think here your best to ask the advice of one of the resident darksiders as to which is best... depending a lot upon your woodworking preferences I suppose me Ive got a small block plane a number 4 and a couple of spokeshaves and a draw knife and thats it for me... I have machines cause Im a machinehead and live in the light cause I only work in a cave doesnt mean I have to be a darksider as well does it!

You really need to get to know the sort of woodworking you will do most and that you enjoy most and base your tool purchases with that in mind.
However having said that you can save yourself a bit of money if you have a jointer and thicknesser... a small one would suffice if you are a bit strapped or unsure...
A lathe if you have any interest in turning at all even a glimmer of an interest invest if you can in a small lathe and a basic set of chisels to give you a feel and start.

I have no experience with "mens sheds" so cant really comment other than they seem a great idea and worth pursuing if you have one nearby and have some time.

I definantly agree with those who advocate getting to know what sort of woodworking you will mostly be doing BEFORE investing a chunk of money on machines and tools... cant see how that can be done if you work in isolation or have no idea of what you will be making or theres no mens shed nearby to you... but I DO AGREE... as one of the dopey galahs that went from a simple few tools to a flamin shed full of machines and who is only just starting to realize what woodworking he enjoys most... easy... ALL OF IT!!

But also agree dont get one of the contractors table saws... they are a pain that was my first table saw and I had no end of troubles with it... belts getting clogged with sawdust motor not staying tensioned and having to hang bricks off it to pull it up tight table not flat fence a peice of shyte etc etc... go for a good one.

Check back before you decide... no matter the machine theres at least 10 here who have one who can advice you on its behaviors and its worth... read the threads related to thicknessers jointers table saws bandsaws etc to get an idea of how people have found their new machines... ASK QUESTIONS!!! Ive found that no matter the question there is a large body of people here who love to help you get it right... no bother sometimes some cheeky buggar will have a go but mostly people want to help each other and do so ask questions!... great bunch of sheilas and blokes... even a few blockheads that you can poke fun at from time to time

Cheers
Shane

I would suggest you;
- buy a solid cabinet style TS
- save floor space and add a router wing to the TS and bolt the triton router to that.
- move the BS priority up at least in front of the SCMS. Even a small one will get a heck of a lot of use.
- put some dust control somewhere in there as other wise you will drowning in dust

You don't mention a jointer anywhere you you really haven't got a way of accurately squaring any timber.

Cheers

FINCO,
These are all big decisions, you should come into our store (at west Gosford) and i'll show you around. our workshop We don't sell any of the brands you have mentioned but we are the local woodworking store and have opinions on everything! (some rubbish some worth listening to)

Come and check out our set up, we have classes running most of the time, including our great "Intro to wood" this weekend (two spots left) we show you how to use a few key machines and HANDTOOLS.

Don't spend 6 g's until you have tried a few things out.

opening hours and address are on our web site

www.lumberbunker.com.au

Introduce yourself to who ever is in the store (most likley me) and you'll get the special fourm tour.

Good Luck

Steve Thomas