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Thread: What to buy

  1. #1
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    Default What to buy

    Now that I'm retired I thinking about getting back into woodworking. I now have a shed that I'm setting up as my workshop. Now comes the difficult part. What to buy?

    I have been considering the new Triton Workcentre with saw and router inserts or dedicated table saw and router table. I have about $3000 to play with. Last century I used my old Triton 2000 a lot and was happy with that. Unfortunately I lent it to my son-in-law who consequently lost many of the parts.

    My shed is 6x3 single garage so space is at a bit of a premium. Suggestions welcome.

    Cheers Bucky

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  3. #2
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    Welcome aboard Bucky,

    How long each week do you plan to spend in the workshop?
    If it is more than a couple of hours then you need to seriously think about dust exposure.
    Please don't say you will buy a dust mask, or a vacuum cleaner or a 1HP dust extractor as none of these will really cut the mustard.
    I say this after being one of the the "Pickup" guys for our local mens shed.
    That means picking up donated machines, tools and materials from retirees or deceased persons sheds. In many cases they have either passed away or had to stop wood working from allergies or ill health. Typically these sheds are ankle deep in, and covered with dust.

    You might want to spend a few hours reading stuff in the dust forum on this site.
    I suggest you allocated a minimum of 10% of the budget to the dust problem

  4. #3
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    Welcome to the forum Bucky.

  5. #4
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    Apr 2011
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    se Melbourne
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    If space is a premium, consider building your own mobile router table. Any saw table should also be mobile.
    A lot will depend on what you are doing and what else is going on in the space.

    I manage with a track saw, no router table and usually an old door on two saw horses. At the end of the day the car goes in the garage.

  6. #5
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    Northen Rivers NSW
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    Hi Bucky

    I think the first thing is to work out what you are going to make and then what you need to make it. I started out with the triton system but moved on to a full size TS and the accuracy was amazing. (Not bagging the Triton - it was fantastic for its day).

    My new shed is 7m x 3m so about the same. I have a Laguna Fusion TS in the middle with the fence against one wall. Then my paulk kind of style bench is used as the outfeed table/workbench/assembly table.

    I have a CMS and SCMS and will mount the CMS along one wall as a docking station and the SCMS on a mobile trolley sort of thing.

    If I had my time over and didnt have the Tablesaw already I would really give some thought to other options like track saws or the new multi function tables. I would probably have saved the $2k on the TS and built my own with good circular saw and put the money to other tools.

    Have fun and enjoy the ride!


  7. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
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    Australia
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Bucky View Post
    Now that I'm retired I thinking about getting back into woodworking. I now have a shed that I'm setting up as my workshop. Now comes the difficult part. What to buy?

    I have been considering the new Triton Workcentre with saw and router inserts or dedicated table saw and router table. I have about $3000 to play with. Last century I used my old Triton 2000 a lot and was happy with that. Unfortunately I lent it to my son-in-law who consequently lost many of the parts.

    My shed is 6x3 single garage so space is at a bit of a premium. Suggestions welcome.

    Cheers Bucky
    I would pick a project, and then go out and buy the stuff you need for that project. Making a router table is not too difficult either. Im still bad at woodworking and I have made three, if you could a bit of plywood clamped to a workbench a router table. If your budget is limited, I would look at a drillpress and SCMS, and from those you would be amazed at what tools you can make. Use them to make a work bench, a track saw and a router table and you have a wide variety of tools that can do a huge amount of stuff.

    Then spend all your money on clamps.

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
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    Hobart
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    Good Morning Bucky

    Welcome to the Forum.

    Before you fill your shed with stuff I will relate a major problem with my shed.

    When I bought our current house in 1983 I was very pleased because it had a double brick 2+ car garage approx 15 x 25 feet, with concrete floor.

    Problem 1: I assumed that the concrete floor was flat and level and smooth; it is not It is bumpy, dips over 50 mm in the centre and has an undulating surface. Moving a bench around is difficult because of the bumps and then I have to wedge the legs to get a stable and level work surface. I should have skimmed and levelled the concrete.

    Problem 2: The ceiling and one wall is estapolled pine VJ which looks quite good, but it absorbs light and makes the shed quite dark. I should have painted it white or some light colour.

    Problem 3: Three walls are brick painted with pink primer, which is acceptable except that it also absorbs light. I should have painted them white or some light colour.

    Problem 4: There was only one fluorescent tube to light the entire area. I have since added four double 4-ft fluoros and this is barely adequate.

    Now I have so much stuff in my shed that it is virtually impossible to fix the problemss. Where do I put everthing while I fix the concrete floor???


    Cheers

    Graeme

  9. #8
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    Apr 2006
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    Hobart
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    Default Triton too Expensive

    Hi Bucky

    I first bought a Triton in 1983 and paid about $300 when the cheapest table saw then available was over $3,000. And dollars were much bigger then! I have worn out a 235mm Hitachi saw and the Makita replacement has had a lot of useage. The Triton was then very good value and mine has had a lot of use.

    However, I would not buy a Triton now for a number of reasons:
    • it is too expensive - a basic table plus contractor saw module will cost around $1,800 - ouch.
    • it is too imprecise - the flimsy metal table and that flexible saw module arrangement guarantee that the saw will wander up to 1 mm.
    • servicable saw tables are now available for less than a third of the price of a Triton. Not great, but much more precise than the Triton.


    My advice would be to follow the above advice, especially Dazzlers, and to hasten slowly. Buy tools when you need them, hire trial tools to see if they will do what you expect, and defer all major capital outlays until you know exactly what sort of work you will gravitate to.

    Enjoy the journey.


    Best Wishes

    Graeme

  10. #9
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Murray Bridge SA
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    Hi Bucky, Welcome to a top forum. Not sure where/what state Bethania is, but I'm looking at selling my Triton 2000 saw bench with bevel guide and extension table, $500 ONO, if you're interested. NO saw with it though. Selling it as I no longer use it, and it ends up as a storage shelf.
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  11. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
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    Welcome Creek QLD
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    Default

    Thanks for all the advice.
    I have factored in a dust collection system that will be additional to the 3 grand I have set aside for router table, saw bench. I will also be putting in additional lighting and power outlets.
    Years ago I used to make art boxes and easels that I sold at local markets. This time around I will try a number of different projects mainly for therapy and to stop boredom.

    We also recently bought an older home on an acreage that requires a bit of renovating. Most of which I want to do myself. Carpentry and cabinet making.

    Cheers Bucky

  12. #11
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    Jan 2008
    Location
    Vevey, Switzerland
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    I liked my Triton saw because I could drag it out of the way when I needed the floorspace for a bigger project - and it always did a good job. But the Triton router table was useless, I persevered with it for far longer than I should have because I didn't realise how much it was holding me back. Far better to make your own.

    My first woodworking project was a really good workbench. I learned a lot making it, got good use out of it and still have it as an unusual piece of furniture in my apartment, hoping one day to get the use of a workshop somewhere.

    edit: just noticed the bit about acreage and renovating - I was on acreage and renovating, and being able to clear the floor space was really essential.
    Cheers, Glen

  13. #12
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    My old Triton served me well and did most of what I wanted. I do like the idea of having dedicated machines for both saw bench and router table. However, my shed is only 6x3 and while I would love to have it solely as a woodwork shop it will have to serve other purposes from time to time. What attracts me to the new Triton is that it doesn't take up much space. The downside is the cost and unknown quality. I have searched the web for any genuine reviews without any success. I was hoping for some feedback from someone who has actually used and preferably own one.

    A good workbench will be one of my first projects. I looked at buying one to save time until I saw the cost.

    Cheers Bucky

  14. #13
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    I wouldn't be without my tablesaw. I used to have a Triton for many years but never regret the decision to change to a tablesaw when I could afford it. I have made an outfeed table for it and incorporated the router into that to reduce the the space required, rather than make a dedicated router table as my shed is only 7.5 x 3.5m.
    My other mainstays of the shop are the drill press and SCMS. Unfortunately I brought a bench mount drill many years ago and made a stand to floor mount it. If I had my time again I would buy a floor mount version as it gives more options on how big the piece is that you can drill.
    I have a number of other machines but they are not used on a regular basis like those above. There are also many hand tools to complement the machines.
    Is Bethania the one in Queensland?
    Dallas

  15. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by Treecycle View Post
    I wouldn't be without my tablesaw. I used to have a Triton for many years but never regret the decision to change to a tablesaw when I could afford it. I have made an outfeed table for it and incorporated the router into that to reduce the the space required, rather than make a dedicated router table as my shed is only 7.5 x 3.5m.
    My other mainstays of the shop are the drill press and SCMS. Unfortunately I brought a bench mount drill many years ago and made a stand to floor mount it. If I had my time again I would buy a floor mount version as it gives more options on how big the piece is that you can drill.
    I have a number of other machines but they are not used on a regular basis like those above. There are also many hand tools to complement the machines.
    Is Bethania the one in Queensland?
    Bethania Queensland.

  16. #15
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
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    Brisbane
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    Hi Bucky,

    I would also encourage you to look for machines with more solidity than the Triton if you want accuracy and repeatability. Sure, you can get by with a set-up like that, but you will spend a lot of time measuring and checking, which is less satisfying than making. There are often good quality secondhand machines for sale both on these forums and in places like Gumtree or Grays online. on my woodworking journey I have had a series of increasingly higher quality machines and, when I have sold the machines (all decent at their price point, I won't sell duds) it is usually for no more than 50% 0f the new price, which makes them a great bargain. So, secondhand will make your purchasing power go further.

    My shed is a double garage size, but it is far too small for the gear and timber that I have, so every single machine (except my 250 kg anvil) is on wheels. One very prominent forums member I know here in Brisbane produces excellent work from a single car garage that has two workbenches (one small) a table saw, wood lathe, at least one router table, combination jointer-surface planer/thicknesser and many, many hand tools, so it can be done in your space.

    You really only need the big machinery if you want to process or resize and refinish a lot of raw/roughsawn timber. Otherwise, for fine work you may be able to do a lot of it with hand tools, which take up a lot less space. There is also at least one workshop here in Brisbane where you can pay for the use of big machinery when needed, rather than owning it all yourself.
    Last edited by Xanthorrhoeas; 6th February 2017 at 06:52 PM. Reason: typo

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