Thread: I get one chance at this...

Originally Posted by Wongdai

Hi all,

I'm after some advice (what else?).

After receiving my Xmas bonus last week, the Minister for Finance has given approval to add to my small but growing list of machinery. So far I have a decent'ish table saw, and a reasonable bandsaw.

So, I'm not sure what to go with next. I know the standard answer is to wait until you have a job that needs the tool and then buy it, but the expenditure approval could expire at any time.

Firstly I thought a Linisher. (belt + disc)

Then I thought a thicknesser (say 12")

Then I thought a Jointer (6" long bed)

Then I thought a Jointer/Thicknesser. The trouble is that a decent one of these exceeds the budget.

So, which do you think is the most useful out of the other three? Or is there something else I should be considering?

I really want to get the most utility out of my purchase. I plan on building mainly coffee tables, bedside tables, hall tables, etc.

Since you already have a tablesaw, I say a Jointer.

If you can only afford one tool at a time go for a thicknesser as there are several methods of straightening timber on a thicknesser.

But there are no ways you can thickness timber with a jointer.

The thicknesser is next to saw in absolute workshop value.
With just these 2 machines you can convert all the scrounged timber you can find into suitable sizes. A jointer/sander/linisher etc has no where near as much general versatility.

I'm with echnidna on this one.

Check out this thread for a thicknesser. Still being advertised here for $249 plus delivery.

Having bought the version sold by Hare & Forbes, I can say it's good value for money, and while it does have a couple of quirks, everyone who has reported buying one so far has been satisfied.

I "third" the concept of a thicknesser next.

I reckon save a bit more and get the combo machine.

You talked me into it.

I just ordered the Talon. Seems like a good buy and might even leave me enough left over to buy a sander or jointer.

jointer would be my next machine if I was in the same situation as you

Originally Posted by echnidna

If you can only afford one tool at a time go for a thicknesser as there are several methods of straightening timber on a thicknesser.

But there are no ways you can thickness timber with a jointer.

The thicknesser is next to saw in absolute workshop value.
With just these 2 machines you can convert all the scrounged timber you can find into suitable sizes. A jointer/sander/linisher etc has no where near as much general versatility.

Interesting, care to elaborate on the above methods? Maybe a new thread?

+1 to votes for thicknesser (assuming you have a dust collection system in mind).

It has all been covered before in previous threads

basically there are 3 choices

• Straighten with the table saw and dress to size with the thicknesser.
• A flat sled to which you clamp boards to be straightened/squared
• A flat board to which you attach the warped board with screws or glue etc and run it through the thicknesser.

I got away without a dust collector for years.
My thicknesser was on a high bench with an open 200L drum under the outfeed table.
I used to run a big fan behind me to blow all the fines away.

You still have some mess to clean up but the drum takes most of the dust & shavings

Yeah, I have dust collection. My wife was nice enough to buy me a dusty for Christmas.

Having just lashed out and bought both of these, without a shadow of doubt the 300mm thicknesser was the best. After years of making do with a hand planer etc, I bought the Ryobi 300mm thicknesser a month or so ago, and it works a treat. Wish I had done it years ago. I can now quickly machine up those old scraps into usefull sizes instead of putting up with what I've got. Just after then my local noticeboard had a Durden Jointer about 1.5metres long for sale for $450. I procrastinated a few days then bought it. It makes up for that thing the thicknesser can't do, which is the edge of wide boards. They are complimentary, but bang for buck the Ryobi is great. I did a lot of reading of reviews on the net before selecting it, and happy with the choice. Perhaps if I had $1,200 laying about I might of got one of those big'ns, but wasn't an option.
So there's my 10 cents worth!
cheers
John

Wongdai,
For years I got by with a hand electric plane and handplanes. Then I got a thicknesser. That saved most of the hard work. I think you picked right.For the few times a year I glued up panels I jointed with No 7 stanley. Jointing can also be done with a router in a table set up, or even on the table saw with a fine blade. I now have a vintage jointer that only cuts 4.5'' wide and while it saves on hard work and cuts square I still like the habdplane finish better. On the finer jobs I still give it a finishing pass with the handplane.
Regards
John