Thread: Essential Workshop Machinery Question

I'd vote for the thicknesser next, just because that's the order I followed. Next would be the band saw, followed closely by the jointer.
I say that because you can do a decent job of jointing using a table saw, if it's properly set up. Having said that, you said you have a cheap TS, so that may not be true for you.

They are all very useful tools, but much depends on what you are making. Some people swear they couldn't live without a band saw, in my case it's the least used. Horses for courses.

Horses for courses.

Exactly.

I suppose the question is more along the lines of "Can you survive without a jointer if you have a thicknesser?" As (in most home workshops) space becomes an issue pretty quickly. I could get one of the jointer/thicknesser combination machines but I really don't like the idea of all that bending down to use the thicknesser.

Answers are appreciated because it's always good to hear what people think when it comes to the equipment they have.

Essential workshop equipmen = Atleast one of everything.

What yoiu don't use is elixer for the eyes and mind.

My vote is an under & over thicknesser/planer. I find this invaluable.

Originally Posted by Wongdai

My vote is an under & over thicknesser/planer. I find this invaluable.

I agree with that 100% - you loose the same space , and have both things.Buy the biggest you can afford , no , wait a bit , save some cash and buy it even bigger! - you' ll never regret it.
P.S-the "buy bigger" advice is even more true when buying a bandsaw! - usually people go from "should I buy a BS?" to "how the hell did I live without one?" in a single day , then , it turns into your favorite tool.....then you wish it was bigger

P.S.2- I' ve strted cutting my own veneer now.....you get the picture

planer, bandsaw, thicknesser

les

For me it was definitely the combination jointer / thicknesser. Why combo? well they are incredible value and give you a bigger jointing capacity - at least 10" , not to mention taking up much less space.

You already have the tools to cut the wood, getting it perfectly square, flat and dimensioned will make a bigger difference to the projects that you build.

Seanz, I would suggest you use your router as a jointer, buy a thicknesser then the bandsaw. You need them all!!!
Surprised to hear you using Macrocarpa to build furniture. I only knew Macrocarpa as a hedge when we lived in NZ. Yeah! I know some of them can be big but I really have never heard of using that particular wood for furniture. I wood be very interested in seeing some of it cut, ready to use, so that I can see what the grain etc is like.
Terry

Originally Posted by seanz

For the "not quite as 'Newbie' as he used to be" woodworker.

I've got most of the essential powertools and one or two handtools and I'm just wondering what the next step should be as far as workshop machinery goes.

There is a (good) SCMS and a (cheap) TS and soon to be a (Chinese) Drill Press in the garage/workshop, what's next?

I'm leaning towards a bandsaw and a thicknesser as I'm thinking of sizing and dressing Macrocarpa and making pieces of furniture out of it.

Should I aim to get a jointer first? Can I just do without one if I've got a thicknesser.....and get my A into G and build a router table?

Dust collection

Dust collection
(is it shouting if it's not in capitals?)

and then you can think about a planner/thicknesser combo (or separate machines)
and a bandsaw

I agree with what most people have said. I have the woodfast 12" combo and really like it. (The only thing I don't like, is the bending over for thicknesser action.) A combo machine is not necessarily cheaper than the two individual machines, but it is a space saver.

Bandsaws are cool. But I don't have one. I would get one before a TS or SCMS. But I'm moving towards a lot of hand tool work.

I wish I had bought the Woodfast machine. I have the 10" ML-392 - it has been very good indeed and is exceptional value, but the extra power and capacity of the Woodfast could come in handy.


I think you'll find that a 10 " or 12" jointer plus separate thicknesser will always cost more than the equivalent combo machines

Originally Posted by ian

Dust collection

Dust collection
(is it shouting if it's not in capitals?)

and then you can think about a planner/thicknesser combo (or separate machines)
and a bandsaw

Got it. Right. Yep.

Broom n Shovel?


I was planning on getting a dust collector as well but this is so far down the track planningwise that I didn't think to mention it......health and safety starts at home.

I was looking at what can be laughingly called 'the space' recently and there is, maybe, room for a thicknesser and a bandsaw and a dusty.....maybe. They'll fit in OK, it's just being able to work around them that's the issue. I have asked the 'what's next' question so that I can plan how I set things out, keeping in mind the next bit of equipment that goes in there. A shed city is not built in one day.........

Originally Posted by terryvk6pq

Seanz, I would suggest you use your router as a jointer, buy a thicknesser then the bandsaw. You need them all!!!
Surprised to hear you using Macrocarpa to build furniture. I only knew Macrocarpa as a hedge when we lived in NZ. Yeah! I know some of them can be big but I really have never heard of using that particular wood for furniture. I wood be very interested in seeing some of it cut, ready to use, so that I can see what the grain etc is like.
Terry

That's probably the sequence I'll go for......but I'll get the dust system set up when I do the router table. Honest.....

I've seen Macrocarpa used for furniture locally and it inspired me in a "I think I can do better than that" way. Outdoor tables, benches, chests etc. Macrocarpa is a plantation timber in NZ as well as farm hedges. Most of the hedge timber is good for landscape timber as it has a lot of shakes. Appearance is a nice golden colour and it's dimensionally stable. I've seen some nice bowls made from it. On the negative side, I've heard it marks easily. Once you get past Radiata and Douglas Fir there's Macrocarpa and then there's a biiig price jump to the indigenous and imported timber.

Thanks everybody for the replies.

Originally Posted by seanz

Got it. Right. Yep.

I was looking at what can be laughingly called 'the space' recently and there is, maybe, room for a thicknesser and a bandsaw and a dusty.....maybe. They'll fit in OK, it's just being able to work around them that's the issue.

Bases with wheels...(was "castors" the proper word ?) - then you move the machinery out of the way when you don't use it - HUGE space-saver