Thread: Woodworking Equipment

Ahh, the perennial question of quality over quantity.

Firstly, you need to be aware that $1,000 is not a significant amount of money when you are talking about "setting up shop". You will find that you can easily spend five times this amount and still have stuff that you need/want to buy.

The only comment I would make is; always buy the best quality you can afford/justify.

If you find that the hobby doesn't work out for you, it will always be easier to sell a quality tool than a cheap one.

The only tools I've ever regretted buying are the cheap ones.


Hope this is some help
Craig

There is no such thing as a stupid question, only stupid people!!! He he he

You have made a wise decision by enrolling in courses and this will probably give you some indication as to what sort of set up you require.

Quality or quantity?, depends on your budget and your commitment to the addiction of wood working. As alot of people have said you can by a cheap tool to start with, if it breaks you then make the decision to replace it with another cheap tool or an expensive one depending on what sort of use you got out of the tool.
One very important thing to remember is that a cheap tool may be difficult to use and adjust and may give poor results. This could give you the impression that you are no good at woodworking and may drive you away from an enjoyable hobby. Using quality tools from the start may keep you interested.
Also learn to and be prepared to spend alot of time sharpening and tuning your tools. This will help to give you good results in your projects from the start.

i think that you should buy the best tablesaw you can afford, then save for a jointer and thinknesser and then you can build furniture out of recycled wood. You can get cheap jarrah and build very good furniture from it.

but like craig said $1000 is very much to set up. try looking for old second hand machines some are very good and you can get them for around the same price as new machines but they are built alot better.

Thanks for the replys so far,

I don't expect to fit out my workshop for $1,000, just enough to get me started. I'm interested in knowing what you would consider the essential tools to begin with.

At the moment a table saw seems high priority, then a decent router and router table.

I am well and truely over the 'buy it cause it's cheap phase'. I do want good quality equipment because I know the frustrations of cheap goods producing poor results.

Flats,

IMHO, the key question is: "what sort of woodworking do you think you want to do?". So, do you want to build furniture, do you want to turn, do you want to build wooden boats etc etc etc. In my experience (which is limited!), the answer to this will determine, to a large extent, the types of tools you want / need. Also, there is the perenial debate of power vs. hand tools BUT the answer to the above question will still drive the tools you need.

Again, IMHO, your budget is not large so start with a course, contact a club and there are places in various cities where you can use tools by the hour, so you can gain some experience.

Good luck and welcome aboard!

Regards,
Mike.

Flats,
I think that if you are going to buy a table saw first and you only have $1000 then the KS12 at that price is an extremly good buy. With the money left over get yourself a dust extractor as that should be on your priority list for health reasons as well as to help keep your garage/worksho clean. Yes you will need a router and many other tools however if you intend to make furniture a table saw would be a very good starting point.
Regards Vasco

G'day.

The cliche' is, 'There's not such thing as a dumb(stupid) question, there are only dumb(stupid) mistakes'

Now let me tell you that you can learn a lot form you dumb(stupid) mistakes if you are prepared to pay attention.

You are going to bash your shins a couple of times & end up with a few 'dogs' but that's life. If you can find & latch onto someone or persons who have already bashed their shins you may be able to avoid a few of the pitfalls.

For anyone starting out in any sort of a new interest/hobby, clubs are an immense source of information.

Quality is always better than quantity but... before you spend heaps on a new bit of gear, you need to be sure that it is something that you are going to use heaps.

Working out if you are going to use something heaps is the tricky bit.
You may be able to gain a feel for this through a nearby club. Some clubs have the gear for you to try before you buy so, before you make the plunge, do your homework, look for a club, find out more about what you are interested in before you bash your shins.

Glossy magazine adverts & catalogues can be misleading.

Hi Flats
Just got myself a ks12 and after a few minor setup adjustments it is great,Good value for the money and it will take a set of daddo cutters and there is an optional panel attachment .Only down fall is that it is only 2hp but the right blade for the right job helps.
Cheers
Piego

Flats,

There have been some very interesting and insightful threads on this BB addressing this exact question - that is how best to start out with a limited budget.

I suggest you do a few searches and see what you come up with. Your predicament is not unique; most of us have have come from where you are now ...

btw - you do not need power tools to make the finest of furniture - in my case they just help make up for lack of craftsmanship and time.

Good luck and beware, it is addictive

Flats,

I think your choice of a table saw as the first of your stationary machines is a good one. I suggest that you buy or borrow some books on use of table saws (try your local library); they will open your eyes to the versatility of the machine. Then you start to get an idea of what else yuo want/need.

Flats,

Bunyip is right. Sure, you might be able to get a TS for $799 but you are going to need heaps more than just a TS to make furniture. The rest of the tools for $201????? For that you might be able to buy a very ordinary handplane a sharpening stone and two chisels!

You will need heaps of clamps I suggest at least almost $200 worth depending on the projects you have in mind, a good vice - $150+, a reasonable square - $20+, a bevel guage - $20 +, a marking gauge - $20+

If your budget was much higher then a TS of some description is an excellent choice because all furniture projects involve sawing timber.

Secondhand tools are an option or a good second hand Triton would get you started and put you in a good position to build up from there.

Don't worry, we all started with a microscopic budget and no skills but we have built them up over the years. Heaps of mistakes and disappointments but those of us who stuck with it do not regret it.

Take Bunyip's advice and seriously consider a small quantity of quality tools starting off with hand tools.

Joining a woodwork club would also expose you to experienced woodworkers keen to assist you with tools and skills.

Stick to it, it is a rewarding journey.

- Wood Borer

I'm very much pro table saw so.
I'd say a decent table saw, a dust extractor, A dust hose kit, one good blade, and a good book on table saw techniques.

You can make some stuff with that & you should be able to do ot for $1000 give or take.

cheers

After reading this thread it seems like you can not make furniture with out a table saw. Fortunately I have discovered you can. I visited the wood show a few years ago to buy fore mentioned item and some others, it was here I meet a man making furniture by hand. After spending that day and most of the rest around him I was a convert.
Sure it may be a little limiting but it feels great to know the whole job was made by your skills.
Flats follow Woodborers advice but get a good plane and more importantly learn how to tune it

Given your budget I personaly think you couldn't go past a second hand triton setup with a sliding extention table and router table top.
This will allow cross cut of panels, and frames, ripping, and work as a router table.
In the trading post or in 'our' sale section there are always tritons for sale with extra goodies cheap enough to allow you to get a good quality saw and router to hang in it.
Some people grow out of the triton as their demands and budget change (hence the suppy of second hand units) - some never do.