Thread: New woodworker advice

I second the Rexon from Glenfords. Have had the 12" SCMS for about 4 years now and it has easily completed all my renovations from landscaping (fencing and sleaper retaining walls) to making wall frames, window frames and my work bench just to mention a few. Think I paid $500 for it at the time. I also bought a steel SCMS stand from Trade Tools at the time to make the jobs easier as well. (wished I had an aluminium one now!) In the end, it will depend on the width of timber you want to cut. I bought a Hitachi 10" CMS in January this year and rate it highly on accuracy and repeatability. I got sick of lugging the 20kg plus weight of the Rexon saw around and setting it up. The Hitachi is perfect for most of the jobs around the house, except that it can't cut a 250 x 50mm sleeper in one cut. It is lightweight enough to pull it out of cupboard and put it on the ground to perform 2 or 3 cuts and put it back in a matter of 10 min. Great for putting in the ute and using on site to cut supports for ceiling fans as well. Love the Hitachi and you won't be dissapointed for $320.

As for table saws, I have just been through the exercise. I only wanted to spend $500 and ended up spending $1398. All the fences on the "cheaper" models would have left a sour taste in my mouth after the first few cuts. Sick of tools that only just do the job with a lot of messsing around and for that kind of money it bites. I ended up getting the Makita 2704 with the gas strut stand. (Review to come) I would have liked to get one of the carbatec models but I just don't have the room and I need portability. Good luck with the decision. Researching is half the fun.

Yeah, not to be funny, but I suspect most people's main deciding factor is whether they have enough room for a table saw or want to consume their valueable area on an immobile tablesaw. I mean unless you for some reason one just has a lot of free room, you will be paying much more for the floor area than for the saw.

Don't I know it. Wife is only realising now that a bigger shed would have solved all these problems and more. Would have loved to get a cabinet saw, but the 2704 will do all I need.
Forgot to mention that a good circular saw compliments a CMS very well. I have the Makita 7 1/4" version and it has done everything I have asked of it. Not too big and well balanced. These come with 2 blades in a box for about $175. This coupled with the Hitachi does 90% of my work. It has got to the point now that I don't really need the big rexon anymore. Or untill I buy another house.

i am in no way an experienced carpenter, but bought a $99 255mm compound saw with no slide rails,but had a 60T blade from BIG W ,4 years ago and with major DIY renovations going on in that time have never looked back.In that time the same size blade & turntable with slide rails have come down in price massivley!!. If your going to use it repeatedly on a work site 5-6 days a week go the name brand which wont let you down,but if your like me,doing things for yourself in your own home seriously consider the cheaper option with a quality saw blade.I havent had a problem with it yet apart from my home being out of level,un-square etc etc....

Even a good drop saw won't ensure that a house is level. And anyway, it is all relative. How does you tolerances compare with the guide from Victoria's building authority? It gives you both cosmetic and structural tolerances.

WoW! That's a ton of hints and advice! Thanks everyone.

I''m gonna waut for my tax return, should be very large this year, and invest in some quality tools. My shopping listy seems to grow daily, will have to sit down soon to do a comprehensive list of needs/wants and budget it out.

As far as my inital inquiry, I have pretty much decided to purchase (thanks to RossM) a Festool MFT3

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_N3wOjWqa0"]YouTube - Woodcraft Presents Festool MFT/3 Multi-Function Table[/ame]

and one of the Festool TS series saws.

I've been searching around for a small pan brake, but I'm thinking that I might just build one myself: https://www.woodworkforums.com/f65/pan-brake-folder-fingers-home-45792

Also going to have to pick up a selection of quality hand tools, clamps, etc.

Next on the list will be a small milling machine, metalworking lathe and possibly a drill press (see how I go with the milling machine).

I am yet to investigate thicknessers, bandsaws and a few other workshop machines.

Anyway, thanks again for all the input everyone. See you on the boards.

Cheers,
- John