Thread: Setting up new workshop. Help!

Hi stateless, regarding the radial arm drill press I have the bench version and they are worth the money you spend as the difficult jobs that come along become very easy to do, considering what you already have I would suggest a 40-50lt capacity belt driven air compressor as you can buy the air tools at reasonable prices; and some air tools make like so much easier and simpler once you start buying the air tools as you need them.
Cheers Alby

Originally Posted by stateless

How difficult is BobL's DC set of mods? Can they be accomplished to good effect by someone with no electrical or metalworking knowledge?

If you have access to a jigsaw/bandsaw you can try the no metal solution of this see https://www.woodworkforums.com/f200/5...v-pipe-172455/
You will still need a angle grinder with thin kerf cutoff wheel to cut the hole in the housing.

Is the convention DC for stationary machines and shop vac for hand tools?

Yes but I content if you can only buy one get the DC.
The DC will perform better on power tools than a vacuum cleaner will perform on machines.
Most vacuum cleaners end up making more fine dust than they collect so unless the VC can be located outside your shed and narrow ducting run around your shed they end up making a real mess in a shed.

Any thoughts on the Carbatec 1/2 HP radial drill press?. Only a bit more expensive than the 1 HP and seems handy.

I tossed up for many weeks over this. As I do a lot of metal work I ended buying the bigger floor standing and HP conventional DP. Since buying over 7 years have not had one time where I felt a radial DP would have been handy. If you need to drill accurate rows of holes I find an XY vice will do a fair job - in two dimensions whereas the radial will only do it in one. The XY vice is even more useful with a wooden table mounted on top of it that enables work pieces to be clamped to the table and then easily moved so the bit is accurately positioned under the bit.

Are there any other tools you would suggest or recommend instead of the list above?

A band saw would have to be high on the next tool/machine list - even a small one is very useful. I gave my son my spare 10" BS and he has been using it for all sorts of stuff.

You are starting exactly as I did (and I suspect many others on here).

I'm not convinced that a drill press is needed. After many years without, I've recently got one and I don't use it all that much. I don't have a radial press, but have been advised to avoid them as it is hard to get them accurate. Not sure if this is true, but like bob I've never had the need to get one to find out for sure. A decent cordless and some care can cover 90% of situations.

A router table and dusty are good investments. I agree with bob about a bandsaw, but it find that I use my jointer all the time and simply wouldn't be without it. Not just for initial dimensioning of timber. I'd take it in a heartbeat over a drill press.

If I was in your shoes, I'd probably ditch the drill press, go a bit cheaper on the router table and invest it all in a proper table saw. Easy for me to say now, but the difference between a triton and a full cabinet saw is chalk and cheese. My table saw is the heart and soul of my workshop - everything I do goes through the TS. But don't forget the need to allocate a decent amount of money for decent saw blades and router bits.

If that's not going to happen, I'd get a jointer, dusty and router table, with a thicknesser not too far behind. Properly square and flat timber is the basis of good woodwork. You'd be surprised at how 'not square' DAR and skip dressed timber is.

In any case, welcome to the best hobby going.

Trav

Thanks for the input, everyone.

@Alby123 - I'll look into a compressor and tools. They do seem pretty reasonably priced, although I have no doubt with a little digging I'll uncover many reasons why I should spend more of the better gear.

@BobL - Thanks for that link, the wood-based version of the mods seem doable. I'll measure the space outside the garage after NYE and start planning for a cabinet build and install. And good advice on the bandsaw, cheers.

@Trav - Yeah, an upgrade to my TS is up on my list. I've been looking further into the Incra fences and positioners and that might be something I build a TS setup around. Anyone have experience with these?

Thanks again. Its a challenge not just to learn the techniques, but also to figure out what the tools do and what the most sensible purchase path is.

Cheers.

Only thing I can add is "don't buy too cheap." Even if you can only buy a couple of things now and have to wait a few months for the next lot. You'll usually only have to buy a quality tool/machine once.