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Post by jalvis on Nov 19, 2014 11:48:23 GMT -5
If you were to tool up from the start "all over again", would you approach the order of machines differently?
Recently I got a nice bandsaw and it got me thinking about the order in which I bought tools. I really should have got this thing earlier. It doesn't take up near as much square footage as other machinery and is amazingly versatile. It can re-saw 18", cut tight curves, has a nice fence so it can rip quickly, Miter gauge, and even has an easy tilting table. I can now see why so many woodworkers recommend this tool first over the table saw.
One thing I learned early on when getting tools was to buy high quality and new. "New" as in not vintage or requires any restoring. I started by buying older vintage tools from hand planes to jointers and table saws. After about two years I sold it all because It takes a lot of time and knowledge to properly restore and tune the machines and you don't get paid for the process. Lesson learned!
Another tool I should have got earlier is decent dust collection. All that pain and mess! Not worth it. Should have bought a nice Vac and larger collector earlier. Lesson learned!
High quality Jointer! Again....HIGH QUALITY JOINTER! Those damn machines are a pain to tune and without a long bed you're seriously limited on the length of boards you can work with. Go long and wide. Don't hesitate on price and get quality. Being able to make flat and square stock will be a huge game changer. Lesson learned!
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Post by wrightwoodwork on Nov 19, 2014 14:15:10 GMT -5
yeah good points thier . If i was in a workshop situation I would deffinatly have a power band resaw as there is less waste and depending on what you are doing can gain an extra piece, Also dust extraction really is a must as you stated. The next thing is what to do with it . What i would properly do is buy a briquetting machine and sell off the waste . Waste is unavoidable in woodwork and if you can you may as well gain a wage from it
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Post by thedude306 on Nov 19, 2014 14:55:25 GMT -5
As a "new guy" to quality wood working, the problem is the cost of getting the proper machine is usually high when you are not sure if you are going to continue in the craft, or if it's going to be a tool you will use enough to justify the cost.
I don't know why, but we just refuse to listen to those that have gone through it.
I also just purchased a bigger bandsaw. I should have done that years ago. It should have been one of my first purchases.
The table saw. I purchased a bosch 4100-09 "portable" table saw last year. I REALLY like the machine but I had no idea about the versatility of a track saw or the KSS systems at the time. I am planning on selling the bigger bosch and getting their truly portable saw for thin rips and the odd use.
Dust collection is always on the bottom of the list for some reason. I think it's because until recently the higher end tool only did it well. More and more tools are getting focused on GOOD DC. We've all had that miter saw that we hooked up our shop vac to and you wouldn't know if the vacuum was on or not with the amount of dust created. That's changing.
And not really a machine but I should have got involve with the local woodworkers guild sooner. It's a great tool with a VAST wealth of knowledge.
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Post by 7 on Nov 19, 2014 20:35:17 GMT -5
Good question & a tough question to answer for me. I've said it before but in short my biggest regret is not specializing from the beginning. Specialization would have made it easy for me to focus on specific tools and get the best ones. I got into the construction industry by doing fixer upper houses and selling them. We would literally everything...roofing, tile, wood flooring, siding, counter tops, windows, finish work, painting, and more.
It is hard when just starting out to get the best tools before the business is really working well. It has been a very gradual thing for me but I have always tried to buy the best that I could comfortably afford at the time. Buying high quality consumer goods in general makes a lot of sense financially and keeps morale up also.
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Post by 7 on Nov 19, 2014 23:42:09 GMT -5
yeah good points thier . If i was in a workshop situation I would deffinatly have a power band resaw as there is less waste and depending on what you are doing can gain an extra piece, Also dust extraction really is a must as you stated. The next thing is what to do with it . What i would properly do is buy a briquetting machine and sell off the waste . Waste is unavoidable in woodwork and if you can you may as well gain a wage from itA company close to me does this. They sell out every winter and they do a lot of volume so have tons of dust. People just call in and order a couple pallets of the bricks, seem to like the convenience and storage. They burn quite hot and start easy because they are all dust from hardwood. Just pressure holds them together, no glue or resin etc. They even print ECO on them with their machine so you can even feel good about being "green" when you buy them. Below is a top and side view of one.  |
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Post by jalvis on Nov 20, 2014 11:44:10 GMT -5
I've been researching Briquette machines for the future. This next year I'm planning on using wood for a primary source of heat in the new house and shop. I know guys that just add scoops of loose dust in there shop stoves but I don't think you get a strong burn that way. I would certainly get a Briquette machine if it was reasonable but I haven't got into pricing yet. I would even be alright with a machine thats not connected to my dust collection that I run separately since it would all be used for personal.
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Post by 7 on Nov 20, 2014 21:21:06 GMT -5
I run a wood burning stove to heat my shop. I have another furnace out there but I never turn it on. Burning wood is completely free for me and I feel better about bringing scraps home with me and using them for heat than throwing them in the dumpster. I do a lot of decks so nearly all my firewood comes from the triangles cut out of the 2x12 stair stringers. I end up with so much that I even sell some of it and give some to several friends & family members.
I have a friend that used to wood heat his shop but the "regulators" shut that down because he has a spray booth all the way on the other side of his shop.
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Post by 7 on Nov 20, 2014 21:24:43 GMT -5
This is a picture of the current pile. Even though it's just kiln dried framing scraps it burns plenty hot and lasts long enough for free fire wood. I get home at the end of the work day and back the truck up to the pile and pay my boy a couple bucks to unload it into the pile. He is 8 years old and loves the job.  |
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Post by MrToolJunkie on Nov 24, 2014 21:09:42 GMT -5
I live in a warm area, so no need for a ton of heat from fires, but I do enjoy a good fire and use my scrap. I also send a lot to green waste.
In terms of tools, I think that I did things right for the most part. I would buy the biggest bandsaw that would fit in my space and keep a smaller one with narrower blades so that you can go from ripping and resawing to other tasks easily. I might have not gotten my cabinet saw and just stuck to the track saw and other tools to use in lieu of one...do not really use it all that often anymore and find the bandsaw can cut just as well and is safer to use in a smaller footprint. I wished I learned how to sharpen tools much easier and turned to hand tools sooner in my learning. They are indispensable in fine woodwork.
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Post by MrToolJunkie on Nov 24, 2014 21:10:29 GMT -5
yeah good points thier . If i was in a workshop situation I would deffinatly have a power band resaw as there is less waste and depending on what you are doing can gain an extra piece, Also dust extraction really is a must as you stated. The next thing is what to do with it . What i would properly do is buy a briquetting machine and sell off the waste . Waste is unavoidable in woodwork and if you can you may as well gain a wage from itA company close to me does this. They sell out every winter and they do a lot of volume so have tons of dust. People just call in and order a couple pallets of the bricks, seem to like the convenience and storage. They burn quite hot and start easy because they are all dust from hardwood. Just pressure holds them together, no glue or resin etc. They even print ECO on them with their machine so you can even feel good about being "green" when you buy them. Below is a top and side view of one. Felder makes a nice press for its RL series DC. Not sure of cost, but it might pay for itself in the long run, especially if you could sell off any extra bricks. |
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