STL295: It’s not a router, it’s a possibility
Mike, Vic, and Ben discuss (for the last time) shops without a table saw, when to sell a tool, and why the simplest way to get something done is the best way.Question 1:
From Zachary:
I’m setting up a small shop on one side of a two-car garage. I’ve got a Laguna 14BX bandsaw, two routers (router table and a smaller handheld), Dewalt planer, as well as numerous other small tools. I also have a Bosch contractor’s saw I’ve been using for the last few years, but isn’t the best for building furniture because I have to square up the fence each time I need to make a cut. As Vic and the rest of the veterans at STL with considerably more experience than I have, you can see much further down the “woodworking road” than can I; envisioning all the twists, turns, bumps, and potholes along the way. I’m at a crossroads of what to do about a table saw.
I’m tempted by Vic’s take on this to eliminate the table saw altogether. To his point, it takes up a lot of space. I’m thinking with the purchase of a good track saw and investment in a bit nicer router table setup (good router lift, good dust collection, etc) I could eliminate the table saw from my workflow. However, if I decided to go with a table saw would likely get the 30” SawStop contractor saw with cast iron wings, and mobile base (about $3K)
I’d be interested to hear what limitations going sans-table saw would present, or accommodations would be made, and what else I might need to consider if I decided to go that route. For instance, would adding the Festool MFT help ensure square cuts with the track saw, etc?
I’m hoping to build one of Phil Morley’s Lounge chairs and already came across one limitation. That project requires a cove cut on the table saw.
What else could I be missing, what would I need to make this work, and does each side (for and against the table saw) feel I should know or be aware of before making a decision?
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How To Make a Tracksaw Crosscut TableBen Strano shows how to build a table that will make the track saw your go-to tool for crosscutting panels that are too big for your tablesaw. |
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Shop Machines for the Hand-Tool WoodworkerMinimalist woodworker Vic Tesolin considers the machinery of his shop his “apprentices.” He leans on them to make his life easier. |
Question 2:
From Kevin:
When do you know the right time to let go of a tool? I did a quick survey of the tools in my shop and have come up with several that I honestly haven’t touched in years, such as my scrub plane, #7 jointer plane, a third powered router, a cabinet scraper, and a toothed blade for my jack plane, to name but a few.
The pragmatist in me is saying “sell, sell, sell” but the woodworking romantic in me is telling me to cherish them and hold on to them because I’ll surely need them the day after I sell them.
Is there anything you ask yourself that helps you determine if a tool is worthy of the space in your shop or if it should just be sold to the next guy on eBay who thinks they’re actually going to shoot the edge of that 8-foot board with a #7?
Every two weeks, a team of Fine Woodworking staffers answers questions from readers on Shop Talk Live, Fine Woodworking‘s biweekly podcast. Send your woodworking questions to [email protected] for consideration in the regular broadcast! Our continued existence relies upon listener support. So if you enjoy the show, be sure to leave us a five-star rating and maybe even a nice comment on our iTunes page.
Comments
Ben, What Fusion 360 course are you taking?
I would also like to know Ben
Missed this.
It's one of AutoDesk's courses. Free, and pretty great. Keep in mind, it's WAY more engineering-minded than woodworking-minded.
https://www.autodesk.com/certification/learn/course/fusion360-intro-to-3d-modeling-associate
Zachery: think outside the box; sell the car on the other side of the garage and enjoy the entie space.
I think a discord server would be great. Those always tend to be my favorite communities. You just can't beat real time wood goofin.
Could we get a look at that table saw rig?
What is a whisper box?
What is a discord server?
When am I going to be able to buy my book of Mikeism's?
I’d love a discord server!!!
So I have been running a small cabinet shop with festool trac saw as well as the bosch contractor saw with a couple of sleds and it has served me well. I should add that I invested in a shark guard for the Bosch ts for safety as well as near dust free cutting. I have a single car garage(actually a shop though don't tell anyone).
I really liked Mike’s, Vic’s, and Ben’s comments regarding tool choice and that it’s more about how you’re used to working rather than fitting your work to projected tool buying habits. I too, tend to head to the table saw for certain joinery such as cutting tenons. I recently built a table on commission, the legs of which were splayed and raked at 7 degrees. Instead of grabbing my virtually unused Leigh FMT Pro (that I got for $300, router and bits included), I headed to the table saw angle gauge and tenoning jig in hand, hollow chisel mortiser, and a shoulder plane tune up at the bench. Halfway through I had a V-8, head-slapping moment: I should have used the FMT! But it’s new to my wheelhouse, not even used it yet, because I have a familiar workflow. Thank you for reminding us of that and sorry for the drive-by.
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