Ok. One simple question really. I had a tremendous background in woodworking with my father as a child. Now that I am financially able, I intend to build up my wood working arsenal. Should I buy a contractors saw to get bye with for now, or just buy the enclosed expensive table saw right off the bat not needing to buy one later? I intend to build furniture and the like. I would also appreciate any advise on what , and in what order, I should buy the differing tools. (eg. thickness plainer, shaper, etc…)
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My friend and I have differing opinions about a workshop. His shop tends to be an end in itself, meaning that he is always improving and adding to his shop. My thinking has always been that a shop is to help you accomplish whatever you are building. I buy the tools that I need as I go along based on the project that I am building at the time. If, for example, your next project calls for you to plane boards down, then it is time to buy your planer. I rarely use my planer but frequently use my jointer(so I could have put off buying a planer as early as I did). Only you know what you need based on what you will be building. Start building projects and buy based on need rather than to have the best outfitted shop on the block(unless that is your goal). Enjoy!
Don
Green,
On another thread, "Which TS", I'm amazed at how many fine professionals are getting by (as you said) with contractor saws. I would think the cabinet saw would be an essential to create higher quality cuts as well as the ability handle thicker stock for legs, etc. However, it is pretty obivious from their responses that isn't necessarily true.
The real cost to this hobby is the after market add-ons: blades, jigs, crying towels. The core equipment, if your going to work with rough lumber, is TS, jointer, planer. With measuring devices that gets you to squared up stock. The hand tool approach includes heavy workbench, vises, planes, saws. With measuring devises that will get you to squared up stock also. I think either approach probably costs about the same in the long run. The key difference is setup time verses number of pieces to be cut.
Shaping the squared up stock into something functional is a whole another set of choices. Again, there is the machine way and the hand tool way; routers and bits verses hand planes and chisels, bandsaw verses hand saws.
Add to all of this the key issues of space and proper dust control. Both of these issues are less imoportant with the hand tool approach. However, as I said before I don't think its cheaper.
In my case, I like to go both ways simultaneously, under buy on the quality and be frustrated with the results. So if we do learn from our mistakes, I've got a wealth of knowledge. good luck
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