I am a relatively new woodworker. Nothing too serious, mostly a hobby. I have some tools power (tablesaw, planer, drill press) and some hand tools also (saws, hand planes, etc.) I am ready for a new purchase and would like some advice. I was considering something along the lines of a bench jointer, bandsaw or perhaps a jack plane. My tools are not top of the line and I do not have a dedicated workshop yet. thanks
Michael
Replies
depends
Tool choices depend on what type of work you are doing, or want to do. Personally, I find both the jointer and the bandsaw to be essential tools in my shop.
power or hand?
thank you for the advice. What about bench jointers vs. hand planes?
I "heart" (love) hand planes. But, they require well-practiced skills to wield well. For the "occasional" woodworker, a jointer, even a small bench model, if assembled and tuned properly, can instantly produce properly-squared stock - particularly if combined with a "lunch-box" thickness planer.
Thank you again for your advice. I may go with a jointer, but I will keep working with the hand planes to practice, they have real appeal to me.
Tools
A hand held electric jig saw can do everything a band saw can do with much less cost
SA
Oh reeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaly ?
Westchester,
>A hand held electric jig saw can do everything a band saw can do with much less cost<
Are you being funny or what ?
But I'm laugh'in
Ha, ha, ha, aaahhhh, Ha, ha, ha, ha
see the pic my man . . . I wanna see ya do that with a hand held jig saw
Ha, ha, ha, aaahhhh, Ha, ha, ha, ha
Jig saw use
Roc -
yes - no doubt - you illustrate the advanced use for an advanced user. I'm only suggesting that he buy the jig saw first and work into the band saw. For years I did all my scroll sawing and small parts work with an electric jig saw.
I remember one large plywood panel that I had to cut out designs for a sign - the band saw would be of no use.
roc - very few of us ever have a band saw like yours. Mine is a 14 in. rockwell from 1958 - heavy, true, and old like me.
Regards,
SA
After careful consideration
Michael,
One of the things that will help you the most in woodworking, and other crafts (such as metal working), is to learn to sharpen your own tools.
so . . . I would recommend a book on sharpening and a bench grinder and a couple of hand sharpening stones, maybe a file with diamond dust on it for the abrasive. Not kidding. They are called diamond files. Works on carbide. Go slow and easy there; don't want to take off so much the router bits get out of balance.
viola'
surprised ya' I bet.
Jig saw first by all means.
SA and OP,
Then allow me to recommend a nice one. I have the older version of this. I tried a few of the top of the line variable speed saws and I kept this one. Mine has roller guides on the blade. Not sure if this new one does but I think it does. Even cuts steel like a big old dog.
http://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DW331K-6-5-Handle-Jig-Saw/dp/B0007XXHHI/ref=sr_1_4?s=power-hand-tools&ie=UTF8&qid=1294483033&sr=1-4
I have heard the Bosh saws are highly regarded as well.
PS: >very few of us . . . <
SA,
I think most here have a band saw and I would say many many have bandsaws twice the price of mine. Hard to do fine woodworking with out one. The other alternative is at least one apprentice and a sawing pit. Can you imagine ? Not in this day and time.
in any case may all your projects turn out delightful,
Michael, one thing we tend to overlook when discussing specific tools is the benefit of having an "umbrella philosophy" about buying tools. That is, having an underlying guiding principal in one's approach to the question of what to buy. There are functional considerations (i.e. what the tool will do), budgetary considerations (i.e., what you can "afford" at any given point in time), and quality considerations (i.e. will the higher cost of a quality tool be justified in terms of longevity and quality of output over time). Budget and quality are sworn enemies, doomed to strugle with each other until the end of time. Or, until you win the lottery. ;-)
There are "big" tools, where weight adds to the stability of getting basic jobs done (and, thus, the quality of output), and there are "little" tools that add functionality. Expecting a little tool to do the job of a big tool, or expecting it to do more than the task for which it was designed, generally doesn't turn out well. Then, there are tools that are so poorly designed, that they struggle to do even the tasks they are supposed to accomplish.
The suggestion of a jig saw is a good example, I think. Jig saws fit into the "little tool" category. Every shop should probably have one. But, if you don't buy a good one, it will likely be more of a wood butcher than a "tool" - splintered edges, unsquare cuts, etc. Having bought probably a half dozen of them over the decades, when the need for a new one arose recently, I decided to adhere to my own umbrella philosophy for a change. I looked at the specs, and the variations in design currently available, and ended up buying a Festool Trion PS 300EQ. Not because Festool is trendy, but because the better engineering would result in better output.
Huh ??? Aw 'O
Ralph,
>considerations (i.e. what the tool will do), budgetary considerations (i.e., what you can "afford" at any given point in time), and quality considerations (i.e. will the higher cost of a quality tool be justified in terms of longevity and quality of output over time). <
I just buy stuff cause it is like really cool and stuff. And I have developed an insatiable, insufferable, unquenchable desire to have it. If I don't have the bucks I wait and wait and wait and . . .
until I do have enough. Now you tell me there is like this formula thing . . .
what a revoltin' development !
options
No remorse required, Roc. Not all purchases need to be rational. For example, I'm thinking about making a 3-ring bider for my woodworking notes entirely out of wood. The wooden rings will be about .4" in diameter, so I need a .5" hole punch. I have a .50 caliber Hawken-style black powder rifle on order to do the job.
I am sure the old time wood workers would agree
A black powder rifle is standard equipment for a well equipped wood shop. If nothing else it comes in handy for bill collecting.
To buy new tools or not ?
Here is one outlook on the subject :
" Do not wait the time will never be just right . Start where you stand , and work with what you may have at your command , and better tools will be found as you go along "
George Herbert
Wow! That is quite the cut on the band saw! What kind of bandsaw is that? At any rate, sometime last year, I tried to see if my jig saw could cut like my bandsaw. As smooth as the Festool Trion is, it couldn't cut anywhere near my 14 inch Rikon bandsaw.
What Kind of Bandsaw
I assume you are asking me, roc, rather than mlhuff. If not tell me to shut up and go away. That is my little ol' Laguna. One of the baby size ones.
http://www.lagunatools.com/bandsaws/bandsaw-lt14se
I enlarged your Festool photo. If that is the face the Festool cut it looks super. I like the track system. The price of the Festools always scares me away though. I bought all my handheld power tools pre Festool days so I won't be upgrading but I like the tools. Plunge circular saw and all !
Yeah. I meant the reply for you. I'm sure part of the beautiful cut you get is from tuning your bandsaw which I should probably try and do again.
As for the Festool System, it's very cool that I can use the track for the jig saw, circular saw, and router. The cost is steep, but for a hobbyist like me, it makes my limited time in the workshop go a lot smoother. The Trion jig saw (I'm sure the Bosch and others are similarly capable) was a night and day difference for me over my original $40 Craftsman jig saw.
psssst
Festool is addictive. I started with the TS55 (with Ct-33 vac) to solve my problem with cutting sheet goods with precision. Then, the little 5" sander, and later the Trion jig saw. I think I'm done now. I used to tease Festool owners for what seemed like extravagance, but I've changed my tune.
Hand plane vs Jointer
Jointer. Maybe.
If you have a hand-tool philosophy, of course, you'll go with a big handplane like a jointer. You will need a very good one or an adequate one that you really tune up. As someone else mentioned, you'll have to become a sharpening wizard. BTW, I bought an Indian imiation jointer plane, tune it up, and got a good blade--and I can sharpen well (used to be excellent)--and I don't find it adquate for some tasks (table tops) but just fine for others (jointing edge of alder boards).
Jointer? My question here is more about size. I don't know. Because I got a pretty good deal, I got an 8" General floor model and I have absolutely no complaints. But if I were makeing mainly, say, fancy boxes, I'm sure a 6" would be just fine.
In additon, it comes down to what aspect of woodworking you like. When I finally get to walk into the garage/shop and start a project, I want to square up stock as fast as possible--so a jointer and planer are crucial.
Jim
I'm new myself...
I just started 15 months ago. I bought a way powerful Milwaukee router to bolt to the bottom of a small router table (Bench Dog). Then I bought a Bosch table saw, because I needed something that would fold away. Bought these for a wainscotting project in my dining room.
Next project was a workbench (see the two threads in this forum about that project). For that, I bought a drill press. I decided on a Ridgid. That's when I developed my tool purchasing philosophy: Only buy what you need, then save buy the best you can find. The Ridgid, a $350 dollar-ish purchase was my first real mistake. The build quality is horrible. The holes are all off on the base. It's not a fun tool to operate.
My next purchase was a bandsaw. Rockler was selling a floor model Powermatic for $700 dollars. Sold. What a wise decision. Attention to the littlest details on the Powermatic equipment is evident all over the machine. From thin cuts to powering through aluminum, it works every time. Just last month when they had their big annual sale, I bought their 54a jointer. Another great tool.
I love the Festool stuff, too. I own 3 different sanders, and the circular saw. The cordless drill is my next purchase. Amazing how well their stuff works. I like their plunge router, I just don't need it right now.
The most important skill I've learned is sharpening. The difference between a sharp and a dull blade in a planeis the difference between thousandths of an inch shavings and tearout butchery.
My wife bought me new chisels for Christmas. Lie Neilsen chisels. My old chisels are Stanley. An L/N is like a stiletto. Stanleys are like steak knives. They both work, but which has greater precision?
Save and buy quality. The frustration that mounts from poor quality tools can be enough to make you want to take up needlepoint.
Michael
What tools to buy?
Recommend you look for a hands on cabinetmaking school on woodworking and apprentice with a knowledgeable furniture maker.
I have been spinning my wheels for 50 years trying to learn from books or self taught methods. I've found power tools are no fun, dirty, and noisy. If I was to start again, the first things I would buy for tools are some of the following:
Best rip hand saw, crosscut saw, hand drill for auger bits, hammer, top of the line squares, LN marking gauges, rulers, LN chisels, Blue Spruce marking knife and pencils, LN No. 5 1/2 plane, some southern pine, Woodworking Magazine "Traditional Sawbench Plans" and build two by hand. Set your error tolerance goal at 1/32".
Wow that was concise !
You said it. Way to go.
PS: apprenticeship might be a bit ambitious and hard to get but would be great opportunity.
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