Replies

1. 
   Bioman | Mar 31, 2005 02:16pm | #1

   What price range are you looking in?  I ask this only because I have observed with myself, that my enjoyment of woodworking has been directly proportional to the quality of the equipment I have owned.  At least once in the past, I have set the interest aside entirely due to the aggravation I was getting from cheaper equipment.

1. 
   Chezi | Mar 31, 2005 02:39pm | #2

   Somewhere between $300 - $500. I would pay the higher side if the quality would be worth it.

                                                          Thanks,

                                                         Chezi

2. 
   adastra | Mar 31, 2005 03:26pm | #3

   Second question would be what kind of work do you want to do? And is there anything you need to do?

   There is a difference but both are important.

1. 
   Chezi | Mar 31, 2005 03:56pm | #4

   I want to make beds with lots of mortise and tenon joints. I need to make a garden shed. After that I want to make nice garden furinture

   Thanks, Chezi

1. 
   adastra | Mar 31, 2005 04:31pm | #5

   Tablesaw.I would suggest buying a used contractors type saw. You're well within that price range. How much table saw experience do you have? Tuning a saw is very important to its safety and precision.But I would recommend the least expensive of the new Sears Craftsman saws if you are buying new. (still hard to believe I'm saying that) They have updated some of the internals and the blade tilts left which is safer.You'll have to watch the fence but can always upgrade. Make sure you have/buy/build outfeed supports.Buy it on sale and use other Sears discounts and you should be under 500.Work safely, end with ten.Do you have a plunge router for the mortises?

1. 
   Chezi | Mar 31, 2005 08:43pm | #6

   I have no experience with a table saw and yes I need a router

1. 
   adastra | Mar 31, 2005 09:21pm | #7

   If you have no experience I would get some instruction if you have that available to you in your area. Woodcraft offers classes as well as tech schools or local clubs or guilds.If none then a good table saw book or video even better. Its a pretty safe tool if used properly but people don't pop out of the womb with the knowledge. There are a lot of things that can go wrong very quickly with a table saw.But use the right techniques, safety equipment, and stock support and you'll be OK.Having the saw properly tuned and a good blade are necessities if you want furniture grade results.Good luck.Also there are a lot of ways to make square holes (mortises) but a plunge router with a jig is one of the easiest and the tool is very versatile. I recommend a mid-weight rather than the 3 HP monsters. Sounds impressive but they are awkward for joinery.

2. 
   Chezi | Mar 31, 2005 10:16pm | #8

   Thanks for all your help, Chezi

3. 
   Dustmight | Mar 31, 2005 10:22pm | #9

   Hi Chezi - I'll second the suggestion to look into a good used contractor saw if you can find one. (take a wwing buddy to advise)

   In a new saw, I'd consider a Grizzly 0444, Delta 36-675 (HD had them clearanced for $399), or Delta 36-680. Good basic contractor saws with nice fences...especially the Griz.

1. 
   Chezi | Mar 31, 2005 10:58pm | #10

   Actually I'd rather go for a new one with a warranty. Thanks, Chezi

1. 
   Napie | Apr 01, 2005 04:30pm | #11

   Don't get hung up on the warranty issue, you can get a lot more bang for the buck in the used market.  I've seen nice used Unisaws go for far less than a new contractor saw.  My whole shop is used equipment, I love "aged iron", it has class. 

1. 
   adastra | Apr 01, 2005 04:39pm | #12

   Hey Napie,Next time you see a used cab saw for less than a new contractors, let me know. I'm not kidding.I used to live in the Pacific Northwest and it was true out there, had a buddy that got a green PM 66 for $800. All you had to do was wait and you would find something.Just doesn't seem to happen in the Kansas City area.

1. 
   Napie | Apr 01, 2005 11:09pm | #13

   Here in southeast Michigan the prices on used stuff are really quite good, maybe due to the industrial nature of the place and the bad economy.  My mid 60's vintage Unisaw was $800.00 with new bearings and a new Delta brand 5 hp single phase motor.  The Boice-Crane 8" jointer, (direct drive too), was like new, not even a paint chip in the original finish, $550.00.  A Delta 20" bandsaw, completly rebuilt, $1200.00.  Delta 16" planer, $1400.00 with a new Baldor 5 hp motor.  That's a lot of iron for $3950.00.  And the old stuff just "feels" better.

2. 
   adastra | Apr 02, 2005 07:51am | #14

   Ah, thats killing me. Those are great prices for reliable equipment. I would expect to pay about 50 percent more for the equivalent around here. In other words, not much less than new.I have a thing for old tools too. The manufacturing was so much better before companies learned to build as cheaply as the market would bear. My car is a '65 Volvo 122 and I love it. Its about as basic as it gets but the engineering is great.Anyway, glad your keeping your vintage stuff doing work instead of rusting away.

4. 
   Festool4 | Apr 05, 2005 03:36am | #15

   I saw a lot of good advice on tablesaws, so I’m not go there. I would however recommend the following serious of books:

    

   The Complete Illustrated Guide to Woodworking - Three Volume Set: The Complete Illustrated Guide to Shaping Wood, The Complete Illustrated Guide to Furniture and Cabinet Construction, and The Complete Illustrated Guide to Joinery
   by Lonnie Bird, Andy Rae, Gary Rogowski

    

   Seventy five dollars sounds like a lot of money for three books, but they are a real bargain—believe me. If I had found these first, there would be at least ten other books that I wouldn’t have even bothered with.  

    

   You can get them at Amazon.com…

    

1. 
   kenshep | Apr 07, 2005 04:40am | #16

   Well I'd buy the Stihl with an Oregon bar and chain...oh not that kind of powersaw...never mind...hey where's the lumberjack forum.

   ;-) 

   Regards,

   Ken

   "Do as you would be done by." C.S. Lewis

1. 
   brownbagg | Apr 11, 2005 01:03am | #17

   Get the skil saw with the red thumb safety switch. after couple days you be so mad at the skil anything would look better.