Small shop upgrades

[Matthew Carver]

I've budgeted about $1k to upgrade tools in in my shop so I don't have to rely on others in town and be at home when I do wood working. I mainly build furniture for my home from rough sawn lumber, mostly black walnut.

I'd appreciate recommendations on what to upgrade. I've already purchased a DeWalt contractor saw to replace my terrible craftsman cheapy.

thanks for any advice. :)

[Marshall Harrison]

Its hard to suggest upgrades without know what you have now.

Plus this will be very subjective with lots of opinions. For example some will say that your Dewalt upgrade is a lateral move and not an upgrade. Others will say your budget is too low. I'm sure the guys here can help you but just wanted you to be aware of what you are getting into with such abroad question.

Good luck and congratulations on the upgrades.

[Matthew Carver]

Thats fair. I was hoping to illicit unbiased opinion. My budget is the budget though. Thats why I'm seeking advice on how to maximize it. I'm considering jointer, wet stones, saw blades, router setup. I have a craftsman router/table. I have some good chisels and planes but not enough wet stones. I know I need some better saw blades.

[Carlos Alvarez]

I was hoping to illicit unbiased opinion.


Hahahaha, on a woodworker's forum? Have you glanced at, say, the Saw Stop thread...?? LOL

$1k isn't much, but you work with what you have. I used to have the Dewalt saw and built things with it that I shouldn't have. I used it as a jointer for a 4-piece hard maple glue-up that required cutting from both sides of 8/4. Hard work, but it turned out nicely. If it's what you can afford, then I'd also budget some for a dial indicator and T-fitting that can go in rail slots and spend plenty of time getting the saw really lined up accurately.

Saw blades are a good investment. But even there it's hard to say which will give you the most improvement since we don't know what sort of cuts you do most, or what you have now. Same with the other tools.

[Zachary Hoyt]

I've bought my power tools secondhand, it's a great way to get the most for the money but it is slower. I find that estate auctions and Craigslist are my best sources. I looked for years for a larger bandsaw that I could afford that had more throat depth than the 14" Rockwell, and finally a couple of years ago I got an 18" Jet bandsaw for $320 at an auction right in my own town. The jointer I have now is a Craftsman 6" cheapy that I got for $50 on Craigslist, and it has done a lot of work for me. It's not as good as a long bed jointer, but it's good enough for me for now, anyway. If you prefer to buy new tools that's something I have a lot less experience with, but I'm sure it can be a good way to go.
Zach

[Art Mann]

You still haven't told us what tools you already have. How can we recommend upgrades? Upgrades to what?

[Matthew Carver]

I do a lot of miter. I've played with lock miter bits also. Thanks for your thoughts.

[Matthew Carver]

You still haven't told us what tools you already have. How can we recommend upgrades? Upgrades to what?

Tools I have, craftsman router, craftsman compound miter, two sets of chisels, bench plane, no 8 stanley plane, standard cordless home imporovment tools, drill press, wen band saw, wen thickness planer, air compresser, dust deputy. Lots of other miscellaneous.

hope that helps.

[Carlos Alvarez]

I agree on the used tools. I picked up a Unisaw, which replaced the Dewalt, for $500 used. It needed cleanup but didn't need any repairs.

How happy are you with your compound miter? To me, that's one of the most important and useful tools in the shop. I have a pretty high end 12" SCMS, and while it's expensive, it has also made me very happy with the precision and capability it has. Being able to drop a big rough-sawn log into the thing is often useful.

Could you use a planer? I see older basic ones going for $250 on CL all the time.

[Matthew Carver]

I agree on the used tools. I picked up a Unisaw, which replaced the Dewalt, for $500 used. It needed cleanup but didn't need any repairs.

How happy are you with your compound miter? To me, that's one of the most important and useful tools in the shop. I have a pretty high end 12" SCMS, and while it's expensive, it has also made me very happy with the precision and capability it has. Being able to drop a big rough-sawn log into the thing is often useful.

Could you use a planer? I see older basic ones going for $250 on CL all the time.
I am happy with my compound miter. I have a Wen planer. It does okay. figured wood it chips out quite a bit.

[andy bessette]

...I'd appreciate recommendations on what to upgrade. I've already purchased a DeWalt contractor saw to replace my terrible craftsman cheapy...

Upgrade the DeWalt to a used Unisaw.

[Alan Heffernan]

Matt, I didn't see a table saw on your equipment list. If you do not yet have one, find a good used one and spend your budget on that. A decent table saw is the center of a decent shop. Buy the best one that your budget will allow and it will serve as the foundation for you to move forward.

[Matthew Carver]

Upgrade the DeWalt to a used Unisaw.

I probably would have but I don't have the space for one.

[Don Jarvie]

Instead of spending the 1k right away use it to buy things you need for projects. Ex, if you need more clams spend a few bucks and get some bigger clamps. A good combination square and tenon hand saw are good investments.

As your skills progress you will want to upgrade machines so wait until the band saw isnt big enough then upgrade.

For big stationary machines buy used and learn to restore them. You can save a ton of money.

[Carlos Alvarez]

I know "everyone" says that, but the TS is the least important tool in my shop. If I were starting over I'd concentrate on the other tools first.

[Matthew Carver]

Matt, I didn't see a table saw on your equipment list. If you do not yet have one, find a good used one and spend your budget on that. A decent table saw is the center of a decent shop. Buy the best one that your budget will allow and it will serve as the foundation for you to move forward.

dumping a craftsman and getting DW contractor saw DWE7480.

[Mike Cary]

What projects have you built? What project to you plan on or want to build? When you built projects, what did you find lacking, what frustrated you, what would have made it nicer?

You don't have a jointer. But they take up room. You do have a number #8 which will edge joint nicely and modern bandsawn rough lumber is often flat enough to run through the planer and the #8 and could tune it up if it didn't come out flat enough. But if you had room, even a 6 inch jointer would be something you would use a lot. What is your preferred method of joinery? Pocket screws, dovetails, m&t? Do you have what you need there?

My best opinion, is don't buy any tools impulsively. Buy what you need for the project at hand. The project will dictate good choices. I recently cleaned and reorganized my shop. I found 14 items still in the original packages. At the time, I just had to have them. I bought a festool router that was very expensive. It sat in the box for months before I actually used it. Now, when I run into a need while working on a project, I first try to rework the problem to fit what I already have and if that doesn't work I order it from Amazon with free 2 days shipping and work on something else until it arrives.

[Matthew Carver]

I know "everyone" says that, but the TS is the least important tool in my shop. If I were starting over I'd concentrate on the other tools first.
Carlos, whats your most important tool?

[Matthew Carver]

Instead of spending the 1k right away use it to buy things you need for projects. Ex, if you need more clams spend a few bucks and get some bigger clamps. A good combination square and tenon hand saw are good investments.

For big stationary machines buy used and learn to restore them. You can save a ton of money.

Thanks for the direct advice. Do you recommend a certain clamp/saw?

[Matthew Carver]

PS. I do have access to a unisaw at work.

[Marshall Harrison]

One other question Matthew.

Which tool have you found inadequate for the types of work you do?

$1k is not a large budget. I would suggest spending as much as needed on the tool that has the highest usage it suitability ratio. For example though you didn't say which Wen bandsaw you have, you did mention rough sawn lumber. If you need to resaw your rough lumber then upgrading the bandsaw may be your best bet. But if you need wider boards then upgrading to a wider jointer would be a better approach as your thickness plainer is probably already able to handle 12" lumber.

But if you are open to hand tools then using the money for a good crosscut or rip saw and some more planes for dimensioning your lumber would be a better approach. If you hand plane the edge square and the face flat then you have good reference surfaces for use on the table saw or planer without having to upgrade those.

As others pointed out you can stretch your budget with used tools but it may be a while before something comes available that fits your budget. Good approach but often a slow way of upgrading. Also you need to be somewhat knowledgeable to keep from buy someone's junk or problems.

[Mike Burke]

It's all subjective to what you build. Cabinets, rough natural furniture, lathe work....for me and the stuff I build my table saw is The most important part of my shop. Table saw, jointer, router table and hand full of router bits.
So depending on what you build will dictate what tools you need to spend the most on.

[Matthew Carver]

@Mike

Console table with drawer, four or five TV stands, a simple end table. All rough sawn milled out at a friends. Mostly black walnut. some quarter sawn oak. Im primitive on joinery, but have used lock miter, dowel (sometimes with a domino). I like modern clean furniture and recently made a blue tooth speaker box with a continuous grain.

Thanks for the advice.

[Rick Alexander]

I'm going to take a stab at this one too - If you use ply at all for your projects then I'm going to suggest a track saw. Doesn't replace a table saw but for large panels just can't beat the accuracy and safety of a good track saw ($500 or so). Then - if you don't already have one - a kreg jig. Not really favored by purist wood workers especially with furniture but sure comes in handy in the right places (about $140 or so). I'm also going to go along with a good benchtop planer - Dewalt makes a couple of good ones ($400 or so). There I spent your money just like that -

[Carlos Alvarez]

dumping a craftsman and getting DW contractor saw DWE7480.

Oh, I thought you were talking about the higher-end Dewalt. That one is basically good for cutting construction lumber and nothing more. You really should not buy that.

[Matthew Carver]

I'm going to take a stab at this one too - If you use ply at all for your projects then I'm going to suggest a track saw. Doesn't replace a table saw but for large panels just can't beat the accuracy and safety of a good track saw ($500 or so). Then - if you don't already have one - a kreg jig. Not really favored by purist wood workers especially with furniture but sure comes in handy in the right places (about $140 or so). I'm also going to go along with a good benchtop planer - Dewalt makes a couple of good ones ($400 or so). There I spent your money just like that -

Thanks Rick. I rarely use ply. Im a solid wood kinda guy. I've eyed the kreg jig setup though as well as track saws.

[Matthew Carver]

It's all subjective to what you build. Cabinets, rough natural furniture, lathe work....for me and the stuff I build my table saw is The most important part of my shop. Table saw, jointer, router table and hand full of router bits.
So depending on what you build will dictate what tools you need to spend the most on.

Actually those are the key things I was thinking of getting. I wanted to see if I was off base.

[Matthew Carver]

What projects have you built? What project to you plan on or want to build? When you built projects, what did you find lacking, what frustrated you, what would have made it nicer?

You don't have a jointer. But they take up room. You do have a number #8 which will edge joint nicely and modern bandsawn rough lumber is often flat enough to run through the planer and the #8 and could tune it up if it didn't come out flat enough. But if you had room, even a 6 inch jointer would be something you would use a lot. What is your preferred method of joinery? Pocket screws, dovetails, m&t? Do you have what you need there?

My best opinion, is don't buy any tools impulsively. Buy what you need for the project at hand. The project will dictate good choices. I recently cleaned and reorganized my shop. I found 14 items still in the original packages. At the time, I just had to have them. I bought a festool router that was very expensive. It sat in the box for months before I actually used it. Now, when I run into a need while working on a project, I first try to rework the problem to fit what I already have and if that doesn't work I order it from Amazon with free 2 days shipping and work on something else until it arrives.


PS. I'm going to make some shelves for the bedroom out of some remaining walnut. Looking at mitered joints on top and doweled for the bottom shelf. Not sure what to do for a back on it yet.

[Rod Sheridan]

Hi, if you're making items from rough lumber, you'll get the best improvement from a good jointer in your case.

The accuracy of your tablesaw isn't that important for solid wood furniture.

You can break down rough timber to over sized pieces with a hand saw for cross cuts, and a band saw for ripping.

Then you joint and plane to a finished thickness/width. That's the most important step, producing flat, square, parallel objects.

Then you can cut them to length, cut tenons and mortises and glue stuff together.

For panels in doors, even if you use veneered ply, a handsaw is as accurate as you need since the cut edge will be hidden in a groove in the frame.

It all starts with stock prep, which means flat and parallel. Now if you want to use only hand tools parallel and square aren't as important as each piece is hand fitted to the next.

When hand planing, it doesn't matter if one face of my table leg is at 89 degrees because when I cut the tenon shoulder I cut it to match. That approach doesn't work with machines.

Regards, Rod.

[Stan Calow]

Measuring and marking tools.
block plane
shoulder plane
ROS
dust collector
trim router

[Matthew Carver]

Measuring and marking tools.
block plane
shoulder plane
ROS
dust collector
trim router

See attached for my two planes. Ill checkout shoulder plane. what do you mean by ROS? I recently purchase a dust deputy. I have a craftsman router Ive used some. It has a tendency to not stay in position. So I've been eyeing bosch's selection. 381402

[eugene thomas]

Work bench with woodworking vice and a lot of clamps. Pipe clamps are cheap and versitil. As to other tools. ????

[Nick Decker]

ROS = random orbit sander

[Brian Holcombe]

Dewalt planer perhaps?