I suppose we all have our own woodworking sub-hobbies (cough cough, obsessions), and I guess mine is currently "shop improvements".
While I completely understand that it's the person behind the tools that matters most, there are times when tools can limit results and enjoyment in the shop.
In this case, the thing forcing me to think is that I have a 6" Ridgid currently that works just fine overall, but I have been increasingly finding instances where I feel like I'm being wasteful with material (by needing to rip to just under 6" in order to face joint), or where good results are tough to achieve on the tool (e.g. I'm finding it to be a wrestling match to joint longer table top boards nicely on an infeed table that's about 2' long).
Sigh.... as such, I'm contemplating a bigger jointer. I really don't feel like spending right now, but so many posts and tips from friends tell me this isn't frivolous based on how my learning curve is progressing, how much I use the shop (a lot), I can re-sell my old unit to partially offset cost, and I'd be buying used too most likely.
My goal would be to be into something in the 8" x 70ish inch range. I'll likely buy used when the right model comes along.
So... this post is about 2 things.
1) Y'all generally agree that weekend warrior "plus" like me would enjoy/benefit from upgrading from 6"x48" to 8" x 70ish?
2) Shop layout to accommodate this...
I really really really want to keep the new jointer in the same spot as existing jointer. I LOVE the workflow in this spot, my newly redesigned dust collection reaches this spot already, and it just would generally fit here nicely.
BUT, the new, bigger machine will pinch a walk-through zone to the point of not being able to pass through that area of my shop... so some stuff must move.
My thought is to make the moves seen in the attached pics (one without comments, same pic with proposed equipment moves as comments) so that I have a hallway freed up.
The biggest question in this move is... Will I love or hate having the router table in the extension wing of my table saw? Will it be a problem that I can only access front and back (not left and right) in that position (since table saw and miter saw station block the left /right)?
Any other thoughts?
THANK YOU!
router table move to accommodate jointer.jpg router table move to accommodate jointer_with comments.jpg
Bob R.