new workshop. What tools

[BlackPig]

Hi All, just finished building a new workshop/shed. Time for some new tools: pillar drills, high on list as is belt sander. Miter, flip, or table saw? Not sure.

What big power tools would have? Listed by priority.

 

[fergie_mac66]

depends on work but the most important is a good 2/3 speed bandsaw with a selection of blades . Wide blade 2 of three hook teeth per inch for straightcuts and deep cuts- wood blade. Narrow blade 3or 4 TPI fro curves, wood . V Narrow blades 10 -24 tpi for metal . Learn how to set it up Properly! and it will do all manner of anything in metal or wood. If you have a blade joining jig for silver soldering blades very usfull for cutting shaped holes both metalandwood

edit if set up correctly can be very accurate .Blade quality important several teeth patterns for dif types work hook raker skip standard . worth learning how to sharpen

 

[Georgio]

depends on budget but my dream workshop would have at least these....

1 - Pillar Drill

2 - Band saw (or table saw)

3 Combi planer/thicknesser


I have assumed you want to work with wood.

oh and a strong and stable work-bench with a decent vice.

oh, and lots of clamps

 

[jerrytug]

Now you can plan your centralised sawdust extraction, and look for a sawdust-burning stove for free heat.
Have you got 3phase, it may be worth getting it put in, because then you will be able to use quality industrial machines, which are very good value on ebay or auctions (because nobody has 3phase).


'What machines shall I put in my new workshop?' What a wonderful dilemma to find yourself in! I will be asking the same in a few months, fingers crossed..

 

[Georgio]

'What machines shall I put in my new workshop?' What a wonderful dilemma to find yourself in! I will be asking the same in a few months, fingers crossed..

that's exactly what I thought!

 

[sarabande]

dust extraction system, including a long wander hose for general suction.

Bandsaw

Pillar drill

Flipover saw



Avoid multi- pupose machines, except this one.

http://www.twsbridgwater.co.uk/used...sal/scm-cu350k-universal-combination-machine/


TWS are very good if you want a good day out looking at machine porn !


(Ii have a Fobco pillar drill which needs one lower quill bearing. Could be available )

Do consider having a three phase supply. You can get rectifiers for single phase hand tools, but 3 is much smoother and means you can buy high quality machinery at a very good rate, as JT says.

 

[DownWest]

Single phase shop here. For wood: Planer thicknesser gets a lot of use (mine & friends), as do the two radial arm saws. Bench saw (cheepy 1800watt) is good, if noisy, but I often run long planks down with a 1500watt hand circular saw. The pillar drill (meddings) is probably the most used tool. I have a mortice attatchment from Axminster, that works pretty well. The planer/thicknesser and bandsaw are from them too. Ryobi router in a table also gets frequent stick (ho,ho..) Mixed use on two boat builds and ongoing house restoration.
For metal: Mig, Tig & stick welders.Two folders and bending equipement. + a big cut off saw (home made) An air powered 6 tonne punch. And a lathe.

Second the 3-phase comments. If you have the space... then decent commercial kit is going for scrap prices. Commercial shops need modern kit and few amateurs have 3-phase. A decent converter system can run more than one machine. Have a look at the mig welding forum. Lots of discussion on there about the subject.

On my wish list: CNC plasma cutter (also for routing wood) but more practically, a bench mounted belt sanding rig.

Edit: Bandsaws get a lot of plusses. In fact, I didn't use mine much on my first boat here, but find more uses now. It is a low end one from Axminster.

 

[bigwow]

Most important tool in my workshop is the kettle!

 

[cliff]

Most important tool in my workshop is the kettle!

Coffee pot (enamel) for sitting on to of the pot bellied stove (wood, coal and sawdust burning)

 

[DownWest]

Over in the USA it is the 'moaning chair'

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

depends on budget but my dream workshop would have at least these....


oh and a strong and stable work-bench with a decent vice.

oh, and lots of clamps

...and then even more clamps!

 

[mtb]

My shed is double glazed and fully insulated even in winter its warm ;-)
first you need a le roubo bench I made mine 8ft long with leg vice sliding dead man 4" thick top a solid heavy bench is a must
the other bench is 8ft long built from a catering table with a soft block top, I used to be into making model planes so I could pin bits down to hold for glueing
three phase you just have to have it
I have a big three phase compressor, perfect for a decent nail gun
planer thicknesser circular saw chop saw routers both 1/2 and 1/4 big old morticing machine
belt sander bench drill all manor of router jigs for dove tailing and so on decent sharpening machine
for planes chisels ( its a work sharp machine VERY NICE ) my blades are razor sharp
hand saws planes chisels augers and so on
engineering
three phase arc welder, mig welder argon arc and every type of mechanical tool there is for the work I do.
Building trades
the whole range for all the trades tarpot boiler for roofing cement mixer plumbing tiling electrics plastering rendering bricklaying
1976 jcb 3c mk11 with four in one front bucket err well its cool to dig holes
I hate not having the right equipment and wont have cheap rubbish, what's the point it would break when you needed it
my problem is where to put the tools when I'm not using em I have stuff every where so not ideal
I got rid of my laths and mill as at some point I'll be moving
The one trade I may yet get into is stone masonry it depends on what house I get next so there'll be more toys to add and I'd like a steam traction engine so the next place needs at least three sheds

 

[pmagowan]

Table saw
Pillar drill
Planer thicknesser
Band saw
Router table or spindle moulder
Sanding and sharpening equip
enough clamps to hold the world together

Then you can start building boats!

 

[BlackPig]

Had a quick look at 3 phase, 415v, I think I will stick to 240v. Pillar drill, table saw, and sander to start. Bench grinder, router to follow.

 

[DownWest]

Hum, while I use a bench grinder a little bit, most of my grinding is with angle jobbies. Esp with flap discs to tidy up welds and sharp edges.For a 30 mtr convoluted Iroko stair rail, I used corse sanding discs on a 115 angle grinder and a small bosch belt sander...the dust..the dust. For edge tools, Japanese water stones. For rough sharpening of drills, I often buzz them on the abrasive cut off saw, but this takes a bit of practice. Still, bench grinders are cheap, and.. B&Q have a nice one with a slow white water stone at one end for edge tools, at around £25.
Look at the bay for a pillar drill, the bigger old ones come up and they are soooo much better than the cheepnese ones at most outlets. I have two Meddings Drilltrues and they are really good. Even if you have to swop the motor for a single phase.
DW

Oh.. I use the router far more than I expected. Get a 1/2" one, as some bits are only available in that. My Ryobi was £80? a few years ago. Bit rough, but great value. I often use an Axminster biscuit cutter in it for joining boards. That only comes in 1/2". For real planks, as in oak tables, I use a 10mm cutter to open slots in the edges, then put in oak 'floating' tenons with the grain at right angles to the joint. Sort of grunty biscuits. You don't need a proper table for bench work. Just mount it under some 12mm ply and clamp a fence onto the table. Works for me, esp for the birdsmouth mast on my last build.

 

[fergie_mac66]

sanding belt

an addition fora bandsaw is a 3/4 inch sanding belt to replace the blade !

 

[DownWest]

an addition fora bandsaw is a 3/4 inch sanding belt to replace the blade !

Never heard of that one! Interesting.

 

[jerrytug]

an addition fora bandsaw is a 3/4 inch sanding belt to replace the blade !

I never knew you can do that... wouldn't the machine sand itself in half eventually?

 

[CoVianna]

This is a good site for second-hand machinery.

http://www.homeworkshop.org.uk/

Tends to be more metalworking machinery than woodworking but quite a bit of woodworking stuff does appear.

 

[jerrytug]

This is a good site for second-hand machinery.

http://www.homeworkshop.org.uk/

Tends to be more metalworking machinery than woodworking but quite a bit of woodworking stuff does appear.

Good site to browse