Which is most useful

[Poignard]

For picture framing you are better off with a hand mitre saw, I have Nobel one that I bought 40 years ago it has several blades but I mostly use the 24 tooth one for picture frames.

Nobex? I have one, it's very accurate.

 

[Greenheart]

My pillar-drill was a cheapie from Screwfix, but it's a very substantial piece of kit which I mounted on a 50x50cm heavy ply platform for some degree of mobility.

I've only used it a few times in several months, but the difference in ease of use and satisfaction with results, after previously wasting expensive cobalt bits and making a mess of drilling A4 stainless with my Bosch 18v cordless, makes the pillar-drill my recommendation even though I've never used a table saw or bandsaw.

I haven't acquired a power-saw yet, despite many helpful replies last year when I asked which one I should get:
Entry-level circular saw

 

[PabloPicasso]

Yes. All very interesting ideas. Making a router table would be useful too.

If I can avoid the expense of more power tools that'd be good too.

 

[Refueler]

I've found that the reciprocating multi saw does a much better job than a jigsaw. It produces a finer cut, doesn't chip either surface and because of the blade diameter, doesn't wander. Also, you don't need to drill a pilot hole to start a cut.

Do you mean a saw like this :

I just bought one the other day for trimming trees etc ....... found it a bit disappointing, but accept that I need to use it more and get used to it ....

 

[LadyInBed]

Do you mean a saw like this :

No, see link in #11 - Multi Saw.

 

[Refueler]

No, see link in #11 - Multi Saw.

Interesting ...... neat

 

[Graham376]

Interesting ...... neat

Very useful tool, we keep one on board but be sure to buy decent blades, there are some cheap rubbish ones around.

 

[Refueler]

No, see link in #11 - Multi Saw.

Reminds me of the cutters used in hospital to remove casts .....

Yeh - I'll get me coat !!

 

[peter gibbs]

A good heavy table saw. Used it for a sorts of jobs. Hardly ever use chop saw. never needed a band saw cause table saw would do almost everything. I have a drill press, its still in the original box. I find a regular hand held drill does what I need.

This is the way to go. Drill press is good for dowel joints and little else. Got a decent electric plane and belt sander?. Priorities, priorities...

 

[Greenheart]

At first I thought that was an absurd answer, but the way people's outlooks differ may show a fault in the question.

In recent years I've hand-sawn decent-quality 12mm and 25mm ply plus scaffolding boards and other materials, rarely more than 40mm thick, for a variety of purposes. Every time, I thought I might benefit from buying a power saw. The fact that I haven't, isn't a financial issue - I mainly don't want to clutter the shed with little-used kit.

I supposed that detailed work would be easier with a jigsaw, which at a pinch could be used for longer pieces too. Ultimately I didn't make a decision, and just kept using the handsaw. I found a brand new handsaw in the cupboard the other day, so all my recent jobs must have been completed with an old one, but the results were all fine.

The point being, I don't do enough woodwork to need a power saw. Conversely, I've attempted challenging jobs in stainless steel with a handheld drill, and it was routinely disappointing. Even using excellent Dewalt cobalt bits, it was difficult, inaccurate work that sometimes wrecked the workpiece. The effortless precision which my pillar-drill achieves, made that an obvious purchase.

Only the OP knows what he needs most. If he doesn't know, perhaps he doesn't need any of them.

 

[Daverw]

I never realised how useful a mutli tool would be on the boat until I got one last year, from cutting, sanding to cutting openings in bulkheads and chiselling old stuff off internal grp etc, very easy to be precise and very little mess. It’s one of the few tools the admiral allows to be used on board

 

[Bouba]

I never realised how useful a mutli tool would be on the boat until I got one last year, from cutting, sanding to cutting openings in bulkheads and chiselling old stuff off internal grp etc, very easy to be precise and very little mess. It’s one of the few tools the admiral allows to be used on board

I have one, but rarely use it, I suppose the big advantage is that you can be working on the inside of the hull...without worrying that you will reach the outside ???

 

[Daydream believer]

You have hit on the big 3, difficult to choose but for general work I would put:

1) Pillar drill, so useful for all kinds of work. Wood, matel plastic. Inexpensive

The next two will be more, or you will have a tool that is not much superior to a handheld:

2) Bandsaw, As 1 above, excellent general purpose kit. Quite expensive, don't buy a tiny one.

The last really could be first if you are doing a lot of woodwork, as it can give you almost planed finish, cut joints, etc as well as doing extensive donkey work:

3) Table saw. Very expensive, if you want accuracy. Look for a good used one?

.

Hand tools such as a saw, chisels, drill etc. do the jobs just as well as mechanised tools & should not be forgotten, With a bench & a vice to hold the work there is no limit to what can be achieved.
The Op has not included a decent bench vice, For wood work a carpenter's one or for general work a decent record engineers vice. One can bend bits of metal & hold it for drilling. Provided one has a bench to hold it on. I have a large tool box . The type used on construction sites & have it bolted to the hinge side of the lid. This counterbalances the lid for opening & tools go inside & it can be locked. On the bottom are 4 strong castors. 2 are locking. That means that in spite of its weight I have a metal bench that I can move about & bash stuff on. It can be stored in a garage & easily moved outside if necessary.

I agree with 1 & 2 above. Problem is that If the op is on a tight budget there is every likelyhood that he will buy a cheepo bandsaw, so that would be a shame as they are difficult to set up & lack power so tend to be useless.. He would, therefore, probably be better off with a jigsaw. I have a good range of tools & loaned my table saw out & still have not had it back after 6 years. To be honest I do not need it. I have a skill saw.

One needs to ask oneself what one is going to be cutting & how much room one has. True a table saw can be used for tenon joints etc. but not the mortice so a pillar drill would be needed . Or a router for small mortices & then it would do the tenon as well. You need a lot of room to cut an 8ft * 4ft sheet of ply & you will only do it a few times in a boat fettling exercise if at all. So a table saw is not high on my list.

I have a Makita chop saw that does quite well. I loaned out my Dewalt chop saw This can be reversed & it then becomes a tables saw & cuts just over 2 inch depth. I suggest that would be very usefull to the OP as it is dual purpose & takes up little room. It has detachable legs so can be free standing. I had 2 in my factory.

So if boat fettling I would suggest Battery drill, , solid bench, vice, jig saw, pillar drill , electric sander, 115mm angle grinder, portable saw, router, & possibly electric plane & go from there

 

[Ian_Rob]

… there are lots of videos on-line by joiners and furniture makers discussing the relative merits of table and track saws and which to opt for if you have to choose one over the other. Track saws mostly come out on top.

 

[ChromeDome]

Accuracy takes powerful precision tools, regardless of brand. Admittedly not the very cheapest, but doesn't need to blow a fair budget either.

The warranty offered can be an indicator of how things are made.

 

[lustyd]

Accuracy is highly overrated in most of the tools discussed here. Almost all designs have been refined to include strips of cover material such as coving, skirting, frames, etc. for this reason. People just don't do that good of a job, and it's very much quicker to cover the edges than spend weeks making perfectly straight mm perfect things. Not to mention, even a tiny amount of movement will destroy highly accurate work, while a mm or two breathing space will save you.

 

[Poignard]

I would rate a vacuum cleaner as very important.

 

[Greenheart]

So true! I've been thinking of a 'shop vac' more than any power-tool, lately.

The only question is whether to go cordless (because I already have Bosch 18v batteries) so it will be useful on any boat or car as well as in the shed...

...or whether the cordless ones are too gutless, and I'd probably pay less for a more powerful plug-in version which will keep the workspaces pristine.

 

[Kelpie]

I considered a cordless hoover and they all seemed incredibly puny.
Instead, I bought a 1000w wet and dry vac for £30. It's been absolutely excellent. Runs off my little Lidl generator or the inverter. Survived a major house renovation and a dinghy build, and is now on our liveaboard boat. Can't fault it for value for money!

 

[Daydream believer]

So true! I've been thinking of a 'shop vac' more than any power-tool, lately.

The only question is whether to go cordless (because I already have Bosch 18v batteries) so it will be useful on any boat or car as well as in the shed...

...or whether the cordless ones are too gutless, and I'd probably pay less for a more powerful plug-in version which will keep the workspaces pristine.

Then you need a Henry