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John - I had the same trouble. The trick is not to 'fight' with the wood, just let the saw sort itself out - all you have to do is steer it and remember that it cuts on the pull stroke. The knack is to remember that it's cutting when you pull, which does take some getting used to for us Brits! I...

I knew someone would rise to the bait...!

Drew - go for the Scheppach Basato 3 bandsaw. It's only £20 more than the EB 316, but it's a much better saw. The fence is brilliant, it has an induction motor and variable speed. That's got to be worth £20 of anybody's money! Aleks is dead right about the induction motor on the saw table. The...

Hi Wood1000 Yes - woodtek's right. They have a large (and seemingly growing) range. It's all budget stuff, all perfectly usable, but aimed at the DIY market rather than the woodworker. They use LOTS of plastic wherever they can. I've got a drill press for occasional use made by them, and I have...

Just a quickie - I was in Axminster at Faversham recently and one of those Japanese style handsaws took my fancy. It looked ideal for dovetailing. Got it home, had a cut or two and absolutely LOVED it! I've since bought another three progressively larger saws. They are a pleasure to use with...

Tommo - Woodtek's advice was spot on. My ten bob's worth would be to spend your budget on the best table saw you can find and a decent router. That will get you going and enable you to do a helluva lot. The rest can wait until you've sorted out some more dosh! B&Q do a budget 1/2 router in the...

The very item, and I agree. It really is great. The Axminster is a Lada, and the EB is a Mercedes. Both will get you there, but I know which one I'd rather be driving!

If you've got a twin pole or slotted bed, you can make or adapt a funnel to slide along it and that works very well. Shavings are pretty safe in terms of respiratory effects, but the dust from scraping and finishing can be very bad. Some wood dust is carcinogenic. Axminster's stayput looks like...

Hegner's lathes are regarded as the best there is by pretty much all the turners I know, if that helps. I don't own one, but aspire to do so one day!

There's a review of the Axminster APTC table saw on the main site, and when I first got the saw, I held almost precisely the same opinions, but that was probably because I was so delighted to have finally got a table saw! However, after a year's general use (not heavy use, by any means) the saw...

I thought you might say that....! Thanks for your kind words about my webbery - I only wish I could get my woodery to a similar standard! Why was everybody up late last night? Dunno. Iraq?

I've got a couple of old planes that could do with your magic touch!

It is a temperature thing, evidently. One of the bonding agents (or something) changes structure if it freezes. When it thaws out and is used, it dries opaque instead of transparent. An instrument maker told me about this, which is why I'm a bit vague on the detail. He also gave me a great tip...

Araldite instant. Amazing stuff, if a little pricey. Once set (and it is quick) you'll break the wood before the joint. Terrific gear!

The MDF doors you're talking about are made from compression moulds - it's virtually impossible to make them any other way. You certainly couldn't do it with a router - apart from anything else, you'd blunt your cuttters in no time and end up with lifelong respitory problems! If you have a...

Hi Chris I'm not familiar with this particular sawtable, but you should be able to adjust the line of the sawblade with a couple of screws located under the table. I think it moves the entire motor assembly a few degrees either way. I'm sure someone on the forum will know. Take a look in the...

I don't own a drill press, but I was checking out the presses in my local B&Q while my wife was wandering around the Christmas stuff, and they looked pretty impressive for the price. They were very solidly built, rock steady and had a good level of control, as far as I could see.

I'm probably asking a stupid question (it has been known...), but I understand that we can't use Dado heads here in the UK. Could some kind soul tell me why on earth not?

James - am I right in thinking that the blue machine takes all the same jigs and does the same job, but is plastic-bodied instead of steel? I'm in exactly the same position as Noel, and as I do a bit of turning, the whole package comes to a right few bob!

Paul - count yourself lucky about the motorways! The UK magazines look pretty well covered, and as for forums, we've been pretty thin on the ground until this one, which looks as though it's going to be great.