Advice for a workshop "newbie" please

[Vinny]

Gents

Newbie to the site and after a bit of advice:

I'm in the process of buying my first house (have spent past 22 years living in RAF married quarters all over the world). The house has a tandem double garage which will enable me to realise a life long dream of having my own workshop. All my previous wood working has been carried out on a multitude of tressles and workmates with a variety of bosch's finest hand power tools, I have coped quite well with this unorthodox set up and have completed a variety of projects to a fair standard - considering the limitations of hand power tools on the accuracy front.
Now on to the question, my first purchase for the workshop is to be a table saw. I have researched these at length and am thinking seriously about getting an Axminster AW10BSB2. My main concern is that I hope that i'm not biting off a little more than I can chew, I realise that there are far cheaper saws on the market but I am a firm believer in the old adage "buy cheap - buy twice".

Basically chaps I'd like your input, I've read through several hours of the threads (benefit of quiet night shifts) and from what i've read theres some sound advice out there from some very experienced woodworkers and would appreciate some guidance.

So thats it, is the Axminster a bit over the top for a first table saw?
Over to you guys

Regards

Vinny

 

[Chems]

Your spot on with the buy cheap buy twice, buy the best you can afford at the time.

For serious woodworking I think I have got the list of big power tools down in this order if its any use to you.

Table Saw or BandSaw
Router 1/2
Planer/Thicknesser
Chop Saw

Coupled with some decent dust extraction you should be away.

 

[The Shark]

Vinny,
Welcome to the forum, I am sure greater minds than mine will advise you on the pros and cons of table saws.
I do however also think you are spot on with "buy cheap, buy twice".
Knowing now what I do, I would give some consideration to a bandsaw - really useful tool IMHO.

"Chocks away"

Malc :wink:

 

[xraymtb]

I would second the bandsaw - its the first piece of machinery I bought and I'd recommend it to anyone starting out.

As far as table saws go, if you are sure you want/need a table saw, then buy the best you can afford. Its not the place you want to be cutting costs and saving money.

 

[maltrout512]

Hi to the forum. The table saw that you mentioned, well I bought the 12" saw from axminster. It's beefed up in size etc to the 10 which can be a problem when space is limited. My thoughts are that it is an exellent machine and I don't see you being disappointed with the 10. I did by some top grade blades which always help. I wish you all the best and I am sure that you will post any progress on your setup. We are all quite nosey. Seeing what others have and do.

 

[Niki]

Welcome to the forum

I'm only an amateur but, as for "Buy cheap - buy twice"...I'm half and half....

On the table saw - no compromise, I bout this one and am very satisfied with it
http://www.dm-tools.co.uk/product.php/s ... ool/Metabo

As for routers, 2 Hitachi's and one Bosch but that's where my "machinery" ends.

My belt sander is Makita, and the other 2 ROS are Makita and Bosch (modified for better dust collection) but all the rest (drill press, hand drills, circular saws and alike) are some "Made in Chiwan" with all those bombastic names that they stick on them...

niki

 

[xraymtb]

I'm only an amateur but, as for "Buy cheap - buy twice"...I'm half and half....

Some things can be bought cheap - others shouldnt. A table saw definitely shouldn't be done on the cheap though.

 

[Escudo]

Welcome aboard Vinny.

I would like to endorse the view that a bandsaw is a better choice than a table saw to begin with. Although, it depends on the type of woodwork you plan to do.

The bandsaw is more versatile, and will take up less space. I have the Axminster SBW4300 a good choice, and widely respected amongst forum members.

A planer thicknesser is also an important machine. I would be lost without mine. Dust extraction with these big machines is also important.

Hope my thoughts are helpful. The search facility will throw up some previous threads on these choices.

All the best, Tony.

 

[Grinding One]

A table saw is going to give you Straight cuts....a band saw will tend to wander until you get used to it....Never had a table saw blade wander,but its pretty hard to cut circles on table saws.So as for me a wood carver and handy man of sorts My table saw purchase was a Delta 10" cabinet saw,then I bought a Delta Band saw,along with a Delta Joiner.Then a Delta Drill press (I think you guys over there call them Pillar s.....
Over the years I have bought a lot of tools Hand an Power,but not too may Battery operated tools because I do not like to buy replacement batterys. I know some people swear by them but you could buy another tool for the price of a battery.I am never far from electricity so I am corded.
I always try to find the best tool! I do not want to shell out more money later because it will not work for me.
My sugestion is see where and what you want to go with wood then take a class on the subject and see what the instructors are useing for tools and ask questions as to why they are using these tools instead of those tools.You will be suprised at the answers they give...make up your own mind after that class.

 

[Grinding One]

1 after thought but over here when fellow woodworker pass on to the pearlly gates ,the relatives offer up his tools at auction ,now this is a good place to find quality tools if you know what you are looking for and they usually are way cheaper ....but knowing tools is the big if here,so read up a lot and get out there an pick some good ones up.

 

[seaco]

Hi Vinny

Welcome to the madhouse, I personally think the TS is the heart of a workshop but as a first purchase it depends on the kind of work you'll do most of if it's more intricate then the BS is king if it's cutting sheet stock or ripping the the TS rules in reality you'll need both to make life easier...

Do not I repeat 'DO NOT' buy cheap you'll be put off wood working before you start, I love my tools and it's a joy to use them and they make it all worthwhile...

 

[user 5053]

Yes, a table saw / circular saw would be useful but my first purchases would be a large band saw, pillar drill, sanding disk, grind stone and dust extraction etc.

 

[Sawdust]

Since buying my table saw, I find I use my bandsaw very little so if I was starting again, I would get a table saw first, followed closely by a planer thicknesser (or better still separate planer and thicknesser).

I have the Fox saw which is very similar to the Axminster you are looking at and would certainly recommend it. It does take up a lot of space, especially with the sliding carriage but if you have a double garage you should be OK.

Don't forget dust extraction as well

Cheers
Mike