Buying advice please!

[Scottie12]

Hi.

I'm new to this forum. Please be gentle. I'd like to ask some advice. I'm slowly but surely getting into the market for a table saw, a mitre saw and a plunge saw. I've decided for the table saw on the Bosch GTS10XC, for the mitre saw the Bosch GCM 12 GDL Axial Glide and for the plunge saw, the Festool TS55. Being not particularly well off... I have to buy these one at a time for a workshop I've been longing to set up for years as I finally have some space. Just wondering what people's thoughts are as to which I should buy first so as to be able to try out the biggest range of projects. It's probably going to take at least a year or two for me to do enough overtime at work in order to pay for them all

Any advice appreciated!

 

[marcros]

what do you plan to make? there are some things that a table saw will do that the track saw (and mft type table) will not do, but it may be worth considering.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

No bandsaw on your list?

 

[lurker]

As Marcos says depends on what you plan to make.
For me a bandsaw would be first

The tools you are looking at would be good for a site joiner.

I'm not saying you should buy from them but I believe there is an Axminster in High Wycombe you might like to go and have a browse. Maybe best to leave your wallet at home until you are sure what you want :lol:

 

[pike]

Hi Scottie12!

I'd list the top 3 or 4 things you want to build then think about how you will do it. That might help you decide what to buy first and if you can manage with just the track saw or table saw to start with.

Obviously none of the three you listed will let you do curved work.

I'm using a TS55 and a bandsaw but I started out just doing all minimal straight line simple furniture with a noisy table saw. If I was doing more work than I do now I'd probably have a little table saw for when I need to do multiple narrow rips but for now I'm managing with the track saw.

There is always a different way of looking at things but for me the mitre saw is the one I have lower down my list and very very handy but not essential. Again that depends on what your are building. Although I do have a super cheap b&q one for outdoor rough cutting.

Don't forget some sort of dust extractor.

Have fun and stay safe,
Carl.

 

[ED65]

A bandsaw would also be my first major saw purchase if I were setting up a workshop. You might like to look at related discussion in this other thread started a few days back new-tools-for-workshop-t94451.html

 

[Cheshirechappie]

Hi Scotty - welcome to the forum, and to the world of making sawdust!

The advice given so far to think first about what you want to make, then decide what tools you need to make it is good.

If you don't mind a suggestion, a good first project would be a bench, because they make most woodworking much easier. There are some very posh bench designs about, which at this stage you should ignore completely (maybe in a few years!). A first bench just needs to be rigid, preferably heavy so that it doesn't move about when being worked on, and have a top that's pretty flat and at a reasonable working height. Don't make it pretty, and don't bother about fancy joints - just nail or screw it together. Use whatever wood you can lay your hands on reasonably easily. A vice attached to the front is a big help.

You mention machines, and whilst they can be very handy for doing large volumes of work and easing the 'grunt' of ripping timber to size and planing it square, they really can't replace a bit of skill and confidence with some basic hand tools. You can't do much woodwork of any merit without some basic sawing and planing competence; however versatile machines are, they can't do everything. A couple of hardpoint saws, one handsaw and one backsaw would be a good start, together with a decent handplane (nip over to the handtools section of the forum for some advice here - there are a lot of cheap planes on the market that don't always function as they should!). Also worth thinking about are a few chisels - you don't need many - and a mallet of some sort. Also essential is some measuring and marking equipment; a tape measure, a six-inch steel rule, a try square and a never-ending supply of pencils would be a good start. Then a means to keep the edge-tools sharp, and something to keep them in.

One big advantage to this approach is that it will make the most of the budget. Only spend 'big' money on machines that will really help - and find out by experience where that help will count most. With a small workshop, it's very easy to clutter it with 'nice' tools and machines that end up being used only occasionally, and just get in the way the rest of the time. Space is valuable and useful - don't waste it!

Good luck - and above all, have fun!

 

[Steve Maskery]

All good advice above.

1 Decide what sort of work you want to do. If using a lot of MDF, a track saw is a wise move. You can also use it for cross-cutting with a simple box jig.

2 Whilst I do love my TS, it wouldn't be (and indeed wasn't) my first big purchase. A bandsaw will be more useful.

3 The Bosch axi-glide is excellent (I have one and love it) but it is far from necessary in a beginner's kit.

I'd heed CheshireChappie's hand-tool advice above, if I were you.

 

[Scottie12]

Hi everyone

Thanks all for the advice everyone

Cheshirechappie a bench is pretty much at the top of my list of major projects I'd like to start with. My idea was exactly that. To get a few long lasting hand tools but actually I thought to ridiculously over engineer a bench as a means of trying out various types of joints I've got no experience with.

I ideally want to build a few projects around the house.

An enclosed clothing sorting hamper disguised as a chest of drawers.
A couple of built in bench style seats for the dodgy leanto that we use as a utility/boot room/storage area/dog drying off area.
A frame to hold sliding doors for a full length wardrobe.
Loads of different pallet wood projects I've seen online

Things I've already put together.
A window seat for the bay window. (This wouldn't have been possible without hiring a mitre saw for the 60deg angles)
Built in shelving and cupboards around the chimney breast and alcoves.

So all of the screwing and drilling and cutting was done on the dining room table only barely tolerated by my long suffering wife! I put all of that together using glue and pocket holes simply for speed. I was feeling the whole time how much a little skill in joinery would have made me more proud of the work I've got done so far.

All of the plywood I used was cut to order by the supplier I used a million miles away. That's why I wanted the ts55 so I could have done all the cutting myself.

Lurker... Your name is very appropriate for what I do at Axminster. I'm always in there looking at everything and never buying anything. I'm sure they're sick of me in there!

I'm interested that you've all been pro getting a bandsaw first. I've looked at record power as an option but I've never considered it to be priority number one. It's something I will definitely consider.

 

[Zeddedhed]

For the projects you've listed I'd suggest the tracksaw and a long rail and a decent jigsaw. That and a good selection of well chosen hand tools as previously mentioned and you'd be off and running.

 

[Wizard9999]

I've looked at record power as an option but I've never considered it to be priority number one. It's something I will definitely consider.

If you do decide to go for a Record Power if you can try to get to one of the shows they attend / run as they often do extra special deals just for those shows. That will help stretch the funds a bit further as you as getting your kit.

Terry.

 

[Roughcut]

I would choose a Tracksaw
Two 1400 length tracks with joining bar.
A Biscuit Jointer or Domino.
A quality ROS.
Router.
And if funds allow a parallel guide system for the Tracksaw, Bench and Parf Dogs and some decent clamps.