My War

[Bear]

Greetings all!

This is my first post and as a complete newbie to your forum, I would appreciate some advice. I'm in the forces and move frequently - 6 houses in the last 8 years. I plan to buy house in which to settle in a couple of years - with a workshop of course. Until then it is the monotomy of moving and quarters. You will appreciate that I have little opportunity to establish a permant workshop.

I am a complete novice with a basic set of equipment: Router (no table), electric planer, handheld jigsaw, belt sander. Up until now I have played around with chopping and carving boards and recipie book holders. I now want to start building furniture. I need to invest in to some equipment that will enable me to rip planks etc. I have been saving for a table saw and then a band saw in time. However, I have seen it suggested that you can do most things with a band saw. Is this so. Can I rip/square long planks on one. In your eminient opinions, what would be a good entry/intermediate standard model for approx £300 - £400 price bracket - or indeed cheaper if a decent model exists. I am sure that you will appreciate my need to save space and for my equipment to be relatively mobile.

Additionally, I presently tend to use my belt sander to achieve the shapes and curves I desire, This obviously creates a great deal of dust. While I wear a mask, my equipment is located in the garage, as are my childrens bikes etc. While I ensure that all equipment is safely stowed, I do worry about the film of dust that settles everywhere. I know I need a dust extractor, but am at a loss on what would best suit my needs and preserve both my and my childrens health. Again, what is the best product for my needs.

Lastly, does anyone operate in the Exeter area who might be willing to share a few tips/mentor, or able to recommend a woodworking club locally?

I remain grateful in anticipation of your advice.

 

[condeesteso]

Good questions. I expect you will be advised to get a table saw... but I am a big fan of band saws and believe you can achieve a lot with one, and as you may realise, they take little floor space and can work happily against a wall (maybe wheeled out for longer boards).
In you price range (which is very reasonable) I would say try and find a good second-hand one. There are basically 2 types - floor standing, and smaller mounted on legs. You may get a floor standing one second-hand in your budget. It will take up no more space than a leg-mounted, but will be a more robust machine.
There are second-hand Scheppachs, Elektra-Beckum, Record Power, maybe an older Startrite - a very quick look on ebay now found a Record Power (on stand) but with extractor, a nice Startrite 351 (at £127 at the moment), and several others worth a look. You could get a gem for around £200.

Invest in a good blade as it makes a massive difference (everyone here will send you to Ian at Tuffsaws for an M42 bi-metal blade). Also one day try a meat & fish blade (Ian has them) - truly excellent and inexpensive for more precise work (cutting tenon cheeks, bookmatch veneers etc).

Setting the guides and the fence is easy but important - more info on that here generally. I am a band saw fan so good plan in my opinion! Happy hunting.

 

[goldeneyedmonkey]

Hi Bear,

Search for 'Duct Extraction' on the forum search facility and you should find most of what you need. If you are wearing a mask then you can probably get away with just using a 'shop vac', something with a power-take off on it (you plug said power tool into the actual vac and it starts up automatically when you start using the tool). Also, you probably know, but periodically open up the garage door and air the whole lot out to get rid of the fine dust that you can't see, this is the stuff that presents the greatest risk to your health.

I'd also recommend buying a second hand bandsaw, you'll get a much better bit of kit for your money. If you do end up going down the table saw route instead, or as well, then a lot of folk with limited space get the Axminster TS200. Very small footprint and there are good mods that you can do to it to get it working a treat (again have a search on here for info).

I'd recommend getting a random orbital sander if you can stretch to it in the near future (The Metabo SXE450 is the Dogs ********), built like a tank and won't let you down.

Good luck with it all, and you've certainly found the right place to get any questions answered. It's a great site/ resource.

Cheers _Dan

 

[condeesteso]

Dust extraction - just a quickie - have a look at the Macallister (spelling??!) in B&Q for about 70 quid - with power outlet so it auto switches the tool, and 10 sec delay at end. I got one for mitre saw and 1/4 router in a table, and it is truly brilliant for the money. Really does work, no bags, just the cartridge filter, 5 yr guarantee etc. I was planning doing a mini review of it here as it is a really good cheap solution for smaller machines and handhelds.

 

[Bear]

Thanks for the advice chaps. condeesteso what is a bookmatch veneer?

 

[marcros]

I was planning doing a mini review of it here as it is a really good cheap solution for smaller machines and handhelds.

I would be interested to see that

 

[condeesteso]

OK, I'll get a few pics and do a mini user review, it's a handy low-cost machine. Sorry Bear, bookmatched is where you cut a board through its long dimension (say its 5 x 1" for example, cut it into two 5 x 1/2s) and open the cut pieces like a book - the grain is mirror image. Used on inlays, raised panels etc - looks very good. But bookmatched can apply to any cut where you then open it like a book and use the 2 cut faces as the show face.

 

[Sawyer]

For a first machine purchase, I'd go for a bandsaw. They are exceptionally versatile and will do much of the timber conversion that a table saw does, albeit with less speed and accuracy.

One of the table saw's chief limitations is depth of cut, typically about 3 inches on an entry level machine, whereas the same class of bandsaw will do considerably more. Table saws need considerably more motor power too, so tend to be bigger, heavier and more expensive.

Also, from a beginner's point of view, I'd say the bandsaw is a lot safer - there is no chance of 'kickback' or the other hazards associated with circular saws.

If you go for a bandsaw, get dust masks & ear defenders at the same time - they give off a lot of fine dust and the noise they make is horrible!

Whatever you decide - good luck.

 

[The Bear]

Just a thought

I used to work at RAF Odiham. Like many bases this has an on site carpenters shop which proper big boys toys. If you plan to settle near a base you know, you need to make friends with these guys who will, I'm sure, do some of the prep you describe for a few beer tokens, and probably teach you a load as well.

Mark

The other Bear on this website

 

[Bear]

Mark - Good advice. Never under-estimate the power of a six pack, jar of coffee or packet of hob nobs - the steelest dunking biscuit of them all (As quoted by Lee Evans)!

 

[Bear]

Condeesteso, TY for the steer. I am enlightened.