New tools for workshop

[Ivan86]

I'm setting up a small workshop with my girlfriend in our garage for making our own furniture/presents for people/home renovations. I'm happy to invest a bit of money in it as we will both get plenty of enjoyment out of it. The one thing I'm not sure about is what to buy! Our garage is Approx 2.5m x 5m (too small for a car hence why we want to make better use of it). Safety is a high priority for me so I'm keen to get things which are reliable and safe to use. I'm also at a loss as to the best places to buy these things. I've had a look around and there's plenty of websites but I would rather buy from somewhere that comes recommended.

Current shopping list:

• 
  Workbench with vice etc.
  Clamps
  Table saw (I will want to make a sled for it too), I'm not sure what brands are reliable though or what level I need. Seen the DeWalt (a brand I recognise!) DW745 which has positive reviews but that's about it.
  Bandsaw - pretty sure it would be useful for things the table saw couldn't do? I'm willing to stand corrected though.
  Grinder - always useful
  Router - with table
  Planer/Thicknesser

If I've missed anything essential off let me know!

I'm not necessarily looking to buy everything right away. I'd rather get it as needs must depending on what we are making at the time.

Any insight is welcomed (homer)

Thanks

 

[DiscoStu]

CSMS would be on my list. You might find the table saw is too big in the space you have. I don't use my table saw much but use my CSMS and Bandsaw all the time. A planner thicknesser is probably not a requirement although I have a small cheapie have one and find it useful.


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[ED65]

Workbench with vice etc.
My advice on this would be build don't buy. I believe the rule of thumb is that there aren't any good workbenches out there without paying an arm and a leg, and besides aren't you are setting up to be a woodworker? A bench is hardly the most challenging thing you'll want to make Also building your own you can more easily get height, length and depth ideally suited to your space and preference.

Obviously you'll want to buy the vice if you want a conventional face or tail vice but a vice permanently mounted on the bench shouldn't be considered an essential. You can do a great deal with a number of drilled holes, a pair of holdfasts (bought or made) and some stops.

Clamps
Unless you intend to make any from scratch don't underestimate the cost here. Especially given the next rule of thumb: you can never have too many clamps.

Table saw
A table saw is not a workshop essential, just mentioning it in case you had gained the impression it was a must-have. A router and a bandsaw would be far above a table saw on my list.

Bandsaw
The ideal fixed power saw to get in the opinion of many. And if you had to have just one, due to space or budget limitation, this is the saw to have.

Grinder
Not an essential, but can be very useful depending on what you're into. Low priority IMO.

Router - with table
A good plunge router is probably a workshop must these days and considering what they can do I wouldn't argue. About the router table though, similar to the workbench do consider building rather than buying. Even a very basic one (just an extension of the bench for example) is perfectly adequate, see The Router Book.

Planer/Thicknesser
Must-have unless you're very fit and a masochist!

If I've missed anything essential off let me know!
Hand tools?
Measuring and marking stuff.
Thought about lighting?
Don't forget locks, a motion sensor or other security measures. See this recent thread, A visit from some would be thieves.

 

[Cheshirechappie]

I promise I'm not being snarky, but one thing you will need is some space to stand the project you're working on.

Garages don't just become dedicated workshops, they also have to store the gardening tools, bikes and general clutter. It's inevitable that even with careful racking and shelving, you'll lose some space to such items. A bench of some sort is pretty much essential, as is some means of storing tools, clamps and sundries (glue, screws, cabinet fittings, finishing materials) in such a way that they're easily accessible. With all those catered for, you probably won't have a great deal of space left, so it may be worthy thinking very carefully about what machinery you REALLY need. Something that's used only twice a year is a perishing nuisance getting in the way for the rest of the time, so is there another way of doing what it does?

Machinery generates dust and chippings, so some form of dust extraction is pretty well essential if you have any machinery. That will need a space. Many people say that the most useful machines are the ones that do 'grunt' work - ripping timber and planing to thickness. By the time you've got a bandsaw, a planer-thicknesser and a dust extractor in there, you'll be wondering where to stand!

 

[custard]

Do you plan on working with hardwoods, softwoods, sheet goods, or all of the above? What sort of projects do you have in mind, 12.5 square metres isn't a huge space and you'll need room for assembling and gluing up your projects as well as storing timber, so unless you're particularly fastidious or a complete masochist I wouldn't tackle anything, other than a bench, that has a long dimension above one metre.

There's nothing wrong with sorting yourself out a bench and going hand tools only at first. At least then you'll learn for yourself that the two most arduous jobs in woodworking are hand ripping long, thick lengths of timber and dimensioning to thickness with a hand plane. Luckily there are two machines that can take care of these jobs, neither has a huge footprint, and (amazingly for woodworking machinery) you don't have to spend serious money to get reasonable accuracy and reliability. These miracles are a bandsaw and a lunch box thicknesser. I built an awful lot of good quality hardwood furniture using not much more than this. Incidentally, they're also two of the safest machines around. Nothing in a workshop is completely benign, but these two are way safer than almost everything else. Just one thing, neither is much use for sheet goods like ply or MDF.

If you stick to "thin" blades in Stanley/Record planes, and avoid A2 steel in chisels, then you can probably get away without powered grinding. If you get seduced by bevel-up planes with their super thick blades or high speed steel chisels, then you're looking at hours of hard monotonous work to keep them sharp without a linisher or a grinder with decent replacement stones.

You don't mention dust extraction even though you say you're safety conscious. Losing a finger would certainly spoil my day, but getting nasal cancer would be a real bummer.

Routers have revolutionised woodworking, but getting the most from them isn't at all straightforward. In addition they're pretty dangerous until you know what you're doing. You could follow a book, or trust your luck to the very iffy advice on the internet (problem with the internet is you don't know if you're talking to a time served cabinet maker, or just another weekend warrior fantasising about the workshop he'd like some day), if you're smart you'll keep some of your budget back and invest in face to face training. Peter Sefton, David Charlesworth, and many others offer well regarded short courses that will give you a solid grounding. If you have no alternative to books and the internet then tread very carefully, as well as plain wrong advice you need to avoid conflicting advice. There's usually many different ways of achieving a given end, but you won't get far if you get spun around by the often bad tempered spats over alternative woodworking orthodoxies. Robert Wearing and Paul Sellers are good teachers in print and on the web. Neither are perfect (Robert Wearing is a bit dated and needs a jig for tying his shoelaces, Paul Sellers seems to be getting a bit weird and messianic as he gets older and his designs are locked in the swirly carpets era), but both have the huge virtues of being consistent, comprehensive, and rooted in hard won practical good sense.

Finally a word about clamps. Don't buy any until you know what your making, the best ones for furniture may be completely wrong for toys. And secondly, serious woodworkers call them cramps not clamps!

Good luck!

 

[JSW]

serious woodworkers call them cramps not clamps!

Amen!

 

[Wizard9999]

serious woodworkers call them cramps not clamps!

Amen!

I understand and all that (though I often get it wrong), I just wish I knew why :lol: .

 

[Wizard9999]

What sort of projects do you have in mind, 12.5 square metres isn't a huge space and you'll need room for assembling and gluing up your projects as well as storing timber, so unless you're particularly fastidious or a complete masochist I wouldn't tackle anything, other than a bench, that has a long dimension above one metre.

I really would counsel thinking about this advice. I am a little ahead of you in the process, but not far. My workshop is a shade under 15m square and I remember being told to be careful about filling it with big bits of kit and that I needed space for assembly, etc. I ploughed on with buying all the nice things I wanted and guess what, all those experienced people were right. I recently knocked up a quick mdf shelf unit to fit in our under stairs cupboard and found myself breathing in every time I needed to get from one side of the workshop to the other .

I am now thinking seriously about building a second workshop next to the original for assembly and finishing!

Terry.

 

[Ivan86]

Thanks for the many replies, it's great seeing so many people contribute and help me out! I'll try my best to reply to everything.

DiscoStu
CSMS = compound mitre saw?

ED65
workbench - you are right, I should be building my own. I was just testing the water to see if there was a good value for money mass produced one that could get me started while I get round to making one.
clamps(/cramps) - noted, I will have to shop around and try and work out how many I may need
bandsaw - ok bandsaw definitely will be purchased, suggestions on model? I'd want one capable of doing mitre cuts on sheet material if I'm not getting a table saw, so table tilt would be useful.
tablesaw - table saw is a maybe then, what sort of table saw would be best for the floor space I've got? I've seen 'portable' ones which might work well as I can store them at the back when not in use.
grinder - I actually meant a belt/disc sander, not sure why I wrote grinder!
router - excellent, will look at that book and will make my own table. suggestions on which routers to look at?
planer/thicknesser - I am neither fit or a masochist so one will be required! suggestions for models?
hand tools - I've a number of hand tools already which is why I'm looking at machinery now I've got used to doing a few things the old fashioned way. I'm happy to just buy any I'm missing as needed. Same for measuring equipment.
Lighting - I have considered this and will be upgrading the light in the garage from a single 40w bulb (haha) to a decent strip light. also will be looking at adding additional power sockets as there's only one at the moment.
Security - noted and has been considered, we live in a quiet neighbourhood but it's always good to be vigilant!

Cheshirechappie
You are very right, I know it's not a huge space so hope to make best use out of it. We aren't using the garage for storing anything else currently other than a few decorating supplies and the tumble dryer. We've only just moved in so don't have any clutter to get in the way thankfully. I've already got a decent set of drawers for storing my existing tools which has plenty of capacity left. I'm actually an architect by day so space planning is one of my favourite things! Making the best use of this space will be a fun challenge.

Dust - We have a good spare vacuum cleaner which we were planning on using in the workshop. Would this be sufficient or should we be looking at something more specialised? I am aware of the many risks on this front so will want to ensure we are sorted.

custard
Material wise, all of the above eventually I would imagine. Though I need to find a reliable source for materials too at some point. I'm struggling to find a good plywood supplier, reviews always seem to indicate poor quality materials as they arrive. But that's a whole different matter! We got a fair bit of rafter storage in the garage which is ideal for storing timber (though not so much sheet materials). That was my plan as we aren't planning on making any huge items currently so that should help with the space limitations. Luckily I'm very fastidious (the girlfriend not so much though).
I've done the hand tools a lot already which is why we are looking to expand with some machinery.
Thanks for the suggestions on routers, I will look into the sources you have suggested!
Cramps it is haha!

Wizard9999
Great to hear from someone having gone through a similar process recently. I will do may best to not learn the lesson the hard way like if sounds you have
We do have a large driveway just outside the garage which will be ideal for assembling anything large (weather permitting!) We had considered building an actual workshop in the garden but for the mean time this is cost prohibitive so are trying to make do with what we've got.

 

[Wizard9999]

bandsaw - ok bandsaw definitely will be purchased, suggestions on model? I'd want one capable of doing mitre cuts on sheet material if I'm not getting a table saw, so table tilt would be useful.
tablesaw - table saw is a maybe then, what sort of table saw would be best for the floor I've got?...

You may want to look at the recent thread on Tablesaw vs Track Saw. I am no expert, but I don't think a bandsaw is the tool for cutting up large panels of sheet goods. If as you say you have an area of drive outside the garage you could have a set where you cut sheet goods with a track saw on some trestles or similar. Part of the issue is even if you get a tablesaw in your garage a full sheet of mdf is not going to be easy to move around. I have a table saw, but like many others break full sheets down with my track saw anyway.

In terms of bandsaw there will be many who will point you at a second hand example, very good advice if you are mechanically handy. Whether new or used Record Power bandsaws get a generally good write-up so I would certainly have them on the short list you chose from, but then I'm biased as I have a RP bandsaw :lol: .

Terry.

 

[Terry - Somerset]

I fitted out a single garage of similar size a few years ago with woodturning in mind. A few thoughts:

Dust extraction - Basic £100 extractor with 100mm ducting and 4/5 blast gates. Noisy so only on when a machine is actually in use but probably catches 80/90% of dust from bandsaw, thicknesser and sander. Can be located below another machine (sander?) to save floor space. Vacuum hose attached for workshop cleaning.

Power sockets - think of the number required then double it - may then have enough for hand held tool, worklights, new purchases etc.

Workbench - make your own is good advice - but you can find a reasonable lightweight bench for around £200 (Rutlands). This is quite possibly about the same as materials (beech) and vice will cost and get you up and running quicker. It is ok for smaller/light work - if you plan larger heavier projects with lots of chisel work it will probably be inadequate.

Pillar drill - could very usefully be added to your list if you want to drill accurate holes. Can also be used as sander with a sanding drum - not as good as bobbin sander but useful for occasional work.

Where possible put machines on wheels - they can be pushed into a corner when not in use.

Lighting - perhaps it is the passing of the years but I originally put in two flourescents and need to upgrade to improve the lighting. Paint walls white as this reflects what light there is far better than bricks or blocks.

Terry

 

[Ivan86]

You may want to look at the recent thread on Tablesaw vs Track Saw. I am no expert, but I don't think a bandsaw is the tool for cutting up large panels of sheet goods. If as you say you have an area of drive outside the garage you could have a set where you cut sheet goods with a track saw on some trestles or similar. Part of the issue is even if you get a tablesaw in your garage a full sheet of mdf is not going to be easy to move around. I have a table saw, but like many others break full sheets down with my track saw anyway.

In terms of bandsaw there will be many who will point you at a second hand example, very good advice if you are mechanically handy. Whether new or used Record Power bandsaws get a generally good write-up so I would certainly have them on the short list you chose from, but then I'm biased as I have a RP bandsaw :lol: .

Terry.

I wasn't planning on doing large cuts with the sheet material on the bandsaw, I have a Fein multimaster I use for making rough cuts then intend to use the bandsaw to get them more exact.

Had a look at RP bandsaws and I think the BS12 looked about right but I think it's now discontinued. I think it's been replaced by the BS300E which is £100 more than the BS12 was. Anyway it has the throat depth I'm after and the wheels will be useful in our tight space for moving it around.

 

[Ivan86]

I fitted out a single garage of similar size a few years ago with woodturning in mind. A few thoughts:

Dust extraction - Basic £100 extractor with 100mm ducting and 4/5 blast gates. Noisy so only on when a machine is actually in use but probably catches 80/90% of dust from bandsaw, thicknesser and sander. Can be located below another machine (sander?) to save floor space. Vacuum hose attached for workshop cleaning.

Power sockets - think of the number required then double it - may then have enough for hand held tool, worklights, new purchases etc.

Workbench - make your own is good advice - but you can find a reasonable lightweight bench for around £200 (Rutlands). This is quite possibly about the same as materials (beech) and vice will cost and get you up and running quicker. It is ok for smaller/light work - if you plan larger heavier projects with lots of chisel work it will probably be inadequate.

Pillar drill - could very usefully be added to your list if you want to drill accurate holes. Can also be used as sander with a sanding drum - not as good as bobbin sander but useful for occasional work.

Where possible put machines on wheels - they can be pushed into a corner when not in use.

Lighting - perhaps it is the passing of the years but I originally put in two flourescents and need to upgrade to improve the lighting. Paint walls white as this reflects what light there is far better than bricks or blocks.

Terry

Some great advice there!

Dust - something like this?
power sockets - sound advice, will make sure I get plenty put in.
pillar drill - I did consider it and may still if I find it difficult with the hand drill going forward
wheels - yup that's what I was thinking too, will allow me to share the working space between machines rather than allowing a full zone for each.
lighting/paint - I think fluorescents will do us for the time being and we have 10 litres of masonry paint currently sat in the garage already waiting

Thanks.

 

[DiscoStu]

CSMS - Yes Compound Sliding Mitre Saw.

It is interesting how different people offer different advice. You could take away my planer thicknesser but not my CSMS. I don't use my table saw much because of space. Although I have it on castors it's still a pain to manoeuvre into space to use.

I built my own benches and if you can bolt them into the wall and they'll be rock solid.

I did design my own dust extraction system and would strongly urge you to consider that as it's made the workshop a lot cleaner but also safer. I don't think there is any magic formulae for this. Also having seen pillar drills mentioned I got a mid range Clarke one on a bit of a whim and I use it a lot and wouldn't want to be without it. It doesn't take up huge amounts of space but drills straight and makes life easy.


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[BearTricks]

Even cleaning up cuts on sheet material on a band saw might be more trouble than its worth unless you're only making small items. When you get that small however you might be better off using solid hardwood. Look in to track saws.

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[Roughcut]

Even cleaning up cuts on sheet material on a band saw might be more trouble than its worth unless you're only making small items. When you get that small however you might be better off using solid hardwood. Look in to track saws.
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I would definitely agree.
I'm only a DIYer but the money I spent on a decent Track Saw was money well spent in my humble opinion.
I love it!

 

[Jelly]

I used to have a workshop in a garage of that size, with a Planer Thicknesser, Radial Arm Saw, two large sawhorses and a Workbench. I also had three whitewater canoes and my tumble drier and freezer in there.

The RAS was personally the tool I found most useful as it's able to be used as a Crosscut saw, Ripsaw (with great attention to setup), tennoner, and moulder (with even greater care to setup than ripping); much (unfairly) maligned machines in some quarters, but by far one of the most versatile around.

I'd definitely get a bench in there and get a feel for what you want to do before buying any machines, you'll understand what space you have left then. (Don't be afraid to consider machines you can wheel outside to use in good weather, I was able to process 4.8m boards through my Planer if I took it out onto the hard standing, which would have been impossible inside.)

 

[paulrockliffe]

For your cramps, set up a search on Gumtree, check it every day and buy any that come up near by. They usually come up as part of clearances for buttons. I've got a pretty decent selection now, all second hand. Aldi F-cramps are very cheap and decent, not seen them in the shops for a while.

Do you have options for roof storage? If you get a winch (mine was £10 on Gumtree) you can get even your heavy bits of kit out of the way with a bit of thought.

Tracks saw now, tablesaw later if you're really need one I reckon. I hardly use mine, it takes up too much space for a garage.

If you find a decent supplier, you can buy your stock PAR and dimensioned to begin with, which means you don't need to be able to rip or thickness. You can setup a router table fence as a joiner too for boards up to a couple of inches thick fairly easily.

Space. Have a proper look for wasted space, it's everywhere. Fill your bench with shallow drawers, to swallow all the little tools without wasting depth. Bigger stuff get in the ceiling or wall cupboards. Any kit that needs a cabinet (put wheels on everything) can be filled with drawers too.

Offcuts - You won't want to throw useful material out, can you get this into the roof space? If you're anything like me you'll end up with loads of space taken up by stuff you'll never use. If you get rid of it, you'll need it the following week.

Wall benches that fold down form the wall are a great idea for extra work space. Not much good for bashing stuff about, but great for assembly etc.

Dust extraction; if you put it outside the garage in a small lean-too it'll do a better job of removing dust, take up less space and be quieter for you. But noiser for neighbours and it will remove heat from the garage too. You could get the right machine into the roof space, though you'll want to empty it more often!

 

[DiscoStu]

I would agree about putting stuff on wheels.

I have a work bench that has the following on it:

Wet stone / grinder
Disc / belt sander
Bobbin sander
Planer thicknesser
CSMS
Pillar Drill
Bandsaw

The bench is quite deep so I can pull forward the machine I want to use and leave the rest pushed back.

I have my benches set quite high as I'm tall and hate bending but also it means I can have stuff underneath, so under that bench I have a table saw and under the extension of that I have my vac and cyclone and also under the bench I have my router table (with systainers stored under the table).

The table saw and router table are on casters so I can move them.

This is not the best photo to show you but it gives you the idea.

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[Wizard9999]

Convinced I saw a post on here a while back where somebody had built a bench using same principle as Stu, but he had made a sliding platform for the tools. I guess that would mean that a deeper bench was not required to use the same approach. Damned if I can find it though.

Terry.