new workshop

[Joe Saw]

Hi

I will be moving into a shiny new workshop in the new year and am planing on buying some new machines. I have been scratching my head for a few months now and am still not sure what to get, I have an £8 grand budjet and about 800 square foot of space.
I will be making mostly fiited furniture and some freestanding pieces to order. The things on my shopping list at the mo are

dust extractors
panel saw
mitre saw
bandsaw
planer/thickneser
morticer
and possibly a drum sander

Ive heard good things about the record power bs350 but as for the others im not sure

What machines would you guys recommend?

 

[awkwood]

Hi
I would recommend you spend the bulk of your money on a good table saw and planer/thicknesser
I started with a schepach tku site saw with cross cuting attachment
and a 10" planer thicknesser and a basic set of power tools
I added machines as i needed them morticer and bandsaw etc
I replaced the saw with a sedgwick ta315, its been a real work horse
The planer/thicknesser is a sedgwick pt 10" another really good tool
I also find that i use a mafell saw and track alot

 

[jlawrence]

I can't imagine having 8K to spend. But obviously you're going to be doing this commercially.
First thing to consider is extraction - chip, sawdust and airdust - along with suitable ducting. Pay close attention to creating a finishing area. As a hobby you might get away with combining work and finishing areas but I don't think that would cut it in a commercial environment. Also, consider heating - if you've not already got any. You need to be able to work comfortably year round in order to be commercial.
Then look as said at the table saw - or were you thinking of using the panel saw as that - and planer/thicknesser.

 

[ondablade]

My thought would be similar, but slightly differently put: a lot depends on what quality level you need and choose to aim for.

It's easy to get into saying my budget is £X, and i need these five machines and set your budget accordingly. i.e. to feel it's necessary to do it all in one go.

But bluntly if this forces you low in market there's a lot there that's not worth having if you want to work to a high standard and not be fighting the equipment all the time. I don't know where Record stuff fits.

Beware of the fact that most mag reviews don't really differentiate between quality levels/price points - when they say 'good' (to be charitable) the words 'for the money' are usually somewhere unspoken in the background. All the makers meanwhile routinely lie about their kit being the best.

Many would say it's better to get clear about where to start, focus on buying a couple of pieces of good stuff, and go by degrees after that.

If you have the space a good panel saw with an accurate fence angle adjustment and 2500 cross cut capacity may do most things you might want of a mitre saw. Plus a decent length of sliding table (2500 again) opens up all sorts of options.

Add as AW says a good planer thicknesser and you are well on your way.

A router should cover much of the ground a morticer would and more besides, and a bandsaw being less expensive can maybe be added later.

ian

 

[Joe Saw]

Thanks guys

I have been using a site style table saw and a circular saw and rail for my 8x4 sheets I want to upgrade to a proper panel saw as I will have the space I like the look of the sedwick saw and P/T they look very sturdy and well built, can the sedwick saw handle 8x4s?. I was looking at axmisters own brand but not sure about the build quality.

As for heating I think I will get a woodburner next year as I froze my bits this year plus I can get rid of my offcuts rather than pay for waste disposal like I do now.

I was thinking of getting most of the kit from Axminster in Sittingbourne but someone told me their aftersales are no good and its hard to get spares for their own brand, what are other people experiences?

 

[Joe Saw]

Thanks Ian

Good point you make there I probably wont get great use out of a morticer as I have a decent router table and Ill will be getting a domino.

Any suggestions for a good panel saw and P/T?

 

[awkwood]

I would buy a reconditioned 12" wadkin baos planer thicknesser.I would of bought one myself but they are so rare in single phase
Panel saw altendorf, scm, or minimax
My thinking behind the sedgwick is its happy ripping 4" oak as well cutting melamine sheets,but i think its probably a bit of jack of all trades for your needs
There are a few companies that sell reconditioned machines, i would contact them for advise you may get more for your money, as the old machines wer built to last

 

[houtslager]

congrats on taking the commercial plunge, but it would help all of us here if you let us know 2 very important bits of info -
1. your location - townor at least county
2. the type of work you want to do in this workshop.


location, this helps as there are many great dealers out there.
type of work, well this then gives us ideas for what machines to reconmend to you.

Personally, if I had 8g to play with, I'd go to a dealer of 2nd hand machinery and say "hey , I have 6 g to spend with you what deal can you offer me on these tools - ts, planer,thicknesser,spindle moulder, Dx plus ducting, oh and spare blades for ALL machines."

YOu might get lucky, and get the machines you want, but you might get some really great older machines in 3 phase at very good prices.

hth,

hs

 

[Joe Saw]

I was previously put off used machines as my thinking was that if someones got rid of it, it must be no good, but I assume a reconditioned machine would come with warranty?

I will look into secondhand. a local company has a wadkin baos but its 3 phase, I wonder how easy it would be to convert my supply?

 

[Joe Saw]

The sort of things I do are mainly fitted furniture, kitchens, wardrobes etc. and some free standing pieces. I will be cutting down veneered and laminated 8x4s as well as solid timbers

Im in the south east.

 

[beaver]

Hi
When buying older or reconditioned machines, its well worth considering the availability of spare parts, the last thing anybody wants is a machine down for any length of time, while you waste even more trying to source that elusive part.

 

[OLD]

3phase will get you good robust secondhand m/c's for less money a cable would have to be run to the workshop with switchgear, meters and distribution .

 

[OldWood]

.....and unless you are lucky, the electricity board will take most of your 8k to fit 3 ph.

If you can get 3 ph machines that much cheaper than single phase then electronic inverters are not difficult to fit. In most cases it is easier to go that route than fight the mechanics of changing the motor.

OW

 

[Graeme]

Hi

Sounds like you’re doing what I did about 2 years ago. I do mostly built-in's plus doors, gates and few oddities that come along. I tend to use a lot of Oak, pine and of course sheet material. I try to stay away from the MDF.

If I had my time again. First thing I would do is work out my space with a bit more care. I have 750sq ft with one part split away from finishing. Having a separate spray/finishing area is critical from my experience. So it depends on how your 800sq ft is laid out.

On the subject of space one thing I did right was to make sure that I had a good laying out bench 7' x 4', with good access all round. Plus a bit more open space at the other end of the unit for finished goods storage.

So to machines.

I was lucky (very lucky) the farm where my unit is has three phase, so although it cost me more to get that laid into the workshop. It has been worth its wait in gold. Firstly three phase machines are just more industrial strength so don’t stop and take constant use in their stride. I was able to pick up a whole load of older machines for £2K. When I say older they are old (I am guessing 20years), but they are built like tanks. For example a Wadkin Dimension Table saw that once you get it set-up will just not move. It doesn’t have all the latest features, but its accuracy after a bit of tinkering is spot on every time. It took a forklift to get it into position.

To list the machines in order is dependent on what type of work and how you want to go about achieving the end result.

Fixed Woodworking machines - the essential list
Table saw / panel saw - this is the number one most used machine. Capable of handling 8x4 in any direction – that means space for run-in and run-off.
Cross cut saw (I have a RAS and a Maktia cross cut), with space to cut a decent length down without mucking about with mobile stands.
Morticer - I have monsteriously heavy old, but incredibly steady one.
Planer thicknesser - not sure you will need this from day one, again depends on how you buy your timber. That said I use my one every day, but tend to buy PAR timber to speed things up.
Band Saw – I use it more and more these days.
The above needs dust/chip extraction. I got hold of one fixed (Startright) unit and one mobile - again used crackers - then put some 100mm ducting in with blast gates. Not only a health issue, it just makes working in a workshop with machines soooo much more pleasant.

Other stuff
Biscuit Jointer
HVLP Spay system - I use the Earlex one v.good for £180.
Routers – fixed and mobile – I hated taking that thing in and out.
Domino Jointer - this may do away with the need for the morticer dependent on the type of work you get.
As many good quality clamps as you can afford. – You can never have too many.
Good sanding machines - Random, belt and small unit.
Vacuum cleaner - also used for dust extraction
Compressor - I use this for chip clearance and to blow the dust of things (but don’t tell anyone or they'll all be up in arms)

I wouldn’t underestimate the amount of money you will spend on odds, sods and bits.

Hope that helps
Graeme

 

[houtslager]

re 2nd hand machinery to be honest the quality of th still USABLE machines beats most of the modern tin rubbish.

With such a budget, to be used in a sheet production shop , as you say

I will be cutting down veneered and laminated 8x4s as well as solid timbers

So, I think in your situation I would look at a shop of a minimum size of 50M2, reasoning -

1 sheet of 8 x 4 needs 16M2 working space as a minimum more is better

So personally a "cheap set up " is a FESTOOL 75, with a 3m , 1.4m and 0.8m rails with a cut up table- 3 trestles and a sheet of plywood and a sheet of hard polysterene. This can be moved out the way, or re used as an assemble table.

A good tilting spindle moulder would be a great boon - making your own mouldings/tenons with good cutters will speed up your production.

Make or buy a good bench, there are enuf plans / designs online for you to choose your refered bench.

PLaning and thicknessing - well there are 2 ways - stand alone or combi's

this will depend heavily on what space you've got - stand alone imho is always better, size the thicknesser to the planer ie; 300mm /410mm/600mm are the normal sizes, personally I'd go for the 410mm wide
Any more info would help us to help you
:wink:

 

[dannykaye]

the one machine I would not be without is a morticer, but I make a frame with 2.5" x 1.5" mortices in it and so it pays for itself. The list is pretty much dependent on what you will be making.

congratulations on going for it