Starting from scratch and want to do it right.

[Dcraven]

A little background. my only "workshop" (and the phrase workshop is being very generous) is, a small garden shedm currently being used for log storage.
I studied cabinet making in college for a couple of years but that focused almost exclusively on using only hand tools, apart from the auto tenoner which frankly terrified me (and was the size of a small car) and a cross cut saw. This however was many years ago.
For a point of reference, I'm going to be building furniture for the foreseeable future, little to no structural work until i can convince my partner to give up some of the garden for a proper workshop. (fingers crossed)
I currently don't have any power tools other than a corded, no-brand drill which has served for putting up shelves and the likes. like i said, starting from scratch.

I hate buying things more than once so tend to get the best stuff that i can the first time around where finances allow. I DO NOT have space for ANY stationary tools at the moment so I'm afraid table/band saws, thicknessers etc are out.

As such I'm looking into getting a few makita tools. (i wont post links as i don't think I'm supposed to under forum rules. (will update if corrected))

specifically:
Drill (DHP484)
Driver (DTD153)
jigsaw (DJV181Z brushless),
circular saw (DHS680Z brushless),
random orbital sander (DBO180Z),
planar (DKP180Z)
router (DRT50ZJX3)
this along with a few 5Ah batteries and a charger.

All of these are the brushless LXT models where possible though the random orbital sander doesn't have a brushless variant.

Now for the actual questions. (sorry took so long to get here).
1. are there any gaps in my list or any tools you think i wont use? I've never used a power planar before for example.
2. are makita a good brand these days? I've been told they are, but would like to get second, third etc opinions.

Been out of the game for some time so if anyone can bring me up to speed it would be much appreciated. Thanks.

 

[ScaredyCat]

Keith (Rag 'n' bone Brown) did a video, only just uploaded, that covers some Makita tools if it helps - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaVMD6NyQIY

 

[Ttrees]

I thought you said you wanted to build furniture ?
That kit looks more like an ikea kitchen fitters tool list

What kind of thing do you wish to make ?

Small boxes like Rob Cosman's to larger fine furniture projects will require hand planes
regardless if you have machinery or not.
Mitch Peacock on YT is doing a lot of stuff by hand these days

I'm only into watching the more refined stuff, and it sounds like your on a different path by your tools

Tom

 

[Doug71]

Most people have a track saw these days if they do any work with sheet material, Makita do a decent corded and cordless version. You could also get yourself a holey top then and you have a portable panel saw. If you Google parf dog you will find some videos explaining how it all works if you have not seen it before. You can buy MDF tops with holes in cheaply off ebay.

You generally can't go far wrong with Makita, they have a great cordless range, some of the cheaper drills are not great but think the models you are looking at should be ok.

Not sure I would want a cordless router as my only router but it all depends on what you are doing, will be fine for little jobs but think you will soon want something bigger.

I would add an extractor to your list.

Doug

 

[NickN]

I bought this kit (cordless impact and combi kit) last year and it's been brilliant, cannot fault it - and the impact driver and drill you've mentioned is, I guess, the latest version.

https://www.ffx.co.uk/tools/product/Mak ... t-Twin-Kit

I also own an older Makita LS1013 Mitre Saw but again, faultless performance.

However it's worth shopping around, as Makita being the best in one category (or two, or three) doesn't necessarily make them the best at everything. For example, I bought a Dewalt Track Saw as that got better write-ups at the time, and a Bosch Professional Jigsaw for the same reason.

 

[MattRoberts]

Have to agree with Tom - I have pretty much all of those tools you list , but I rarely use any of them when building furniture with the exception of the router and sander.

If you listed a track saw instead of the circular saw and were talking about some kind of MFT style setup, I could see where you're coming from.

What sort of furniture will you be making, and using what techniques?

 

[custard]

For solid timber furniture making the choice is really between hand tools or machines, power tools can play an ancillary part but they're not viable substitutes for either.

 

[Dcraven]

Sorry all, i should have been clearer. I full intend to buy hand tools as well as the power tools but i feel clued up enough about those to pick them out myself with some confidence so didn't ask about them.
Unfortunately i simply don't have the physical endurance to hand saw all of my wood as i used to though and am just looking for ways around that.

As for what furniture ill be making, My plan was to make items such as a coffee table and a shelving unit, then later go onto making a dinning table and a bed and much later hopefully build a new kitchen.

All of the work is going to be for personal use not for selling.

specifically:
ScaredyCat: Thanks for the link, I have seen Rag'n'bone before wasn't aware of that specific video though, thanks.

Ttrees: funnily enough i do want to build a kitchen (eventually) , though hopefully of a slightly better quality than ikea, haha.

Doug71: i did intend to get a track for the saw at the same time. it was a stand in as i don't have space for a proper table saw. Thanks for advice on the router, Ill have a look at the wired version.

NickN: I was hoping to keep it to a single type of battery if i could. but for the wired items there is no reason i cant get different brands.

MattRoberts: I suspect you don't use some of these because you have alternatives (table saw, drill press etc)??? As for the furniture (see above) I'm unsure what you mean by technique. I'm pretty old school if that helps clarify at all?

Think i answered everyone there. appreciate the help all, sorry for not being clearer first time around.

 

[Sideways]

If you studied cabinetmaking and plan to build furniture in a workshop, I would recommend some of your tools being corded. If you intend to work on construction sites where power may not be available, then all cordless makes sense.
I don't have any Makita kit but they have a good reputation. No problem on that score. But ...
If I was starting and had no space for machines, i'd want power tools based on (1) saving me maximum time and sweat by speeding the grunt work (2) making it easier / quicker to achieve precision.

I'd want a corded router first and foremost. Pick something with a good dust extraction port so maybe Bosch or Festool.
I'd want a decent tracksaw. Mafell are the best in my opinion. I have a festool ts55 and was amazed at how good and accurate a cut it makes. If I was buying again I might choose the Bosch as Mafell make it for them and it's much cheaper than a Mafell own machine, but i'd use it with Festool rails.
I'd want a lighweight cordless drill driver. Just because they're so handy. You'll use it all the time so try different models for comfort. I like the little Bosch 10.8V ones but the top of the range black panasonic 14/18V ones are very good in the hand too. there's huge choice available and makitas will be good.
I'd want a really good sander - a Mirka deros and again this is the third tool that really wants to be used with a dust extractor. (Pick a quiet one with adjustable suction and check the cost of bags / filters first)
If you had a tracksaw I doubt you'd need a power planer. The tracksaw will cut 6 or 8 foot boards to half a mm accuracy so you can easily hand finish from there.
I can see some uses for a jigsaw and if you buy a cordless brushless model you can throw it in the car and use it to rip big boards down to fit in the B&Q car park when you get caught out on a Sunday

Let us know more about what you plan to make - it will improve the advice.

 

[Sideways]

Cross post

 

[Droogs]

Hi there and firstly welcome. To chuck in my tuppence worth, in terms of versitility and space, I would recommend (and I know this will be poo pooed by many) get yourself a Katsu 1/4" trim router and a Triton TRA001 1/2" Router first. You will be able to do just about all you want with them after making a table to fit them too. Then get a tracksaw and decent drill/driver. Every thing else you can do with handtools until you are sure what other tools you really do need/want

hth

 

[MikeJhn]

As a hobby user one of the tools I find invaluable is a biscuit jointer, one with a decent cast fence will see it stay accurate much longer, also one that's fence will tilt to 135 degs I find very useful on mitred joints, I have a Porter Cable 557 only available in 110volt, but is brilliant IMO good write up here: http://www.thisoldworkshop.com/index.ph ... nerfaceoff I have no doubt that you will now be told to get a Festool Domino, For hobby use I simply can not justify the cost no matter how wonderful they are.

I also have some six routers, from 1/2" Hitachi's to a 1/4" Katsu, but the most used hand held is the 1/2" Draper expert, lightweight, plenty of power, low C of G and three work lights on the transparent base, (impressed enough I bought two) one of the heavy M12VE Hitachi's sits in my router table and is brilliant for that job, the other M12V2 is a weighty beast, but this is an advantage when cutting kitchen worktops, very difficult to dislodge form the jig when cutting a masons mitre.

I also have a under £100.00 track saw from Rutlands that I can't fault, cuts exactly on the line.

Hope this helps.
Mike

 

[woodywoodwood]

If you were making furniture I would think track saw and router table. As said- the tra001 would be good.
For a kitchen it would be indispensable. And clamps. Lots of clamps. Hhhhmmmm, clamps......

 

[shed9]

As a fellow tool user who hates buying twice and getting the best I can afford at the time, I went the Festool route. That said, I think Festool drills (other than the CXS) are not worth the extra comparative to other high end brands. In your situation, knowing what I know now I'd push for;

Festool MFT/3 (or MFT style topped bench)
Festool TS55 Tracksaw
Festool OF1400 Router (and track adpater)
2 x 1400 lengths of Festool track with holes
Festool ETS 150/5 sander (I'd also look at the Mirka)
Festool PS420 Jigsaw (although there is nothing particularly special with Festool jigsaws, they do offer multiple plate options)
Panasonic drill and driver combo (best batteries and good brand)

I appreciate only the drill units are cordless but not sure cordless is a necessary cost in a shop environment. I also appreciate the budget for Festool over Makita is significantly different but i would advocate buying a few Festool over a lot of Makita at this juncture.

Ironically I shelled out a shed load of cash for power tools and stationary equipment when I started out and have slowly moved to hand tools whenever and wherever I can.

Good luck and welcome to the forum.

 

[Jacob]

If you've got the space a combi woodwork machine would be ideal. Saw, plane, thickness, slot mortice, spindle. all in one and very accurate/precise depending on the model. Sliding table essential.
The only other power tool you'd need would be a sander.

 

[Dcraven]

Thanks very much for all the feed back all. A friend has come forward and offered to give me his tools in exchange for some work so I'm going to use those for now. they are mostly corded and cheaper brands but can't argue with with the price. I'll upgrade them when/as needed.

Appreciate all the feedback.

Also thank you for all of the welcomes. I hope i can offer as much help as i get while im here.

 

[Neil S]

Welcome to the forum. For cordless tools I would find a quality brand that covers everything you need and stick with it as you can reuse the batteries across tools. For corded tools I would just do research and buy whatevers best for you in each category. Unless you've got bags of money then a lot of the festool kit works together as a system (vac, power connection etc). The festool tops and hinged track can also turn a circular saw into a cross cut saw.

-Neil

 

[will1983]

I have a bit if a thing for hitachi I've had a couple of their drills and now a driver from their cordless range.
I intend to add to the collection, especially as it now includes a 16g cordless nailer.

Hmm, now how to explain to the wife that I must absolutely spend the £400 on one???

 

[Dcraven]

I have a bit if a thing for hitachi I've had a couple of their drills and now a driver from their cordless range.
I intend to add to the collection, especially as it now includes a 16g cordless nailer.

Hmm, now how to explain to the wife that I must absolutely spend the £400 on one???

better to ask forgiveness than permission