Various advice please

[knappers]

I am trying to slowly put together a bit of a workshop, buying bits and bobs as I can afford them. So far I have a Triton workcentre with saw, router table, router and biscuit jointer. I primarily bought these as they also give me the option of working outside, up the garden, therefore not waking up the toddler whose bedroom is above the garage.
I have now also bought a EB BAS315 bandsaw, and could do with some advice regarding a new blade - I want to do some general ripping and crosscutting, but also cut curves and a little not too serious resawing. Am I better off with two different blades for resawing and cutting curves?
I also at some point want to get a benchtop planer / thicknesser.
At the moment I have a VAX wet/dry vacuum that I use with the triton gear, but obviously could do with something meatier and with 4" inlet to also use with the bandsaw and a thicknesser. budget is prime concern at this point, and will be looking to buy second hand. Am I better off looking for a shop-vac type system, or a chip-collector type? Certainly can't afford both.
Thanks guys

Simon.

 

[Chems]

Regarding the bandsaw blade, get in contact with the oracle of bandsaws Ian from Tuff Saws:

[email protected]


I recently bough the Axminster Bench Top P/T for £170 and its very good for the money I wrote a mini review here.

The record RSDE range would suit you, its an excellent fine extractor for use with power tools but can also be used with a P/T and a 100mm connection. Wizer uses his with his Jet 260 planer and says it copes fine. They aren't to expensive and are quick to empty.

 

[Steve Maskery]

I have now also bought a EB BAS315 bandsaw, and could do with some advice regarding a new blade - I want to do some general ripping and crosscutting, but also cut curves and a little not too serious resawing. Am I better off with two different blades for resawing and cutting curves?

I agree that Ian is the man to ask for blade selection advice. Top man. In general, for resawing, you want as wide a blade as you can tension on your machine (which may well be less than the max suggested by the manfs, esp on a small saw), because a wide blade is less prone to wander. I use one of Ian's that has 3TPI (2 cutting and one raker tooth).

OTOH, you need a narrower blade for curves, otherwise the blade binds as you try to turn. The tighter the turn the narrower the blade you need. As to TPI, the thinner the stock the more teeth you need. I have a 1/4" 6TPI for such jobs.

The second most important thing, besides a good blade choice, is to get your machine set up properly. Often bandsaws are not set up properly and that leads to disappointing results. A bandsaw, even an entry-level one, can be a precision machine, you just have to get it set up properly. Don't assume it is set up right, even if you buy new and certainly not if you buy S/H.

Am I better off looking for a shop-vac type system, or a chip-collector type? Certainly can't afford both.
Thanks guys

Simon.

Vacs and chip collectors are different animals and you really need both because they do different jobs.

a 4" DX will be HVLP. It will shift a High Volume of air at a relatively Low Pressure, and is suitable for planers and other machine that produce relatively large particles of sawdust.

A vac is HPLV. It doesn't shift a lot of air, but what it does shift is done at high pressure. Use one for you sander, router and other power tools that produce finer particles.

HTH
Steve

 

[George_N]

I have a Triton WC2000 and have the Triton dust bag fitted. That catches a lot of dust from the saw but it sure is a dis-incentive as far as using cross-cut mode is concerned (I built a cross-cut sled instead). I also use a Wickes wet 'n dry workshop vac with a Triton dust bucket. The vac and dust bucket catch the majority of the dust from the crown guard and the bag gets everything below the table. I built a separate router table and the two collection hoses from the DB connect to the dust port on the back of the fence and onto the router under the table. I also use the set up with my hand held CS, biscuit jointer, sander etc.