Garage Tool Info Request

B

Byrdman

New member
I need help, but the most of ya'll knew that already. Working my Honey-Do list down now that I am spending time around the house. Doing many things myself that I use to hire out. Looking to buy some things to "fix up the house"... :mrgreen: (can you read boat)... and want to put together some "wood working" tools in our garage. I have a very small garage. I have a very nice saw's all reciprocating saw (I have always loved tearing things up)... a jig saw, and a 7 1/4" skill saw.

Now, looking at the many self improvement projects (boat improvements)on this site I can see clearly that there are tools of the trade out there being used. I like the looks of those roto tools, can see for sure I need some type of router set up, a vice (the kind you hold things with on a work bench.... :mrgreen: I have enough of the others...)... and I just want to toss this out there to our gang and see what folks are using for their projects.

If ya had to start from scratch and build a little work station ....what would you buy?
 
Pat - I bought a Ryobi BT3000 (newer model is BT3100) table saw and the router to fit on it. It's a great tool. Accurate cuts and a variety of add ons (such as the router mounting) are available. Also, when I bought it, it was called the "Ryobi BT3000 Precision Wood Cutting System" - just saying that fast and grunting afterwards a few times like Tim the tool man Taylor made the purchase worthwhile :wink:

On a side note - I bought this a bout 7 or 8 years ago and while I was assembling it the 8 year old girl from next door came by and the following conversation ensued...

"What you doing?"

"I'm putting together my new table saw"

"You're NEVER gonna use that"

"What do you mean I'm NEVER gonna use this?"

"My dad has one just like that and HE never uses it..." (hands on hips, head cocked to one side)

Anyway, I've proved her wrong many times. Of course, you have to buy a dado blade and a few other saw blades and the router and router bits and the shop vac to go under it and......I love shopping at the hardward store!
 
rogerbum":2s7xh57b said:
On a side note - I bought this a bout 7 or 8 years ago and while I was assembling it the 8 year old girl from next door came by and the following conversation ensued...

"What you doing?"

"I'm putting together my new table saw"

"You're NEVER gonna use that"

"What do you mean I'm NEVER gonna use this?"

"My dad has one just like that and HE never uses it..." (hands on hips, head cocked to one side)
Click to expand...


Cute story......sounds like she was practicing to be a "big girl".. :roll:
 
I think the handyest tool I have is a band saw.... I love it...I have skill saws, table saw and belt sander (must have items) a miter saw is nice...but somthing about that band saw is wonderful.... I live in an old house....and nothing is square...or level... a band saw can make all those wierd cuts. It allows me to be creative. (one reason nothing fits well)

Also is super to make all the do'dads fer da boat.

Joel
SEA3PO
 
I'd start with a good workbench first. I have both wood and metal, and for some reason, the wood just feels better. Then a good table saw and router. Belt sander. Drill press. Band saw and/or scroll saw. My favorite powertool is my small lathe. Not sure what we're going to do with all those tools when we move from the frozen northland... hmmm, maybe one of those tables that has a rotating work surface to hold different tools?

I believe the manufacturers put heroin in the handles of powertools - you just gotta have more. :wink

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Agree on the band saw...unfortunately mine is broke right now need a new start capacitor for the motor. Probably the handiest thing I've bought is the Ryobi 18v cordless kit (drill, trim saw, recip saw) Ive added a few pieces like the 90 degree angle drill and cordless roto zip plus some extra batteries. very handy for working on the boat. The ryobi stuff is not as nice as the dewalt, milwaukee or makita stuff but more than adequate for home use and a lot cheaper.
Norm
 
I'm no carpenter, but for me...one of the first would be a chop saw. It allows even a dummy like me to make perfect, precise cuts. I use it more than any wood cutting tool I own. They take up relatively little space.

Get one that slides, or at least has a big blade - that way, you can still cut wide wood, even if you have to flip it and do it in two passes.
 
OK, here's the tool I have probably used the most on my projects. Simple Sears Craftsman rotary tool. Ran about $40 and comes with a plunge router attachment.

As for work bench setup, I have a nice 8 foot area in my garage that I was able to dedicate to a nice setup of Gladiator Garageworks stuff. Got the 6 foot work bench, two roll out cabinets under the bench and two hanging cabinets on the wall. Works great. Plus there's room at the end of the bench for the trash can and I mounted a vise right on the corner of the bench. Be sure to get the power strip too, as you can never have too many outlets. I really like this set up as I can store all the boat caulks, adhesives, parts, etc. in the wall cabinets and tools in the roll out cabinets beneath the bench.
 
Tools that can be stored in a small space or need little space to operate have been my tools of choice over the years.
Many quality tools that are portable are available for use in a small shop. The Bosch 4000-9 table saw is an accurate, powerful table saw that easily rolls where you want to use it then can be folded into a small package for storage. A benchtop drill press, a radial arm saw or chop saw combined with small quality hand tools can make for a very flexible and utilitarian small shop. The tools themselves don't require much room to operate but the material that is being worked requires space to be maneuvered into the tool so as long as the tool can be stored efficiently there is always room for one more.
Mike 'Levity'
 
Sweet set up on that Gladiator Garage stuff. That is really nice..and the whole set up is less than one entertainment center we have replaced every so often... :disgust :roll: not to mention the lamps, curtains, and all the little nick-nac (can you say yard-sale) stuff....that we "must have.."

Thanks guys for the input... yep, table saw, drill press, band saw and sander... must have a vice on the bench table too.

Darlin.... did I forget to tell ya I spent yer cruise money for 2006??? :mrgreen:
 
Byrdman,

One word of caution, this tool buying thing can get addicting! Yep, just as bad as the boating thing...

Last October I ordered some teak for a project on Little Catelyn. Before I purchased the marine plywood for the project, I thought I would cut a templet from some scrap plywood. But a few inches into the first cut I realized that I couldn't cut that expensive marine plywood with this cheap old circular saw!

I was looking at finally getting a table saw when I saw an ad for Festool's plunge-cut circular saw with guide rail. And after some research on the internet I decided to take the plunge... Now, had I been shopping for a circular saw I would probably have dismissed this tool because of the price. But after looking at table saws, this looked like a better option for me. So I ordered the saw and their multi-function table. When I received these and saw how nice they were, I ordered a router, sander and tool-activated vacuum. The tools all come in stackable cases that really are quite impressive. Now, after a few boating units, I have a great start to my woodworking shop. The neatest thing is, well, how neat it is -- did I mention those stackable cases?

Another product line that might be of interest to you is Incra. They make great stuff! Add their fence to a miter saw or drill press, or their LS Positioner to a table saw or router table. If nothing else, get their Pro Tee Rule set. Woodpecker's is a good site for Incra stuff.

Well, as you can see this woodworking thing has seriously cut into my boating time. Not to mention those boating units...

Good luck with your wood shop!
Corwin
 
Guys, It sounds like we have some talented and well equipped woodworkers out there. One thing I didn't see here, or missed, is a dust collection system. This made my shop much more enjoyable to use and I may get to use it longer if I take care of my lungs.
Some of the hardwoods and especially MDF are nasty when inhaled.

I used 4" pvc pipe to each machine (7), out through a wall to a protected 1.5 horse Shop Fox collector under the deck. If I had to do again, I would probably use metal ductwork as the pvc has to be grounded inside and out with copper wire. A floor sweep fitting is great when sweeping up the small amount that does escape. A remote start with key fob type remote makes it all the easier.
 
Thought I'd share some links. Even if you have no interest in the Festool line, you really ought to check out the information provided in this article http://www.festoolusa.com/Web_files/Getting_the_most_from_the_MFT_multifunction_table.pdf

And if you are interested, check out how simple the shop on the cover of this article looks http://www.festool.com.au/images/Australia/NewProducts/Workbench2005.pdf
And here are some more http://www.festoolusa.com/woodworking.aspx

As you can see, dust collection is paramount. The first time I used my saw with the tool-activated vacuum I was very impressed; with the saw running I barely noticed the vacuum going, and was only certain that it was working by the lack of dust and once I reached the end of the cut and released the trigger, I could hear the vacuum just before it shut off -- the vacuum remains on for about 30 seconds after the tool's switch is turned off/released -- cool!

My dad used to say, "I cut it twice and it's still too short."

Anyway, happy woodworking!
Corwin
 
Well, a little vice is bit of fun, but for the shop you will want a vise. I have three kinds--one is a wood working--which goes on the end of a good wood working bench. Another is the big iron jawed type to hold pipe or steel when cutting or working on materials (maybe some leathers to slip over the jaws when working with wood) and a machinest vise, which is used under a drill press to hold various small pieces to work on.

I have several of the shopmate type of tables--which work well as wood working vises, as well as supports for other tools. I also have one which is a table top bench, and will work at up to 45 degrees.

Unfortunately I have had to give up my larger power tools, including the 14" band saw, joiner, 12" table saw etc. However I keep a table top drill press and the handiest wood working tool for me is the combination belt/disc sander with a small table and miter for the disc. You can make almost any curve or put just the right angle on a piece of wood with the combination sander. I like a combination plunge and straight router--the plunge allows you to come straight down onto a work surface. Buy high quality tools; in the long run they pay off.

Have fun!
 
My rule of thumb after owning and crewing on fishing boats is that it takes a pound of tools on-board per foot of boat to keep it going, and also a pound of spares per foot boat to cover eventualities at sea. On shore, my rule is: If you can't fix it with the sawzall and some duc tape, throw it away!

Seriously though - I stay away from the really big tools, mostly for lack of really big space around the property. I get by with a drill press, grinder, and hand tools, such as the popular roto-tools, jig saws, hammers, and soldering gun. I've got an air compressor and a box full of air tools, too. In the odd cases where I need a welder, table saw, or band saw, I barter out the work or beg facilities from someone else. I've found the need for big equipment to be so rare that it just doesn't pay to buy them.
 
Oh, and check out the article in the current (June) issue of Fine Woodworking entitled, "Setup kit for machines." This article describes how to check your equipment using a straight edge, tri-square and dial indicator. For a modest investment you'll get the most out of your tools.

And about for that all-important bench -- think t-track! Imbedded in the bench-top, wrapped around the edges or vertical up the legs, this stuff can really add to the flexibility of your work bench.

Corwin
 
rogerbum":3rxh6kpt said:
Pat - I bought a Ryobi BT3000 (newer model is BT3100) table saw and the router to fit on it. It's a great tool. Accurate cuts and a variety of add ons (such as the router mounting) are available. Also, when I bought it, it was called the "Ryobi BT3000 Precision Wood Cutting System" - just saying that fast and grunting afterwards a few times like Tim the tool man Taylor made the purchase worthwhile :wink:

On a side note - I bought this a bout 7 or 8 years ago and while I was assembling it the 8 year old girl from next door came by and the following conversation ensued...

"What you doing?"

"I'm putting together my new table saw"

"You're NEVER gonna use that"

"What do you mean I'm NEVER gonna use this?"

"My dad has one just like that and HE never uses it..." (hands on hips, head cocked to one side)

Anyway, I've proved her wrong many times. Of course, you have to buy a dado blade and a few other saw blades and the router and router bits and the shop vac to go under it and......I love shopping at the hardward store!
Click to expand...

Roger, I stumbled on this old post when looking for something else and wondered if you still have the Ryobi table saw and what you think of it? I have one and am quite frustrated with one of the pieces that is supposed to make up the table. It is not quite the height of the rest of the table pieces, so I had to shim it up with washers to make it flush with the rest. This is the piece that the sliding accessories like miters would slide in (this is not the miter supplied with the saw, which IMO is not very accurate.) Anyway, it occurred to me more than once that I might not be assembling it correctly. I have the manual but it is not of much help.

Warren
 
Warren,

I still have the same table saw - still working great. I agree the miter on the sliding part (horizontal miter) is not accurate, but the miter on the saw blade (vertical miter) is accurate. For miter work in the horizontal dimension (typically for trim work), I use a chop saw. I have a nice Dewalt chop saw.
 
rogerbum":2spj2x6y said:
I still have the same table saw - still working great. I agree the miter on the sliding part (horizontal miter) is not accurate, but the miter on the saw blade (vertical miter) is accurate. For miter work in the horizontal dimension (typically for trim work), I use a chop saw. I have a nice Dewalt chop saw.
Click to expand...

I also have a DeWalt sliding miter chop saw. I am not sure what you mean by vertical miter -- are you talking about ripping? I think I will take photos of how I set up the pieces of the saw and email them to you for comparison.

Thanks,
Warren
 
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