Reply by Tony

A very good question – As I only have a limited workshop at the moment, due to moving house, most of my machines are still in Finland. I have made a full staircase only using Bandsaw, jointer, thickness planer, router table and of a course compound mitre saw.

The RAS I have with me was not used at all – the table saw was 2000km away, the rest was with hand tools including jointing some really big (15’ x 15” x 2 1/2”) oak boards).

The project is still not 100% finished, so I have not yet posted it. But it is surprising what you can do with a minimum of machines – you also get to hear yourself think and for me a greater satisfaction in the finished project when using hand tools.

So for me in order of importance:

Band Saw (18”), bigger would be better (larger width for ripping)
Thickness Planer (15”), you can flatten (using a jig) and thickness all boards up to 15” wide and 6” thick
Router Table (only because I do not have the equivalent molding planes), but if i had them, then a festool tracksaw.

-- Tony - All things are possible, just some things are more difficult than others! - SKYPE: Heron2005 (http://www.poydatjatuolit.fi)