Bobert,
I have been putting together my shop for about 30 years, I started with a Radial Arm Saw (RAS) and a Drill Press. At the time Sears told my wife and mother that you can do it all with the RAS … kind of like a Shopsmith. So that is what i got for Christmas along with a Drill press.
Fast forward 20 years … The RAS is long gone and replaced with a Grizzley 1024 table saw, then added a 6” jointer. I had a Craftsman 12” bandsaw (birthday present) for a while.
I had to sell off a bunch of stuff when hard times struck.
But now some years later I have a Rigid 2424 Table saw, (bought used) the old Craftsman drill press, a new this year Ricon 14” band saw, 6” Rigid Jointer, (bouhgt used), and a thickness planer also bought used.Sanders and sanders and sanders, and four routers.
I use every tool that I own and I purchased them as I needed them to do the next project I had in mind. There are no tools collecting dust or on display in my shop, they are all used, some more than others of course.
Only YOU will know which tool you need to buy next. And later on you might change your mind and replace one piece with another.
Good luck with your endevor and I hope to see some of your projects displayed here.
-- Grumpy old guy, and lookin' good Doin' it.
