I read through the thread about new iron vs old iron already. I'm all for old iron but to be frank, there aren't a lot of options on my local CL. I have never worked with saws beyond the occasional miter saw. I'm technically inclined (right at home with computers, sketch plans out pretty well IMO), but I would not call myself a woodworker- yet.
That said, here are my constraints: time, lack of mechanical repair knowledge/experience/interest, storage/humidity, transportation, and of course, budget.
Time: I can maybe dedicate 1-2hrs/wk to this. Right now those 1-2hrs go towards scouring CL unsuccessfully. That makes me sad.
Mechanical inexperience: Adding some lubricant or cleaning off some surface rust is ok. Anything more demanding (i.e.: grinding an arbor flat, any metalwork, anything requiring ownership of a starret square and standards) is pretty much a deal breaker. I just don't think I can spend the time fiddling with the gear and still make the things I care about making.
Storage/humidity: Two options. If I store in a climate controlled basement, it absolutely needs to be compact/portable enough for me to get up about 9 steps to the driveway to work outside. (forbidden from filling up the basement with sawdust…). If I store in the detached non-climate controlled garage, it will be left to probably rust most days of the humid St. Louis summer. I would be shocked if any cast iron could last a summer in any non-climate-controlled St. Louis garage.
Transportation: I drive a camry. If it can't fit in the trunk and be moved by me solo (I'm a 5'6" / 150lbs), it's got to be delivered. My work hours are too crazy to depend on friends to pick up a CL deal unless it's planned far out in advance.
Budget: I'm pretty broke, but I'm willing to splurge every now and then. I want induction and cabinet mounted trunnions, but getting both is probably unrealistic. The problem is that I don't know if I'll live here for more than 4 years, and I'm not about to get a stationary tool that is difficult to move. Personal budget is a $300-500 cap for a TS. $1k to outfit a basic shop.
Leaning towards:
Garage TS: 60s-70s craftsman/homecraft TS/jointer for $150-250. Leave it in the garage since it'll probably already have rust anyway. Have not had any success in locating this.
Fence: DIY extruded aluminum incra wannabe vs Vega kit.
Basement: SCMS/Router.
SCMS: HF 12" dual bevel SCMS vs newly released Craftsman 10" Compact SCMS (rail forward design like the festool).
Router: Bosch LV1617. Build a table or buy one of the pre made tops and fit it to something more stable.
The other idea is to get a Craftsman Professional 21829 and a router of my choosing. Looks like a BT3000 successor with folding rolling stand and router table. That could be stored in the basement and wheeled outside for use. But then I'd have to spend $600 on a Craftsman. That feels weird.
Thoughts?
That said, here are my constraints: time, lack of mechanical repair knowledge/experience/interest, storage/humidity, transportation, and of course, budget.
Time: I can maybe dedicate 1-2hrs/wk to this. Right now those 1-2hrs go towards scouring CL unsuccessfully. That makes me sad.
Mechanical inexperience: Adding some lubricant or cleaning off some surface rust is ok. Anything more demanding (i.e.: grinding an arbor flat, any metalwork, anything requiring ownership of a starret square and standards) is pretty much a deal breaker. I just don't think I can spend the time fiddling with the gear and still make the things I care about making.
Storage/humidity: Two options. If I store in a climate controlled basement, it absolutely needs to be compact/portable enough for me to get up about 9 steps to the driveway to work outside. (forbidden from filling up the basement with sawdust…). If I store in the detached non-climate controlled garage, it will be left to probably rust most days of the humid St. Louis summer. I would be shocked if any cast iron could last a summer in any non-climate-controlled St. Louis garage.
Transportation: I drive a camry. If it can't fit in the trunk and be moved by me solo (I'm a 5'6" / 150lbs), it's got to be delivered. My work hours are too crazy to depend on friends to pick up a CL deal unless it's planned far out in advance.
Budget: I'm pretty broke, but I'm willing to splurge every now and then. I want induction and cabinet mounted trunnions, but getting both is probably unrealistic. The problem is that I don't know if I'll live here for more than 4 years, and I'm not about to get a stationary tool that is difficult to move. Personal budget is a $300-500 cap for a TS. $1k to outfit a basic shop.
Leaning towards:
Garage TS: 60s-70s craftsman/homecraft TS/jointer for $150-250. Leave it in the garage since it'll probably already have rust anyway. Have not had any success in locating this.
Fence: DIY extruded aluminum incra wannabe vs Vega kit.
Basement: SCMS/Router.
SCMS: HF 12" dual bevel SCMS vs newly released Craftsman 10" Compact SCMS (rail forward design like the festool).
Router: Bosch LV1617. Build a table or buy one of the pre made tops and fit it to something more stable.
The other idea is to get a Craftsman Professional 21829 and a router of my choosing. Looks like a BT3000 successor with folding rolling stand and router table. That could be stored in the basement and wheeled outside for use. But then I'd have to spend $600 on a Craftsman. That feels weird.
Thoughts?