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Essential equipment for a basic shop?

11K views 17 replies 17 participants last post by  drbob 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
My "shop" so far consists of a cheap table saw, handheld drill, random orbital sander, circular saw, and a hand router. I've also got a decent set of Marples chisels.

I'm trying to decide what to get next. I think the hand router and hand drill will go for now, so I'm leaning towards a miter saw/chop saw, though I've been watching Woodsmith Shop and they say the router table/drill press are the other two key components.

Any opinions?
 
#2 ·
sharpening equipment? quality squares? marking knife? I would go for those first as 'essentials' , anything else can be improvised/figured out.

I find my drill press is getting ALOT of use, from roughing up mortises, to installing hardware, precision holes, etc. and I don't have a chopsaw/mitersaw - I use my table saw with a miter gauge for those (or circular saw for panels)

router table is also a fantastic thing to have, mine got ruined in a flood, and will be replaced soon once I get the time for it - still … before I'll ever get a mitersaw

but thats just me. I find those other machines more versatile and useful.
 
#3 ·
Oh yes. I do have a very nice combination square, a T-square, a handful of clamps, and some other stuff I bought off craigsilst in a kit - a bench plane, a sharpening stone, a marking gauge, and a bunch of other stuff I don't know how to use. :)
 
#4 · (Edited by Moderator)
Gavel, I guess I usually answer these questions with--What kind of woodworking do you want to do? There is no pat answer in how to equip a shop. If all you want to do is to turn pens, then a lathe would be in order. If you want to put up crown moulding, then you need a miter saw. Boxes, maybe a band saw or router table. I'm just trying to make a point that the more we know, the more we can help you, and we would love to do just that.

Good luck!
 
#5 ·
Some random thoughts:

A workbench is a tool. Consider building yourself a good one. Doesn't have to be an uber fancy Roubo. But something that is solid, flat, clamp & vice friendly will take you a long way.

Cheap table saw - take a very close look at it and consider the kinds of projects you have in mind. If the cheapness of the saw is going to cause problems or safety issues, consider replacing it first. Otherwise look at tricking it out a little bit with maybe a good combination blade (Freud, Forrest, etc), make or buy some zero clearance inserts. Consider a 6" or 8" (smaller if the saw lacks the guts) stack dado set. Build a miter sled and maybe a tall fence. Now you are set to do a lot of basic joinery on the TS.

Get a drill press, even a small 2-1/2" quill benchtop model will take you a long way. I bought one years ago and while it has it limitations, I've yet to find a solid reason to replace it.

A router table really expands the horizon for your router. Build your own, it is a good skill-builder project.

Otherwise I'd suggest you think about the kinds of projects you want to build. Then research them keeping an eye on the types of joinery and woods involved. Use those as your guide for selecting tools.

And you can never have enough clamps.
 
#7 · (Edited by Moderator)
Everyone has their own method of doing things. Even a cheap TS is capable of crosscuts…you could build a crosscut sled to improve accuracy and safety too….a good TS is important to me, but is something I'd look to replace after getting a few more tools. I rarely use my CMS except for very long pieces of molding, so I'm not seeing that a CMS will add any capability that you don't already have.

A couple of thoughts:
- A bandsaw or jigsaw will give you the capability to cut curves.
- A router in router table is extremely versatile. (how's your router bit selection?)
- A workbench or good work surface is a great addition
- A planer would give you some great new capability and a lot more flexibility with what materials you use
- A DP can double as a drum sander
- A basic $20 pocket hole jig will is also a great addition
- Clamps…always a need (the Harbor Freight Pittsburg bar clamps are a super deal on sale)
 
#8 ·
lol - right now as it is looking, I have more of the tool collection rather than a shop as defined by Dennis.

I would recommend a heavy duty router with both a fixed base (for a router table) and plunge style.
 
#11 ·
For me the most frequently used power tools are, in order of use 1) table saw 2) miter saw 3) drill press 4) jointer 5) planer 6) bandsaw 7) router /router table.

Best bet is think of what project you want/need to do next, and figure out which new tool is most important to that project.
 
#14 ·
This is a great discussion because I face the same dilemma. I'm nearing retirement and what I want to do is more woodworking and the project I want to work on are built ins for my home built in 1926. These would be bookshelves, a sofa for a sun room and attic remodeling. I now have table saw, miter saw, and skill saw as power tools and wonder what else I should have.
 
#15 ·
If you already have a workbench, then I would recommend a band saw. Unless you plan on working with sheet goods a lot,if so stop reading; it's the most versatile saw in my shop. Then a jointer, planer, router table, drill press, maybe upgrade your table saw, more hand tools, crosscut sled and dado set, for your new table saw, and if you think you need on a miter saw.
 
#16 ·
I would focus on learning to sharpen your handtools while you figure out what it is you want to make. As you are making whatever it is, if you come across something that you can't do with any of the tools you have or that would make it so much easier, that is the tool you need.
 
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