Advice needed on setting up new home woodworking shop

You mention planers without mentioning jointers. As these are usually used as a team for dimensioning in milled material, did I miss something? A table saw would be high on my list, especially when considering a closet organizer. Serviceable RASs from the 60s and 70s are available through CL, which is where I’d do most of my tool hunting.

-- there's a solution to every problem.......you just have to be willing to find it.

Toolle – Yes you missed my ignorance of woodworking. I’ll look into the jointer.CL doesn’t have many, if there are any at all, in my area. I may have to purchase new but that’s fine. Thanks for taking time to respond.

Here is an 80 sq ft shop with a TS:

Build what you like. When you need a tool, buy it. Soon your shop will have all the tools you need.

M

-- Madmark - Madmark2150@yahoo.com Wiretreefarm.com

I am thinking back to what BIG tools I started with 40 years ago.
Table SAW …...I live on mine
Jointer…...Goes well with table saw.
Router….........
Drill Press
Miter saw…....sold my radial arm saw
Eventually I added band saws
LAthe
I would buy jointer before the planer…...only because I do not use my planer that much.

-- "My mission in life - make everyone smile !"

Sounds like you’ve got a solid thought process on what you are wanting to do. Depending on what you are planning to do about lumber is what will kind of dictate what you need for power tools. If buying from the borgs a table saw would be higher on my list for big power tools. If buying rough lumber a planer and jointer are going to be nessesary.

Band saw would be low on my priority since you look like your already going to use a jig saw for curves. Unless you need one for resawing lumber then a bandsaw is higher on list.

For what you said for your project needs id buy a tablesaw, jointer and planer from the start and then go with the buy as you need philosophy. Wood working is alot more enjoyable when you have square dimenentioned lumber. Have fun with your adventure back into wood working.

AJ in Mpls MN

Thank you everyone for your thoughtful responses. I will replace my circular saw this afternoon. Looks like I should focus on the planer, jointer, and table saw next. I’m going to get started on a few woodworking projects this weekend so I hope to learn a lot about my needs as I progress through them.

Best regards. Forrest

A good straight edge is a must for accurate cuts with a circular saw. Mine clamps to the wood and is set so the saw follows it. It takes up very little space but makes a great difference when used. I use mostly rough lumber so a planer and joiner is a must in my shop. They are both used daily. I wouldn’t give up my sliding miter saw for money, any angle including compounds.

-- Still trying to master kindling making

For what you are looking for you might consider a used Shopsmith. It will do all you want at a reasonable cost for used ones and most of them have a bandsaw available. I have Festool setup, a Kapex and a SawStop PCS and I still wouldn’t give up my Shopsmith. It takes up very little room and is mobile. I make small boxes and the bandsaw and drill press are perfect for my needs.

-- Bill eastern Washington Home of beloved ZAGS

Madmark – Thx for the pic of your shop. I’m just using a 7’ 6” work table, a workmate and 2 saw horses. When I’m I’m ready to get a bit more organized, I’ll post a picture of what I’m thinking.

mudflap4869 – Did you construct a straight edge or did you purchase one? I was thinking of just constructing one using 1x’s.

Puttn – Hadn’t considered the Shopsmith, but I will look into it. From your handle I’m guessing you play golf. Don’t hesitate to PM me if you are in near the Alabama Gulf Coast area.

On another note, my Craftsman CS doesn’t sound to well so I’m going to pick up a Makita 5007MG tonight. (The best part of my day!)

Thanks again to everyone. Forrest

Everyone’s needs are different. For example, I do not have a jointer and have not needed one yet. That’s just me. I do joint edges, but have gotten by using a clamp on straight edge and then ripping on my table saw. This of course is only suitable for jointing relatively narrow pieces (I.E. edges and not board surfaces).

I’ve trued up board surfaces by using a sled with my planer and shimming the boards. Some experts online prefer this method. Though it is obvious it is not as convenient as a jointer and would not be appropriate for production.

Hand planes can be used for jointing (as they were before power tools).

My point is not to pick on jointers (it is an example), but rather to point out that there are often ways to get by without buying any one of the specific power tools. Some get a track saw and don’t bother with a table saw. Just depends on what you are doing.

It’s possible to not use any power tools at all.

However, in general, if you’re a power tool guy, I think a good table saw is a center piece of the shop. You’ll also want an out-feed table for it. Given your small shop size, you’d want that to do double duty as a work table. You might want to look at the Paulk workbench for something that can be setup and tore down quickly.

http://www.paulkhomes.com/order-plans.html

For your closet project, I’d want a table saw, though you could get buy with a circular saw and straight edge.

My general suggestion would be to buy things as you really need them.

-- Clin

YouTube can be a best friend when starting out. It is what a lot of us use in conjunction with this site. Many many years of experience here so stick around and use utube as an add on. Also, consider your location as related to rust on your tools, learn how to protect them. Glad you are here and teachable. larry

-- Just a barn cat, now gone to cat heaven.

Thank you, clin and larry. I did take a look at a few of the plans on the website. I’ll take a closer look tomorrow. I think I misled everyone on the size of the area I have. I’ll be working in my garage. The 6’ x 15’ area can house fixed equipment. Then I could use one of the car bays to do whatever I pleased. That’s likely going to cause some sawdust issues so I’ll have to address that. I’ll try to take a picture of it over the weekend and that’ll give you a better idea of what I’m facing.

I hadn’t thought of utube but will take a look over the weekend. Larry – Good catch on my location. I’m about 3 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. Certainly could be some salt intrusion. (The lintels on the home we purchased last year are quite rusty.) Everyone have an enjoyable weekend. All the best. Forrest

As others have said, everyone’s plans, choices, and priorities are different. You know best what you need, in what order, based on your needs. The only piece of advice I will offer is, based on the size of your work area, when you get floor standing tools, make sure they are on mobile bases. My shop is about 2/3 of a 2 car garage, and I have two work benches, a table saw, band saw, jointer, drill press, dust collectors, lumber cart, a sanding and sharpening table, and they are all on wheels. Without that mobility I wouldnt be able to have half of them.

I wish you the best
Eric

-- I love the smell of coffee in the morning, and sawdust in the afternoon

I know a lot of people are scared of the Radial arm saw but it seems you already have experience using it. You could always buy another and it would take up less room than a table saw and you can use it as a jointer with a jig. Add a planer to that an you got yourself a good start. I have had quite a few of the older Dewalt Radial arm saws and after the initial pain of setting them up have not had any issues. Just a thought.

-- Rob, Dallas TX

Do not forget regional auctions. There are billions and billions of auctions in the south & east as compared to out west. You will find goldmines at your auctions.
In regards to a table saw. You could surely get by with a diny contractor saw on the cheap. If gots the funds, I would recommend the bosch 4100 as it can fit on the gravity stand to store it away or to use in driveway. It was my main workhorse for 3 happy years.
Jigsaw…yep, Bosch. Top honors.
Planer vs jointer? I have both. But I lean towards a planer being more useful than a jointer.
Don’t forget about fliptop stands to help save space. Great projects here on LJ for that. I was crazy enough to put a lunchbox planer and 6” jointer together on a single fliptop that “mostly” worked :)

-- The Carpenter Bee is derived from the Ancient Greek word wood-cutter