Which tool next

If you’re looking to buy a lathe and get into turning at some point, I’d recommend a bandsaw. Try to get a 14” with as much cutting depth (at least 6” and preferably more) as you can get.

Rich;)

-- Rich;) -"Dada make a big mess?" "Yes Dada made a big mess."

Agree totally with Rich. I own two bandsaws, and literally a day doesn’t go by when I’m in my shop that at least one of them doesn’t get turned on. By far and away, the most used stationary tool in my shop. And he’s right. 6” clearance is OK, 11 7/8” clearance is WAY better. There are 14” units out there with almost 12” clearance that you can score for just under $1000, Rikon I believe is one.
I have a Delta (the Lowe’s model), for my small bandsaw, not a bad unit once you take a couple hours and align it and I also added bearing guides to the top.
My other is a Grizzly G0513X2BF, just a horse of a saw that allows me to resaw up to 11” logs into planks, which let me create lots of neat things.
Bandsaw!!!!

-- Paul, Tennessee, http://www.tsunamiguitars.com

gotta agree on the bandsaw, I’d be all “twitchy” without mine. I have a 14 incher from Rigid. Works well for me and it was less than 400 bucks as I remember.

-- I do not have attention deficit dis,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,hey look ,it's a bunny

A good workbench is the foundation for working with so many other tools.
- you can make your own for as little as a couple hundred bucks including a basic wood workers vise.

You didn’t mention a jig saw or a circular saw. Both very important and can be had for a hundred each.
- jig saw for curved cuts, even if you have a band saw, sometimes you have to bring the saw to the cut.
- circular saw is the best and safest way to reduce sheet goods to manageable size using a guide.

A ROS (random orbital sander) is good to have and compliments the 1/4 sheet palm sander you already mentioned and usually around $70. For a stationary sander, the Ridgid oscillating belt/spindle machine is very highly regarded by just about everyone who has one and they are about $200.

For planes I would start out with a low angle block plane and a bevel up jack plane. If you go used/reconditioned you can add a #4 smooth and #7 jointer and have most your bases covered. Doesn’t matter, they’re addictive and you can’t stop buying them.

Clamps. Bunches of them. Another can of worms.

Router? With table? Bits.

So many tools, so little time and money.

-- Michael :-{| Diapers and politicians both need to be changed often; and for the same reason.

Hell, if you’re looking to buy a lathe, buy a lathe.

-- Visualize whirled peas

Thanks for the feedback and I actually got 2 routers and a workbench already. So these bases are covered.

No circular saw or jigsaw yet, but as you entitled they are cheap and can be picked up when the need arrives.

So most likely it’s going to be a bandsaw…

So turns out that I got more than I exspected and ended up getting

A jet mini lathe
A jet 16-32 drum sander
A rikon 14” bandsaw

Thanks for Black Friday sales…

There’s no money in turning without better than starter
equipment and a lot of practice. If you want to work
with logs and found green woods you have to dry it
and all that.

That said, turning can be fun and you can get going
at spindle turning with a basic used lathe and decent
HSS tools are available on ebay at reasonable prices.
You’ll need some gear and information about grinding
tools and there’s some tuning that a cheaper lathe
will need.

Making money at woodworking often runs to casework
(cabinets and bookshelves). This isn’t because you
can’t make and sell candlesticks and bowls, but
with casework the transactions tend to be bigger
and once you get it figured out the sanding is
not too laborious. Sanding turned work can be
tedious and skilled turners reduce sanding time
by developing expert technique.

You will quickly find that you have a lot more money to spend on your lathe. Chucks, live centers, turning tools, blanks, finishing stuff, mandrels if you get into pens, etc. It adds up fast. I got my lathe a couple of months ago and have doubled the cost in accessories.

Rich;)

-- Rich;) -"Dada make a big mess?" "Yes Dada made a big mess."