Essential equipment for a basic shop?

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.

-- When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.

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. :)

-- "If we do not lay out ourselves in the service of mankind, whom should we serve?" -John Adams

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!

-- Kent Shepherd * The goal is-----More Tools!

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.

-- Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things.

wood! A shop with out wood is just a tool collection.

-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com

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)

Whatever work comes my way I undertake to achieve it to the best of my tool and skill ability. When i’m busy with whatever it is and I seem to struggle on without what tool I need to use at that moment…..............THAT is the next tool or machine I MUST HAVE.
Most of the time it is unreasonable even to consider the thought of having a CNC 3phase whatsit.
But I do make some unpredictable and expensive descisions on the spur of the moment, mostly to my surprise and thankfulness that I bought that tool when I did. Even though some I will only use twice in my life time.
Just be steady. budget, buy constantly, and before you know it you will have sooooo much.

-- "Even small steps makes a distance." (Shawn Phillips, musician)

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.

-- What do you mean it's square? How did that happen?

I problemly would get a drill press, thickness planer, jig saw, or bandsaw.

-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker

from what you got now the next thing I would get is a : (1) jig saw…(2)chop saw(3) thickness planner..(4).jointer….(5)drill press…

-- christoper Blanchard, Michigan

I agree with Kent, It really depends on what kind of woodworking you would like to do or learn. and I like Dennis’s suggestion. Wood is always a good place to start. lol

-- John @ Myrtle Beach

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.

-- You know.... I think that old wood needs to be furniture.

Depends on what you are going to build. I have been building cabinets and doing trim and furniture for a long time and still dont own a band saw or a drill press. I’d like to own them but haven’t needed them. I think you need a spindle/belt sander

-- Dan, Sterling Alaska, http://sullcon.homestead.com/ Before you criticise some one, walk a mile in their shoes...then you will be a mile away and you have their shoes!

I think a chop saw is a great Idea.

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon, custom furniture,woodworking school,heirloomwoodshop.com

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.

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.

-- Mike

It dosent matter !!!!!!!!! BUY ‘EM ALL

-- "Even small steps makes a distance." (Shawn Phillips, musician)

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.

-- Dale Manning, Carthage, NY

Hand tools and sharpening. When all else fails you can get a lot of milage out of good quality hand tools that are very sharp.

-- Mark

a1jim said it best. Somewhere?
We work with what we have and as time goes by our shops grow a little at a time.

-- "Even small steps makes a distance." (Shawn Phillips, musician)

You should find the following article helpful http://www.woodworkingtipsandtools.com/2008/11/07/a-woodworkers-basic-tool-kit/ It is titled A Woodworker’s Basic Tool Kit and discusses hand tools, power tools, safety and more.

-- drbob at http://www.Woodworkingtipsandtools.com