Enough tools/Lack of tools?

[xLrc]

The more I look into woodworking the more I feel like I need
Went down the whole router/router/table wormhole today. Can you get by without one?
Looking at making some shaker style doors with loose-tenons following the way Peter Millard does it. I had initially planned to do all the cuts/grooves on my table saw, could I get away with doing this safely?

 

[paulrbarnard]

The more I look into woodworking the more I feel like I need
Went down the whole router/router/table wormhole today. Can you get by without one?
Looking at making some shaker style doors with loose-tenons following the way Peter Millard does it. I had initially planned to do all the cuts/grooves on my table saw, could I get away with doing this safely?

This happens to me all the time. Usually when I have some kind of repetitive work to do. I usually manage to resist the temptation, largely encouraged by cost and have yet to find a job that I can't achieve with the, predominantly, hand tools I already own. It does involve making =new tools from time to time

 

[Doug71]

A router table is safer than a table saw for cutting grooves. Get yourself a router, you will find lots of other uses for it, it is an essential bit of woodworking kit.

It doesn't have to be expensive and a basic table is easy to make to get you started.

 

[Sideways]

Routers - arguably the most versatile and useful specialist power tool for a woodworker. One of the tools that is worth spending some proper money on to get a good one with quality fences, variable speed and smooth plunge without flex. Personally I'd rather have second hand top make than brand new middle market or cheapie.
Router tables - far less useful unless you are into making small work like jewellery boxes. Cheap ones are horrid. Super easy to make your own if and when you ever need one. If you do small, fine work, get the Jess-em table.

If the wood is big enough to balance the router on, take the router to the wood.
If the work is small, use a table and take the wood to the router.

I had a pair of decorative panels to replace in an 1800's house and simply used Peter's shaker door / loose tenon approach and then added decorative mouldings to replicate the original pieces. They were made on site from 18mm and 6mm MRMDF with a tracksaw to cut the stock and a 6mm bearing guided slotting cutter in a 1/4" handheld router to make the grooves.
The loose tenon construction was easy to do and the end result worked out well.

 

[johnnyb]

it may not be immediately obvious but I wouldn't bother with a router table until I had a planer thicknesser. for solid stuff of course. a handheld will follow ups and downs much better and joints at the end will fit better.

 

[Sachakins]

Worth a look for router table...

 

[TFrench]

I wouldn't be without my router table. I would say I use it 75% of the time over a handheld.

 

[xLrc]

Thanks for all the advice. I've been trying to read up as much as I can by going through the various threads on here. Maybe a DIY router table will be on the cards in the near future. I think I'd rather pay a little extra for safety. Am I right in thinking the TRA001 would be a good choice?

 

[Spectric]

Router tables - far less useful unless you are into making small work like jewellery boxes

I think the router table is far more valuable than for just "small work like jewellery boxes", a decent one will allow you to produce lengths of moulding, rebates and so much more. The problem is that you don't realise there potential and so get a reasonable setup, once you do realise then you upgrade to system that can be precise and repeatable but has cost you more than just getting a good setup in the first place. Take a look at this INCRA LS17 Positioner Super System with Wonder Fence 430mm (Metric) and ok, not a cheap setup but opens up so many ways to do things and @MikeK did a good article as well with a standalone setup. I am now looking at a new system but as space is limited will incoprporate into a new workbench.

The way to reduce your outlay on tools is to get the right tool and quality first time, and remember tools cannot completely replace personel skill but can make life easier.

 

[Droogs]

look up the late Ron Fox for how versatile a router can be both in and out of a table. He has videos on the Wealdon site IIRC.


Edit
Here is the link to the info on the Wealdon site and elswhere

https://www.wealdentool.com/kb/rons-tips/

https://www.getwoodworking.com/editorial/page.asp?p=532

 

[Richie555]

The correct number of tools needed for woodworking is what you have +1. I`m always looking for more.

 

[mikej460]

I think the router table is far more valuable than for just "small work like jewellery boxes", a decent one will allow you to produce lengths of moulding, rebates and so much more. The problem is that you don't realise there potential and so get a reasonable setup, once you do realise then you upgrade to system that can be precise and repeatable but has cost you more than just getting a good setup in the first place. Take a look at this INCRA LS17 Positioner Super System with Wonder Fence 430mm (Metric) and ok, not a cheap setup but opens up so many ways to do things and @MikeK did a good article as well with a standalone setup. I am now looking at a new system but as space is limited will incoprporate into a new workbench.

The way to reduce your outlay on tools is to get the right tool and quality first time, and remember tools cannot completely replace personel skill but can make life easier.

Absolutely agree Roy, I routed out all the rebates for our new 5m x 2.5m greenhouse and made 2 x box jointed roof window upstands on my home-built table with a Triton TRA001 underneath.

 

[Sideways]

My own favorite router accessories are a pair of long fence rods and twin fences. Here used to make pockets for the slats of a bed in some 6 foot battens.

I do agree that if you need to mould or rebate narrow stock, a jig will help. I tend to make those longer and narrower than a table and they are dismantled after use.