BilboSwagginz
New member
Hi all, it's my first post here, so apologies that it's a dull one, but I don't have any projects to show yet, and too green to pass any comment on anything else!! Thanks in advance, and apologies it's a dull one.
I'm looking to put together my first workshop. I have a 3m (could push to 3.5) * 2.7m space, dust collection will be paramount as my respiratory health is bad enough as it is, and the garage I'd be using gets used for other things outside of this assigned space. The main things I'd want to build would be bookcases, side tables, desks, lamps, shaped shelves and doing some steambending - so unfortunately quite a large mix. Typical design styles we go for are modern takes on mid-century or scandi so I'd want the option to work in Oak, Ash and Walnut, if that makes a difference to Wattage/HP of machinery needed. Our power is single phase only. My budget could run up to around £5k that I have set aside. Although obviously machine by machine if I can, rather than all at once. I have some basic power tools (including an alright Orbital Sander, crappy jigsaw & circular saw, Dewalt combi drill/impact), but clamps, set squares etc. would all need to fit in this budget.
Second hand is an option, but I'm incredibly weary of my ability/motivation to get a second hand machine working/restored. I've also been keeping my eye on the various usual classifieds/market and it's a little overwhelming having 0 knowledge and a lot of the machines looking very worse for wear. It feels like there are enough uphill battles already with getting started, fettling too much with a machine would put a serious dent in my motivation. I understand any new machine will also require fettling to get things square.
Initial Purchases. I think I need these two to get started on making some bookcases, shelves etc.
I did have my eye on the Axminster AW254 as a first purchase tablesaw, however I've been informed by the Axi rep that they're out of stock until July. There seem to be plenty of alternative purchases rather than wait that long when I've already been planning and plotting for months as it is. I'd been put off the AW216 as some reviews mentioned it was underpowered and struggled with hardwood, not sure if anyone can confirm this or not? Any recommendations on a TS would be appreciated as I'd put a lot behind the AW254, and I'm now feeling lost again. I'd been looking around the £800-£1100 price range for this purchase, so iTech/Laguna1 kind of options rather than anything fancier. I'm a big fan of mitred edges and bevels on furniture, which seemed to lean more towards a 10" blade than an 8", so that a mitred crosscut wasn't too limited on board thickness if using a sled.
I think the other key initial purchase would be a router. I think I want a router table, probably paired with a separate router as well. I'd considered the Rutlands R15 lift and motor in a home made table. I can see myself using a router a lot and the Festool Routers seemed to be leagues ahead of others for extraction, but that was mainly because most of the recommendations I could find online were for US only models where the UK ones weren't recommended, e.g. the 1/2" DeWalt.
<Edit> As I posted this I realised that the R15 has gone back up £150 to £500, I think that brings something like the AUKTools Motor back into contention.
Dust Collection I had looked at the Axminster AW153E, potentially paired with a Festool extractor for sanders, router, router table etc.
Potential and Short/Medium term purchases once I've tried a few projects with the above.
A combi planer thicknesser could be on the cards, ideally I'd wanted to use boards and break them down myself, but I'm thinking I could rely on squared all round, purchased online, for now. I don't think I'm going to be able to do lots and lots of hand planing, I'm prone to RSI in my shoulders and elbows from injuries. I think a PT, whilst expensive, might be key to me enjoying the hobby. Alternatively I could get a lunchbox thicknesser like the DeWalt, with a skid, and jigs on the tablesaw to tide me over.
A bandsaw would then need to follow at some point, to help resaw and open up the option of using boards rather than squared all round, but also as I can see myself wanting to do curves and make templates for the router. Both Record and Axminster seemed to offer Bandsaws in the £1k range that could resaw up to 12".
Are there any standout suggestions people have for any of these, or any key mistakes I'm making?
I'm looking to put together my first workshop. I have a 3m (could push to 3.5) * 2.7m space, dust collection will be paramount as my respiratory health is bad enough as it is, and the garage I'd be using gets used for other things outside of this assigned space. The main things I'd want to build would be bookcases, side tables, desks, lamps, shaped shelves and doing some steambending - so unfortunately quite a large mix. Typical design styles we go for are modern takes on mid-century or scandi so I'd want the option to work in Oak, Ash and Walnut, if that makes a difference to Wattage/HP of machinery needed. Our power is single phase only. My budget could run up to around £5k that I have set aside. Although obviously machine by machine if I can, rather than all at once. I have some basic power tools (including an alright Orbital Sander, crappy jigsaw & circular saw, Dewalt combi drill/impact), but clamps, set squares etc. would all need to fit in this budget.
Second hand is an option, but I'm incredibly weary of my ability/motivation to get a second hand machine working/restored. I've also been keeping my eye on the various usual classifieds/market and it's a little overwhelming having 0 knowledge and a lot of the machines looking very worse for wear. It feels like there are enough uphill battles already with getting started, fettling too much with a machine would put a serious dent in my motivation. I understand any new machine will also require fettling to get things square.
Initial Purchases. I think I need these two to get started on making some bookcases, shelves etc.
I did have my eye on the Axminster AW254 as a first purchase tablesaw, however I've been informed by the Axi rep that they're out of stock until July. There seem to be plenty of alternative purchases rather than wait that long when I've already been planning and plotting for months as it is. I'd been put off the AW216 as some reviews mentioned it was underpowered and struggled with hardwood, not sure if anyone can confirm this or not? Any recommendations on a TS would be appreciated as I'd put a lot behind the AW254, and I'm now feeling lost again. I'd been looking around the £800-£1100 price range for this purchase, so iTech/Laguna1 kind of options rather than anything fancier. I'm a big fan of mitred edges and bevels on furniture, which seemed to lean more towards a 10" blade than an 8", so that a mitred crosscut wasn't too limited on board thickness if using a sled.
I think the other key initial purchase would be a router. I think I want a router table, probably paired with a separate router as well. I'd considered the Rutlands R15 lift and motor in a home made table. I can see myself using a router a lot and the Festool Routers seemed to be leagues ahead of others for extraction, but that was mainly because most of the recommendations I could find online were for US only models where the UK ones weren't recommended, e.g. the 1/2" DeWalt.
<Edit> As I posted this I realised that the R15 has gone back up £150 to £500, I think that brings something like the AUKTools Motor back into contention.
Dust Collection I had looked at the Axminster AW153E, potentially paired with a Festool extractor for sanders, router, router table etc.
Potential and Short/Medium term purchases once I've tried a few projects with the above.
A combi planer thicknesser could be on the cards, ideally I'd wanted to use boards and break them down myself, but I'm thinking I could rely on squared all round, purchased online, for now. I don't think I'm going to be able to do lots and lots of hand planing, I'm prone to RSI in my shoulders and elbows from injuries. I think a PT, whilst expensive, might be key to me enjoying the hobby. Alternatively I could get a lunchbox thicknesser like the DeWalt, with a skid, and jigs on the tablesaw to tide me over.
A bandsaw would then need to follow at some point, to help resaw and open up the option of using boards rather than squared all round, but also as I can see myself wanting to do curves and make templates for the router. Both Record and Axminster seemed to offer Bandsaws in the £1k range that could resaw up to 12".
Are there any standout suggestions people have for any of these, or any key mistakes I'm making?
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