Workshop Tools Advice

[Welshy]

Hi Guys,

Been looking through these forums for a while now without making an account, but have finally got round to making one!

I've put in planning for a new workshop, which is going to be within the region of 21' x 14', at the moment I have a basic Record Power BS300 Bandsaw and a pretty beat up Axminster PT260 Planer Thicknesser.

When the build is finalised I will be looking to buy more machines and replace these two, (top on my list is a decent table saw!)

I mainly work on sites so don't really know reputable brands for woodworking machines, so was wondering if you could shed some light on which ones you would recommend on buying?

I have a budget of around £4,000 to buy the following;

Table Saw
Planer Thicknesser,
Bandsaw,
Spindle Moulder - Debating this as i'm sure a decent router table would do, but then again I'd prefer the sturdiness of a S/M

Thanks in advance!

 

[RobinBHM]

There are a few favorites in terms of second hand machines.

bandsaw -startrite

other machines, startrite, sedgwick, multico, SCM (or branded minimax), felder.

Wadkin have a few machines such as planer thicknesser, saw table. Excellent quality but mostly 3 phase industrial.

The problem mostly you will have if you buy 2nd hand is finding 240v machines.

 

[heimlaga]

Does this imply that you are going into joinery as a sideline to carpentry?

When I did just that I bought an elderly Stenberg KEV 600 combination and rebuilt it throughout. 600mm planer/thicknesser/2,2kW spindle moulder/ 3,7kW table saw with sliding table all on one very heavy cast iron frame.
Later on I also bought an elderly Naula hollow chisel mortiser and rebuilt it too.
Combinations always carry some tradeoffs but that was the only way I could squeeze in big enough machines for the job into a workshop 2,9x5,5 metres.

If you are ever going to make the odd panel door and the odd window for profit (as I do) the spindle moulder is a must have if you aim for some sort of quality.
I quickly outgrew the little 2,2 kW spindle moulder on the combination so last spring I bought a secondhand SCM l'Invincibile T 160. It costed me 470€ loaded plus 20€ trailer rent and some future rebuild costs. With tilting spindle and a much bigger motor and a bigger table and a more solid frame it will speed up work and increase profits considerably. Once I can move into the next bigger workshop that is.
If you don't have access to three phase power you will be forced to make do with smaller machines but please be aware of the limitations of a too small spindle moulder when you are trying to turn a profit.

If you are going into woodwork strictly as a hobby you have much more time on your hand for workarounds so smaller machines will be perfectly adequate.
Most hobbyists make do without spindle moulder. A table saw without sliding table would be good enough and even a rather small planer/thicknesser would do the job.

 

[Welshy]

I mainly do site carpentry, but regularly make built ins and bespoke joinery, I tend to stay away from batches of windows as I just cant produce them fast enough for profit!

 

[deema]

It sounds like you will be in your own so don't need to worry about compliant machines.

I have just upgraded my main rip saw to a Sedgwick LK saw Which has a nice beefy motor, can be run from single phase and has a 5" cut depth that I bought for less that £300 on eBay. It has a sliding table which I wanted as I find them a big asset. I also have a Startrite DS which also has a sliding table but inky cuts 4" and occasionally find the motor under powered, but brilliant for most things. I use a zero tolerance insert if I'm doing panel work, which isn't that iften.

I am a big fan of spindle moulders, there is a really nice SCM T50 up for grabs if you search at the moment on a buy it now for £1700. I would highly recommend a Maggi power feed to go with it c£800.

For a band saw I would look at a Startrute or preferably a Wadkin with the capacity to take a 1" blade.

For a P/T I don't think you can better for build quality and the money a Sedgwick. They are typically selling with a Tersa block for c £1509~£2000 depending on whether your after a 12" or 16" machine. I have the 16" which is perfect for me.