Thanks for reading.

I think after those first two machines the options become much more divergent based on the type of woodworking one is doing. For most furniture making, I would suggest a jointer, a router and router table, and a table saw. The table saw, while not the first machine to acquire, is a workhorse and can be used safely.

The main thing is to decide what you want to build, then get the means to build it.

Good luck.

Rob

Regards
Thomas
Belfast, Northern Ireland

A situation like yours is just what I had hoped to help with my opinions on machine purchases. There is no single right answer. See http://www.finewoodworking.com in the Woodworking Life blog where I posted my thoughts and got lots of comments.

Decide what you want to build and how you would like to work, then buy. My opinions are biased toward original-design furniture making. Good luck.

Rob

Thanks for reading and for the comment.

Rob

I love your blog. Your’s and the Woodworking Magazine blog are the only ones I read religiously. When I saw the first machine you picked, my initial reaction, was “What, how could he pick a planer over a jointer as the first tool” but read your explanation and I have to completely agree with you. Same with the bandsaw. I have all of these major tools now, but since I am trying to focus on mostly handtool use I could live without any of my major tools except for the planer and bandsaw (although I love my cyclone dust collector as well).

Take care and please continue writing,
Jason

Yes, I did consider Laguna bandsaws.

Your link to the shooting board was incorrect so I deleted it. Here is the correct link, but it will need to be copied and pasted into the browser because the portion starting with the exclamation point does not get recognized as a URL:
http://www.craftsmanstudio.com/html_p/G!901.htm

That looks like a great design – I’ve eyed it for a while and have considered purchasing it or, more likely, building one like it -when I “get around to it”. In addition to spreading blade wear, it produces a shearing cut which ought to help.

Thanks for pointing it out to readers!

Rob

Did you give consideration to Laguna bandsaws while you were shopping for a new one?
Also, what do you think about ramped shooting boards? There is a picture of one here:

What appeals to me is the fact that it utilizes the width of that cutting edge one has gone to such lengths to sharpen.

Ciao,

Tico

I use Shapton stones and the Shapton Glass Diamond Lapping Plate. Yes, the latter is big bucks but it works great. The Norton system is a very good, low cost system. Their flattening plate is only about $30 and would be much more convenient, as you suggest, than wet/dry paper, and, over time, would save money.

If you’re referring to the Powermatic 1791216K, that is about $1200. That’s in the lower range of steel frame saws such as some Grizzly models and Steel City. You can get a Rikon 10-325 for about $850. The Popular Woodworking folks liked it. If you’ve got more dough, consider a Minimax or Agazzani. Good luck.

Rob

I wonder if you have used the Norton flattening stone. When I work on a Japanese water stone, I wedge it into a nice wooden base and, to flatten, remove it and true it on wet/dry on a piece of glass. It would be advantageous to keep it in the base, run a flattening stone over it, and not have the wet pieces of paper to deal with. A small difference, but those little simplifications add up!

I have an old Rockwell 20″ bandsaw which I bought re-conditioned from Rudolph Bass in New Jersey twenty five years ago. The guide post has always been bent, slightly, cocking it at an angle which requires everything to be adjusted with each height change. Wow, it’s become a Zen practice. It is a solid old machine, painted battleship gray, and has done its share of service, but, boy, am I ready for a shiny new one! I think about retrofiting Carter equipment on it and then I visit someplace, as I did recently at Woodshop Specialties in Rutland, Vermont, that sells new Powematic equipment already fitted out with those new Carter guides, easy access to the guides under the table, everything balanced and quiet, good dust collection, and I say, naw, time for a new saw, because not only does the bandsaw do all the things you outlined, but it is a pleasure to use.

Tico