Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Paul Doug on August 1, 2009 at 6:16am

If you are only building small items, like CBG's my list would be Band Saw, drill press, belt sander, table saw. I'd get the best of each that my budget would tolerate. Luxuries: router/router table, scroll saw, jointer and planer.

This is a hard one to answer, people work differently. What is important to me in equipment, won't be to someone else. But, the first four I listed are the most important to me.

Other hand tools: clamp (can never have enough), small hand saws (I like the Japanese ones), hand drill, bits, hammer, files, etc., etc.

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Permalink Reply by Roosterman on August 1, 2009 at 7:18am

Peter, first thing on most CBG builders list is a dremel!

Then a good heavy vice to hold ya work in - it might save your fingers one day! Also very handy as a big clamp etc

After that I reckon hand tools are the way forward - you can get a lot of things like belt sanders, jigsaws, planers etc for the price of one big lump of machinary!

Of those, the belt sander is the most useful for me - either the right way up or clamped upside down in the vice. I use it for necks, bridges, nuts, saddles, thinning tops, notching, polishing etc etc

I also have use of a table saw / chop saw which speeds jobs up, but is prolly not essential - if you buy your wood approx the right size to start with. It does make a neater job though.

Only thing I really miss having is a drill press - and Il be buying one very soon!

I have to agree with Paul though - buy plenty of clamps, drill bits, hole saws, files, rasps, set squares, and a good metal ruler and youll be set!

So, my top three - Belt Sander, Dremel, Drill Press

Good luck!

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Permalink Reply by peter martin on August 1, 2009 at 8:03am

Hi paul,
I,m not planning to cut 8ft x 4ft sheets,not enough room anyway, and as i have worked as a joiner for over 45 years i have had to be able to carry my tools with me.I think a decent bandsaw can do most of what i would require ripping lengthwise, i already have routers that can be utilized / converted into a router bench. Thanks mate for your input.

Paul Doug said:

If you are only building small items, like CBG's my list would be Band Saw, drill press, belt sander, table saw. I'd get the best of each that my budget would tolerate. Luxuries: router/router table, scroll saw, jointer and planer.

This is a hard one to answer, people work differently. What is important to me in equipment, won't be to someone else. But, the first four I listed are the most important to me.

Other hand tools: clamp (can never have enough), small hand saws (I like the Japanese ones), hand drill, bits, hammer, files, etc., etc.

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Permalink Reply by peter martin on August 1, 2009 at 8:28am

Hi Ben,
I have a Dremel already, but find it's a pain to disconnect, wrap up and put away each time i stop, once i have built my benches i will have some wall space as well to hang up tools, as you know i live in a caravan and have to work outside mostly on my saw stool, so storage space will be a luxury.I have experienced your problems with trying to drill holes plumb so a drill press is a must have .I love Ted Crockers work stations ideas, i might have to settle for an island bench i can walk around ha ha, Can your chop saw be upended to use as a small table saw?.
Randy Rooster (Ben) said:

Peter, first thing on most CBG builders list is a dremel!

Then a good heavy vice to hold ya work in - it might save your fingers one day! Also very handy as a big clamp etc

After that I reckon hand tools are the way forward - you can get a lot of things like belt sanders, jigsaws, planers etc for the price of one big lump of machinary!

Of those, the belt sander is the most useful for me - either the right way up or clamped upside down in the vice. I use it for necks, bridges, nuts, saddles, thinning tops, notching, polishing etc etc

I also have use of a table saw / chop saw which speeds jobs up, but is prolly not essential - if you buy your wood approx the right size to start with. It does make a neater job though.

Only thing I really miss having is a drill press - and Il be buying one very soon!

I have to agree with Paul though - buy plenty of clamps, drill bits, hole saws, files, rasps, set squares, and a good metal ruler and youll be set!

So, my top three - Belt Sander, Dremel, Drill Press

Good luck!

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Permalink Reply by Mark Werner on August 1, 2009 at 8:33am

I agree. Chronically cramped for space, I did build a sturdy workbench. On it at present are a drill press, a scroll saw, and a vise.
I too love my Dremel, a fantastically useful tool. I do a lot of bicycle re-building, and I've often said that I couldn't do it without the little roto-rooter.

I bought one of those nice pull-saws; very useful for small, precise cuts. I have a jig saw and a circular saw as well.
The drill press converts quickly into a rotary sander with a bolt-on "table" that cost me a few minutes labor.

Other than that, it's almost all hand tools. I do almost all my neck shaping with typical rasps, files, and sandpaper.

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Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on August 1, 2009 at 9:49am

If you can't afford a belt sander, go for a good palm/hand sander. Nothing too small tho. I have a Ryobi with ~6"x6" area. Works ok. Would prefer a belt sander tho.

If and if you do get a drill press, a suggestion to me was a drum sander attachment as you would put on a hand held drill. Mount that into the drill press in lieu of a table top drum sander.

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Permalink Reply by Wichita Sam on August 2, 2009 at 1:21am

table top drill press, bandsaw, good quality table saw. add a table top router if you aren't into hand shaping your necks.

for hand tools, drill, dremel, exacto knife step, small adjustable t-square, soldering gun, scrapers, screwdrivers, wire cutters, mitre box, flush cut saw (I use this for my fret saw) and lotsa, lotsa clamps.... a good vise is helpful....

the best,

Wichita Sam

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Permalink Reply by Roosterman on August 2, 2009 at 1:52am

Yes Peter, my chop saw does flip over for use as a circular. Its a Dewalt which you would expect to be a good product (especially with the cost of the damn thing), but be warned - check the guide rig if you're going to buy one. My guide only attaches at one end and is hopeless - it wafts about when cutting so I have to mess on clamping a lump of timber to the top instead.

All this talk is making me think I need to buy a drill press with sander attachment now - today!!

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Permalink Reply by Brian Lemin on August 2, 2009 at 1:56am

I think the last tool that i would sell or give away in my workshop would be my bandsaw. Sure it is a large one but even a small one would do most of what I want it to do.

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Permalink Reply by peter martin on August 2, 2009 at 6:32am

Thanks Wes,I certainly think a drill press with drum sander will be a useful investment i have found that orbital/palm sanders can leave some hard to remove cross grain marks if you are'nt really careful,at the moment i use a piece of plywood marked into 4 quarters and different grades of abrasive paper stuck on , use coarse, turn the board,use next grade and so on.I have used a hand belt sander clamped upside down in the bench which has made the job a lot easier i.e 2 hands to hold the timber. thanks again for sharing your thoughts.

Wes Yates said:

If you can't afford a belt sander, go for a good palm/hand sander. Nothing too small tho. I have a Ryobi with ~6"x6" area. Works ok. Would prefer a belt sander tho.

If and if you do get a drill press, a suggestion to me was a drum sander attachment as you would put on a hand held drill. Mount that into the drill press in lieu of a table top drum sander.

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Permalink Reply by peter martin on August 2, 2009 at 7:00am

Hi Wichita Sam, I have looked at some small work stations i.e planer/sander/saw etc combined, but they would i.m.h.o leave you stranded if the motor packs in you can't use any of it, sometimes your hands and muscle are the best after all! A good set of forstner bits are always welcome but so expensive , i've just seen a set of seven for £60.00,I'll have to buy some 1 at a time when i need them.

Wichita Sam said:

table top drill press, bandsaw, good quality table saw. add a table top router if you aren't into hand shaping your necks.

for hand tools, drill, dremel, exacto knife step, small adjustable t-square, soldering gun, scrapers, screwdrivers, wire cutters, mitre box, flush cut saw (I use this for my fret saw) and lotsa, lotsa clamps.... a good vise is helpful....

the best,

Wichita Sam

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Permalink Reply by peter martin on August 2, 2009 at 7:15am

Hi Ben, I know what you mean about Dewalt,i bought a drill when i was working at the Barbican in London 15 years ago,it cost an arm and a leg,The joiners working along side me would buy a cheap one and chuck it after a few weeks hard graft ,it was more cost effective to do that ,thieves would always target the most expensive tools but walk passed cheap stuff!!.

Randy Rooster (Ben) said:

Yes Peter, my chop saw does flip over for use as a circular. Its a Dewalt which you would expect to be a good product (especially with the cost of the damn thing), but be warned - check the guide rig if you're going to buy one. My guide only attaches at one end and is hopeless - it wafts about when cutting so I have to mess on clamping a lump of timber to the top instead.

All this talk is making me think I need to buy a drill press with sander attachment now - today!!

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