Larry Jenkins said:

Roger..  A warm welcome to TAW.

Great design; well built and a very fuctional..

Tool.

Larry

 

Thanks Larry.

This is a great site and I look forward to spending time talking to all the great folks here. I appreciate your comments about the Build Center  (“machine†or “tool†yet to be decided).  I originally designed the Build Center because I found it too difficult to rustle a full 4’ x 8’ sheet of plywood by myself. Cross cutting on my table saw was nearly impossible to do alone and after checking into a number of different cross cut fence set-ups  and the cost, I felt there had to be a better way. It’s much easier to push the saw rather than the material and being able to router perfect dados in multiple panels at the same time was a real bonus.  I find myself using the Build Center even more than my table saw these days because it is just easier and every bit as accurate. Thanks again for your comments Larry.

Thanks Larry. This is a great site and I look forward to spending time talking to all the great folks here. I appreciate your comments about the Build Center  (“machine†or “tool†yet to be decided).  I originally designed the Build Center because I found it too difficult to rustle a full 4’ x 8’ sheet of plywood by myself. Cross cutting on my table saw was nearly impossible to do alone and after checking into a number of different cross cut fence set-ups  and the cost, I felt there had to be a better way. It’s much easier to push the saw rather than the material and being able to router perfect dados in multiple panels at the same time was a real bonus.  I find myself using the Build Center even more than my table saw these days because it is just easier and every bit as accurate. Thanks again for your comments Larry.

Larry Jenkins said:

Roger..  A warm welcome to TAW.

Great design; well built and a very fuctional..

Tool.

Larry

Thanks Wayne..........that now makes it 2 votes for “machine†and 4 votes for “toolâ€. I agree for sure it is multi-purpose.   

  

.  
Wayne Mahler said:

Roger

You can put my vote in for a tool.

In a sense it comes to me as a multi purpose jig that appears to handle many tasks.

Even bending sheet metal is done with a brake, which is a tool.

 

Best Wishes

Wayne

 

Thanks Dragon 1, To take it a step further,  I guess if we had someone cut it for us, we might even call it a robot.  

 

That’s now 2 votes for “machine†and 5 votes for “toolâ€.  Thanks for voting everyone!

 

dragon1 said:

It is a clamp.  So therefore, a tool.

 

If it also cut the wood for you it would be a machine.

It’s now 2 votes that says the Build Center is a “machine†and 5 votes that says it’s a “toolâ€. Let me know what you think it should be termed. Thanks Everyone!

Concensus says  it's a "Tool."

 

Mike's statement about it's not being able to cut wood makes the most convincing argument for a "Tool."

Larry

Thanks Larry. It does sound like it is leaning towards calling it a tool. One person made a very good point in that the Build Center  will perform multiple tasks and therefore it is more of a machine. They feel that a "tool" is a single purpose item such as a screw driver. A lot of people call a circular saw a tool and yet it has a motor and does cut. Let's see if anyone else wants to provide their opinion. Thanks again Larry.

Larry Jenkins said:

Concensus says  it's a "Tool."

 

Mike's statement about it's not being able to cut wood makes the most convincing argument for a "Tool."

Larry

A screwdriver has one purpose?

 I'm doing something wrong then. I use mine to turn screws in and out, open can of stains and paint. Oh I almost forgot, the occassional pry bar because it's in reach when needed, and of course a back scratcher because it works. .

Sorry couldn't resist this one.

Best Wishes

Wayne

 

HA HA HA ..........I have to admit I have used a screw driver for all that and more Wayne. Maybe a screw driver is really a "machine" then

Wayne Mahler said:

A screwdriver has one purpose?

 I'm doing something wrong then. I use mine to turn screws in and out, open can of stains and paint. Oh I almost forgot, the occassional pry bar because it's in reach when needed, and of course a back scratcher because it works. 

.

Sorry couldn't resist this one.

Best Wishes

Wayne

 

I really like this. It is cool what all the different things it can do.

 

I think this is neither a tool or a machine, but a multi-functional jig.  Just my opinion and you get what you paid for.....

Hey Brent, You may just be right. The only thing I would consider is that a jig is generally used to perform one function or a specific task. The Build Center is really designed to be all purpose for a multitude of tasks. I am in the middle of building a set of kitchen cabnits and, I must say, the Build Center is the best router table I ever used when putting dados in cabinet sides to accept the shelves. It is also great for cutting the cherry plywood sheets to make the cabinet parts. Thanks for your thoughts Brent, much appreciated. A customer is sending in a video of him building a buffet using the Build Center. He has sent a few pictures so far and he is doing a beautiful job. As soon as I get the video I will post it.

Roger www.torontotool.com   

Brent Cashion said:

I really like this. It is cool what all the different things it can do.

 

I think this is neither a tool or a machine, but a multi-functional jig.  Just my opinion and you get what you paid for.....

Any other people that would like to place their vote? "Is it a tool or a machine" so far we have 3 for machine and 5 for tool

Roger Hamblen said:

Hey Brent, You may just be right. The only thing I would consider is that a jig is generally used to perform one function or a specific task. The Build Center is really designed to be all purpose for a multitude of tasks. I am in the middle of building a set of kitchen cabnits and, I must say, the Build Center is the best router table I ever used when putting dados in cabinet sides to accept the shelves. It is also great for cutting the cherry plywood sheets to make the cabinet parts. Thanks for your thoughts Brent, much appreciated. A customer is sending in a video of him building a buffet using the Build Center. He has sent a few pictures so far and he is doing a beautiful job. As soon as I get the video I will post it.

Roger

www.torontotool.com

   

Brent Cashion said:

I really like this. It is cool what all the different things it can do.

 

I think this is neither a tool or a machine, but a multi-functional jig.  Just my opinion and you get what you paid for.....

okay, well I will put it in the tool category also.

 

Jon

If it is big and impressive and looks manly it is a nice piece of machinery.  If it is small to medium size and you can lift it with somewhat ease, its a power tool or hand tool.  So I say it is a "Machine".    I am impressed either way.

Thanks for the reply John, that makes it 3 for machine and 6 for calling the Build Center a tool.

John Moody said:

okay, well I will put it in the tool category also.

 

Jon

It's a "Cabinet Builders Buddy"!

Thanks for the reply William. That now makes it a vote of 4 counts for machine and 6 for calling the Build Center a tool. I must say that every day I use the Build Center it impresses me more and more. I just completed some new cherry wood kitchen cabinets and I have never had such ease in routering the dados in the cabinet sides for the shelves using the Build Center. Not to mention cutting all the pieces out of 4' x 8' sheets of cherry plywood. It is so much easier using my circular saw and pushing the saw rather than trying to move the sheet of plywood on my table saw. I had all the pieces cut in half the time and naturally they were all perfectly square. I cut four side panels at the same time by stacking them. Because I cut the panels at same time all the panels were perfect. I made the dado cuts in all the drawers at the same time also by lining them all up and routering them all at the same time. What a joy when all the drawers came out perfectly. Thanks again for your reply William. 

William Duffer said:

If it is big and impressive and looks manly it is a nice piece of machinery.  If it is small to medium size and you can lift it with somewhat ease, its a power tool or hand tool.  So I say it is a "Machine".    I am impressed either way.

Hello Folks,

I am hoping for a few more opinions as to "Tool" or "Machine". What are your thoughts? Please let me know if you have a minutes to view the video posted on this site. I value everyone's opinion as the experts in the fine world of woodworking. Thanks everyone.

 

It will be interesting when you finally make your decision. Tool or Machine. Good luck.

 

-Ace-

Yes John, I will say it's the best "machine" or "tool" I ever used for making quality professional cabinets. I will post pictures of the Cherry kitchen cabinets, that are in the process of being made using the Build Center, as soon as they are finished. I like your comment ......"It's a cabinet builders buddy". Do you mind if we use it?