Simple survey.

What should be the next tool band saw or bench drill press?

If it's band saw, bench top or floor model?

 

My primary source of wood are old pallets.

my next big project will be a long book case with doors and offset shelves

A drum sander,

Herb

drill press (floor model) before the BS and the BS needs to handle thin blades as well heavy blades for resawing...

Edited December 23, 20169 yr by Stick486

I guess I'd go with the bandsaw next, and i did as i think about the order I acquired my tools. The DP sees maybe the least amount of use in my shop of the stationary tools. You didn't think you would get a unanimous decision on that question, did you?

and if the DP has a compound tilting table...

that is a major plus...

I use my drill press a lot, more than I use the band saw.

What other projects do you anticipate in the next year or so?

Cal

5 minutes ago, clhyer said:

I use my drill press a lot, more than I use the band saw.

What other projects do you anticipate in the next year or so?

Cal

ditto...

18 minutes ago, clhyer said:

I use my drill press a lot, more than I use the band saw.

What other projects do you anticipate in the next year or so?

Cal

Same here. Put a plywood table on it, with an easily adjustable fence.

John

42 minutes ago, Stick486 said:

and if the DP has a compound tilting table...

that is a major plus...

I need a floor drill press. I'm using one now that is wore out.

 

I use a DP & BS about the same. They are always plugged in.

 

Preston

Like Preston, they get about equal use. But, when you need one or the other, you REALLY need it.

A floor model of either is preferable. The DP needs a tilting table and several speeds. IMHO, electronic speed control isn't worth the $$. Changing belt positions is easy. 

If you anticipate resawing, get a BS large enough to handle 12" wide stock. Youll save lots of $$ buying thicker stock and resawing it.

I use the DP way more than the BS in my shop

Drill press first. Floor model bandsaw.

Decide the overall usage and make a list of Pros/Cons.

 

A DP can allow you repeatable drilling that can't easily be done with hand drilling, you can control the depth of a hole, etc. I use mine for drilling and light sanding ops with drums. Although not ideal, in a pinch, with the right attachment you could even do mortises. Opt for a quality floor model. It will have the same overall footprint as a good bench top and won't take up valuable work space (bench).

 

Although convenient, a BS is not a necessity. I have gotten away with using hand saws, jig saws and a scroll saw for the past six years. I would really like a good BS (again) but I'm limited on space and funds. However, I have been toying with just getting a small bench top until I can acquire a full sized 14-17" floor unit. Used ones can be had from Craig's List all day long. Some better then other but all are NOT necessarily ideal deals.

 

Several here will tell you that they own both a small bench top and a floor model.

 

Think it through...what are you going to be doing, what do you have room or the funds for, and how versatile and useful will it be? Don't discount the used market. I picked up several used tools in excellent shape from a man whose back problems stopped him from using them. He liquidated his shop. I ended up with DP, router table, shaper, jointer and a couple of other tools, as well as, all of the accessories for less then $800. The jointer alone was a $1000 new. Shop around and be ready to pull the trigger when the deal presents itself.

It really depends on what you do in the shop. For me personally, the BS  is a must tool. That said, I do have a floor model drill press and I'd be lost without it. For most woodworkers,  my guess is that the drill press  would be needed more than the BS.

On 12/23/2016 at 8:12 AM, clhyer said:

I use my drill press a lot, more than I use the band saw.

What other projects do you anticipate in the next year or so?

Cal

 

The only major project I can think of for the next year is a bookcase for my office. But then again, I never know what I might get into.

I use a lot of pallet wood and I was thinking that a band saw would help shape the wood a lot better.  However, I cannot cut a straight hole with a forstner drill bit. I have thought about one of those drill attachments that act like a small drill press.  Also, I do not have much floor space so I need to be careful what I get.

@schnewj

That is some very good input. I am always leery about used stuff because I am not very knowledgeable about the tools so I don't necessarily know what to look at.

In my mind's eye I can see so many uses for a DP such as cutting mortises, drilling round stock, and to drill straight holes which I cannot do free hand.

My plan is to use as much reclaimed pallet wood I can get, which is a lot.  A BS would be so helpful for shaping up wood before I put it on a table saw. I know a floor model BS is the best but I have limited space so I cannot see it being stationary. I roll things in and out of their parking spaces to use them.

I am trying to weigh the pro's hence asking questions here. This gives me a longer list to consider.

 

Of the three uses you described for the DP, it drills straight holes extremely well, and does well with larger bits; and it will drill round stock (with a jig to hold the stock). But for mortises (if you're considering one of those add on mortisers) it's really sucks. Skip buying one of those should you choose to get the DP. Mortises can be done very nicely by drilling out most of the waste with a forstner or brad point bit, then squared with a chisel.

@Fred W. Hargis, Jr,

That was my plan - Drill and chisel.

All of my tools are on wheels so I can move them in and out of their parking spaces to use

On ‎12‎/‎23‎/‎2016 at 6:08 AM, Stick486 said:

and if the DP has a compound tilting table...

that is a major plus...

I need a floor drill press. I'm using one now that is wore out.

 

I use a DP & BS about the same. They are always plugged in.

 

Preston