Before I head out this morning I started doing some researching on tools and found some ones that would come in handy once I get the new shed shop completed with work benches. 

 

First is the Rikon 10-305 Band Saw with fench 10-inch

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0032YZB2S/?coliid=IPI8XU4BJG6QD&colid=JHVHTKURXUVA&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it_im

 

Second is the Wen MM1011 15-A,[ 10" Single Bevel Compact Sliding Compound Miter Saw With Laser

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZGH64YC/?coliid=I1AJIDICH8IWPU&colid=JHVHTKURXUVA&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it\

 

Third is DEFINATELY a Vise WORKPRO Bench Vise, 4.5" heavy-duty utility combination pipe home vise, swivel base bench for wood working

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08G89S7QL/?coliid=I3407NKGU97XFV&colid=JHVHTKURXUVA&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it_im

 

Fourth is the Wen Delta 36-6013 10 inch table saw with 25 inch rip capacity.  I double I will need 25 inches....https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083ZKXPDR/?coliid=I3VTZK7UFEY913&colid=JHVHTKURXUVA&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it_im

 

Sixth is the Porter-Cable Benctop Jointer, Variable Speed 6 inch (PC160JT)  I'm not sure if this is the best one to get but limited income....

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004Q0I8YU/?coliid=I3LPLOAO8IFH71&colid=JHVHTKURXUVA&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

 

Seventh is the WEN 6552T 13 inch 15 amp 3 blade benctop corded thickness planer.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KL4L9KM/?coliid=IUXPB6D0Y4MY3&colid=JHVHTKURXUVA&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it_im

 

I'm also currently browsing for a variable speed drill press that is a bench top.  I do want to toss the current harbor freight 5 speed drill press I have in the dump.  How ever these are just some of the tools I'm looking at that I'm finding more and more that are in much need.  I've also been looking for a small camping wood stove for the shed for winter time heating.  But that's not as important at the moment.  Still doing a ton of research but if you guys have any other suggestions I'm all ears.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don't remember the sequence of my tool purchases over the years. I do remember my first saw was a Craftsman radial arm. That was a mistake and soon sold it for a table saw. At that time, I did mostly flat work. Jointers are nice but probably down the list, for me, now.

 

I didn't get a chop saw until later on. The newer ones are much nicer, with larger blades.

 

I'd get the biggest bandsaw you can fit in the shop. I do a lot of resawing and my 14" bandsaw can only handle just a tad under 6". A riser kit would increase that.

I don't unfortunately have a ton of space for a big band saw and I don't have 220 volts running through the shed just 110.  So I've got to unfortunately stick with the bench top models.

.

Just some unsolicited advice: 

 

I have found that when I buy cheap tools I have quickly outgrown them.  I guess I'd rather have a few good tools and add as needed than a lot of mediocre tools that need upgraded later.  Like Lew, one of my first stationary tool was a Crapsman RAS.  It scared me and was hard to keep in alignment. It was followed by a small table saw that proved too small to be of much use.   

 

I started out with a hand saw, a drill, hammer and some chisels (all of which I still have).  A few years later added a cheap circular saw and cheap jig saw, both have been handed down to family.

 

I got a Shopsmith and still use it, but it was before the 510 and 520 and found the table saw the weak link.  Everything else works great. Upgrading the table was more expense than I wanted, so I applied that money to a Unisaw.  I was really satisfied when I got a Unisaw and it has been a keystone tool for 35+ years.  But I did get a used Mark V for a son-in-law and it provided a valuable tool for him doing a lot of home remodeling.   You can usually get one from a widow or heir for about $500 including one or two additional SPTs (special purpose tools: jointer, band saw, belt sander, etc.)  Those Shopsmiths just don't wear out.  They are also space-efficient -- one motor and stand drives a lot of power tools.

 

 

It was many years before I got a miter saw.  Most anything a miter saw can do you can do on a table saw with a shop-built cross-cut table or two (one for 90 and one for 45 degree cuts).

 

For me, the essentials are a table saw and a thickness planer.   The thickness planer allows you to use rough cut lumber and not be stuck with 3/4" thick everything.  Between the two of them, you can improvise what a jointer does (or use a router for edge jointing).

 

If you are more into turning than flatwork, your choices will change.

 

Essential portable power tools are a drill, a router, and a random orbit sander.   A jig saw comes in handy for curves and a circular saw with an edge guide (substitute for much more expensive track saws) works to cut sheet goods down to manageable size.

 

Most of my power tool acquisitions in the last 20 or so years have been used.  Good quality stuff doesn't wear out.  The usual rule of thumb is a used piece can be had for about half the current new price.  Between the theater shop and the furniture bank (both non-profits), we bought a nice Jet hybrid table saw and were given an old Unisaw, a jointer, a drill press, Shopsmith 10ER, a Delta contractor's saw, three huge boxes of portable power tools (drills, routers, circular saws), etc. (from multiple places)  While you might not get stuff given to you, all that used stuff is is good working condition.  In my own shop I got used: Delta band saw, Grizzly drill press, Ridgid oscillating sander, Shopsmith belt sander, Delta benchtop biscuit machine, Delta mortiser, couple of Craftsman routers (one free, one $5), Hitachi palm router ($15), some good quality corded drills ($5 ea), and Benchdog Router table.

 

Edited March 9, 20215 yr by kmealy

Yea I just wound up tossing a few at the dump LOL.

Just about everyone gives those Craftsman RAS the what-for.  My experience was totally opposite.  When I started my serious woodworking I bought an old C'man RAS.  That thing was my bread & butter.  It made me so much money - a shop full of new tools & a shop to put them in!  But my projects were primarily outside furniture and a line of birdhouses & feeders.  Most all of the furniture used half-lap joinery and was made from PT pine.  After I stopped the production work and stopped the business I sold the saw for about what I paid for it.  I don't miss it, but it sure was a good tool for me.

My Dad still has his.

1 hour ago, Cal said:

Just about everyone gives those Craftsman RAS the what-for.  My experience was totally opposite.  When I started my serious woodworking I bought an old C'man RAS.

 

They worked well when mounted on a solid base.  The stands that came with them twisted when moved and that is why the went out of adjustment.  After I put mine on a solid base bolted to the wall and adjusted it the saw stayed cutting straight and true.

I don't know the miter saw that I'm currently using the 8 inch Ryobi seems to handle quite well even un mounted.  Which is how I plan on using the saws is basically un mounted to a bench. 

I think the Craftsman tools have varied a lot over time and tended toward worse when cost cutting by Sears .  With the name acquisition by Stanley Black & Decker and becoming the Lowe's home brand (and Ace Hdw?) the power tools seemed to have improved and are now better rated.

 

The usefulness of a RAS probably depends on what you were using it for.  Prior to buying mine, a book lauded RAS virtues as "do anything and everything."  Ripping always gave me the weebie-jeebies.   Small parts, no way.   Needed jigs for a lot of joinery operations.  Not so good on dust collection.  It may be over now, but for a long while, they would "buy back" the saws because they had an un-repairable safety defect.

I was just looking at the craftsman reviews and I just honestly don't think its worth the extra money for a craftsman for that name brand.  Hand tools wrenches screw drivers and what nots yes probably not for power tools on my end at least.