beginner question

[copscorgi]

My family is growing older which is allowing me to get back into woodworking after about 20 years. I own an old and I mean cheap table saw. I have a good Craftsman router bought in 1975. Also a good Dewalt miter saw. That is it.

My question is what should be my first, in a good while, wood shop holiday present? My wife has asked me but I come up with 5 different items. I ask you experienced woodworkers what would be the sensible item to buy to seriously start re-building a wood shop?

I love my hours in the shop. Me, the radio & sawdust!

Have a great winter season,
bill

[MadMark]

Tablesaw is the core of a good shop. Most saws come with fences that aren't worth anything so a fence upgrade is usually in the future (sometimes you can get a saw without a fence and go straight to a "better" one.)

Wood has three dimensions, length, width and thickness. TS will handle length and width, planer is needed for thickness.

Router you already have, but a mount in the TS will help save space.

You'll need a shop vac or dust collector.

Drill, band saw/scroll saw are all good to have.

Hard to give specific's without knowing what you plan to build. But TS is key in most shops.

Visit my shop: http://www.netexperts.cc/~lambertm/Wood/wood.html

M

[Lou_williams]

Mark and I are two of the most consistant responders on the board. That may tell you alot about us. He and I agree on lots of stuff, but not all. You have a table saw. To make it work as you will want it to will cost lots of money. New fence, new motor, new belts and pullies, accessoies that will make it useful. For that much money you can buy a used but great cabinet saw. A Delta, powermatic, or Jet.

[john]

i am new to this forum but not to woodworking and i have to agree with lou and mark a table saw is a must and a good saw is the only way to go

[Danny]

Number one is a good table saw. Consider next a cordless drill, a router table, biscuit joiner, jig saw, clamps.

[Glen]

Welcome back.

Yup, no doubt a good table saw is number one. All other mentions are noteworthy. But do you want to cut up all that lumber and put it together on the floor!! you need a good bench to work on. Also
get some clamps, can't, can not have enough. Oh and get a quality
blade for the table saw because if you decide on something like Dewalts setup, a good blade is like adding h.p. *dull=deadly*. Good quality hand tools are indespensable also such as chisels
And sanders make great stocking stuffers!

Glen

[carl]

Power tools:
1. Good table saw that fits your space and budget.
2. Jointer-planer to make panels.
3. Band saw

Hand power tools:
1. Sanders, all types
2. Cordless drills

Hand tools:
1. Clamps.........all types and plenty
2. Chisels
3. Hand saws

With the router you have you can make alot of beautiful furniture and have a lot of fun. The table saw is the most important and I agree the better the quality the more enjoyable. But if you do not have the budget then know that you will have to more checking and adjusting with the cheaper model. It still works.....

[Stephen]

I guess you figured out it' the table saw that we all revolve around, literally! Grizzly has a couple of good models if you can't afford Delta, Powermatic, or Jet. Aside from the saw I personally appreciate quality hand tools. Chisels, planes(no.07 and 04-1/2),hand saws, and laying out tools. Oh, and a fortune in clamps.