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George's Top 5 Must Have Stationary Tools for Your Workshop
By George Vondriska
Photos George Vondriska
Posted: September 11, 2008
I'm asked all the time, "What's the first tool I should get?" My tongue-in-cheek answer is, "A credit card with a high limit." But since people really do want advice on tool purchases, I've developed "George's Top 5 List." It's important to understand that this is my list of preferred tools and there will be no shortage of woodworkers who will disagree with my choices. Cool. This is America. Freedom of choice and all that. Let's not get into an argument over it. The Guild is all about passing along information, so feel free to submit your Top 5 list. Can't wait to see it.
1. Table saw: I don't think there will be much argument here. A table saw is at the heart of most shops, and can't be beat for ripping, crosscutting, and a gazillion types of joinery. The only real question is what type of saw is best for you. In large part, that's a question only your checkbook can answer.
2. Router table: This might be where the fist-to-cuffs start. Why a router table as my second choice? It's so versatile. With the right fence set up, I can edge joint boards, like I could on a jointer. (No, you can't face joint, but I'll live with that for now.) I can make any number of joints, create doors, and profile edges. I can remove the router and use it hand-held for work at my bench. A good router table simply provides lots of bang for the buck.
3. Surface sander: This boils down to a question of sander versus planer. If I can only have one, I'd rather have the sander. With an aggressive abrasive I can plane wood, although it will be slower than a planer. The real pay off is when I put a fine abrasive on the machine and finish sand pieces before assembling projects. I love being able to send large slabs of wood through the sander, pieces that wouldn't fit in a planer. Early on in my professional cabinetmaking days, I saw the benefit of putting assembled face frames and doors through a sander. What a time saver!
4. Band Saw: I use my band saw a lot. I've got a sled I use for crosscutting tiny pieces, like I'd use for pen turning. Big blades go on when I'm cutting fireplace logs into usable lumber for my woodworking. The band saw is a great way to cut tenons, and I've even mastered cutting through dovetails on the band saw. Another extremely versatile tool.
5. Lathe: This choice may raise some eyebrows. I'm just preaching the turning gospel here. I love working on the lathe. From pens to green-wood-natural-rim bowls, I can't get enough. You can take a lathe project from start to finish in an evening, which isn't possible with most "flat" woodworking. My kids all started turning at a very young age. With the right project selection, the lathe is a great way to introduce kids to woodworking. The lathe is my opportunity to depart from "standard" woodworking, and have some fun in the shop.
What are your favorite tools and why? Email us at editor@wwgoa.com.
16 Comments
Comment from Cliff... Great site with nice tips and videos, although with dial up, videos are difficult. I go with table saw, router table, and bandsaw. would love a surface sander, but space a problem. Thickness planer - get my lumber from a local sawmill, so important for rought lumber. Mitre Saw for cutoffs but jointer needed to help square large stock like 4x4, otherwise I use the table saw for squaring 1 inch thick. regards, Cliff
Posted September 11, 2008 // 8:20 PM Good comments, as a beginer I needed a list like this... I am going to fill out my shop with your top 5!! Thanks
Posted October 03, 2008 // 8:04 PM It was nice to see that I've got 3 out of the 5 tools you recommend. I have a 1-car garage shop, so to conserve space I replaced one ofthe wings of my table saw with a router table. In addition,the bandsaw is also one of my goto machines. I have struggled with the planer vs drum sander question for a while now. From your description it sounds like you favor an open ended type instead of a fixed width unit. Funny, I've always heard that a beginning woodworker should stay away from lathes until he becomes more accomplished in the other woodshop skills because the turning is so addictive.Nice site so far, just started to explore it and like what I see. Thanks
Posted October 08, 2008 // 5:43 PM It took me years to get to this point but I now have all but 1. I opted for a planer instead of a drum sander because I was making square blanks from 3 1/2" to 5" to turn for table legs. Also bought a duplicator for my lathe because I was turning a lot of the same legs. Have not done much free hand turning yet. What little I have done was a lot of fun. Just move and now have to find some place to set up my shop as we now live in an apartment, but something will turn up. So far am just starting to enjoy your site. LOOKS GREAT!!!
Posted October 10, 2008 // 9:32 AM I found this article very helpful. I already own a good table saw and router table, and planned to make my next major tool purchase either a jointer or planer. Actually, my thought was to buy both at the same time, so I wouldn't spend the next year wishing I had bought one versus the other. Now I see I have a second option - use the router table for edge jointing and a surface sander in place of the planer. I can see where this option has both benefits and drawbacks, but it does seem to make good sense; especially since the majority of my projects are cabinet size or smaller. Thanks George.
Posted October 12, 2008 // 9:48 AM Bob-Glad this information helped. We'd all like to be able to change routers instead of changing router bits, but it takes a while to accumulate that kind of tool collection. Creative efficiency in the mean time....
Posted November 30, 2008 // 7:12 PM I like my Scroll Saw. I spend a lot of time on it. I like making small things.
Posted December 17, 2008 // 6:23 PM I have a Shopsmith, but I also have some of the other machines too, But which one is used the most, And in which order shoukd they be place in 28'WX30'L Garage?
Posted February 20, 2009 // 3:43 PM Interesting choices. I appreciate the article and insights as to why you choose those tools. I opted for the planner vs the sander. The difference is probably due to different types of projects. I am much more often dimensioning wood than finishing panels so in the interest of time saved it makes better sense. I can see where a the sander would be more beneficial than if I were doing a lot of cabinets. Thanks again and HWW (Happy Wood Working)
Posted March 02, 2009 // 11:45 AM For three years I have delayed the purchase of a jointer because many woodworkers have advised me to spend my money on other must have items. So I have all the tools mentioned except the sander. After countless projects I can state that I am very sorry I did not buy a jointer as soon as I could afford one. Many hours have been spent trying to work -around its absence in my shop. Also, jointers cost more now than they did 3 years ago and I have spent more for lumber because I could not surface it myself. For that same reason my choice of lumber was limited. A jointer will be my next purchase. A wide mouth sander and a vertical panel saw are luxuries I hope to have someday. Oh, yes, a sanding table and gluing/framing table would be nice to have also.
Posted April 15, 2009 // 9:22 AM as a new person to woodworking the choices were giving me nightmares. So I basically went and bought what I could with money I had. I bought the most table saw I could buy with money I had. I did alot of research on the net and visited pawn shops and local selling clubs, this landed me 2 routers, orbital sander, drill press, 42 inch lathe, band saw, and numerous hand tools. Believe it or not the orbital sander is my most favorite tool, mainly because I absolutely love silky smooth wood and this sander does just that with the right pads.
Posted May 11, 2009 // 10:18 PM I would definitely include a drill press in the mix. When I was getting my shop together, one of my friends said "How much do you actually use a drill press?". Answer: A LOT! Beyond just drilling, I use it for countersinking, sanding, and precise, repetitive hole location. I built a nice table with an adjustable fence to go with it so I can put the hole right where I want it. I use a hold-down device to keep the work on the table. Plus, I have a variety of bits for various applications. I'm still building my shop and I am drawing up plans for a 350 sq. ft. building in my back yard. The roof is sloped in such a way that I will have a storage area above the shop. I think my next tool will be a band saw. My Dad left all of his tools to me and, unfortunately, I had to give some of them away. I am kicking myself for it now but I just don't have the room in my house. I sold the ones that I would use the least at the time and that I could easily replace. That helped a little. I am new to the Woodworker's Guild web site and, so far, it looks great. Keep up the good work. Oh yeah, I use an Empire speed square (technically, a rafter square) a lot. I didn't realize the capability of this little gem until I saw a guy frame a house with it. Good little tool. I even use it to line up my combination square. Takes a second and it's perfectly square.
Posted August 26, 2009 // 7:38 PM A GREAT DEAL OF INFO ITS A BIG HELP THANKS DAVE11
Posted August 30, 2009 // 8:04 PM Just signed up today. I agree with your choices. But, a drill press has been an extremely important tool in my shop. I haven't done any turning, but am waiting and watching for a lathe to turn up that will get me going. WWGOA looks like a great place to share working knowledge and for beginners to get some primers.
Posted September 24, 2009 // 10:12 AM I would like the surface sander, but I consider the the type of work one does would dictate what tools a shop should have in it. I do smaller items and fell that a good stationary belt sander w/a 10" inch disc with table,a planner and good orbital sander is more applicable to the type of projects I work on: all hooked up to dust collection. I enjoy the WWGOA. Thank you.
I work in a 1.5 garadge I bought a festool table and saw, iam hopeing i can get rid of my compound miter and table i made,got most of tools all but sander,ive got a bunch of power sanders but no drum sanders,as far as a lathe the guys i know who have one get so wraped up in it they do little wood working .sooooo i got to many irons in fire now. good reports and reviews. ps. jest finished the little cabinate on first video..