Big Power Tools for building?

Storebought or Homemade: Tell Us!
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kinspeed
Posts: 70
Joined: Mon Jan 23, 2017 7:26 pm

Big Power Tools for building?

Post by kinspeed »

1. Band saw
2. Drill press
3. Table saw
4. Drum sander
5. Spindle sander
6. Disc/Belt sander
7. Jointer
8. Router table

What am I missing?

I was able to acquire a 22/44 Drum sander which was the one tool I thought was totally out of reach. I have an old drill press but am not sure it's up to the task in accuracy, it's probably 70 years old and built like a tank. Got burned on a 1966 Delta Band saw last week. I thought it just needed new bearings on the lower wheel but it turned out to be a destroyed drive shaft.
Danl8
Posts: 733
Joined: Mon Jul 28, 2014 7:50 am
Location: Chadds Ford, PA

Re: Big Power Tools for building?

Post by Danl8 »

Good list. Some of these vintage machines/tools found in garage/estate auction sales are incredibly good values; well-built, repairable and inexpensive. Carefully selected Harbor crate tools can be good tools as well. How do you like your 22/44 sander?
Kbore
Posts: 299
Joined: Sun Jun 25, 2017 3:58 pm
Location: St. Louis area

Re: Big Power Tools for building?

Post by Kbore »

kinspeed wrote:1. Band saw
2. Drill press
3. Table saw
4. Drum sander
5. Spindle sander
6. Disc/Belt sander
7. Jointer
8. Router table

What am I missing?
Japanese dozuki saw- I use it WAY more than bandsaw. Become one with dozuki.
Measure Twice,

Karl B
Danl8
Posts: 733
Joined: Mon Jul 28, 2014 7:50 am
Location: Chadds Ford, PA

Re: Big Power Tools for building?

Post by Danl8 »

Kbore wrote:
Japanese dozuki saw- I use it WAY more than bandsaw. Become one with dozuki.
Tell us more. I've run across dozuki luthiers for 40 years -- gotta be something to them. Dozuki cut on the pull stroke and come in different kerf widths, etc.?
Bob Gleason
Posts: 412
Joined: Fri Jul 03, 2015 2:45 pm
Contact:

Re: Big Power Tools for building?

Post by Bob Gleason »

Dozuki saws are really great. They differ from some other Japanese pull saws because of the hard spline back. That makes the blade stiff and able to cut extremely straight for things like dovetails. The spline back does limit the depth of cut, so knowing what you want it for is important when you buy one. I don't think a blade length of less that 8-9" is worth buying. The little Dozukis don't work for me.Full size saws are cheap, costing $40-$50 for a good one. If you buy one that has replaceable blades, you'll spend about 1/2-2/3 of the price of a new saw when you decide to replace the blade. Lots of uses around the shop. If you have not used a Japanese pull saw, you will be amazed. There is no learning curve involved.
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