What's next, band saw, jointer, planer

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Permalink Reply by Charlie on November 14, 2009 at 7:15pm

You'll know what you'll need when you need it, thats how I bought most of the stuff I have. Other times I bought stuff because it was too good of a deal to pass up. There is no particular order of buying tools.

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Permalink Reply by Beechwood Chip on November 14, 2009 at 7:27pm

Most important: what do you need first? A bandsaw makes the most sense if you have projects where a bandsaw would help. Me, in my entire list of all the projects I ever imagine doing, the only thing I would use a bandsaw for would be resawing. For turners a lathe is the first (and only?) power tool, others will never use one.

You say that you have a list of projects. If you plan out the steps you'll take in those projects, it will probably be clear which tool you need the most.

For me, I'd get the planer first. Even with pre-milled lumber, cutting a piece (or even moving it to a different environment) can cause it to warp. I can edge joint with a router and straight-edge, but with a planer I can surface joint using a sled, and thickness plane. That would give me the ability to mill my own lumber to save money on rough-cut lumber, work with non-standard thicknesses, or just fix problems with pre-milled lumber.

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Permalink Reply by Marc on November 14, 2009 at 7:49pm

For me, in this situation, I actually would have an order of preference. I would probably start with the planer. Here's my logic. I am guessing you already have a jigsaw. Most curve cutting that you would be doing on the bandsaw can be done with the jigsaw. I doubt you'll be resawing much lumber at this stage because you don't really have anything to prep it with afterward. So my first selection out of those three would be the planer. Even pre-milled lumber can always use a little help and a planer would give you reasonably flat boards. Plus you can always mill boards to the exact thickness you want if you are in a pinch. Any jointing of edges can be done with the tablesaw, router, or even a plane.

Then when you are ready to make the leap to milling your own boards from rough stock, you can add the jointer. And then finally the bandsaw.

For me, milling my own stock is extremely important. Pre-milled boards have been sitting around for some time and they are rarely in top shape. So I place tools like jointers and planers very high on my personal list.

And I agree with the guys above in that you just need to keep making projects. Its always a good idea to let the work dictate your needs. That way you avoid buying a big expensive tool that you don't particularly need.

Just another opinion to consider....

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Permalink Reply by Rick LoDico on November 14, 2009 at 7:49pm

If using all premilled lumber, I'd go with a jointer first, then planer then Band saw. Any time you rip a board, you'll need a jointed edge. Not just for the rip, but for gluing up a panel. Most premilled will be very close in thickness though not always flat. Choose your lumber carefully.

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Permalink Reply by jdog on November 14, 2009 at 8:02pm

After a few days in your shop pre-milled lumber will not be as square as when you brought it in. A planer and jointer should be your next tools assuming you have a tablesaw. Unless you build "free form" things that couldn't be built with a jigsaw I wouldn't get the bandsaw next.
Check out the Laguna 10 inch combo machine and the Grizzly 15 inch planer and 6 or 8 inch jointers. I don't know what your budget is but tools of this size you only buy once.

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Permalink Reply by Michael Greenwood on November 15, 2009 at 5:30am

Thanks for the input,
I am trying to let the work dictate what I need. I just know without these three (or at least the planer and jointer) I am limited to the material I buy. For now my next projects are going to be with mostly 3/4 stock

I appreciate the comments, I think I'll be focusing on the planer. That seems to be the most tedious task to do with a jig or by hand

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Permalink Reply by Chris Hudson on November 15, 2009 at 8:42am

You say that you have a list of projects. Good start. But I suggest you make a list of woods/thicknesses you are planning to use as well.

For example, when I summer in the Adirondacks, I'm mostly using 5/4 x 6" (5.5") western red cedar decking, 4/4 - 5/4 12" white pine, and dimensional lumber (which I plane down to get rid of the mill marks etc.). Some 3/4 plywood too. In winter in FL, I use more Ash, Maple, Cherry and Oak.

I can get away fine with lighter-duty - mostly benchtop stuff - in the Summer. But for the hardwoods, 'full size' is going to be more enjoyable.

In either case, I'd go first for the planer - in fact a combo jointer-planer like the Grizzly G0675 10" Jointer/Planer - $1095 and free shipping. Or if you have the $$$ - the Grizzly G0634Z 12" Planer/Jointer with Spiral Cutterhead $2539 incl shipping. Why? Because if you go with mismatched jointer-planer single machines, say a 6" jointer and a 12" planer - you will get frustrated fast. Get a jointer and a planer with as close to the same width capability as you can afford.

Whichever, switch to rough lumber from pre-milled. Save $$ - and avoid the warping, surface damage, etc. you are going to find anyway with pre-milled.

I am hoping to buy the G0675 in April. I will use it for jointing, and for planing - complementing my Grizzly G0505 12-1/2" Planer - $289 - and a great buy IMHO. (I will use the G0505 for rough thicknessing - then the G0675 - when stock fits - for the final light finish passes. ( I like to avoid sanding when I can)

If you like Marc's suggestion on a jigsaw until you can afford a bandsaw, go with the best - or that tool can also frustrate fast. IMHO, the best is Bosch 1591EVSK 6.4 Amp Barrel Grip Jigsaw - $163 at Amazon. This has a bandsaw-like guide. But still, buy plenty of blades, and use a new one often.

However, if you are going to use mostly softer woods like I do in Summer, an inexpensive bandsaw like the Hitachi CB6Y 10-inch Tilting Head Bandsaw - $262 Amazon may do it. For me in Summer, its perfect for cutting the beveled back support for Adirondack chairs. (Don't expect Festool-like fit and finish on this thing - its crudely made, but works for me).

Finally, if your projects are going to use a lot of sheet goods, look at the Festool TS-55 and MFT/3 combo. Nothing better for working sheet goods, again IMHO. (except maybe 2 MFT's)

Good Luck!
Chris

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Permalink Reply by Jim Kern on November 15, 2009 at 8:02pm

Michael - I'm kind of in the same situation as you although I am only trying to decide between a planer and a jointer. They seem to kind of go hand in hand so the method I'm using is to buy the one that I can get the best deal on first. I think I'd prefer to have the planer first since I can edge joint with a router. One problem I'm having is finding reviews/opinions that I feel are dependable. Any jointer/planer that I am interested in seems to run the whole range of reviews depending on who's review you read. One review will say a particular machine is great, another will say that machine is terrible. People always tell me that "You should try as many different machines as you can." Well that isn't an option for me. My neighbors/friends don't own jointers or planers and I doubt very much I could walk into my local Woodcraft store with a stack of pieces of test lumber and fire up their machines. Good luck in your search and selection.

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Permalink Reply by Michael Greenwood on November 16, 2009 at 6:13am

I am looking at planers now.
The hard this to research is blades and replacement costs.

I'm sure many have a standard and it also looks like some don't (i.e. some craftsman model)

Does any one have some insight on this? I've looked at some bench top reviews that compared all the brands and there wasn't any brand that really stood out for me, that tells me that whatever I get (properly setup) will probably do a decent job.

So any blade replacement issues or models that you would just avoid like the plague?

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Permalink Reply by dylder on November 16, 2009 at 10:14am

I've been looking at replacing my 10" planer with the Steel City 40200H 13-Inch Planer with Helical Head . Street price of 599. I've seen them at woodcraft and was told good things about them. With the helical head the blade changes are not a big issue. That said, I have not tried the planer. This seems to be the lowest priced helical out there now.

dw

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Permalink Reply by Apprentice aka Chris on November 16, 2009 at 9:53pm

Well, I went Jointer, then Planer... now saving for a bandsaw. In some ways, I wish I went with the bandsaw first for the same reason as you. In some ways though, it's really nice to be able to get my lumber down to a specific thickness. I vote for a bandsaw.

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Permalink Reply by Chris Hudson on November 16, 2009 at 10:40pm

The Steel City site says the 4020's inserts are HSS - apparently not carbide. Any comments on this? Can carbide inserts be substituted?

Looks similar to the Ridgid? Not necessarily bad..

dylder said:

I've been looking at replacing my 10" planer with the Steel City 40200H 13-Inch Planer with Helical Head . Street price of 599. I've seen them at woodcraft and was told good things about them. With the helical head the blade changes are not a big issue. That said, I have not tried the planer. This seems to be the lowest priced helical out there now.

dw

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