Need some tools - Opinions please

[OrneryDuck]

I need a few key tools for my new garage to get things done and complete my goals for both the garage and overall home. At present most of my tools are handtools centered on motorcycle and automotive repair. Additionally to those I have a 60 gallon air compressor, a couple nice vices, Milwaukee Router + bits, Stihl chain saw, trimmer and blower as well as a Rigid 12G wet-dry shop vac.

I'm thinking immediately, I'll need:
-Drill
-Drill press (likely a bench model for now)
-Chop saw (For cutting wood planks and panels as well as metal)
-Circular saw
-Jig saw or have these been overtaken by 'sawsall'-style saws?
-Bench sander/grinder
-Clamps

I'm thinking for the drill and handheld saws I should get a good modern cordless kit, but I'm not sure what to go with. We had a 18v Dewalt kit years ago that worked well, but most of it was lost in a fire. Any suggestions here? An impact gun/driver would be a bonus to make tire changes at the track easier, but isn't absolutely necessary.

I'm hoping to find a 50's Craftsman or 40's Delta/Buffalo/Atlas drill press, but we'll see how I make out there. Florida has a limited vintage tool selection; or I just **** at looking...

Chop saw/table saw//radial saw/whatever is a tough one. I'd like a single tool capable of cutting both wood and metal with nothing more than a blade change. I'd also like it to be old to fit my garage theme and belief that older tools are typically better made. That said I'm open to the idea that modern engineering has found a better way to do things. What should I look for here? I found an awesome-looking setup locally, a 61' DeWalt 1200, it appears to be missing the table-top (replaced with a board) but is otherwise complete, including paperwork and under-cabinet. Are these worthwhile? It claims to be a multi/shop tool, anything else I can strike off the list if this little gem comes into my possession?

I'd also like a lathe, mill and welder to learn how to work metal; though I feel these will be further down the road.

Thanks!

 

[retrobuilder]

Drill
-Drill press (likely a bench model for now)- YES 12" minimum with simple machine vise(s)
-Chop saw (For cutting wood planks and panels as well as metal)- maybe- not gonna cut panels though
-Circular saw- YES
-Jig saw or have these been overtaken by 'sawsall'-style saws? YES SAWSALL IS FOR RIPPING, DEMO, AND DECK BUILDING.. i ASSUME YOU MEAN SABRE SAW AS A BENCH JIG SAW IS LOW ON MY LIST
-Bench sander/grinder- SANDER YES MINIMUM 6" DISC 4 INCH BELT..GRINDER MAYBE IF YOU PLAN TO DO METAL WORK.
-Clamps. yes yes..COMBINATION OF 4", 8" C CLAMP/f CLAMPS, 18", 24", 36" IN AT LEAST SETS OF TWO..i HAVE ABOUT 75 TOTAL FOR WOOD, PLASTIC AND METAL FAB.

You have big wish list..just consider what you plan to do and what makes sense over time..

 

[mattdwelder]

takes yrs to build up a good tool collection especially if your looking for vintage stuff , HAPPY HUNTING !!!!

 

[djjsr]

Just my opinion .......

For woodworking, a table saw, miter saw, router/table and a couple of sanders are what I use most. Also for wood, a bandsaw, cordless drill, drill press, a set of forstner bits and brad point bits. And one of those oscillating multi-tools comes in handy once in a while. I have a good jigsaw and a good circular saw but rarely use them.

A good reciprocating saw can be used for wood and metal with a simple blade change. Good for demolition work too.

A chopsaw for metal or a horizontal bandsaw if you want to spend more money. Abrasive chopsaws make a mess. Bandsaws are cleaner.

I also use a 6"x48" beltsander, the same one for both wood and metal. Some people say you should use different speeds for wood vs metal but I don't and haven't had any problems. I just have to clean up the sawdust before I use it for metal (sparks and sawdust don't mix).

I'm sure I'm forgetting something but I'm not in my workshop and my memory is terrible.

 

[Exceller8]

I've had really great luck with my Delta bench grinders. One of them is only 1/5th HP and it works great! I beat the heck out of them and they still keep going. I would also highly recommend Bosch for your Jig Saw.

 

[OrneryDuck]

Drill press - YES 12" minimum with simple machine vise(s)

- 12" in regards to the 'table' size, right?
- Any specific features to look for beyond at least three speeds, size and my predilection towards old-American?
-Any benefit to a floor model versus bench model aside from the ability to work on a larger item?

Chop saw - maybe- not gonna cut panels though

Yes, looking at their motion, they wouldn't be good for anything larger than the blade itself. I guess the likes of panels is where an under-table-mounted circular saw comes into the equation.

I'm adapting this need with consideration to djjsr's suggestion of a band saw instead. They may take longer to achieve a cut but if I get a good one, they appear to offer a better-finished cut, can run 'unattended' and are tidier than chop saws. Since cleanliness is a concern in my garage, a chop saw would need to be mounted on a cart for use in the driveway to ease cleanup where I could likely get away with a band saw fixed in the garage.

Circular saw - YES

Initially I only meant this as in a small 8-10" handheld unit, but perhaps I need to open myself up to a more diverse unit that can be under-table-mounted or miter-mounted in place of the chop saw. Again, I'm not very knowledgeable in the field of these tools, so a one-unit to rule them all may be a disservice. I'll both be accomplishing necessary tasks and learning more about the practicalities of them as I go.

Jig saw - YES SAWSALL IS FOR RIPPING, DEMO, AND DECK BUILDING.. i ASSUME YOU MEAN SABRE SAW AS A BENCH JIG SAW IS LOW ON MY LIST

Yes, a sabre saw, up until you said otherwise I had no idea bench jig saws existed and that the correct term for a handheld is 'sabre saw'. We grew up calling the handhelds as such and then I discovered saws-alls later as a rough-cut way to remove things 'in your way'.

I was also reminded of scroll saws as well, which are certainly outside my needs at this time.

Bench sander/grinder - SANDER YES MINIMUM 6" DISC 4 INCH BELT..GRINDER MAYBE IF YOU PLAN TO DO METAL WORK.

Definitely plan to get into metal work to assist my motorcycle and car habits. There is a welder, tubing bender, lathe and mill on my dream list as well, all items I will have to learn how to use. The lathe offers an immediate benefit in regards to being able to turn my own brake rotors, but the benefits beyond that are only limited by my ability to learn.

Clamps - yes yes..COMBINATION OF 4", 8" C CLAMP/f CLAMPS, 18", 24", 36" IN AT LEAST SETS OF TWO..i HAVE ABOUT 75 TOTAL FOR WOOD, PLASTIC AND METAL FAB.

Good to know, I've always wondered what clamps are useful and which are just there because. Any specific brands? Are some sizes more valuable than others in practical use, leaving you to keep more of those sizes than others? A lot of my work will be 2x4's and 1x1 square tube or angle-iron. I'm sure it will creep beyond that some day, but the immediate considerations are those above that will help make storage and work-spaces.

You have big wish list..just consider what you plan to do and what makes sense over time..

It is, and only a sliver of what I hope to collect and be able to use. I appreciate your input and understand that each person's needs will differ. I'm hoping the wise input of those on this board will save me the second and possibly third purchases one often makes in trying to find the best item for a need.

Just my opinion .......

For woodworking, a table saw, miter saw, router/table and a couple of sanders are what I use most. Also for wood, a bandsaw, cordless drill, drill press, a set of forstner bits and brad point bits. And one of those oscillating multi-tools comes in handy once in a while. I have a good jigsaw and a good circular saw but rarely use them.

You introduced some good considerations for me, specifically drill bits. I hadn't considered Forstner bits before as I always just used the cheap stamped-steel hole-saw bits. I'm sure they both have their place but it seems Forstners are more dynamic and offer a better end-product. What brand bits do you recommend and is there merit to new vs. old?

 

[zkling]

There are a few in depth threads on this you may want to search the forums.

A drill press is measured in "swing" just like a lathe. It is the distance to the center of a circle it can drill. So a 12" drill press can drill to the center of a 12" dia circle. Meaning the distance between the drill spindle axis (bit hole) to the column is 12"/2=6".

I would look for a good (heavy) floor model drill press. Something with a speed range of ~250-3000RPM. Large table. 14" minimum, preferably a 17" press. Anything larger and it can be a bit of a chore for large work.

Chop saw (miter saw) / Table saw / Radial arm saw ?

Definitely go for a table saw first combined with a good circular saw (for cutting sheet goods). If you are on a budget the OLD craftsman 8 and 10" table saws are really hard to beat for the prices they usually fetch. I would only prefer a miter saw if you planed to do a lot of trim or molding work OR cutting a bunch of long lumber to length.

Jig saw vs sawzall. A jig saw is to a bandsaw what a circular saw is to a table saw. A sawzall is a rough, demolition tool. Completely different.

A good hand drill / driver is a must have IMOH if you work around your house.

Bench grinder is very handy, not only for grinding, but for also mounting wire wheels / buffing wheels, etc.

 

[djjsr]

What brand bits do you recommend and is there merit to new vs. old?

I got both my forstner bit set and my brad point bit set from Rockler. They are decent quality at a fair price. If you check their website from time to time they have some pretty good sales.

http://www.rockler.com/

 

[Bob Hall]

Duck,
I like your plan to use older machines/tools! Have you checked in
at www.owwm.org. ? When you start searching for old machines they
seem elusive, but after you get the hang of it, it's like fishing, they were
there all the time! At OWWM, you'll find many like minded folks who
buy sell collected restore and sometimes even use old wood and metal
working machines. I'm my opinion, the first wood working power tools
should usually be a hand held drill and circular saw. The rest all have there
place and you'll want them all, but you've got to start somewhere! By the way,
even though I love the old stuff, I usually get new hand held machines, just
for the light weight and features. I have pretty much given up on battery
powered tools, because I hate the cost of battery replacement and I'm
rarely out of cord range. I know most will disagree with that. When you can
buy stationary tools the first woodworking tool should be a table saw. All
the rest are great ( and I do have ALL the rest) but it starts with table saw.
You shouldn't have any trouble finding a very useable Craftsman TS for under
a hundred bucks, also keep an eye out for Deltas and other industrial brands
that have recently become very affordable. I prefer the 1950s in all machines,
but older or a little newer should work out good for you.
When getting older machines, plan on the cost of replacing belts, cords,
blades and sometimes bearings. Be careful, old machines are very addictive!

 

[retrobuilder]

Floor Drill press often has more hp than bench but i have a midsize delta variable speed bench drill setup.

Compare quill (vertical travel) travel
Bed size
HP
speed range

Lathe- I cannot imagine turning rotors precise enough unless you have a very large lathe with strong frame and carbide cutters- Just get it done by an auto machine shop. But a lathe has benefits.

NEVER RUN power tools un attended,

Later,

 

[OrneryDuck]

Duck,
I like your plan to use older machines/tools! Have you checked in
at www.owwm.org. ? When you start searching for old machines they
seem elusive, but after you get the hang of it, it's like fishing, they were
there all the time! At OWWM, you'll find many like minded folks who
buy sell collected restore and sometimes even use old wood and metal
working machines. I'm my opinion, the first wood working power tools
should usually be a hand held drill and circular saw. The rest all have there
place and you'll want them all, but you've got to start somewhere! By the way,
even though I love the old stuff, I usually get new hand held machines, just
for the light weight and features. I have pretty much given up on battery
powered tools, because I hate the cost of battery replacement and I'm
rarely out of cord range. I know most will disagree with that. When you can
buy stationary tools the first woodworking tool should be a table saw. All
the rest are great ( and I do have ALL the rest) but it starts with table saw.
You shouldn't have any trouble finding a very useable Craftsman TS for under
a hundred bucks, also keep an eye out for Deltas and other industrial brands
that have recently become very affordable. I prefer the 1950s in all machines,
but older or a little newer should work out good for you.
When getting older machines, plan on the cost of replacing belts, cords,
blades and sometimes bearings. Be careful, old machines are very addictive!

Awesome! I'm not afraid to rebuild the tools, as long as the parts are readily available. I'll check out the site, might give me an eye for specific years to search for that offer the best parts availability, quality and features.

Yea, I'll probably get a new battery set (drill, impact & maybe saw) for when the job is outside the range of power, but a I'm not opposed to a cable drill, saw, etc when in the garage itself as most projects will be just that.

Floor Drill press often has more hp than bench but i have a midsize delta variable speed bench drill setup.

Compare quill (vertical travel) travel
Bed size
HP
speed range

Lathe- I cannot imagine turning rotors precise enough unless you have a very large lathe with strong frame and carbide cutters- Just get it done by an auto machine shop. But a lathe has benefits.

NEVER RUN power tools un attended,

Later,

Okay, that makes sense about the press.

The only lathe experience I have at all is with an AMMCO brake lathe, specific to the purpose. I just assumed that a large enough lathe (~14") would be able to handle the task with precision. Guess I'll couch that idea then. It doesn't help that most rotors these days are ****, barely over spec when new...

I didn't mean start the tool and run off for lunch, I just meant set the tool, start it and then I could be prepping for the next cut while the band saw works its way through. I've read that is how people keep up efficiency with a band saw vs. a chop saw.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I'd pick up a set of Dewalt or similar hand held power tools. See what each brand has to offer as far as tool options. That will take you quite far on your list.

When it comes to the drill press, table saw and band saw(if you choose) I would start searching CL. Hit it up everyday, once twice or three times. Search the area around you and the places an hour away. I have picked up those three items from CL. They are older Cman units and better than the **** they sell now.

Buy a newer miter saw or find a nice used unit from somebody hard up for cash. If you plan on cutting steel, I'd suggest a seperate chop saw for that.

Make a list and get one at a time unless you find a package deal.