Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
Starting over
Willie Simmons
Advice given to beginning turners is usually find a mentor and or join a club. Both will help direct you to the lathes, tools, etc you need. You can learn from their knowledge and experience. What if you had to start over with the knowledge and experience you have? Say all equipment was lost due to a flood, fire or bitter divorce. What would be your choices of lathes, tools, grinders, etc? You have the chance to start over and get what you want.
Re: Starting over
john lucas
I'd like to throw in another question. Your question was to start over and get what you want. I'd like to also ask what if you had to start over on a budget since you mentioned divorce or could be illness or maybe insurance wasn't as good as you thought. I say that because I was almost there twice so I'll answer both ways.
If money wasn't a problem I would have a Robust Lathe, mini max 16" bandsaw, Tormek Grinder, Saw stop table saw, Festool miter saw, Performax thickness sander, Powermatic Jointer with Helix cutter, Powermatic 15" planer with Helix cutter, and I could go on forever on high end hand tools.
At one time I thought I was going to have to got to extremes with cutting back, both on space and money. I layed out plans to work as small and inexpensive as I could. Things have changed a little since then because of new equipment available. I would have a Delta 14" bandsaw with riser block. A Jet 12" midi, Dewalt contractors Table saw, Rikon slow speed grinder and keep all of my aftermarket hand planes and my homemade router table. With those tools I can make almost everything I make today just slower.
Re: Starting over
mikeee12345
How about getting into Stamp or Coin collecting as a hobby which does not require
a shop or 100K worth of equipment and tools. :-)
If I only knew then what I know now. :-)
Re: Starting over
Don Tewell
I would probably spend less on gouges, scrapers, etc. and lean to use 3 - 4 tools extremely well. And spend some of that money on better band saws, upgrade lathe, etc.
Re: Starting over
Reed Gray
Pretty much the same as John. Not sure about the helix PM jointer and planer. There was a trend for blades the did a spiral thing, but the indexed carbide bit heads seem to be better and that is what I would want there. Robust of Vicmark lathes, well, maybe both. Thompson and D Way gouges and shear scrapers. Big Ugly for scrapers, maybe a 36 inch wide belt sander, industrial grade, Tormek, Baldor grinders, full range of CBN grinding wheels:60 through 1000 grit, 1 1/2 hp belt sander, DVR drill press, like the Festool chop saw, bandsaw with at least 16 cutting height (have the Laguna, and minimax is excellent too). Oh yea, a 10,000 sq. ft. shop so I would have room for bandsaw mill and vacuum kiln. I am sure other ideas will come. Of course I have to win the lottery first...
robo hippy
Re: Starting over
Barry Irby
Having suffered a tool robbery where they stole about $3,000 worth of tools I can suggest that you think this through and buy tools as good as or better than you had before. On one or two of the tools I replaced, I went smaller or cheaper. I resent the tools almost every time I use them and it brings back the bad feelings about the robbery. The rest of the tools I can use them without have to grit my teeth or even remember the robbery. Don't spend the rest of your life remembering "I used to have better...."
Get good stuff. It adds to the joy. I used to scoff at those stupid looking over priced Festools. Now I have a few. They are still over priced, but a joy to use. Very well thought out. I got a lathe with a electronic variable speed. Much better than the old reeves drive and step pulleys. Perhaps buy used stuff in good shape.