Hi all,
I just bought a Bosch t-saw, and am putting together a small portable shop. My question is with reasonably good equipment, what can I accomplish as far as builtins and general woodworking. I remember back several years ago that there was a “knockdown” shop article in FHB. I am trying to build a similar setup.
For example small jointers don’t seem to be worth the trouble so with a glue line rip blade in the t-saw can I expect a cut smooth enought to biscuit and glue? It is not ideal but I will just have to select stock more carefully.
I am going to include a router and table, a planer, a t-saw, and compound miter to start.
Is anyone out there running a full kerf glue line blade in a small t-saw if so what are your experiences?
Let me hear your opinnions and similar working experiences. All advice is appreciated.
Webby
Replies
You could do edge joining on your router table as an alternative - probably with better results than with the Bosch saw.
Most built-in would be made with sheet goods, so edge joining will not be a strict requirement for the majority of work you would do.
What you can accompish with any given set of tools is a question only you and your skills and ingenuity can answer.
JT
Edited 4/24/2006 12:58 pm ET by JulianTracy
I use a glue line rip blade in a cabinet saw, don't see why you can't do the same in the bosch.The glueline tip blade is excellent for lumber under 1" thick. If you have to rip thicker stock ,use a 24 tooth rip blade. As long as the stock is straight on one side you can expect to get very good results. Use a straightedge tacked to the board if it is not straight.
Not familiar with the article you mentioned on knock down shops.
mike
Is this what you were thinking of? It says it was in the August/September 2002 issue of Fine Homebuilding (#149).
http://www.taunton.com/finehomebuilding/pages/hvt025.asp
Maybe look at the festool/eureka guide rail systems.
Thanks for the good information. Yes, my next and probable option will be a router table with a jointing feature. Yeah sorry about the vague article reference I was away from the house and couldn't look it up.
Thanks again
Webby
Any router table setup can be used for joining - doesn't need a special fence for that.I like to keep a few strips of laminate floating around to apply to the router fence for slight edge joining.JT
I agree with a previous poster.
The quality of your output will depend more on your abilities than on the tools you are using.
I've built many custom pieces on site that rival and even surpass the quality of shop made items.
A shop makes working easier.....doesn't make the product better.
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
I build high-end homes and cottages now, but I started out as a formally trained furntiture maker. When I was starting out on my own, I built an entire kitchen with my worm-drive. No kidding. I build built-ins and fair quality furniture-type stuff with a dewalt table saw, router table and a mess of hand tools. Using sheet stock is the main ingredient for stress-free field work.
The Freud glue-line rip works fine on my old Delta contractor's saw. Might want to get a good 60-T crosscut blade for veneer ply. For layout and glue-up, get a couple of 3/0 luan slab doors, shoot'em with lacquer or paint'em with poly, lay'em across a couple of saw horses, and when you're finished, stack'em in the corner.
Don't forget a lam trimmer, HVLP conversion gun, and a compressor...
Thanks for all the info and ideas.
Webby
Portable shop essential tools:
Table saw (Bosch) with stand, Forrest blade, router mount like Julian Tracy's
12.5 or 13-inch planer, stand, plus two ballbearing stands for infeed and outfeed
Dual bevel compound slide miter saw, Hitachi 10" or equal, Forrest chopsaw blade, Sawhelper stand from AD&E.
Eurekazone kit: table, PC325 saw, 100" of guide
Thanks for the good ideas, especially the laminate strips.
I am taking delivery of the Bosch today.
At present I have a router table, Dewalt 12" cms, Pc. 2hp plunge, Pc 690 combo kit, laminate trimmer, sawboss, Pc 7.25 inch circular, of course cordless drills, some basic clamps and some real handy Boomer Red brand straight edge clamps sold by MLCSwoodworking.com, bosch barrel grip jigsaw, sawhorses, etc...
I will be investing in some good blades. Also a decent planer.
Thanks again
Webby
Edited 4/27/2006 11:40 am ET by webby