European Woodworking

[flair woodworks]

It recently occurred to me that there are a lot of differences between the way a North American woodworker works as compared to a European.  Some things that Europeans seem to be more familiar with are sliding table saws, sanding frames for belt sanders, and cramps.  North Americans have "regular" table saws, fixed-base routers, 120V power, dado stacks and clamps.

What other differences are there in equipment?  What about working methods?  There are many books about Japanese woodworking, but none that I know of about European woodworking.

 

[sgryd]

One big difference seems to be that we have access to all the Festool tools when they are released.  [big grin]
//Michael

 

[RC]

One thing seems apparent that in the US what you consider a small shop would be ginormous here.

i.e. a two car garage is more or less unheard of here as a part of a house much less to be able to use one as a shop space.

This ofc. holds true only to hobbyists, since businesses obviously can rent the space they need.

 

[sancho57]

Cruise this site , you'll find all sorts of euro woodworking

http://www.festool.de/Service/Anwendungsbeispiele/Seiten/Fraesen-Holz.aspx

 

[Bob Mircetic]

Recently I've been researching the European combination machines, and one thing I've wondered about is the drill press.  Typically you'll have the table saw/jointer/planer/shaper in a single machine, and a band saw is usually available as a stand alone.  Unless it's just an oversight on my part, I don't see that any of the Euro combo machine makers even offer a drill press.  Why is that?  Are they not used in the typical European shop?

 

[Timtool]

Router tables!
It's a typical American thing, i think i must be the only pro in a 100 mile radius that has one. It's more frequent to find shabby router tables with amateurs because they see it in American shops on the internets.

What i do find strange is how many American pro's seem to work with a table saw or even just a plunge saw in the workshop.. In Europe sliding panel saws are a minimum requirement.

Personally my woodworking is very much influenced by the internet and thus mostly by American woodworking, i am using things like pocket holes, router table or a drum sander. All of which are pretty much unknown to regular woodworkers here.

Unless it's just an oversight on my part, I don't see that any of the Euro combo machine makers even offer a drill press.  Why is that?  Are they not used in the typical European shop?

I's a common machine here, but never with fancy tables like you would see in the States. I think few big brands offer them because it's a simple and cheap machine, not allot of money to be made by making it yourself.

 

[Jalvis]

The USA could certainly learn and are learning from the European worker.  I still don't understand why American's like regular table saws over a slider.....perhaps thats the large factor for injury with table saws.....that and the larger number of hobbyists. 

Drill press question:
The combination machines have Mortise Attachments for drilling if needed. 

 

[flair woodworks]

Router tables!
It's a typical American thing, i think i must be the only pro in a 100 mile radius that has one. It's more frequent to find shabby router tables with amateurs because they see it in American shops on the internets.

So is the CMS router insert American-influenced?

 

[sancho57]

Router tables!
It's a typical American thing, i think i must be the only pro in a 100 mile radius that has one. It's more frequent to find shabby router tables with amateurs because they see it in American shops on the internets.

What i do find strange is how many American pro's seem to work with a table saw or even just a plunge saw in the workshop.. In Europe sliding panel saws are a minimum requirement.

Personally my woodworking is very much influenced by the internet and thus mostly by American woodworking, i am using things like pocket holes, router table or a drum sander. All of which are pretty much unknown to regular woodworkers here.

Unless it's just an oversight on my part, I don't see that any of the Euro combo machine makers even offer a drill press.  Why is that?  Are they not used in the typical European shop?

I's a common machine here, but never with fancy tables like you would see in the States. I think few big brands offer them because it's a simple and cheap machine, not allot of money to be made by making it yourself.

Tim,

What do the Euros use ILO a router table? 

especially for things like raised panel cabinent doors etc.

Just Curious

 

[tallgrass]

Sliders are no great shakes. If you are doing just sheet goods than maybe, but every tool has its place.

 

[Alan m]

i think a slider excells at cross cutting. iv never seen a sled that could math a slider

 

[RC]

Drum sanders are definitely another thing not very common here and another one is lunchbox planers.

Usually planers are combo machines here.

 

[flair woodworks]

Sliders are no great shakes. If you are doing just sheet goods than maybe, but every tool has its place.

I hardly ever work with plywood, but I find my slider to be great for my work.  Need a straight edge on a wonky piece of wood?  Done!

 

[RussellS]

Regarding the router table that was asked about.  European combination machines have a shaper built into them.  The router table is an attempt to imitate a shaper.  If you have a shaper with a sliding table built into your combination machine, and a small shop in Europe, there is not much reason to have a router table taking up space.  And many of these shapers come with spindles that take router bits.  So the shaper part of a combination machine can be a router table.

 

[flair woodworks]

What sizes of router bit shanks are common in Europe?  1/4", 8mm, and 1/2"?

 

[Alan m]

1/4 and 1/2 mostly. rarely 8mm

 

[bailey]

Most common is 8mm. And we have also 6mm and 12mm shank bits.

 

[Timtool]

Tim,

What do the Euros use ILO a router table? 

especially for things like raised panel cabinent doors etc.

Just Curious

Well that reminds me that the second most important tool in a Euro workshop is the shaper, i have two.
One built into my panel saw, so i can use the slider wagon with the shaper so i basically have a tennoner.
And a second hammer shaper with a power feeder to work safely.

Panels are raised on a shaper as it has enough power to do it in one pass, personally i will use the router table whenever possible. I always think that with the RT i risk my finger tips, and with the shaper i risk my arms.

On the mainland most common router bits are 8mm, in the old days you had 6mm as well. And very large bits are 12mm but i personally don't have any.

 

[Deansocial]

In the uk we have a right mix of stuff from europe and the US. Sliders are awesome for crosscutting nice and square. Router tables are for portability but if in workshop its a moulder everytime, for a start the extra diameter gives a better cut. 1/2 and 1/4 in bit mainly in uk.

 

[jmbfestool]

Like Dean said I agree!