Please Help Me Buy (stocking new business/shop)

[Gravity]

So, I am in the process of starting a side business and need to stock my shop.  I was raised by a craftsman as a craftsman, with a focus on residential custom finish carpentry.  I ended up practicing law as a career, but I continue to work with wood (and some metal) in my spare time.  I've found that the woodwork is as (if not more) personally rewarding than the legal work.  So, I'm going to get serious about it.
In that regard, I'm investing somewhere around $15K on purchasing new tools and building out the garage.  I'll be making tables, stools, trays, and an occasional cabinet or bookcase.  If you were starting from scratch with that budget, what would YOU buy (core festool tools, tables, and sortainers), and how would you suggest setting up the garage shop?  THANKS!

 

[Wooden Skye]

Before buying festool, based on what you said you want to make, get a jointer, planer and bandsaw first.  Then a good table saw and then festool (sanders, domino, vac would be first).

 

[charley1968]

I second wooden skyes opinion. Get first some machinery to dimension the wood, then you can start your FT collection. I'd get a router first, then mebbe the Domino. TS 55/75+ MFT might be redundant if you have a proper table saw. Don't discount hand tools, they make short work of some cuts. If you're into building bigger stuff like sheds etc., take a look at Mafell gear. Their KSS saws are hard to beat for versatility. Good luck!
PS.: Dust collection! Very Important Products!

 

[AndrewG]

Machinery- table saw, bandsaw saw, drill press, jointer/thicknesses, dust collector.

Power tools- OF 1400 (great all round router), track saw with a couple of 1400mm rails, ETS/3 sander, domino, shop vac (I love my CT26).

Hand tools- good quality square, bevel gauge, bench chisels (narex make a decent set), jack plane, block plane, sharpening stones, clamps.

These are some of the tools that I got when I started out. You will of course add and buy more specific tools as you need them.

 

[ear3]

Yeah -- think about dust collection and wiring before you start building anything.  If you don't have it already, it would help to run 220 into the garage/shop so you have more options on stationary machines, and can run a serious dust filtration system while working.  If you're going to be doing your own finishing, think too about whether you can build out a space in advance that can be made dust free.

Whatever stationary machines you get, Domino and tracksaw will definitely be in your future.  I would also recommend the 3000mm rail right off the bat -- saves you the pain of having to join rails when breaking down sheets or ripping long boards.

 

[McNally Family]

So, I am in the process of starting a side business and need to stock my shop.  I was raised by a craftsman as a craftsman, with a focus on residential custom finish carpentry.  I ended up practicing law as a career, but I continue to work with wood (and some metal) in my spare time.  I've found that the woodwork is as (if not more) personally rewarding than the legal work.  So, I'm going to get serious about it.
In that regard, I'm investing somewhere around $15K on purchasing new tools and building out the garage.  I'll be making tables, stools, trays, and an occasional cabinet or bookcase.  If you were starting from scratch with that budget, what would YOU buy (core festool tools, tables, and sortainers), and how would you suggest setting up the garage shop?  THANKS!

I would say one of the first things you need to decide is whether you will be working in Metric or Imperial.

Should you decide to start with the larger power tools, as has been suggested, your next step will be to make sure you have the electrical connections necessary.

As for Festool, I think the entire product line is built around the HEPA filtration the CT dust extractors provide.  From there, I think the money will spend itself.

 

[tiralie]

If you were starting from scratch with that budget, what would YOU buy (core festool tools, tables, and sortainers), and how would you suggest setting up the garage shop?  THANKS!

Buy/build what you need to do the first project.
Other than stools, which may require a lathe, you don't need a whole mess of tools to make any of the things you mentioned. A good lumber yard can mill material so you don't need a lot of heavy metal right away. You will need some time and a good space to work in.
15K won't go far.
Pick a project and buy the tools you need to do that then move from there. Before you know it you will have a bunch of tools. I would say that a minimum you will need a good work surface, if you have enough space to set one up permanently you don't need an MFT. Build a Paulk table or version of it. If you want a challenge build a Roubo style work bench. A track saw, tracks and clamps and or a table saw (portable saw stop or Bosch 7001), a jig saw and a SCM saw, a bench top planer like a Dewalt 735 and a couple sanders. Get some hand tools, saws chisels, planes and hammers etc. You will need clamps, buy them as you need them.
Have fun.
Tim

 

[Holmz]

What work you are doing has a clear relationship with which tools are most useful. But I may have missed that?

 

[DrD]

[member=63779]Gravity[/member]

Good Morning,  I'm in/was in a situation similar to yours, and I've learned a few things by trial and error and incorrect allocation of funds.  I have and don't need a very expensive cabinet saw - my track saw w/ MFT/3 works better for me.  I have and don't need a very expensive 20 in band saw - my 10 in bench mount band saw does just fine. 

To do the things I really want to do, a midi lathe, a bench top drill press, the afore mentioned 10 in band saw, an oscillating spindle/belt sander, a pocket hole jig, a power drill/driver, and a good chop saw - scms is handy - are the basics.  Next, a hand full of hand power tools, eg router, jig saw, some sanders, especially a half sheet sander, and dust collection are all useful and justifiable.  Then, as budget and projects dictate, perhaps a hand jointer, a domino, and a lunch-box thicknesser. 

I bought a 6" jointer as well, and while nice, I use my hand jointer much more than the large table jointer.  Moreover, the heavy iron takes up a whole lot of space plus, when used generates way too much saw dust/wood chips for a shop vac, so now you're looking at a 4" or 6" collection system. 

You will also find that $15K goes very quickly, leaving you with nothing for measuring, marking, expendables, etc.  BUT, it is way fun and beats the stew out of working where suit and tie are required.

Best wishes, DrD

 

[HAXIT]

So, I am in the process of starting a side business and need to stock my shop.  I was raised by a craftsman as a craftsman, with a focus on residential custom finish carpentry.  I ended up practicing law as a career, but I continue to work with wood (and some metal) in my spare time.  I've found that the woodwork is as (if not more) personally rewarding than the legal work.  So, I'm going to get serious about it.
In that regard, I'm investing somewhere around $15K on purchasing new tools and building out the garage.  I'll be making tables, stools, trays, and an occasional cabinet or bookcase.  If you were starting from scratch with that budget, what would YOU buy (core festool tools, tables, and sortainers), and how would you suggest setting up the garage shop?  THANKS!

First, welcome to FOG [smile]
If you could give us more info about your space, then you can get much better advise then what you can see now.
Before I suggest anything, is this a one car garage or two and how many square feet is it?
Do you have 220 in your garage and what is the amperage on your electric panel?
Is this your first shop and what tools you currently own?

 

[mkasdin]

I think I would create a spreadsheet for budgeting or at the least a t-column on a sheet of paper.

Write down all the tools you want and separate them in 4-6 columns: hand tools, power tools, Festool.  Pricing and wants in a separate column and then you can sort your columns on price (budget) and needs.

You can spend $2k on festool and that would be a good start - dust extractor, tsx drill, ts-55 saw, sander(s), grantat and Rubin paper, etc

$500 for hand tools would probably get you going? And I would get a bandsaw before I got a table saw. If your making furniture for money then I would emphasize this is "handmade furniture" and get paid extra for the fact that you're a craftsman.  I would also consider a domino df-500 for mortise work. 

Lastly I would write down the projects that you want to do, starting with the easiest and less tool extensive. Building cabinets and breaking down sheet goods is probably the more expensive build. If your getting paid for the work then that could capitalize your tool buys for the future. Plan on making 4 to 5 incremental buys to get going and equipped until you run out of space.

 

[jaguar36]

How big of a garage are we talking about? 

Do you want all new tools, or are you willing to get used stuff to?

What kind of lumber do you have access to?  Can you have the lumber yard joint and plane your stock for you, or do you need/want to do that?

Is this a business or a hobby?

 

[Gravity]

Thanks for all the responses. 

Disclaimer, the following is stream of consciousness writing. 

The garage is a three-car garage.  We have most of our domestic stuff stored in overhead racks.  So, I would have  use of most of the space.  I also have a mig welder and table and metal-cutting chop saw that will reside in a dedicated welding section.

I have many hand tools and several DeWalt power tools.  I also have a pancake compressor and nailers. 

This will be a business.  I have incorporated a side business to sell some of the things I've designed for use in my own house.  Most of those things are combinations of raw welded metal and reclaimed wood. 

For now, I have ordered the DeWalt DW735X but have held off on a jointer.  I visited the local Woodcraft over the weekend and filled up on Festool power tools (I couldn't help myself).  So, in a few short days, this is my inventory:

• Kapex
  Domino XL DF 700
  OF 1400
  CT 36
  Rotex RO 150
  TS 55 Req
  MFT/3 (kit)
  MFT/3 (no accessories)
  MFT Clamp Kit
  CMS GE Router Table Set
  Various accessories for the router and sander

I ordered some Woodpecker squares and such (I have speed squares and framing squares, but I wanted the upgrade for some of the finer detail work I may be doing).

I also need a nicer collection of bar clamps (any suggestions?  Looked at the JET parallel clamps).

I have used literally every one of the above tools over the weekend working on my current home project (temperature controlled wine cellar with custom mahogany single-lite door). 

I'll let the tools situation grow organically from here.  I'm moving onto storage solutions, dust collection, and shop build-out now. 

A question about that.  For a small shop like this, with the CT36 being used, do I need to get a larger system with a separator?  I know the bench top planer blows chips at a high velocity, so I need something there, for sure.  Also, my bench top table saw has no solution at the moment.

Again, thank you so much for the thoughtful comments.  This is a solid group.

 

[jaguar36]

Certainly need a pointer, I like the 8" grizzly spiral head from a price/performance view.  Certainly better options out there for a higher budget though.

I'd also ditch the benchtop table saw and get something bigger, plenty of room in a 3-car garage for a real tablesaw.

Bandsaws are also great, and depending on where you live you can get a great deal on a used one.  If you're doing this to make money though, you're probably better off just getting a new one, Felder or Minimax would be my choice.

To go with the big tools a good dust collector is important, I like the clearvue ones.  Keep in mind the bags for the CT36 aren't cheap so you don't want to be using it for something thats really spitting out the chips.

Instead of getting a drill press a used might be a good idea.  They make fantastic drill presses, plus you could use it for metal working as well.  Used they are quite cheap, and with a garage shop it'd be easy to get in.  They do take up a good bit of space though.

On the Festool front, I'd get an ETS 150 as well as a detail sander like the DTS 400 for getting in the small spots.  Unless you're only going to be working on big stuff The smaller domino is also useful.  Its pricey though so you might want to wait and see if you need it.

 

[Gravity]

Thank, jaquar36.  I think you left a word out below, and I'm very intrigued.  A used what?

Instead of getting a drill press a used might be a good idea.  They make fantastic drill presses, plus you could use it for metal working as well.  Used they are quite cheap, and with a garage shop it'd be easy to get in.  They do take up a good bit of space though.

 

[Frank-Jan]

My guess would be a metalworking mill.

 

[jaguar36]

Whoops, yeah I meant a Bridgeport milling machine... not sure how I left that out. :-[