Small shop advice.

[mitigator33]

I searched and read many threads but wanted to get some specific input from you all.

I am in the process of building a 20 x 20 shop and want to build furniture and cabinets as well as other small hobby type stuff.

I was considering future purchases of the ts55 req, OF 1400 Router, CT36 Dust Collection, and RO90 or RTS 400. I am looking for a router and sander that will be a good all around item for the projects I listed. I will build my own MFT/3 type table. Portability is not an issue. Edit: I already own a miter saw.

I currently have access to the following in my brothers shop. Planer, jointer, band saw, 3hp powermatic table saw, multiple routers including a router table and a scroll saw. He got most of it from my dad who was a master woodworker.   

So what are your thoughts about the Festools I mentioned above being a good fit for what I want to do?

 

[Sparktrician]

A couple of suggestions, if I may:

• When you buy the TS 55, ask the seller to swap out the standard rail for the 32 mm Hole Drilling Guide Rail, 55" (1400 mm) - 496939. You'll need it when you move up to the LR 32 with your OF 1400.
• Get a bigger Rotex sander for your first one, like the RO 125 or RO 150.  The RO 90 is a great sander, but the larger ones will be a better first choice.  You can add the RO 90 later.

 

[DB10]

All looks very good to me. The only item I would add to your list is a Kapex, this would be very useful if you are building cabinets and furniture. Also in a small shop you might be better off with a C26 extractor.

 

[Owego]

Make your ceilings 10', and recess the light fixtures.  The extra headroom makes manuvering  long pieces much easier and if you install central dust collection you'll need the extra height.  Also, you can never have too many outlets.

 

[ear3]

If you already have access to a router table, you might consider the 1010 over the 1400.  I wouldn't have said so 6 months ago, but the 1010 has become the jack of all trades for me, from delicate flush trimming to fairly heavy dadoing to edge profiling.  Won't do 1/2  bits of course, but will handle any 1/4" bit you put in.  I have not found a need to use a palm router since I got the 1010 (though I don't do inlay). 

 

[mitigator33]

Make your ceilings 10', and recess the light fixtures.  The extra headroom makes manuvering  long pieces much easier and if you install central dust collection you'll need the extra height.  Also, you can never have too many outlets.

Plans are for 20x20x10 with 200 amp service and plenty of outlets. I have to have 220 for several of the pieces of equipment we already have plus I have to have 10 foot ceiling height for my archery press and draw board.

 

[thedude306]

Can you go 12' I just moved from a 28x30x12 into a 23x34x8.  What I miss the most are the big doors and the height.  I should have lifted this shop first.  As boring as it sounds, start with the DC and work out from there.  I love my vacuum and it's needed, but the big DC should have come first.

You might want to go with the bigger saw and I agree on the sander advice.

Congrats, it's always fun starting fresh.

 

[nickao]

A band saw.

A 19" band Saw will open up your woodworking world and should be the first of the larger stationary tools you buy.

A Planer and Drum sander at the top too.

 

[Kev]

Can you go 12' I just moved from a 28x30x12 into a 23x34x8.  What I miss the most are the big doors and the height.  I should have lifted this shop first.  As boring as it sounds, start with the DC and work out from there.  I love my vacuum and it's needed, but the big DC should have come first.

You might want to go with the bigger saw and I agree on the sander advice.

Congrats, it's always fun starting fresh.

Solid advice that. Plan your machines, but start installing DC, power, safety gear, etc first.

Bandsaw and thicknesser would be early tools for me. Also a really good bench and a separate assembly and finish bench.

 

[leakyroof]

For sanders by themselves,  I'd start with the ETS 150/5 and the DTS400 as all-rounders.  There are smaller orbit sanders for a finer sanding finish when compared to the 150/5, but it's a great, easy to control sander that will sander rougher pieces like something you haven't run through a planer, and yet still sand decently at 320 grit.  The DTS is light and has the ability to get into a corner while still being more stable than the smaller Delta pad on the older Dx93 or the RO90.

Router is your choice, I own both the 1010 and the 1400. The 1400 might get more of a nod from many people since it can handle 1/2" shank bits for larger cuts, but the 1010 is one sweet router like 'Reno' posted since it holds its own with bits smaller in shank size than  1/2".

Def. get an extractor to compliment what ever Dust Collection you end up with. You'll need the higher air velocity of the Vac for portable tools, and if it's not going outside, you won't care about the weight like a Job site Vac being carried up stairs.
So, think about the Ct 36 or even 48 since their footprint isn't bigger, just taller.
Festool has a CT-48 in the workshop at their Ind. HQ, it seems right at home there for classroom work.

Track Saw is an easy one.  How thick of material do you think you'll handle, and will it be more sheet goods or raw boards.  The 55 for sheet work , and the 75 for the thicker boards .  You will struggle with a 55 for full depth or close to full depth/capacity cuts in certain hard/tough woods, even with the right blade installed since it's a smaller motor than the larger 75, BUT, it's a much easier saw to constantly drag out and use all day than the 75 for more people.  Search the two saws here on FOG for some interesting comments from people who had one model, then switched to the other for various reasons.  I have a table saw, so the smaller saw is perfect for me to work sheet goods.  I guess you have to also decide how much you might mind carrying larger cuts to your brothers shop from time to time if your track saw wasn't up to a task... [blink]

 

[mitigator33]

Thanks. Good advice from all. The shop I am building now will only be used for about a year before I move so I am just doing the 10ft ceiling for cost purposes. This is a temporary shop that will also have some lawn equipment and my archery table and bow press in it so space will be limited but it will be sufficient for the time being as my garage is the same size and I have been working out of it just only from one side of it.  I am not going to have a full dust collection system in this shop because I will not have any large stationary equipment here. When I move and build my permanent shop it will be larger and I will go with 12 ft ceilings at that time and install a full dust collection system. I will definitely look into all the other suggestions and thanks again.

 

[Holmz]

...
Plans are for 20x20x10 with 200 amp service and plenty of outlets. I have to have 220 for several of the pieces of equipment we already have plus I have to have 10 foot ceiling height for my archery press and draw board.

That allows for european equipment which is 230v.
Now you are really opening the floodgates as to possibility for tool selection.