What should I buy first, DC, Jointer, planer or Drum sander

GPowers

GPowers

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Over the next several months I plan (hope) on purchasing a large cyclone dust collector, a 15" inch planer, an 8" jointer and a oscillating drum sander.  In what order should I purchases them?

My budget will only allow me to buy and machine every 2 or 3 months depending on the machine. I currently have a table saw, band saw, drill press and a router table so some centralized dust collection would be nice, but so would a nice planer or joiner.

I'm just a hobbyist building cabinets and other small to medium projects around the house.

 
That's tough.  I would say the joiner.  Though the main reason I would go for the joiner would be that you can get way more board usage with that tool when combined with a planer.  Good lumber is hard to find so most of the time we have to make it.

I there a specific reason that requires a 15" planer?  The reason I ask is that a large planer like that requires a decent dust collector.  I have a 15" General but I use a 13" Dewalt much more.  Very rarely do I need to plane that wide.  If you are laminating a wide panel I would probably size my material down before glue up and afterward send it through a wide sander to flatten it out.

So, I would go for a smaller planer, then a joiner, then a dust collector, then a wide sander. Sprinkle some Festool in there to fill in the capacity of the stationary equipment for good measure and to keep this site open. ;)
 
Buy the jointer first.  Two reference edges are vital for woodworking.  Then you go from there.
 
Look at the planer/ joiner combo machines from Jet, Grizzly and others. This will allow you to work with rough lumber and make boards the thickness you need.

Tom
 
tvgordon said:
Look at the planer/ joiner combo machines from Jet, Grizzly and others. This will allow you to work with rough lumber and make boards the thickness you need.

Tom
Click to expand...

I've got the JJP-12HH and really like it.  It had a bad motor when first delivered, but Jet straightened that out and now it runs perfectly.  I went with the Jet over the Grizzly because of the shallower jointer fence depth of the Jet, but Grizzly's new fence design renders that a moot issue.  If I had to choose today, it would be a much tougher decision, and honestly I don't think you can go wrong between the two.  
 
Sorry to disagree with the others but dust/chip collection is necessary for any of your planned purchases so personally I'd get the dust collector first. Have a look at Clearvue, they are American made and good value. Then take a look at a minimum 12" jointer/planer, I'm biased toward Hammer/Felder equipment but its a big expenditure. The upside is after planing there is no snipe and very little planer ripple with my Hammer A3-31, sanding  is done with ETS150.

John
 
I would say get a planer first.  I have used a couple different methods to hold off buying my joiner for a while.  I used a jig for the table saw and used my TS55.  I have a Dewalt planer that works great hooked up to my duct collector.  Since your buying tools every couple months, try a couple different ways to work around not having a joiner.  I have an OLD craftsman joiner, but just picked up the Festool 850 for all my joiner needs.  I do cabinets and other small projects.  Getting a nice dust collection system can get expensive....so save up for that purchase.  Just my thoughts.
 
Also.....I have an INCRA router table and I can use that as a joiner.  Im not sure what kind of set up you have, but that could be an option for you as well.  I think with a good bit, the router makes a great glue surface.
 
junk said:
Sorry to disagree with the others but dust/chip collection is necessary for any of your planned purchases so personally I'd get the dust collector first.

John
Click to expand...

I agree 100%.  None of those other tools will get much use after they fill up the workspace with chips and dust the first time if not connected to an adequate dust collection system. 
 
+ 1 for the jointer/planer and then you can do your own milling.  Let us know.  [big grin]
 
You really need to buy your machines or know what exact ones you are getting before you purchase a dust extractor.

Look for used, usa made, vintage iron.

I just picked up a 8" Oliver jointer and 18" wedge bed planner for way less then some asian tin box.
 
I would go a Jointer with a Helical head first.

I dislike combination machines as it’s a pain in the bum to constantly change the table and dust extraction over all the time.
 
Dust collection first.  Thats your health.  Nuff said.

Peter nailed it - jointer is next.  gotta have flat square reference sides if you are serious about woodworking.

Planer next.  Oscillating sander?  What is the application?  Might get by for a long time without one, but if you are fairing a lot of curves, it is great.

Definitely look at used machines.  Lots of wood shops shutting down and selling their tools - sad to see, but a much better deal than the new crud at the big boxes.

 
Take a look at a Rikon Jointer/Planer.  I paid $700 for mine and it will allow you to join and plane wider boards and it has a small footprint.  I would also get a good dust collection system, a planer produces quite a bit of shavings.  The change over is a bit of a pain,  but for a hobbyist that should not be to much of a concern.  I have really enjoyed mine.  I looked at the Jet and Grizzly models as well but they take up more space and cost more and for what I do, which is similar to what you are doing it seems to work fine.

The Rikon is just a Chinese version of the old Inca 570 planer, but without the Telsa knives. 
 
A cyclone dust collector is the way i was leaning for the next purchase. It would help with the current machines and like Jesse said is is a health concern. I have enough problem with my sinuses. That one of the reasons I like all the Festool I have, they ALL work with the Dust extractor. Plus the woodworking is done in the the third garage stall, and we still park two cars in the other stalls. So a dust collection would also help keep the cars a little cleaner.
 
+1 for Dust Collector first.  Planer and Jointers spew chips everywhere if not hooked up to DC.  I tried running my Dewalt 735 Planer without the DC once just to see what it was like and while sitting on the foor they were still hitting the garage door 10+ feet away before the floor.  [smile]
 
Since I'm a one person small shop I was thinking of a grizzle:

G0443 1-1/2 HP Cyclone Dust Collector

Should be big enough to handle the planer and any this else, one machine at time with blast gates.
 
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