What should i get next?

[mosez]

hey everyone,

i am 20 years old, do woodworking as a hobby for close to half a year now and im collecting ideas for which tool i should get next.
i do this and that, built a poker table, a bed, did flooring, a kitchen countertop, several smaller jobs and window shutter restauration.
im trying to make my shop as versatile as possible (remodeling, furniture making...), so tell me what next.
in order to do that, u should know what i already have:

powertools
ct midi, workshop cleaning kit
mft/3, clamping elements, quick clamps, screw clamps
ts 55 + guide rails (800, 1080, 1400), panther, universal, fine tooth blade, guide rail accessories systainer
ps 300 eq (trion jigsaw)
rotex ro 90 dx set
domino set
metabo ofe 728 router
bosch psr-18 lithium ion cordless drill/driver
bosch gbh-26 dfr corded drill, pneumatic hammer
bosch gws-15 angle grinder
bosch dle 70 laser distance meter (is that even a power tool?)
what i really aint proud of: bosch laser level, which is a joke, because it looks like a large pen and i dont even have a tripod or anything, but it was cheap, so forgive me ^^

handtools:
kirschen chisels
kirschen bronze mallet
veritas low-angle block plane, additional knobs to transform it into a no. 3 low-angle smoothing plane, chamfer guide (this is the only hand plane i "need", i guess hand planing is not too much for me)
veritas marking gauge
veritas dovetail marker
stabila 80cm level
knipex pliers of all sorts (i do electricity stuff now and then)
cheap files that do their job, but i dont use them much
wera screw drivers
ECE precision square, ECE precision bevel
nice pencils  [tongue]
festool tape measure
juuma dozuki 240mm
bakuma ryoba 240mm

my space is quite limited, so most stationary tools like a table saw are not an option...
now have fun and let your imagination play, guys  [tongue]

 

[Neill]

Personally, a tool I do not have, but wish I had was a good bandsaw.  Talk about versatility, you can make almost any kind of cut on virtually any thickness of wood or thin metals.  The only thing that it might not be good for is sheet goods.  You have the TS55 for that.

Think about the possibilities of making tenons, dovetail joints, box joints, resawing, cutting wedges, shims, and on and on.  Think about taking a fallen tree and converting it into usable boards with book matched faces.

A bandsaw takes up very little space and with a mobility kit you can put it where you need it when you need it.

That bandsaw, hopefully the Hammer N4400, will be my next major purchase.

Neill

 

[Pyotr]

Next Festool, how 'bout a 150mm sander for larger (flat) surfaces? Use the search function, the pro's and cons of each are occasionaly discussed here.

Other tools, you can never have too many clamps  [wink] (Bessey clamps are nice, and lots of models to choose from).

You probably already have them, but if you don't: get good hearing protection ASAP.

 

[mastercabman]

Well,......You do have "nice pencils", I couldn't tell what else you should get. [laughing] [laughing]

 

[mouppe]

Despite saying you are not one for hand tools, I think you would really like a medium shoulder plane. It is such a useful tool for evening up tenons (and dominoes too) dadoes, grooves, etc. and is so precise and much faster than setting up a power tool.

I reach for it all the time, and I am as Festool-ed as anyone!

 

[mosez]

ok, thats all great ideas!
i would sure love a bandsaw, i would get one before i would even buy a table saw, but unfortunately, my "shop" is on the second floor...
shoulder planes - i never even thought about them, because i thought the only hand plane id ever get would be the really versatile one i have...but ill keep my eyes open for one
clamps are always an option, of course...so is sandpaper...
i forgot that i have optime II hearing protection.
i thought about getting the largest rotex, but it would not open up anything new i could do, it would just make sanding bigger surfaces faster, easier, smarter - even though it doesnt look like it, the ro 90 is not doing a bad job on larger areas. and thats actually what i thought when i got it: you can get into every corner with it AND sand flat, wide, long surfaces, the ro 150 can only do one of those things (and i dont have to make a living on this).
i dont use my router too often - is that because i dont have many uses or because its not convenient enough to make me find uses for it? maybe there is an of 1400 in my future...but again, that would not be new, just better...

 

[dltflt]

How about a CMS?  The you can get the module for the OF1400 and your TS55.

 

[truck90278]

As a bandsaw is not feasable, what about the Trion Jigsaw??

 

[nickao]

I think you are off to a great start.

Definitely get a  an OF 1400, a Rotex 150 and a ETS 150/3. You think what you have now can do the same, when you get these tools  you will find you were wasting your time.

But first maybe stuff you don't have at all like a small 10" Disc sander and a  small spindle sander really open up things and bench tops are fine.

A Fein multi tool if you are going to do field work especially.

When you get room get a band saw first, some shops use it as the the tool the entire shop is built around.

 

[mosez]

i already have the trion, and i sometimes clamp it to the table top upside down (if you put some rubber foam underneath it works like a charm) to work like in the cms.
this fein multimaster - i really hate the way its merchandised. they totally make it look like a DIY-tool. but maybe i just need to try one out - it must be one of the most versatile tools out there...
well, the cms would really open things up!
what do you guys think about the ts55 module in terms of it replacing a table saw? what are the accessories that you definitely need to make it a decent replacement?

 

[grobin]

Get a Domino; great for general joinery!  Get sme Bic mechanical 0.7mm mechanical pencils work great and cheap!

 

[webfarmer]

I am a hobbyist as well...  a fine list of toys you have!

My experience...  sooner or later, you have to put finish on it.  Collect as many festool sanders as is practicle.  They are the game-changer.

Brett