You Pass Go, Collect $20,000 and outfit your shop...

[davidtu]

Suppose you won a $20k budget to buy whatever tools you want... what would you get? Include prices in your list so we know you're not bustin' the budget!!

[jwaterdawg]

I would use all the money to buy LOML the biggest diamond ring it would get, thus assuring that for the rest of my days I could buy whatever tools I wanted whenever. More of a long term, strategic investment

[Tequila]

I'd build a garage so I could get my shop out of the basement.

[davidtu]

Don't worry, guys. Didn't I mention? You get the shop space free! You can spend all the money on just tools.

Larry, you still have $15k to spend.

Tequilla, your shop is built... now what? You have $20k.

Waterdawg, that's an interesting take on it. Hope LOML doesn't read this!

[TheRic]

I take you mean we have nothing, but a shop and 20k? So we would need to purchase all the little things, like clamps, router bits, saw blades, glue, screwdrivers, levels, squares, pencils, etc.??? If that is the case you can easily put down 1-5K just for that stuff. Those little things that you have bought over time can add up pretty quick when buying it at one time. Specially since you got it on sale, and it's no longer on sale.

[davidtu]

Your choice, you can start from scratch or add on to what you have. I'm most interested in what power tools you'd get or other big ticket items... but whatever you want... if you want $20k worth of pencils, go for it!

[gsmittle]

I would use all the money to buy LOML the biggest diamond ring it would get, thus assuring that for the rest of my days I could buy whatever tools I wanted whenever. More of a long term, strategic investment

Thou art a very wise man.

g.

[thrytis]

How about using the money to take a couple weeks off unpaid leave so i can use the tools i have? I got a planer as a gift and picked up the Craftsman jointer at the begining of the year and still haven't touched them The planer is still sealed in the box.

I think that is going against the spirit of the question, so tools...
I probably would start off with a SawStop ($4k after shipping, accessories, and a replacement cartridge) and a Clearvue Cyclone ($1k). $20k is sooooo far out of my league though that i have no idea on brands and models of other things, but probably a 20" planer, 8-10" jointer (spiral heads on both), 18" bandsaw, a nice wide belt sander, and good sized air compressor. If i still had any money left after all of that and the miscellaneous portable power tools, hand tools, and accessories (ya, right ), some metal working tools like a welder and a mill might be fun to get.

[Wood_workur]

Hand tools- $1500 (planes, chisels, ect)
bits, blades, and marking tools- $1000
Routers (3- hand, table, dovetail)- $800
Tablesaw- that new Powermatic- $2200
12" jointer- $2000
15" planer- $1500
Drill press- $500
18" bandsaw- $2000
Lathe- $2000 (includes gouges)
Sharpeninging equipment- $200
MS- $400
Sanders- $2000 (handheld, wide belt, OSS, ect.)
DC equip- $1000
air compressor +tools- $200
HVLP Sprayer -$200
mortiser- $400

Other stuff that I can't think of- $3000