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I will find out what my performance bonus is this week. My wife told me today she was thinking while she was away this weekend. After we pay the last of my surgery-related bills, whatever is left is mine to keep. I am expecting that to be in the 400.00 range. So, question is what tool or tools to spend it on? I was thinking possibly a floor-standing DP to replace my bench top model, or maybe a good lathe chisel set. Another idea I had was a router lift or router table top.
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David
The chief cause of failure in this life is giving up what you want most for what you want at the moment. -
If you don't already have a router lift, you really do need one. I think the Jessem I got for myself was one of the best things I did. The lift Poolhound got recently with the autoraise feature would definitely be in the cards.Erik -
Not to sound Daft, but what are your immediate project needs? Can you hold onto it until your at the point you need a new whatchamacallit? Then keep checking CL for bargains (like the floor drill press), until you actually are ready.She couldn't tell the difference between the escape pod, and the bathroom. We had to go back for her.........................Twice.Comment
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Something for me, preferably...
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A good handplane is always a worthwhile investment.
I've got my eye on one of these--planning on getting one at Highland Hardware when I'm in Atlanta next week.
http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/s...plane-2-2.aspx
Or if you want to go the vintage route, a Stanley #10 1/2:
http://cgi.ebay.com/EXCELLENT-STANLE...item45f1669a25
Or make a downpayment on a Stanley #9:
http://cgi.ebay.com/STANLEY-NO-9-CAB...item439d7624f1Last edited by germdoc; 03-09-2010, 10:30 AM.Jeff
“Doctors are men who prescribe medicines of which they know little, to cure diseases of which they know less, in human beings of whom they know nothing”--VoltaireComment
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Well, if I had an "extra" $400 in hand, I know what I'd buy: a Lie-Nielsen #7 jointer plane ($425, actually).
Have you run up against any limitations of your benchtop drill press on any of your projects? Few would argue that a floor model isn't "better" but if your benchtop model is doing the job, that could end up being a mostly lateral move.
I agree with Erik about router lifts. They might seem like a wild luxury until you have one, but you quickly wonder how you got along without it. Of course this is largely a function of how much table routing you do.
Answering LR's question is where you should start. No one knows your actual tool needs any better than you.LarryComment
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Just go to a harbor freight store, the $400 will take care of itself, and you may have enough left over to rent a semi to carry it all homeComment
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My suggestions are hand tools you may not have. The first would be a bullnose plane.
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For those times you need to clean mortises, a bruzz (corner chisel) does a great job. The (A) size is more commonly used by cabinetmakers.
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For cleaning dadoes and grooves, crank neck paring chisels are a dream to use. This is my collection.
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Personally, I've had my eye on the Gifkins dovetail jig. A full kit is roughly $400.
http://japanwoodworker.com/product.a...&dept_id=12984Comment
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At the moment I don't have any 'immediate' needs. Now that warmer weather is finally here I will paint the PM66 and put it back together, then tune up the BS and then tackle the planer.
The DP was an idea and you are right, it would be a lateral move. I am thinking now of either the router lift or a good set of turning tools. I am going to bring the lathe over in the next month or two and start playing with it.David
The chief cause of failure in this life is giving up what you want most for what you want at the moment.Comment
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I would get something that would be for you. An air cleaner or upgrade to the dust collector system. Perhaps invest in something that would make spraying a finish safer for you.
$400 would also make for a really nice romantic evening somewhere....
Bill
memories aren't made of stuffComment
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I'm into hand tools right now. I could use a nice shoulder plane...
It sounds like you're kind of leaning the turning tools. If so, you need to make sure you can sharpen them - frequently. I'll let the frequent turners chime in, but it seems to me that having a good sharpening setup is more important than having "good" tools.
JRJRComment
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Maybe start with a book on framing, with emphasis on windows
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