Table saw or band saw?

[sandspider]

Have a look online at a woodworking machine named the ShopSmith. There are usually one or two on ebay.

In one machine you get a table saw, pillar drill, sander, lathe, a router kit can be added, as can a bench planer, a bandsaw, and many other useful woodworking machine tools. Everything runs off one 240volt motor.

I bought mine a few years ago from a chap who was emigrating. It has all the above mentioned options and loads more, and I paid just £400 for the lot.

The ShopSmith is a compromise I will admit. Nothing I as good as having all the dedicated machines in a workshop but if space and budget is tight, nothing beats a ShopSmith. I love mine and would not part with it for any money.

Good luck.

C.

 

That's an interesting looking thing! Does it really do all the jobs fairly well? What are its limitations? Size of workpiece?

[wills-mill]

Another vote for Startrite bandsaws (Band-it, 351 and 352), other ones to look out for are decent size Elektra Beckum and Scheppach saws.

[bobh]

I've got both and always go to the band saw first, so much more versatile