If you had $300...

[ptt49er]

...to spend on tools.

Let me give you a little background. I am a novice woodworker. Currently cutting my teeth on a crib and changing table for our baby boy who is due in August. (his foot is my avatar:-D) I currently own a decent ts, a dewalt planer, a delta 10" miter saw, and various other small power tools. But I need a router and a sander. So here's the deal...

I want you guys to tell me how you would spend the 300 bucks. It must include a router and a sander, if you can cram more in then go for it! I realize the cheapest tool is the tool you only buy once, but this isn't going into a shop where it will be used daily or weekly for that matter. Ladies and Gentlemen have fun and I greatly appreciate your advice!

Thanks!!
~Phillip

 

[4yanks]

Here you go.

http://www.amazon.com/Bosch-1617EVS...46-5260711?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1177671990&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Bosch-1295DVS...46-5260711?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1177672029&sr=1-1

I have both. I am very satisfied with both of them. Good luck.

 

[NCPete]

Hitachi KM12VC - available from Lowe's for $179.99 (fixed and plunge base)
or the M12VC - available for $119.00 (fixed base only)
Dewalt D26453K - a variable speed ROS for $89.97

one option leaves money for taxes, the other leaves money for sanding supplies, and a limited number of bits.

 

[DaveO]

PC 690 router, around $120, I believe
PC ROS, around $80, I believe

If my costs are right that should leave a little $$$ for some router bit and sanding disk, because neither is good without them.
Dave

 

[Jim Murphy]

If I had $300 I'd be on the way to Woodcraft or ClingingSpoors to buy something I really need, but since I don't have the bucks, I'll offer my solicited opinion, with relish. (No, no mustard this time.)

I'd vote for the Hitachi M12V router, and then a random orbit as well as a 1/4 sheet finishing sander. There are just places and times when the finishing sander is the only way to erase your misfitted joints.

I've had this one http://www.amazon.com/Makita-BO4552...8-2831258?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1177672487&sr=1-12 for well over ten years and it's been a champ.

I had the palm sander long before I got my ROS, and in retrospect, were I to be afforded only one, I think I would take the finisher in the place of the ROS. Having both, as well as having a big horse handheld belt sander, is, of course, approaching woodworking nirvana, needing only an oscillating spindle sander, a fine quality combination belt/disc sander and acceptably large drum sander to achieve that goal. Plus the appropriate abrasives , properly sized for each machine, in grits from 40 through 2000.

Then there's the issue of the inevitable jointer.

 

[DaveO]

If you could push your budget a little you might consider the DW 618PK 2.25 hp fixed/plunge router combo $240. It's one of the best IMO. And a PC 5" H&L ROS $60. Unfortunately these don't include tax...hence the budget stretch.
Anyone got a budget stretcher with their board stretcher combo kit :lol: :lol:

Dave

 

[ptt49er]

WOW! I figured you guys would all be headed to work this early, I on the other hand am just getting home from the graveyard shift. Maybe I should grab a budget stretcher before I start shopping huh? Looks like I need to do some sweet talking to the CFO, of course that just means the honey do list will be longer, but tis the price we pay to satisfy WGD!!

DaveO. How does the Hitachi compare to the DeWalt?

How often will I need a plunge base on my router?
What's the difference between the ROS and the palm?

(can you tell I still have lots to learn?)

Again, you guys truely rock! I hate I cannot make it to the picnic!!!

Thanks Again!
~Phillip

 

[RobD]

For me, if I was on a tight budget and needed those two tools, I would go the reconditioned route. I have done that for a number of my hand tools and have been very happy.

For example, here is a fixed/plunge Bosch kit for $160:
http://bosch.cpotools.com/routers/router_combo_packs/1617pk-rt.html

For a sander, here is Dewalt random orbit one for $69:
http://www.toolking.com/productinfo.aspx?cid=405&productid=13623

That would leave you about $70 to play with. With that money I would buy the supplies to build my own router table. I do over half my router work on a router table so I think that is a necessity if you own a router.

 

[clowman]

Don't forget bits for the router! You'll need bits. Lots of bits, the more the better. On a tight budget, Woodcraft has a good selection of $5 bits. I'd start with those.

 

[NCPete]

yup, almost forgot about the WC bits, can't forget those, an excellent value!

 

[MikeL]

If you could push your budget a little you might consider the DW 618PK 2.25 hp fixed/plunge router combo $240. It's one of the best IMO. And a PC 5" H&L ROS $60. Unfortunately these don't include tax...hence the budget stretch.
Anyone got a budget stretcher with their board stretcher combo kit :lol: :lol:

Dave

Phillip,

Check out Amazon's weekend sale:

http://www.amazon.com/Dewalt-DW618P...d_t=1401&pf_rd_p=286079501&pf_rd_i=1000046201

They have the Dewalt DW 618PK that Dave recommended on sale for $215 with free shipping. Check out their ROS listed under the "Woodworking" section of the Weekend Sale too. Happy shopping.

 

[DaveO]

DaveO. How does the Hitachi compare to the DeWalt?

How often will I need a plunge base on my router?
What's the difference between the ROS and the palm?

Thanks Again!
~Phillip

I haven't used the Hitachi, but when I compared plunge mechanism in the router combo kits the DW had the best action. Try them out for yourself and see how they compare.

I use the plunge base a lot. It is the safest way to do stopped dado, and mortises. Plus it is required for a lot of template work, and make routing deep cuts easier as you can set the depth stops in increments.

A ROS is going to be more aggressive than a finish sander, but will still leave a good finish. You always can hand sand wih the grain and achieve the same results as a finish sander, but with more elbow grease.
Dave

 

[Nativespec]

For the router I would buy the Porter Cable 890 series with two bases (I(would suggest other brands, but if you were to buy the PC dovetailer - 4212, you will need the correct size collar) and for the sander I would buy either the Porter Cable or Bosch 6" random orbit. If you had more to spend, I would suggest the Bosch 6" dual mode (about $230).

 

[DavidF]

I have just bought the dewalt 618PK kit and very good it is too, but I managed for the last 20 years with a small hitachi Plunge. If I could buy one router it would be the dewalt plunge. It is one of the few with good dust extraction (yes, it really does work). A ROS transformed the ease of snading when I first got one, changing from an orbital flat sheet. I would second the need to inlcude materials to build a router table either stand alone or added to the right side of the table saw to save space and utilize the fence. And DON"T FORGET HAND TOOLS!!!

 

[Mike Wilkins]

Throwing in my 2 cents:
For the router-get on of those combo kits with the plunge base and the fixed base. The fixed base can reside in a table set-up. Bosch, PC, Dewalt Hitachi, Milwaukee, Makita & others make good kits. Usually around $200.

For the sander-not much for under $100 other than a ROS. You can use this for the medium/final finish work. The planer can get you close to finished surface. Or explore the use of scrapers.

Or explore the pawn shops.
Good luck.

 

[Nativespec]

Due to some recent purchases, I think I would do one of 3 things with the $300:

Counseling,
Pay down some credit card debt,
or probably buy some spokeshaves.

Tool-goat pictures will be posted soon.

 

[sapwood]

I have the Hitachi M12V and Dewalt 618 kit with plunge and regular base. The M12V is big and heavy, best suited for a router table. The 618 has less power but is much more compact and versatile. Any of the ~2 3/4 hp compact style routers (PC, Dewalt, Bosch) should serve you well and have the power for router table applications. You will need a standard base, a plunge base and preferably a fence. Some brands/packages include fence, but others cost $40-60 extra. The Woodcraft $5 bits are a great, but the limited selection will require purchase of more expensive bits . . . like spiral upcut and downcut. So you can easily spend $300 to acquire basic stuff for routing.

So with the $300 spent, you can focus on hand tools, sandpaper, homemade sanding blocks, or perhaps a cheap/used ROS or palm sander. :eusa_whis

Roger

 

[Makinsawdust]

Lots of good advise here and lots of good machines to pick from in both machines.
I would stick with one of the combo kit routers. I have had the Bosch 1617 evspk for at least three yrs. Works well and it is hard to beat the versatility of having the two bases. I have three other fixed base routers and I prefer the Bosch with the plunge base for all hand routing.
As far as sanders the ROS would be my pick if only one. I used PC for quite awhile but got tired of having to rebuilt them so often. I use'em everyday and sometimes all day. At your expected use level they would last you for years. The Klingspor model might be your best deal for the money. I worked for Klingspor for awhile last year and all I can say is that there is a reason their's looks like the Bosch.;-) The Festool is my favorite with a cord, but there's no room in your budget or need for that one.
Rob

 

[taandctran]

Why don't you try Ebay or Craig's list... If you look long and hard enough you'll find what you want for cheap... I've bought a sander for $10 and plunge router for under $20. both are brand names just a little used but in great working condition. Just a idea....

 

[ptt49er]

SOOO MUCH ADVISE!! I truely appreciate all your advise! I'll start searchin on FleaBay and CL's. I got a good deal on my TS from CL, only problem is I follow DaveO's footsteps pretty close on the wanting instant gratification. Gotta get the last months rent from the roommate before I can start buying so I guess I've got a few more days to drool on my keyboard!