What new tool?

[Aaron Coffee]

Think I might be able to squeeze enough out of my budget to buy a new tool, but can't decide which would be more helpful to do my outside trim. Thinking on either a bandsaw, reciprocating spindle sander or tabel top belt sander that can be used in either verticle or horizontal. Thought, ideas, etc.
Thanks
Aaron

[Frosteez]

If you already have a belt sander I would skip that. You can clamp it to a sheet of plywood and there you go. I vote for the bandsaw.

[mikeschn]

Hmmm. lets see... for outside trim I use a chop saw and a drill motor. If you have both of those, then I would consider a porta-band saw.



mike...

[B52]

If you don't already have one, a bandsaw will be one of the handiest tools in your shop.

[dreadcptflint]

If you don't have one then a good band saw. Since I don't have a shop, what I have been eyeballing is a Dual Saw. The info is here: https://www.dualsaw.com/

[Arne]

I'm surprised, in my 40 years of wood working, I've never even considered a bandsaw. And I'm still not considering one.. but then, I don't own a router, either... that would be my next tool.

[madjack]

If you don't already have one, a bandsaw will be one of the handiest tools in your shop.

I would second that...I was surprised BUT the bandsaw turns out to be the most used saw in the shop with a commercial table saw, power miter saw. chop saw, radial arm saw and all the portable variants...as my Daddy said...handy as a cat's hind paw!!!!!!
madjack

p.s. the sanders are nice as well and either or both make great additions to a shop...............MJ

[aggie79]

A band saw is my next big tool purchase.

Given ole eagle eyes, I'm still trying to figure how to disguise it so it appears like it has been in the garage for years. My last purchase - planer - was spied from the far side of driveway all the way to the back of the garage about 70 feet away. It may have been that DeWalt yellow that stood out on the planer. Good thing I had my story worked up beforehand.

[tonyj]

Another bandsaw fan here.

[caseydog]

I used to have a band saw, and they are very handy. I never got very good with it, though. It takes patience to get good with one, and my ADD mind had problems with that.

I put my belt sander in a bench vice if I need it stationary.

CD

[doug hodder]

Aaron....trim like the sides on a woody, or trim like on an aluminum one? Maybe I missed that...For a woody....get the band saw, you'll have much better control over a scroll/jig saw, also get good blades for it in different widths and tooth/inch count, all adjusted up and ready to go, they are just wonderful and you'll wonder how you ever lived without one. If you have a drill press, you can always get the sanding drums for it and use it instead of the oscillating sander. The band saw is a really versatile tool!

If it's aluminum trim....I use a chop saw with a carbide blade and back it up with a piece of scrap wood, clean it up with a mill file. Doug

Bandsaws....they're not just for trim!!!!

[Wolfgang92025]

Aaron,

For me it was a band saw. Found mine on craigs list for $25.
It's about a 15 year old Craftsman. Needed a little cleaning and tuning but was well worth it for me. Like Doug said, it will come in real handy when cutting the trim for my woody.

Wolfgang

[Larwyn]

MY bandsaw is the fist thing I turn to for a quick and dirty cut in the woodworking shop. I also use it to contour, notch, or dimension odd sized bits of wood. In fact my 14" Delta bandsaw was the only saw that was always set up and ready to use in my soft-sided shop in the woods of Plantersville, before I moved and built a real shop. I still use the same saw, it just does not require as much corosion prevention type maintenance as it did before.





Same saw, new home;



and my other bandsaw, in the garage;

[Aaron Coffee]

Oop's forgot to mention it is for wood trim. What size bandsaw should I look for, been looking at Craigs list for used ones, and wondering what to look for and to look out for in a used bandsaw.

[Rock]

Larwyn has a very nice saw considered the "standard". Used is a good way to go with this tool as there is really nothing to go wrong with them unless they have really been abused.

I have the Harbor Freight 14" saw that has pretty much the same capabilities as the Delta, and is likely made in the same factory in Taiwan. The motor might be a little smaller, came without the rip-fence that the Delta has, etc. But with the 20% off coupon they just mailed me it can be had for $240 brand new. The Delta is in the $700 range I believe. I don't see how you can go wrong. I've been very happy with mine.

Eric