Darren,
We've stole the thread here with our tool talk... Sorry to the originator! Really!
The one thing that affects everyone is "budget" - even guys with big budgets have to call it somewhere...
What I've tried to do - is to maximize the usefulness within a limited floor space... and that's what most home guys are trying to do - most likely in a 2 or 3 car garage.
I have to tell you -- as you already know -- that, is a tough thing to do! There are tools I'd just love to have - and are in my 'budget' - but aren't in the "maximize use / floor space" budget. With that in mind... that's what I was going for in the discussion on the bandsaw...
My shop is 1500 sq feet... many more times the average guys garage... and yes - many times smaller than some of them on here! I wish I had the space! But Urban living at it's finest precludes that... my wife just isn't into the smell of cows (Grin). I sure wish I had the knowledge/skill to run some of the stuff you have!! WOW!
Sitting here thinking about it - most of us are only going to build a couple of cars -- and tinker with a few more... we really are not going to wear these tools out any time soon. And since our TIME is actually FREE... if the saw takes a bit longer to cut some 1/4" aluminum plate... so what. I guess that's what separates 'us' from the 'pros'... we don't have the space... and we're not going to use the tools to the point of destruction. If I was going to make headers all day - I'd buy a killer band saw - and if I was building tube frames I'd have a $4K tube notcher... but as it is - I have to trace the tube and hand grind it on my Burr King... and finish it with the die grinder or angle grinder... But I can TIG weld it in place! Because that is a "tool" that I use all the time - for many things - large and small... multiple metals...
I was just thinking - I've actually used my variable speed jig saw - with bi metal blades - to cut more "scroll" type work than I have the band saw. And I can cut exhaust pipe with a $150 abrasive chop saw... or for that matter - I've used a sawzall for exhaust work as well as many other cuts.... But -- I can do that because I invested in a very nice vice to hold it... and a killer metal work table to clamp stuff to and to do layout work etc.
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