How to buy woodworking machinery
Taking the time to look at all types of woodworking machinery available makes sense, no matter how big your space or budget is.
Woodworking machinery is an investment in your work, so there’s no reason not to make your products better and your life easier. The right equipment will help you provide quality for both bespoke or volume pieces easily.
What to consider buying
Here we will tell you the three most versatile pieces to consider when buying woodwork machinery and give an overview of the most common functions and a rundown of other woodworking equipment that will help you produce quality pieces that you and your customers will love. We also give you some pointers on budgets and financing of your equipment, including buying new, used or refurbished.
Here’s what we consider the basics to do pretty much any woodworking job.
- Band Saw – The most versatile saw type, being the most accurate cut for curves, veneers, ripping down timber and re-sawing all in one tabletop or cabinet saw.
- CNC Router – Will quickly allow you to drill precision holes accurately and repeatedly. Decorative and one-off cut pieces are simple through a software interface. You will be able to cut or carve almost anything.
- Planer Thicknesser – Turn rough-cut sawn timber into precise pieces and avoid the heftier pre-planed timber prices. The most common choice is a planer for cutting precise 90% angles for joints, furniture or signboards.
You may also be interested in cramping and pressing machinery. These offer a simple way to hold and compress timber securely and accurately, making laminates and frames easily as well as a host of other applications.
Sanders are also popular for easy finishing and calibration of wood, veneers, lacquers and other materials. Modern computerised wide belt sanders are one of the most significant labour-saving devices available and can quickly see costs on initial investment returned.
If space is at a premium combination woodworking machinery can fit even the smallest workspace, they could be great for those with limited room. Operations generally include sawing both panel and rip, a planer thicknesser and a spindle moulder, leaving you more space to house other essential equipment.
For times when you want to cut materials across the grain, you may prefer to invest in a crosscut saw. The angled teeth allow you to slice through wood smoothly, which contrasts to the tear along rip saw cut.
Health and safety
Whilst technically not woodworking machinery, we can’t discuss how to buy woodworking machinery without giving the nod to the safety aspects you must consider. To ensure your machinery remains working effectively and that your health is not adversely affected by the dust that working with wood creates, you would most definitely be wise to purchase a dust extraction unit. They remove the airborne particles that will seriously impact your health over time, even if you wear a mask. They will also protect machinery and equipment by removing the large amounts of dust that settle and damage your other equipment.
Budget
Set a budget that encompasses all the essential machinery you need when you decide to invest in woodworking equipment, whether new, used or refurbished models. If you are on a restricted budget and purchasing all your basics new is not an option, you should consider buying refurbished or used. Doing so means you could have all you need rather than making one new purchase and going without the other considered essentials. Refurbished items have all the consumable items replaced and repairs and servicing ensure the machines are good as new.
If you are looking to arrange finance for your purchases, there are companies that offer an extensive range of new, used and refurbished woodworking equipment for sale. They also provide a loan, lease and hire purchase agreements to suit customers’ needs.
We hope this helps you understand ways to approach purchasing new equipment, whether you are starting from scratch or replacing existing equipment that has broken or can’t keep up with your demands.
