Shopsmith Forums

I gave up on that trac wars thread but it did get me thinking of a couple of general questions for the forum.

One is how much sheet goods do you process (cut-up) per year. By sheet goods I mean things like plywood and MDF sort of things.

By year I mean in an average year, like say over the last 10 years you have cut up on an average of ?? sheets.

Also I'm asking about "woodworking" project and not "construction" projects.

So with that in mind, how many sheets do you work with per year?

Ed

reible wrote:I gave up on that trac wars thread but it did get me thinking of a couple of general questions for the forum.

One is how much sheet goods do you process (cut-up) per year. By sheet goods I mean things like plywood and MDF sort of things.

By year I mean in an average year, like say over the last 10 years you have cut up on an average of ?? sheets.

Also I'm asking about "woodworking" project and not "construction" projects.

So with that in mind, how many sheets do you work with per year?

Ed

I would estimate that I consume, on the average, twelve sheets per year. In the past, it may have been a few sheets more but not double.

Cutting up no more plywood than that, I can not justify spending huge sums of money for equipment whose primary purpose it is to reduce big pieces into little ones.

The thread that you mention, however, did one good thing for me. It brought to my attention (in a way not done before) that I already have a neat clamp on straight edge that just begs having a slider (for a circular saw) attached - making it a track saw. The straight edge is from E. Emerson Tools (EEmersontool.com).

Hi Dusty,

When I get home to look at mine I'll let you know if I have the same brand, you can see it on the picnic table.

http://www.shopsmith.net/forums/attachm ... 1311522965

Ed

dusty wrote:I would estimate that I consume, on the average, twelve sheets per year. In the past, it may have been a few sheets more but now double.

Cutting up no more plywood than that, I can not justify spending huge sums of money for equipment whose primary purpose it is to reduce big pieces into little ones.

The thread that you mention, however, did one good thing for me. It brought to my attention (in a way not done before) that I already have a neat clamp on straight edge that just begs having a slider (for a circular saw) attached - making it a track saw. The straight edge is from E. Emerson Tools (EEmerson.com).

dusty wrote:I would estimate that I consume, on the average, twelve sheets per year. In the past, it may have been a few sheets more but now double.

Cutting up no more plywood than that, I can not justify spending huge sums of money for equipment whose primary purpose it is to reduce big pieces into little ones.

The thread that you mention, however, did one good thing for me. It brought to my attention (in a way not done before) that I already have a neat clamp on straight edge that just begs having a slider (for a circular saw) attached - making it a track saw. The straight edge is from E. Emerson Tools (EEmerson.com).

Dusty it's http://www.eemersontool.com/

Which one do you have? They have several and this seems to be something I am interested in, but I would like to hear your input on it. They are expandable with different plates and such, Right now I'm just interested in the straight edge part though.\

I don't use a lot of sheet goods for projects about 5 or 6 a year. I use more for construction though.

I think that sometimes woodworking projects and construction projects overlap a little. Furniture is definitely woodworking and framing, sheathing, decking etc is definitely construction. Trim work and mill work can kind of wobble back and forth across the line.
I tend to use a lot of sheet goods (or did in the past, been a little slow at times the last couple of years but getting back at it).
I hope to rehab our 24' travel trailer this winter and while I will be repairing some framing in a spot or two most of the work will be finish work including cabinets from scratch etc. Which column does that fall under?
If I generate a lot of "gingerbread" for the outside of my shop which is that?


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jcraigie wrote:Dusty it's http://www.eemersontool.com/

Which one do you have? They have several and this seems to be something I am interested in, but I would like to hear your input on it. They are expandable with different plates and such, Right now I'm just interested in the straight edge part though.\

I don't use a lot of sheet goods for projects about 5 or 6 a year. I use more for construction though.

Thank you for correcting me on my reference to the website.

I have the U54 straight edge. There doesn't seem to be a lot of accessories available. There is a longer straight edge but no way (that I have found) to extend them. They are what they are.

How well do the clamps work? Do they slide? (i.e. the wood you want o cut is 28" and you have a 48" clamp)

Any thing you think is woodworking is woodworking anything that is not is not, it is up to you and your standards.

You are not going to wreck the poll one way or the other.

(For me if I snap a chalk line and free hand cut it is construction. BTW with a little practice you can get quite good at free handing...)

Ed

robinson46176 wrote:I think that sometimes woodworking projects and construction projects overlap a little. Furniture is definitely woodworking and framing, sheathing, decking etc is definitely construction. Trim work and mill work can kind of wobble back and forth across the line.
I tend to use a lot of sheet goods (or did in the past, been a little slow at times the last couple of years but getting back at it).
I hope to rehab our 24' travel trailer this winter and while I will be repairing some framing in a spot or two most of the work will be finish work including cabinets from scratch etc. Which column does that fall under?
If I generate a lot of "gingerbread" for the outside of my shop which is that?


.

Good Thread, Ed! This will allow some of us to assess how many $ we should realistically spend for tool/jigs to break down sheet goods.

I answered 1 to 2 annually. I would much rather make panels from solid wood.

I didn't count 1/4" hardboard used for drawer bottoms. Hope this wasn't cheating.

I don't think of it as 'breaking down', I use the tracksaw to cut plywood to the correct size and ready for gluing.

I like toys...err tools so once or twice a year I treat myself and cut back on other pleasures until the CC is paid off.

Each to their own and I'd guess some of you spend heavy on materials but are extra careful with spending on tools. I'm the type that would buy a full Incra setup to make 1 ornamental box a year.