ulfreq

The first big machine in my shop was a bandsaw. I used it for ten minutes, turned it off, unplugged it, and went back to the store for my second and third machine purchases the same afternoon. The second major machine in the shop was a stout dust collector and the third was an air filtration unit.

You might not think of a dust collector and air filtration unit as traditional "shop machines," but hands down, they operate more hours in my shop than anything else with a plug. They are not as glamorous as the tools with blades, cutters, knives, and inserts, but they make the other tools cleaner, safer, and more comfortable to use for extended periods.

I've owned a Bosch 4009 series table saw on the gravity rise stand. It had plenty of power for what I was doing, had great portability, and coupled with a shop vac, had decent dust collection. I started doing more with sheet goods and for accuracy and safety, I sold the Bosch and upgraded to a rail saw (1/3 the cost of a panel saw) and a contractor saw with a T-square fence.

Current benchtop tools include a mortiser, an oscilating spindle sander, a benchtop sharpening system, and a 12" miter saw on a Delta rolling stand. I clamp the mortiser to my work bench because it's so heavy. I clamp the sander to a lower portable work bench for a comfortable work height. I bolted the sharpening system to a 3/4" plywood base that I clamp to my workbench for stability and mass. I move the tools around the shop as they are needed. I'll probably build dedicated stands at some point, particularly for the mortiser as hefting that beast around is not how I want to spend my shop time.

More recently, I've been buying stationary tools after saving up for them, but these particular benchtop models have proven to be good values and accurate enough when combined with careful measurements, good techniques, and some strong clamps.